Project management software helps project managers and teams complete client requirements and manage time, budget, and scope constraints. However, with so many available options, choosing the right tool can be confusing, and people may not know just where to begin. Project Management Software Guide Free project management apps management software helps project managers and teams complete client requirements and manage time, budget, and scope constraints. However, with so many available options, choosing the right tool can be confusing, and people may not know just where to begin. We would like to explain what features cloud-based project management software should have. This type of software uses cloud-based technology and is offered by application service providers as software-as-a-service SaaS. Features included in this type of software are task management, team collaboration, learning materials, email integration, and file management. Using this type of software is also more expensive. However, it provides more accurate estimates, better control on dependencies, and real-time progress tracking. It is also more complex to use and require more time from its users. Larger organizations and project teams prefer them, especially for more complex projects. This is the ability to create tasks and manage them during the entire process. Furthermore, the software should have the ability to set dependencies on the task, create and manage subtasks from larger tasks, set free project management apps task to repeat or recur at a specified time or date, and allow the assigning of more than one user to a task. The ability to import a list of tasks from an external file such as a spreadsheet should also be included in the task management feature. The feature that allows any number of team members to not only communicate but hold work-related discussion is a must. The application should provide virtual space for creating discussions easily, save its history and thread, create documents and share them, allows for alerts and notifications, as well as private messaging to one or many recipients. The project management software should have adequate materials that can get any team member, regardless of level of computer proficiency, to hit the ground running. That means catering to all kinds of users, whether they learn well by reading articles, by watching videos, by participating in webinars, or by using the software as they go along. The software that can shorten the learning curve also allows users to devote more time quickly to performing their actual job. If the software can receive and send emails within the program, then it has significantly increased productivity by minimizing the time to switch applications. Email can be the source of status updates, and new tasks or progress reports can be sent by email to an already defined list. The important features include the safe central storage of documents, the ability to attach documents to tasks, put notes and comments to uploaded documents, upload multiple documents using drag-drop, organize documents free project management apps folders and have version control over them. Project teams do not usually sit behind desks all the time. Many organizations with their core business may already be using other systems. If it can integrate with many third-party systems, it is a plus. This feature may not be sought out by everyone, but could be a decisive factor for some. However, every organization has a different requirement, and therefore may require more than just a generic catch-all kind of report. The software that can offer many kinds of reports or even customizable reports will have a definite advantage. For some, this is a core project management functionality and therefore essential. However, for organizations with simple projects, short duration or recurring tasks, or small teams, this may not be as important. This helpful feature may be more applicable to only some projects more than others. Project Management Software That Small Businesses Buy According to a recent study done byabout 46 percent of small businesses are still using manual methods in organizing and tracking their projects. Small businesses still occupy the majority of the economy compared to big corporations. However, the study done by Software Advice from the interactions they have from 385 small-business buyers showed interesting information about the kind of project management software small businesses are looking to buy. The Current Picture According to the study, about 46 percent of small enterprises are still using different kinds of manual methods in managing their projects. Some of these methods are using pen and paper, email and spreadsheets. Business owners have realized that these methods are more prone to error, so they are now looking for project management software to replace these outdated methods. Free project management apps, these do not address what they really need in order to successfully manage their projects, such as providing the needed overall visibility and analytical reports. Web-based Preference The majority of the small-business buyers that were interviewed, or about 75 percent, do not have a particular preference in how the project management software they need should be deployed. However, the one-fourth that indicated a preference explicitly chose to have a web-based deployment. The popularity of web-based software has risen notably over the last few years. Combining that with the simplicity of signing up for a monthly subscription, the choice of small-business buyers who do not want huge capital expenses is clear. Integrated Suite Selection Project management software available today can be generally classified as either best-of-breed or integrated suite. A best-of-breed application is a standalone that specializes in one particular thing, such as task management, for instance. Integrated suite applications are set of applications offered that can have two or more functionality, such as task management, Gantt charting, and time tracking all together. About 88 percent of the buyers would rather select an integrated suite to keep to a minimum the different platforms being used to manage projects. Consolidation over specialization is given priority. Top Reasons for Purchase Buyers overwhelmingly want a project management software, about 98 percent of the respondents. Time tracking software at 66 percent came a distant second. About 41 percent stated that an improvement in efficiency and accuracy is what they are looking for. Again, this is not surprising, considering that many are looking for an alternative to manual methods that are inefficient and prone to error. A close second of 32 percent of buyers are looking for greater functionality, which may indicate that the business has outgrown its tools for managing projects. Buyers by Business Role The study also differentiated the buyers by the role they have in their business. But this is typical for small businesses that have fewer employees, but also a growing trend that not only project managers are managing projects. The chart also showed that the second highest types of buyers are project manager, which are at 21 percent. Buyers by Company Size, Annual Revenue, and Industry The sample free project management apps 385 small-business buyers used by Software Advice is made up of a 64-percent majority with a company size of 1 to 50 employees. A business with fewer employees would want a higher degree of efficiency, so a web-based, integrated project management software is an ideal choice to provide a broad array of functions with the simplicity and affordability of an online software. The next group of buyers has an employee size between 101 and 500, which can describe a company experiencing growth and expansion. In terms of annual revenue, 30 percent of the buyers report a revenue between 1 million and 5 million dollars. Study Methodology Software Advice consultants help people find the right software for their organization. For a further discussion of their report, you can visit their website and contact the managing editor.
