4 Tips to Selecting the Best Project Management Software

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If you are working on a demanding project, then you know all too well the challenges that come with it. First, you need to ensure that nothing interrupts workflow. Coordinating every aspect of the project and ensuring that your team performs at their optimal efficiency are among the basic aspects of running a project. As you can see, you already have a lot on your plate and it can overwhelm you. These are all the more reasons why you need project management software. Most projects are doomed to fail if there are communication problems, lack of team rapport, and lack of the right tools. If you are therefore working on a large project with complex scopes or are simultaneously working with different teams, here are four tips for selecting the best project management software.

1. Evaluate the Nature of the Project

Before investing in project management software, you’ll first need to consider the nature of your project as this will lead you in the right direction. Projects are of different magnitudes, some may require a large workforce while others will do just fine with just a small team. In addition to this, you may also want to analyze how your department operates, the hierarchy, the size of the company and team interaction. Other factors to consider include;

• Company’s internal views and policies
• Finances
• Technology used
• Project operation
• Workforce

Choosing a project management software is an intricate and overwhelming process especially considering the many options in the market today and the fact that you also want to improve work efficiency. This having been said, such an in-depth analysis may seem time-consuming and tedious but it’s an important procedure to help you in the selection of the best project management software.

2. Type of Project Management Software

As earlier mentioned, there are so many options in the market today and finding the best project management software that suits your needs can be confusing. Furthermore, different types of business have different needs meaning that you’ll need to find a solution that will help you to achieve the best results. There are different types of project management software

• Cloud-hosted/Online project management software
• On-premise project management software
• Integrated project management software
• Project portfolio management software

One thing to note is that the type of management software of your choice will not only affect the installation process but will also affect the software’s specialization and how it’s used. The article on the Top 10 Project Management Software clearly highlights all the different types of project management tools as well as explaining how they are classified. From such a review, you can easily make a good pick depending on your project’s nature and the goals you want to achieve in your business, which brings us to the next important point.

3. Define Your Business Goals

As the project manager, you know your goals and what you need in order to complete the project. However, when deciding on the best project management software, having too many goals may confuse and ultimately derail you. Your business goals will dictate the type of PM software to invest in, the cost of running it, and the technological requirements. Only when you have defined your business goals will you know the best features and functions to look for in project management software.

4. Determine the Cost

Before making a final decision, you want to ensure that you get value for your money. There are so many options out there and the cost of the project management software will vary from one provider to the other. Whereas the cost may also depend on the complex nature of the PM software, it’s important to also consider factors such as the adoption and implementation costs.

Finally, project management software is a tool not just meant for the project manager but for the whole team. It’s therefore imperative to outline a mode through which the entire team can learn how to use it. The team needs to also be available during the test driving process for an easier transition.