Project management programs like Microsoft Planner and Trello help teams plan and organize their tasks. Any company can leverage them, but they are especially useful to businesses with hybrid work and remote work setups. Features like file sharing and real-time task tracking can help team members collaborate and stay coordinated no matter where they are.
There are plenty of project management solutions on the market, so choosing the right one can be particularly challenging. Here are a few tips to help you select the best project management software for your team:
Read reviews from other users
You can find online articles listing the best IT solutions for any given need. Such articles can be a good start for your search, especially if they feature reviews from people who have actually used the tools themselves. They can give you an idea of what features to expect from a project management software program, how much money to budget, and how to incorporate the tool into your existing workflows.
Understand your team's needs
Even the best-reviewed project management software may not necessarily be a good fit for your team, so you need to thoroughly understand your team's specific needs. Do they find it difficult to prioritize tasks or submit deliverables? Are they struggling to coordinate their work or track their progress? Knowing these can help you filter your options and zero in on project management software that will actually benefit your team.
Even the best-reviewed project management software may not necessarily be a good fit for your team, so you need to understand your team's specific needs.
Narrow down your requirements
No tool can be everything to everyone, so refine your search by focusing on the most important requirements and short-list the solutions that tick the boxes. This will help you avoid ending up with a solution that is either too complicated or too basic for your needs.
Take advantage of free trials
Software licenses rarely come cheap, so you want to be absolutely sure you are investing in the right project management tool for your team. Some vendors offer free trial periods on their products, so use the opportunity to test the tool before committing to it. This will allow you to freely explore the tool's features and capabilities, and gauge how compatible the software is with the other solutions you are using in your business.
Test the project management software yourself and with your team
Have your team test the software and get their feedback. They are the ones who will actually use the tool, so their opinion matters. At the same time, try out the software yourself to see if it is intuitive and easy to use. This way, you will understand firsthand what your team's learning curve will be like and how long it will take to bring them up to speed with the project management software.
Take the software’s vendor into account
Consider the vendor's willingness to assist. There might be times when you need help setting up the project management software or troubleshooting an issue. In such cases, you will want a vendor who is responsive and willing to lend a hand. Find out if the vendor offers customer support and what channels they use. This way, you can be sure that you will be able to get the assistance you need when you need it.
Get recommendations from experts
If you are unsure of what to do, seek help from IT experts. Managed IT services providers like Fidelis are ideal for this purpose. We can tell you which tools will integrate well with your current tech infrastructure, so you can avoid incompatibilities and other tech issues that can cause financial losses and productivity issues.
As with choosing the right project management software, implementing the best IT solutions for your business can be difficult. Make things easier by downloading this free ebook today.
