Whether you’re an experienced or a novice project manager, you need help to do your job and make sure your projects get done on time and within budget. To accomplish this, you need to rely on your team but also on your project management software.
If you haven’t used dedicated software to help you manage your projects, or if you’re looking to change the one you’re using now before you proceed, you have to understand the benefits it has to offer clearly.
Note: If you are a manager looking for a top online resource distribution tool, check out this article about resource scheduling software.
Streamline projects workflow
Dedicated software for project managers allows you to manage the project from beginning to completion. This means you have to use just one software to manage and take care of all aspects related to the project. This also translates into fewer steps, fewer bottlenecks, and less frustration.
Real-time collaboration
The software allows you to assign and delegate tasks to your employees and co-workers. Most tasks are interconnected. Sometimes, several people are working on the same tasks. To save time, the people involved need to discuss task updates and progress. Because everything happens in real-time, you can implement changes immediately, without delays.
Better planning and scheduling
Basic projects require basic planning and scheduling, which sometimes can be done with pen&paper or the old battered Excel. But the more complex the project, the more dedicated project management software should be. It can automatically calculate and adjust the schedule based on the information you provide or small changes that you operate—this way, the software saves you time to invest in more important activities. For example, it can help you understand your project cost and profit margins and how to calculate project profitability.
Bird’s-eye view of all activities
The project manager is a multi-tasking “machine.” He needs to keep an eye on everything that happens in a project, identify or anticipate potential problems and adjust or change the plan before it’s too late. The project management software lets the project manager see all this in a snapshot through dedicated and easy-to-follow dashboards or in-app notifications and emails.
Improved client communication
Staying in touch with the client after the project has begun is a good practice. The difference between great communication and horrible misunderstanding is transparency. You must keep them posted with updates, get feedback, and change things.
Project management tools allow you to save time by giving them access to the system, checking the progress, or generating reports you can share with the client in one click. What’s more, you can create estimates and invoices that are best for swift payment. Feel free to use tested-and-reviewed billing and invoicing software for mac or Windows to help cater to both their needs and yours. Should you need a printable invoice builder, these are among the best invoice generators out there.
If you’d like to learn more about sending invoices, which invoicing mistakes to avoid, and when you should invoice, read this invoicing guide.
Conclusion
The dedicated software for the project manager offers several benefits. Whether you’re looking for your first project management software or trying to change the one you’re using, go through this list. Pay close attention if the functionalities it offers allow you to take advantage of all these benefits.
First published on November 1, 2016.
Camelia Zoica
Author
