Project Scheduling Software For Managing Projects
If you are looking for project scheduling software for managing projects in your business, you'll soon discover that there are an incredible number of choices when it comes to project management systems and applications.
Out of the project management systems that are out there, you want to make sure you invest in the one that's right for managing projects your unique business.
As a small business owner, you should be aware that project scheduling software packages are not always easy to use and there are some major drawbacks depending on the option you choose to implement. Let's look at some of these issues and then examine one of the best and most affordable project scheduling systems available to you.
The problem with project scheduling software
- Many software solutions for managing projects are extremely complex. And as a small business owner, you probably don't want to invest a significant amount of time that's required getting up the steep learning curve that's required to make good use of these project management systems.
It's hard enough just keeping up with the paperwork that comes across your desk without having to spend dozens of hours learning how a new piece of software works. - Project management software can often be expensive. One of the industry standards, Microsoft Project, for example, can cost you $400 to $1,000 depending on the version you buy. And you have to pay for additional licenses for everyone in the office that uses it.
- The greatest problem with most project scheduling software packages, however, is that they are sold as desktop applications. This means that to use the project scheduling software, you are literally tied to your desk. If you are working onsite at a customer's office, you have no way of getting access to the information you need, when you need it. Your employees and other project team members are equally restricted to getting the vital information they need to collaborate with one another and get the job done. Without being able to get the information you need when you want it, any project management software package is completely useless.
Your project management systems solution
There's an alternative way to manage projects that's actually easy to set up, inexpensive and that can be accessed anywhere, anytime by any one with Internet access. And although it's not thought of as project scheduling software in the strictest sense, it's an ideal solution for small businesses.
That solution is hosted groupware. You may not be that familiar with this kind of application as it's relatively new. But groupware allows you to collaborate with employees and project team members as well as manage projects and the resources needed for them.
Hosted groupware solutions are services that take care of the management of the software and that allow you to access the application wherever you have an Internet connection. There are a number of providers online providing this type of service for a range of budgets. Services like Pretzel Logic (http://www.pretzel-logic.ca) for example, are robust, but inexpensive at less than $10 per month for a user.
Because the service is hosted on secure servers, you can access your schedule or your team's schedule from any place where you have access to the Internet, whether that's at your cottage or onsite at a client's workplace.
It functions perfectly as project scheduling software. You can set up projects, delegate tasks, get an overview of progress on various projects, see exactly how far along each team member is in completing their assignments, communicate with integrated email, store related documents and more.
If you are looking for project scheduling software to help you in managing projects for your small business, you definitely must take a look at hosted groupware. It's a simple and low cost and effective alternative to traditional project-scheduling software options.