Online Project Management Features A Good Small Business Vendor Should Offer You

Paul is the chief creative officer of a Seattle-based ad agency and is currently finalizing details of a big campaign for a top department store client in London. Working with remote accounts is not new to him. Of course, long distance collaboration is possible in this day and age when all you need is the proper digital technology and tool. Still, he posed the problem of too many choices among diverse products in the market that will help him make up his mind. Paul approached to ask us what are the features to look for in the wide array of online project management software available.

“ Hello. I am pressed for time and I need to decide soon. I am looking for an online project management software which is flexible, functional and supports my mobility; something which can keep me on top of the developments in my pet project right now, even as I get busy with other concerns. What is your advice on the best qualities to look for ? I would like to know if there’s a product out there which is a combination of all the things I want. Thanks in advance.” Paul, WA.

Hello Paul, our first advice would be for you to review online project management software . All the data to help you make an informed choice can be accessed online. You would be surprised to know there are several web based applications out there that can suit your needs. Am sure one of them would serve you well working in the cloud with your London client.

Let us enumerate some of the more important features you should look for in an online project management software:

1. Convenience and flexibility are primary considerations and you can check this out first-hand by testing the software’s user interface. Ask yourself if you are comfortable using it and whether it has features you can customize  or scale as you go along. Any change in deadline or addition of data can easily be inputted with a click of the drag and drop button, for instance.
2. A good online project management software should have a mobile version so you can access your project while on the go. This accessibility should be possible with any kind of platform – whether it’s Android, Windows, Blackberry, iPhone or any of the tablets. Mobility means that you will be able to do the same things like you never left your desktop. This means you can still be updated on your project’s progress, assign tasks as well as your collaborate with your staff and client.
3. Integration features with other apps operate on the principle of ‘the more, the merrier’ so look for this when scouting for your software. A basic function would be one which allows you to share and upload files from leading free storage services like Google Drive and Dropbox.
4. Collaboration capability is important, specially as you are working for a remote account. There are software capable of setting meetings and videoconferencing or even tracking time spent on tasks or the project itself. Likewise, a worthy software should enable you to stay connected at all times with online chat, message boards, wikis or whatever form of communication channel you opt to use.

By Stephanie Seymour

Stephanie Seymour is a senior business analyst and one of the crucial members of the FinancesOnline research team. She is a leading expert in the field of business intelligence and data science. She specializes in visual data discovery, cloud-based BI solutions, and big data analytics. She’s fascinated by how companies dealing with big data are increasingly embracing cloud business intelligence. In her software reviews, she always focuses on the aspects that let users share analytics and enhance findings with context.