Project management software services are available in a variety of types, scopes and pricing plans. In order to choose the one that best suits your specific requirements you should first of all understands what types of project managemetn software are there. In this article we’ll discuss all important types and we’ll show you which ones are best for specific companies or types of tasks. Hopefully, once you know your options well you will be able to pick a service that will truly let you optimize project management in your company.
Some software are specific to a single type, while other software products feature a mix of types. When choosing the right project management software, only get the features you need. However, keep tab of the other features that you’ll need in the future as your business grows. Also look for a vendor that offers free or demo software the better you can assess the features.
Before we compare the types of project management software, bear in mind the three areas how they can be classified:
- Deployment – how the software is installed and accessed
- Characteristics – how the software is used by its intended user
- Specialization – the software’s specialization
Some project management software may be the best in their class, but it doesn’t mean it’s good for your business setup. remember, the software is just a tool, what is important is how you apply it to your project.
Let’s now review the types of project management software according to the three areas:
By Deployment
How you want the software installed or accessed will be a factor in your buying decision.
On-premise – the project management software is installed in your computer or server. You usually pay a one-time (or annual) proprietary license to use the software.
Pros
- Your files stay with you
- You have more control over the software
- Usually there’s no recurring license fees
Cons
- You have to assign an I.T. specialist to manage or troubleshoot the software including security and technical bugs
- High capital for servers or computers, upgrades, and hire an I.T. specialist
- You can only access the software in your server or computer; mobility is compromised.
Cloud hosted – the project management software is installed in the vendor’s server and is accessed through the internet. You usually pay a monthly subscription fee to use the software.
Pros
- Low capital; often, just the monthly fee that can be as low as $20
- No need to hire an I.T. specialist to manage the software; the vendor takes care of security and troubleshooting
- You can access the software anywhere there’s an Internet connectivity; you’re mobile.
Cons
- Your files are in the cloud and shared with the vendor
- Recurring monthly fees that add up over time, costing you more in the long run
- You don’t have control over the software (what if the vendor folds up?)
By Characteristics
How you’ll use the software will also determine the right project management solution for you.
Personal or single-user – project management software designed for home or personal projects. It assumes that only one user at a time will edit the project plan.
What is it for?
This type is often used for small top-down projects, which has a clear structure of a beginning, middle, and an end. For example, a DIY furniture project.
Collaborative – project management software designed for multiple users who can simultaneously read, edit or add to the project plan. More importantly, the additions or changes are integrated with the overall system so the project plan is at once updated. Collaboration can be in different levels, where others can edit the project plan, others can post notes, and still others can only read the data.
What is it for?
This type is useful for focused or complex projects with teams or individuals working on separate but related sub-projects. The collaborative project management software helps the project leader and stakeholders to estimate and monitor both sequential and parallel activities happening at various stages in different teams. Likewise, this type of software works best on web based infrastructure, where users in multiple locations can access the project plan and enter real-time data.
Integrated – project management software that integrates with other aspects of business operations, such as CRM or collaboration tools.
What is it for?
This type is useful for projects that overlap with other business activities, often, customer relationship processes. For example, a new version software can be implemented using this project management type to handle the project across its stages of development, while a CRM module can be integrated to solicit feedback about bugs or crowdsource ideas for the new version.
By Specialization
These types are often included as modules in many software products. But some projects require to use a feature more than other features; hence, if you have a specialized project, you should also get a project management solution that specializes in one or two of these aspects:
Scheduling – this type highlights a scheduling feature, more likely a Gantt chart that tracks the timetable of the project deliverables.
What is it for?
Schedule-oriented project management software is best for public events or activity-oriented projects, such as concerts, product launchings, or major events. The schedule is fixed (moving it will risk public outrage), so the focus is to keep a tight grip on the calendar.
Issue tracking – this type highlights the need to closely monitor glitches or gaps during the project’s progress to ensure they are addressed properly.
What is it for?
It’s most useful for projects that feature a lot of technical specs that a single glitch or change in the plan can cause a domino effect of glitches; thereby, compromising the whole project. Software development needs this project management type to track bugs constantly and fix them, while ensuring the entire system works as planned.
Project portfolio – this type features complex features that allow organizations to handle multiple projects simultaneously. It has an excellent dashboard that provides the big picture at once with drill-down options to check the details of various projects.
What is it for?
Organizations that conduct multiple projects at once should use this project management software. Because it has more robust editing, tracking, and other features and it requires more advanced infrastructure, expectedly, this software type is expensive. Construction companies, property developers, and engineering firms are some of the common users of project portfolio management software.
CONCLUSION
To stay competitive in today’s business environment that demands accurate and on-time deliverables under an ever narrowing turnaround period, you need project management software. But these solutions come in different packages. With a general understanding of their types, you’re on the right track to getting the most cost-effective project manage software for your business.
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