Project management software helps with planning projects by outlining tasks such as scheduling, allocating resources, and clarifying timelines. It is extremely helpful in many situations but is not necessary for all circumstances.
Here are seven indicators that you or your business may need this type of software. If even just one of these signs applies to your business, your projects are at risk of going awry. For more information, read this guide to project management.
1. The Company Often Misses Deadlines
Missed deadlines occur for many reasons, for example, earlier missed deadlines, miscommunications, or disorganized emails. Whatever the reasons behind your company’s missed deadlines, your business does not look good.
Project management software can help. It keeps everyone on the same page, explains what came before and next, who is involved with what steps, and maintains communications in a central place, among other things.
2. Planning and Budgeting Are All Over the Place
Well-run projects typically involve thoughtful planning and budgeting. If you do yours by the seat of your pants or in inconsistent chunks, it is time for project management software.
3. The Projects Involve Lots of Collaboration
Collaboration means moving parts, communication, updates, and players at different levels. Project management software offers a convenient, one-stop location for all of these things. There is no need to use 10 different tools or programs when one serves well.
4. Emails Are a Mess
When even just one or two people in the business cannot keep track of project-related emails, it affects everything else. Let’s face it, projects involve a lot of emails from a bunch of different people. Project management software makes it possible to keep most of these communications in one secure, easy-to-find location.
5. Projects Get Derailed Easily
Missed deadlines, no support when problems occur, crossed wires, tasks assigned to no one, and no identification of the risks are some common reasons projects fall apart easily.
6. The Business Uses Too Many Tools
Earlier, this article touched on the fact that businesses don’t have to use 10 tools when one can serve these 10 functions. This bears repeating because using a lot of tools is cumbersome and a waste of time on many levels. It can affect productivity, energy, morale, and progress.
For example, if you update a file, you might have to then email 15 people about the update. You might also have to update other files and contact more people. You might also have several tools that duplicate the same functions. It is better to use something that has automation, automatic notifications, and integrations.
7. New Employees Have a Steep Learning Curve
Project management software makes onboarding simpler. New employees have an easier time getting up to speed and mastering tasks. If most or all of your new employees struggle to learn processes and methods, that is a sign of project inefficiency.
Of course, project management software is not always necessary. Fast and simple projects (micro-projects) don’t require it. The same goes if your process works on all levels: communication, planning, financial, and more.
Many organizations would benefit from the software, though. That is due to issues with tool duplication, missed deadlines, and poor communication, among other things.
