Introduction

With rising demand in newer technology for easier solutions, new software are released in the market every now and then. Organizations are looking at Saas-based solutions and project management tools for their teams. This buyer guide helps you to make decisions for selecting software and choose the right Project Management tool for your business.

Target Audience

It is important to note if a business really requires a Project Management software. It is said that nearly 45% of project managers do not require any project management tool since they are capable of performing half of the things that a tool can do.

1. Large Teams

A normal Microsoft Excel sheet or Google Sheets is sufficient for small teams that do not have much data flowing in. But for large teams of 500-1000 or more, it is difficult to filter through data and come to conclusions.

2. No PMO

Some organizations may have already licensed a Microsoft project tool or have an existing centralized PMO (Project Management Office). It is important to check if your organization has already incorporated a PM software before purchasing one.

3. Project Managers and Team Leads

There lies an important question of whether you have to be a Project Manager to buy a Project Management tool. If your responsibilities revolve around allocating projects for a dedicated team of people, there lies the need to invest in Project Management tools.

Purchasing Software

There are a few steps and stages that are to be followed before buying Project Management software. Understanding requirements, objectives and goals of an organization before narrowing down on which software to buy is the correct way to invest in Project Management Software.

1. Requirement Analysis

There are millions of software available online. Understanding what you can get from the software you buy is important. It is much easier to map what you require for your organization with what  Project Management software can offer. This way, selecting a software becomes child’s paly.

2. Business Goals

Figuring out the top business goals that are to be fulfilled by the software that you purchase is ideal for buying software. What do you place under the priority list? What do you want to accomplish from the Project Management Software? Are you looking for Product Development? Client Visibility? Time Management? Resource Management? Software that can meet most or all of your business goals is the right software to invest in.

3. Alternatives

After narrowing down the features that you are looking for in a software, zeroing in on ideal software tools that can meet your business standards is essential. Signing up for free trial where the software provider gives you 30 days of using their software to see if it suits your needs is ideal. There may be a hundred software that have good reviews and a 5 star rating. It is up to you to choose which software suits your business goals and needs.

Pricing

A wide variety of software packages offer a near-to-same value of pricing. There may be software with limited functionality that offers a higher price. Buyers must beware of such situations as you may be blinded by the price but using a software that needs an upgrade from time to time. There may be times customization is required. Deciding if a vendor can meet your industry standards with the pricing they offer is important. If you are trying to save money, then investing in a reliable cheap tool is important. Hidden costs may slyly take money from your pockets without intimation. It is important to carefully analyze before investing.

Final Thoughts

There is cloud versus on premise software, cheap versus expensive software and customizable versus simple software. Choosing the right Project Management tool depends on the organization, the business and the team that is to use the software. Save time and effort by relying on the right Project Management Software.