Not so long ago, managing projects mean having a pen and paper on hand. We jot down notes—which tasks are assigned to who and we draw a timeline of the milestones we hope to accomplish. That’s all in the past now. Today, project management concerns programs and software that can help in the collaboration and communication of people involved in dental marketing strategies, for example. It has never been easier to track progress and evaluate processes.
There are many project management software that is available (either for free or for a small fee). You can choose among Jira, Microsoft Project, Basecamp, Smartsheet, ProWorkflow, Projectplace, OpenProject, Odoo, and many more.
The right project management software should have tools to track the progress of the project, manage the time and schedule of people and their tasks, keep real-time check of the budget, allow communication among stakeholders, and document specific files, photos, and other requirements.
Collaboration
The main idea behind a project management software is to provide a platform where people can collaborate on a single project. Often, you are tasked with assignments that are part of a larger project for the company.
It is far easier to see how the project is faring when there is one place where those assigned to the project can talk, exchange notes, share files, and discuss methodologies.
Internal communication
Project management software creates a method of communication. It is far easier to track the progress of a project when conversations are put in place and are not on various channels like Facebook Messenger, email, Viber, text message, and many more. Files can be shared and ideas can be exchanged using the chat and forum features of a program.
Budget management
One of the critical factors of project management is following an agreed-upon budget. Budgets control the way a project can be executed, so it is important for the team to determine the work budget (planned versus actual) and make the necessary changes to align the work needed to be done.
Communication with clients
Probably the most important role of a project management software is allowing clients to log in and see relevant details of the project, This way, they can monitor the progress of the project, provide feedback, and make edits along the way.
This allows the team to be micromanaged in a way that wouldn’t feel suffocating for them. Early feedbacks on projects are welcome so that the team can save on time, cost, and energy on things that wouldn’t have been approved by the clients anyway.