A task management software will ensure that everyone in the company is on the same page. This software is for monitoring business projects and making sure that everything is going as planned. This also allows full visibility over your projects and makes reporting as quick and efficient as possible.
If you’re a project or team leader and you want everything done the way you planned, you need the best task management platform. After all, Excel won’t be able to handle multiple stakeholders, complex projects, and simultaneous tasks of various teams. Here are some tips on how to choose your task management platform.
1 – Check integration with apps and software
If you’re choosing your task management platform, then you have to monitor many tasks simultaneously. For example, you may have to monitor invoicing, time tracking, communication, and expenses all at the same time. The software doesn’t have to be too complex. However, it should have an interface that can handle the complexity. This interface should be easy to use though and should be able to handle existing apps and software that you’re using.
The challenge here is to make sure that your task management platform is compatible with your existing software and apps. If there’s no compatibility, then it will be a useless platform. Thus, when choosing your task management platform, make sure that you:
- Check if the task management platform can work with your operating system, whether that is Android, iOS, or another.
- Check if your existing software and apps can work with the platform.
- Prioritize compatibility better than efficiency or complexity.
- Link your apps and software with the platform using apps like Zapier or IFTTT.
- Integrate your cloud-based apps with the platform.
- Integrate all your existing files in the system.
- Create back-up for all the files that you have integrated.
- Have introduced the system to your team and they feel comfortable with it.
2 – Make sure that the platform is easy to use
Don’t rely on a demo video when it comes to the smoothness of the task management platform. Make sure that the platform should match your company, business, or project needs. You should pay only for the features that should help you increase your ROI. Otherwise, you won’t need some of these features at the moment. Remember, your task management platform won’t be useful unless your team can work with it.
Some task management platforms would only take a few hours of training before you can get the whole team to adopt it. However, if it takes a lot of days to learn with so much complexity, then you might think twice about it. Make sure the interfaces are simple and easy to use despite the level of difficulty of your task. If you need help with tasks that involve professional writing services, then you should learn more about this.
3 – Test run the task management platform
When considering a particular task management platform, make sure that you test run it. Check out if the task management function is working well. Try using various project management tools. Check out if notification and communication between the worker and team leader are smooth and easy. Also, check whether you can locate and organize vital information as quickly as you can.
Check out the scheduling and planning functions of the platform. Test run the software if you’re planning a large project such as designing and launching a new company website. Assign make-believe tasks and check out how you can monitor timelines with the platform. Also, check out tables and charts such as the Gantt chart when it comes to task visualization and scheduling.
4 – Check out all forms of communication within the platform
The most important aspect of the platform is communication. If you want to facilitate collaboration using that particular task management platform, make sure that it has streamlined communication. There should be a built-in messaging app where members can message one another in real-time. Make sure too that locating emails and files would be easy with this platform.
Check out its reporting options and make sure that reporting happens in real-time. Reporting is necessary for project budgets, resource allocations, and evaluation of team and individual performance. Make sure there are features for customized reporting. The platform should also make file sharing easy and smooth. Try using the platform for sharing files with external parties too, like clients or contractors.
5 – Test run the dashboard and user interface
Check out if the dashboard can view the statuses of projects fast and well. The dashboard should be able to show charts, graphs, visual metrics, as well as key performance indicators, or KPIs. Try communicating the project status to any sponsor, client, or stakeholder of the company. These are people who don’t need the report but will only want the project status.
Look at the user interface and make sure it’s professional and straightforward. If it is full of clutter, then it must be poor. A well-designed task management platform has an interface that has a client-facing feature. Whatever it is, it should enhance your brand’s image.
6 – Explore customization features
Your task management platform must-have features that reflect your company preferences. It should allow you to create custom reports and presentations of data. It should help you make customized charts and reports. It should be ready with different types of data presentation devices so that you can show relevant metrics to clients and stakeholders anytime.
7 – Check out the platform’s resource management features
A good task management platform can handle the overlapping aspects of time, resource, and budget. Thus, the platform can efficiently allocate these three aspects more efficiently than when you’re not using a platform at all. For time management, check out the calendar features of the platform. It should help you synchronize tasks and organize appointments and meetings. A planner feature should also help outline the tasks.
Resource and budget management usually go hand in hand. Resource management should be able to keep track of the availability of team members as well as the materials used for the project. This tool can also plan and schedule the allocation of resources for specific tasks. For budget management, it should be good enough to have alerts when it comes to hours and money spent. Your task management platform should be able to perform budget reporting as well as automated billing and issuance of invoice.
Conclusion
Make sure to find time for everything. Balance out a home, work, and health. Part of human health that seems to fail the fastest: eyes, muscles, and bones. Find time to pay attention to these specifics in your health. Find time to relax and spend your money on quality. Get contacts for your eyes (click here) and get enrolled in a gym. Resources that can never be taken back are health, time and relationships.