With more companies adopting flexible work environments, managing remote teams has become a core part of modern business operations. It’s imperative that you pick the right project management software to make sure projects are completed on time and team collaboration is maintained. There are so many options out there and it’s often overwhelming deciding on the best tool for your team. But, if you hone in on things that count for remote work, you can keep the search for the right tool simple and zero in on something that will improve productivity.
For example, microsoft project is one of the most popular tools for this purpose, and it’s a great, feature-rich project management tool that allows you to track tasks, timelines, resources and collaborate easily. But how do you know if it’s the right tool for your team, and what other key features should you be considering?
To help you pick the right project management software for your remote team, this article will detail the critical features you should look for.
1. Collaboration and Communication
Collaboration and communication are important for remote teams. Since team members are located all over the place and in different time zones, your project management software needs to allow for easy communication between all of these people. Look for features that enable team members to:
- Share files and documents quickly.
- Leave comments on tasks, and updates, to keep people on the same page.
- Talk to each other in real time or by threaded discussions to stay in sync.
- Others are built to integrate with popular communication tools such as Slack or Microsoft Teams that would centralize all conversations so that critical information doesn’t get lost in email threads.
2. Task Management and Tracking
A must-have in any project management tool is the ability to assign, manage and track tasks. Remote teams need to know who is responsible for each task, by when, and where the work stands in terms of ongoing projects. Task management should include:
- Task assignment that is clear and having deadlines set.
- To ensure that critical tasks are completed first, we have priority levels.
- See progress at a glance with a task board or timeline view.
- One popular example here would be a Kanban board that visually represents tasks with their status (To Do, In Progress, Done). One of the best things about this approach is that it works really well for remote teams because it gives a snapshot of what each team member is working on.
3. Time Tracking and Reporting
Remote teams need to manage time. With no one central office, it’s more important than ever to track how long tasks are taking and how deadlines are being met. A robust project management tool should have built-in time tracking features that allow you to monitor:
- Tasks over time.
- Hours worked by team members.
- Reports produced on efficiency, where time is being allocated.
- This feature is very useful for billing purposes in client-facing work or when maintaining internal resources.
4. Integration with Other Tools
We could say that no project management application works alone, especially if we are talking about remote teams that use different tools for each element of their work. It should also integrate into the existing apps and platforms your team uses daily. Some important integrations to consider include:
- Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive, for example, file sharing platforms.
- Slack, Zoom, or Microsoft Teams are communication tools.
- CRM systems, Accounting software or Collaboration platforms.
By having all of these tools connected, workflows will be streamlined and manual data entry will be eliminated, saving time and error reduction.
5. Scalability and Customization
Everyone’s needs are different and as your team grows or changes, so will your project management needs. The software you use should not only be scalable, but also customizable to fit your current as well as future requirements. Consider tools that allow:
- Workflows that are custom to the way your team works.
- Different types of work according to adjustable project templates.
- The ability to assign or revoke permission for users as your team grows.
- Flexibility and customization options from a tool mean that your team won’t outgrow it as your business grows.
With customizable templates and workflows, scalable and adaptable to the needs of small teams and large organizations, Microsoft Project offers a scalable solution.
6. Cloud Access and Mobile Support
To work remotely, project management software needs to be accessible at any place, and from any device. The cloud makes sure that every team member can log in from their home office, a coworking space or even from the road. On top of that, mobile support is critical for the team members, who need to be able to look at tasks or collaborate on the go.
When choosing software, ensure it has a reliable cloud access and can be supported on a mobile app both on Android and iOS devices.
Final Thoughts
Selecting a project management software for your remote team is a big decision where it can lead to a rise or fall in the productivity, collaboration and overall success of your project. By highlighting collaboration tools, task management, time tracking, integration capabilities, scalability and cloud access, you are able to find a solution that will fit your team’s exact needs.
These essential features are provided by a large number of them, and Microsoft Project is a strong contender for teams that need powerful, scaleable and reliable project management tools. If you’ve got a small and remote team or a large distributed workforce, choosing the right software can help streamline your workflows, increase efficiency and improve project tracking.
Also Read: Simplify Project Management with Effective Tools | Boost Efficiency
