Project Management Tool Selection: When, Why, and How?
Do your project management tools really meet your needs?
You know that the world is constantly changing and your business must keep up with industry developments to stay competitive. This includes selecting the right management tools.
Find out why, when, and how to modernize your project management tools so that they help you achieve your most ambitious goals!
Why Change Your Project Management Tools?
The world of management software is in constant motion. Its rapid evolution is due, among other things, to growing needs, user expectations, technological advancements, and market competition pressure.
New applications or management software frequently appear on the market that are not sufficiently comprehensive.
Are you working with tools and processes that no longer meet your needs? Have your spreadsheets reached their limits? Are your tools no longer comprehensive enough to keep up with your business’s evolution? New software available on the market, although simple, often requires the use of multiple tools to cover all management needs.
Selecting a more complete and specialized tool could offer you significant advantages, including:
When to Change Your Project Management Tools?
You might already have an idea of what a specialized management system could bring in terms of benefits, but you might be wondering if it is really time to act.
Here are 3 signs that indicate your current project management tools may be inadequate or outdated, and that it’s time to change.
Your Project Management Tools No Longer Meet Your Business Needs
If your project management tools are no longer updated or supported by your systems, it’s a clear sign that it’s time to modernize. You may find it more difficult to achieve your goals or need more advanced features to manage your projects effectively, especially if you aim to handle complex, large-scale projects.
Your Competitors Have More Advanced Tools
It can be worthwhile to look into what tools your competitors are using. If your competitors use more advanced project management tools, it may be a sign that your current tools are no longer competitive. Selecting the right tools can help you stay at the forefront of the industry and improve your competitive position.
Your Project Management Processes Are Inefficient
You will know your management processes have become inefficient if you encounter these issues:
- Frequent delays in deadlines.
- Budget overruns.
- Unexpected problems impacting the project.
- Errors in documentation and reports.
- Misunderstandings and conflicts within the team.
Your tools should help you improve your processes and increase your company’s overall efficiency.
5 Steps to Select Your Project Management Tools
Choosing your project management tools might seem daunting. By taking it step-by-step, it becomes a more manageable process.
Assess Your Needs
The first step is to evaluate your current and future needs. Here are some questions to consider: What are the current challenges of your business? What are your long-term goals?
This will help you identify the features you need to select your new management tools.
Also note that trying to adapt general software to your field could be tedious (and costly). You might need an integrator or external specialist for this. The same applies to new software on the market that is not comprehensive enough, requiring the use of multiple tools, which could be more expensive (and less effective) than anticipated. It is important to consider this when evaluating your needs.
Identify Available Project Management Tools
Once you have identified your needs, you can start researching project management tools that will fit.
There are many project management tools available on the market, each with unique features suited to different needs.
Abak, for example, specializes in project management, financial management, and time management for sectors such as:
- Consulting
- Accounting firms
- Architecture firms
- Engineering firms
- Environmental consulting
- IT consulting
It also allows you to invoice services directly through the tool to simplify operations.
Our team even offers a free diagnostic to help clarify your needs regarding functionalities.
Request a Free Diagnostic
Evaluate Available Options
Once you’ve identified available project management tools, you can begin evaluating options based on your needs.
List the advantages and disadvantages of each option and take the time to get a sense of the quality of each.
Also, consider the costs, features, and support services of each option before making your decision. For example, is training offered? Can the tool be upgraded as needed to keep up with market developments?
This last point is particularly important! To remain effective and suited to needs, the software must undergo regular updates both technically and for users:
- Update of the version used.
- Revision of its implementation as needed based on changes in IT infrastructure.
- Training on the latest features added to the software.
- Additional training. Recent surveys show that most users only partially utilize the features offered by the software.
- Customization of reports and invoice formats.
Choose Your Project Management Tool and Integration
Once you have evaluated the available options, you can choose the project management tool that best meets your needs. You will then need to plan and execute the implementation of this tool.
You will also need to train your staff to ensure they can effectively use the new project management tool.
Evaluate and Adjust Your Process
Once you have implemented your new project management tool, make sure to monitor its effectiveness. You can make necessary adjustments based on your results to get the most benefits from this transition.
Ready to Choose Your Management System?
Make sure to surround yourself with professionals in the field. This will help you avoid wasting money and time. Abak will help you assess your needs and provide you with software that will improve your performance and quickly recover your investment.
Don’t leave anything to chance!
