One of the most common pain points for agencies is the lack of a clearly defined project management system. 43% of agencies lack the free time to focus on administrative tasks and 35% deal with talent management problems. These issues can be resolved with the use of project management tools. Sure, your agency might be great at outlining tasks and project timelines, but hurdles arise unexpectedly. If you are not prepared to manage these issues that come up out of nowhere, you should be looking for project management tools that will help you prepare.
Every agency is different and necessitates different solutions. Luckily, there are a myriad of options available, each with its own user interface, user experience, and set of tools. We advise all agencies to consider the following questions before selecting and deploying a project management tool.
– Are you concerned with scalability?
– Do you need a tool with flexibility?
– What features are most important to you?
– How will your clients use the tool?
– What integrations are required?
– Do you have a training process?
– What is your goal for the tool?
Approaching the decision-making process with the right questions in mind will ensure that you choose the tool that is best for you and your team. Being that there are so many options on the market, we want to take a little time to look at the top six tools. If any of these tools seem helpful, we implore you to do some more research and really dig into the features and reviews of each option.
Basecamp
Basecamp has solidified itself as one of the most common choices among agencies that seek a simple management and communication tool. It allows for users to assign tasks to individuals or groups, discuss projects on message boards, generate reports for a team’s capacity, and provide an outward facing screen for clients.
Asana
Asana, like most project management tools, allows for teams to manage projects, store files, and collaborate on the platform. Project planning is fairly simple, allowing for instructions to be added, deadlines to be set, and assignments to be made. Asana’s visual kanban option makes it easy for tasks to be moved from stage to stage, as Asana’s visual elements bring clarity to project tracking.
Features include the assignment of users to tasks, communication organized by task (outside of email), customizable calendars, customizable fields for team members to capture information and track status.
Teamwork
This project management tool was built for both in-house and remote agency teams. It has become known for its ability to simplify collaboration through customizable workflows and easy to use project templates. Many cherish this tool for how intuitive it is for users when it comes to visualizing deliverables and creating lists of tasks.
Features include, customizable templates, task tracking, visualized milestones, real-time status updates, and in-app communication.
Trello
Many people consider Trello a combination of a digital whiteboard and pinboard. Users can create tasks that are pinned to custom “boards”, which can then be worked on individually or as a group. The tasks can be commented on, shared, assigned, and attachments can be added. Boards can then be placed in different areas so that projects are transparent and team members are accountable for their deadlines.
Features include, creation of custom boards and tasks, checklists within tasks, task assignments with attachments and deadlines, commenting on tasks, and the creation of public or private links for shareability.
ProofHub
When an organization like NASA is using your project management tool…it must be effective. Proofhub combines many features and aims to eliminate the need for too many tools within your business. It allows for project planning, collaboration, organization, and makes it easier to deliver projects on time.
Features include, online proofing to cut back on feedback time, de-stressing the task management process, Gantt chart visualizations, and an effective mobile app for both Android and iOS users.
Scoro
Scoro has built a name for itself around how comprehensive of a tool it is. It is being deployed by both professional and creative services companies in order to bring structure to workflows. This goes beyond project management and into a business management solution, which includes tools for automated quoting and billing.
Features include, one platform for team members and clients, seamless workflows that organize all silos within a business, real-time overviews and reports, and integrations with platforms such as Outlook, Mailchimp, Dropbox, and more.
In Conclusion
As a programming partner, we understand the monumental importance of strong project management. The tools that you choose will help provide a structure that can elevate your operations. Start by asking yourself the right questions in order to properly gauge your organization’s needs. The answers to these questions will set you on the path to uncover the project management tool that is best for your agency.
Disclaimer:
Wherever any material is quoted as sourced from the published text with publishing rights vested in an individual, it is stated that it is a pure quotation and no intention to claim it as our own.
We’ve successfully completed over 700 projects for our clients over the last 12 years. A number of these clients have gone on to become successful VC funded ventures. If you’d like to learn more about our unique approach to programming, click here.
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