Choosing the right project management solution is a struggle for most organizations. At first glance, many project management solutions seem similar, leaving many companies unsure as to how they should pick the right one from the crowd. Once organizations dig in, they often find that the decision becomes even more difficult, because they are not able to make ‘apples to apples’ comparisons between solutions.
Given the rapid advances in project management software, no company can afford to stay with outdated PM software—traditional tools simply can’t keep up, and they often rob users of their competitive edge. So, even though it can be challenging to choose a new solution, a choice must be made.
If you’re wondering what you should look for when evaluating today’s modern alternatives, here’s a quick look at some of the most important considerations.
On Premise vs. Cloud
One of the first questions to consider is whether your project management software should be hosted on premise or reside in the cloud. This is also one of the easiest questions to answer, as cloud-based software provides greater flexibility, lower costs and improved scalability. Most enterprise organizations today will only consider a cloud-based solution for their project management needs.
Security
Media reports about data breaches and industrial espionage grow more troubling and more frequent every year. When you are evaluating enterprise project management software, security should be one of your top concerns. Look for project management software that performs well in penetration tests and that meets the latest industry standards such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 type II. If a software vendor doesn’t have full documentation of their security standards, it’s time to look elsewhere.
Reporting
Reporting capabilities and business intelligence tools are among the most important features of any project management solution. Unfortunately, many vendors make it difficult to discern which features are included with a core implementation and which require customization or additional costs. Enterprise organizations should look for software that includes real-time reporting and dashboard functionality and makes it easy to share information with external stakeholders.
Collaboration
Workplace collaboration is one of the hottest topics in project management today, and its importance will only increase in the years to come. In-context collaboration is a must-have feature for modern enterprise project management software. While many vendors take an undisciplined and unfocused approach to collaboration, Planview AdaptiveWork includes unique functionality that allows project teams to use their online conversations to improve efficiency and quality.
Portfolio Management
It’s not enough to look at each project individually. To successfully manage resources and budgets in the long term, organizations need PM tools that provide visibility into utilization and project performance across the entire enterprise. Look for project management software that will allow you to align your project and portfolio decisions with your company’s strategic goals and priorities.
Looking for more information on key considerations when choosing and implementing a project management solution? Watch our highly informative webinar where you’ll get a snapshot of the project management software landscape.
