Businesses rely on good ideas that can become a reality. To do this, a clearly defined process is required, through detailed planning and execution, all underpinned by good project management.
Initially, handwritten notes made on scraps of paper, post-it notes and even spreadsheets could cut it, but now, successful businesses understand that a structured system is needed.
An effective way to manage this is through project management software. There are many options available to businesses today. It is all about finding the one that best works for your business.
Here is a roundup of cloud-based project management software solutions that can be accessed via a browser or app.
Microsoft Planner
Some project management software can feel overwhelming. But what if you could manage team, individual, and even personal tasks in one place? Microsoft Planner, available as part of any Microsoft 365 license, handles both sides. Create tasks for yourself and others, and design larger project plans to manage multiple tasks and progress systems. There is also a useful “My Day” page that shows all your assigned tasks for the day, and a progress bar that fills as you complete them.
Microsoft Planner is not only surprisingly simple, it’s also very useful inside other Microsoft apps. You can flag an email in Outlook, and it will appear in Planner as a task. You can also add Planner to your Teams app and use it to create project plans and tasks right inside Teams. This software isn’t free and requires a Microsoft 365 license. But if you use Microsoft tools like Teams and Outlook, you already have access to Planner.
Find out more about Microsoft Planner.
Jira
Want to dive right into running your project? Jira is one of the most straightforward project management software online. Start a project page, create tasks and deadlines, and assign them to different people. You can create workflows that are very basic, such as task lists, or cover complex multi-stage tasks that require approvals along the way. Jira includes Kanban progress boards, a team calendar, and a progress dashboard.
The software’s Rova AI can help you automate tasks, and you can connect thousands of other applications to Jira. The price is also excellent: most features are free for the first ten users.
Find out more about Jira.
Notion
Notion is a powerful project management platform. Create a database table that looks like a spreadsheet, filling it with customised fields such as item names, task checkboxes, and progress bars. You can then filter views of this database to focus on specific tasks, share the views with other people, and assign tasks to them. You can also create dashboards, Kanban card boards, and Gantt charts.
These examples only scratch the surface: Notion has a vast range of tools and capabilities, and might overwhelm someone who wants a quick fix to organise their project management. But if you run many projects, both long and short term, and you want software you can customise extensively, Notion can do a lot, and most of it is free.
Find out more about Notion
Smartsheet
Spreadsheets are the original digital project management tools, and it’s not by accident that most top project management software (such as Notion and Jira) include spreadsheet interfaces. Smartsheet fully embraces this logic. But these are no normal spreadsheets. The first noticeable difference is the split view, which lets you see task lists, progress, and project calendars all in one screen. You can add, remove, and edit columns to fit your project’s needs. You can also switch to different views, including Gantt progress bars and Kanban card boards.
The enormous template library is another reason to consider Smartsheet. There are templates for many types of project management, including specialised ones such as budgeting, marketing, product development, and even personal tasks. Smartsheet has a basic free tier to try out its features.
Find out more about Smartsheet.
Ready to Transform Your Project Management?
The days of juggling sticky notes and scattered spreadsheets are behind you. Whether you need Microsoft Planner’s integration, Jira’s simplicity, Notion’s customisation, or Smartsheet’s spreadsheet feel, there’s a solution for your business. Most platforms offer free trials, so test them until you find one that aligns with your workflow. Remember: the best project management software is the one your team will actually use, so choose simplicity over complexity.
