Project management software to keep your eye on in 2024
Planning and procedure is key to the successful outcome of any project, and one of the best foundations for these two pillars is using a quality project management tool. In this article I will be exploring what are some of the best project management software tools available in 2024.
What we will look at is:
- What are some of the important things project management software can do.
- Finding your use case.
- What is available for certain budgets.
- Overall favourite.
What are some of the important things project management software can do
Project management software becomes extremely helpful in agile project management methodology, as it allows for a central, collaborative space where the entire team can track who has done what and when, meaning there is no cross over or duplication. Additionally, from a reporting perspective, this allows management to very easily see if a project is running on time, and where any efficiencies could be made.
Key tools you will use in most project management software:
Gantt Charts
Gantt charts are a visual representation of a projects schedule, it allows you to quickly see who is working on what and what their availability/workload is at a high level.
File storage
Having a centralised space for file storage allows for systemisation in where your team can store work and access it at future dates.
Task Delegation
Being able to see who has time available quickly ensures that you can delegate tasks to the best suited team members on the project.
Calendar integration
Integration into your calendar/email server allows you to ensure your team is able to access their daily plan from anywhere.
Additionally, it makes for seamless meeting bookings.
Discussion boards
Communication is key in any project, and having a centralised/dedicated space for the team to communicate about their focus/blockers/bugs is a highly valuable addition.
Finding your use case:
So you have decided to start looking into what project management software is best for you and your organisation, the first thing you will need to do is discover what are the most important things for you and your team that your current process is lacking?
Questions to ask:
- Do I need file storage?
- How many users will need access?
- Do you need time tracking?
- Is budgeting/revenue projection needed?
- What integrations will I need?
After you have answered all of these questions the selection process can begin.
What is available for certain budgets
- Free account: Unlimited storage for up to 3 users.
- Premium Features: For a team of 20 on their standard plan, the cost is $214/month.
- Features: Forecasting, time estimations, guest user accounts, and more.
- Free Plan: Up to 3 users and 2 projects at a time, with 10MB of storage.
- Premium Pricing: $7.75/user/month for a team of 15-100 users.
- Features: Unlimited projects, 20 project templates, 100GB of file storage, utilisation forecasting
- Free Plan: For 1 user with up to 5 guest users.
- Sync: Across devices, with comprehensive Gantt charts and milestone tracking.
- Premium Features: $8/month/user for unlimited team members, admin tools, and access partitioning.
- Free Plan: For up to 10 users with 2GB file storage.
- Premium Features: $14/month/user, offering unlimited file storage, 24/7 support, and advanced project automation.
- Additional Features: Scrum and Kanban boards, agile reporting, customisable workflows.
GitLab: A Versatile Tool for Development Teams
GitLab offers a comprehensive suite of project management and DevOps tools, suitable for organisations looking for a more development-focused approach to project management. Here’s a quick overview of how WorkingMouse uses GitLab to streamline our development processes.
GitLab Pricing
•Free Tier: Unlimited public and private repositories, CI/CD pipelines, and built-in integrations.
•Premium and Ultimate Tiers: Enhanced features, including project management tools, advanced CI/CD capabilities, security scanning, and code analytics.
How WorkingMouse Uses GitLab:
At WorkingMouse, GitLab serves as our central hub for managing software development projects. Its seamless integration of source control, issue tracking, and CI/CD pipelines allows us to:
•Plan: Use issue boards to create, track, and prioritise tasks and milestones.
•Collaborate: Centralise discussions with GitLab’s merge requests and code review tools, ensuring high code quality and team
communication.
•Automate: Implement CI/CD pipelines that automatically test and deploy code, reducing manual intervention and minimising errors.
•Monitor: Leverage GitLab’s built-in analytics for project insights, helping us identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
GitLab’s versatility and focus on development-specific workflows make it an essential tool in our agile software development processes. Its combination of project management features and deep integration with version control enables our team to work efficiently and maintain a high standard of code quality.
Overall Favourite
Selecting the best project management software in 2024 depends on your team’s specific needs and budget. Here’s a quick rundown:
•For small teams looking for a free version: TeamGantt is a great starting point with unlimited storage and scalability.
•For small to medium-sized teams: Notion offers comprehensive features at a mid-tier price.
•For medium to large teams: Jira remains a solid choice, especially for those already familiar with the Atlassian suite.
•For development-focused teams: GitLab is ideal for integrating project management
with DevOps and source control.
If you have any questions about how to pick project management software that fits your agile software development team, please feel free to contact us.
