There are several things that can go wrong when organising a project. Your team may not be on the same page, you may not have a solid plan of approach, or deadlines may not be met. The best solution to avoid such mishaps is to use project management software. However, many people still have misconceptions about it today, which keep them from leveraging and benefiting from such software.
Here are 10 myths about project management software that you should not fall for in 2022:
Myth 1: Project management software creates more work
A common complaint about project management software is that it only wastes teams’ time with extra processes. Teams fear they’ll get bogged down in administrative tasks like time tracking and progress reports. Plus, other employees may feel that their current processes involving emails and shared documents are enough to complete projects efficiently.
While email communication has its uses, people can waste a lot of time figuring out where things are and what to do next. Project management software consolidates and catalogues all project-related information in one place, making it easy for teams to work seamlessly. It can also generate reports and send notifications to team members automatically. What’s more, project management software allows you to standardise projects with task cards and checklists so everyone always knows what they’re supposed to do.
Myth 2: We don’t need planning for projects we do regularly
If your company completes the same type of project over and over, you may think that extensive planning is unnecessary. After all, you know exactly what needs to be done and when, so why bother with a project management system?
However, even if you’re completing the same type of project, some level of planning is still necessary. Project management software enables you to create templates for future projects, so you don’t have to start from scratch each time. You’ll only need to assign tasks and due dates, making it easy to get projects off the ground quickly.
Myth 3: Only project managers can use project management software
Project management software is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, so anyone can easily use it. By utilising project management software, everyone on the team can stay up to date on the project’s status and progress, and can easily collaborate with others. Plus, they get to learn about project management principles and practices.
Myth 4: Spreadsheets are enough for project management
Using Excel spreadsheets is a popular way to track budgets, create checklists, and monitor project output. Unfortunately, spreadsheets are not optimal for evaluating workloads, identifying operational issues, and forecasting outcomes.
Project management software provides teams with real-time data and analytics to help them make informed decisions. With project management software, you get Gantt charts and Kanban boards that give you a clear overview of your project. These help you track progress and performance so you can identify issues early on and prevent them from derailing your project.
Myth 5: Project management software is expensive
Project management software costs include the initial purchase price, subscription fees, and training costs. The software fees may also vary depending on the features and functionality you need, but even top-of-the-line project management systems won’t break the bank. In fact, there are many software options available for any price point, so you can manage projects regardless of your company’s budget.
What’s more, implementing project management software will save you money in the long run. Greater visibility over your operations will allow you to identify bottlenecks, avoid project delays, and prevent budget overruns. This equates to a greater return on investment.
Myth 6: Small teams don’t need project management software
There’s a common misconception that project management software is only for large companies with complex projects. After all, many large-scale projects will often have various moving parts involving several milestones, contractors, and material orders.
However, small- and medium-sized companies can also use project management software to stay organised and on track with their projects. This is particularly useful for teams that are expanding quickly and want to avoid the chaos that comes with sudden changes in seasonal demand.
Myth 7: We already have a team collaboration platform
Microsoft Teams and Slack are great for communication but they’re no substitute for project management software. These platforms lack certain features that are vital for project management, such as team dashboards, checklists, and progress tracking. Of course, this doesn’t mean collaboration tools have no place in your business. If you have a distributed workforce, it makes sense to use team collaboration platforms along with project management software. This way, you can better coordinate teams while taking advantage of instant messaging, audio and video conferencing, and file sharing features.
Myth 8: Checklists alone are sufficient for projects
Creating to-do lists, whether on paper or a digital app, can be highly inefficient when working with several project stakeholders. It can be difficult to track who is responsible for what and when things are due. Project management software is a better alternative because, in addition to checklists, you get centralised dashboards, workload tracking, and progress reporting features.
Myth 9: Project management software runs in a silo
Project management software is often seen as a standalone tool, but this cannot be more untrue. Many project management platforms integrate with other business tools to streamline workflows. For example, you can connect project management software to your accounting software to automatically generate invoices when a project is finished.
Myth 10: Implementing project management software is difficult
Incorporating project management software into your business is no more complicated than installing any enterprise software. First, you’ll need to identify the features you need and consult your team during the software selection process. Then, you need to create a rollout plan wherein you schedule data migrations, set up integrations, and map out new processes. Finally, you’ll have to train your technicians on how to effectively use project management software. The best software vendors typically guide you through the implementation process so you can use their software right away.
If you’re looking for intuitive, cost-effective, and feature-rich project management software, WorkBuddy is the answer. Our platform allows you to stay on top of projects and coordinate your team with ease. Book a free demo today to learn more.
