Ever feel like you’re being pulled in a hundred different directions? Having trouble keeping track of the multiple tasks and deadlines on your to-do list? Are things starting to slip through the cracks as a result?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to say goodbye to post-its and consider adopting a project management tool. PM tools are designed to help busy professionals plan, execute and manage multiple projects in one central dashboard. If you’re still not convinced such a tool is worth the investment, here are five specific benefits that might just change your mind.
Optimize the planning process.
How many times have you just finished mapping out a project when something comes up that requires you to make changes. In fact, most successful projects evolve and pivot multiple times before they’re completed. Keeping up with those changes can be difficult, especially when you’re juggling multiple projects at once. A project management tool outlines every step of the process, including who is responsible for what and by when. This type of real-time overview at the click of a button can save a ton of time, keep everyone on the same page and eliminate duplicate efforts.
Make collaboration easy and efficient.
For projects that involve multiple team members, getting everyone together can be a challenge – especially with distributed or remote teams. Yet, collaboration is a hallmark of a successful group project. The solution is a project management tool that enables everyone to share their input and quickly get answers to their questions, regardless of where they are physically located. This eliminates the risk of delays due to ambiguity or missing data.
Improve communication.
Ineffective communication is the primary contributor to project failure 1/3 of the time, according to research conducted by Project Management Institute. What’s more, poor communication has a negative impact on project success more than half the time. Project management tools enable not just better internal communication amongst team members, but they also make it easier to deliver timely and accurate updates to external stakeholders as well.
Stay within budget.
According to PMI, $122 million of every $1 billion invested in the U.S. is wasted due to lack of project planning. Even on a smaller scale, this isn’t something a business owner wants to hear. A project management tool can help to not only prevent the loss of money due to poor planning, but it can actually help to make a project more profitable.
Optimize your resource allocation.
Are you certain that the right individuals are working on the right tasks? Is there a chance the resources you currently have in place could be realigned for better results? It’s difficult to know when you’re working without a planning tool. In fact, the right project management solution will not only help you identify areas for improvement, but can proactively outline the resources needed for each step in the process. This will set you up for success right out of the gate.