With project management software, companies can simplify planning by assigning tasks and creating separate teams. This contributes to meeting deadlines and specific tasks and goals. Currently, there are a lot of different project management systems on the market, so it is vital
to understand the main trends and tendencies to find the best solution for specific needs. To simplify the market analysis and software selection, the article presents options from leading vendors and
project management software in 2024 based on prices, functionality, customer support, etc. The article was created after extensive market research and thorough analytics and presents
the leading trends for 2024.
Best Software For Project Management In 2024
Before
creating software or looking for ready-made solutions, focusing on the best project management software, you need to understand what it is.
It is a platform or personal tool of a company, individuals that are required for:
- planning;
- allocation;
- control of resources;
- planning deadlines and goals;
- assigning tasks;
- monitoring progress;
- data collection and implementation;
- collaboration of the entire team.
With the help of adequately created or selected software, organizations can be structured, documentation storage is simplified, and finding the proper functionality is easier.
It's hard to find a single and better
project management software. It is chosen personally for specific needs, but
there is a list of possible software that will come in handy:
- ClickUp - great for Agile development teams.
- Monday.com - suitable for startups with small budgets.
- Asana - a toolkit for collaborative tasks.
- Zoho Projects - good for integration.
- Smartsheet - solution for automating routine work tasks.
- Notion - an option for content creators.
- Airtable - a solution for those who are data-oriented.
- Teamwork - suitable for client-focused service providers.
- Wrike - AI feature software.
- Jira - recommended for product development teams.
The list is presented after a detailed evaluation of more than 20 popular project management platforms used by small and medium-sized companies.
The following parameters, which are especially important for small businesses, were taken into account for the whole list:
- Price and fees. Project management options are priced under $8 per month.
- General Options and Features. The ability of the software to provide basic functionality (Kanban charts, Gantt charts) and management experience settings based on the needs of a particular business, including the implementation of automation tools, are taken into account.
- Additional tools. This category includes slightly wider parameters than for usual project management software. For example, client access, the possibility to draw up invoices, and control the budget.
- Mobile application. Any software from the list includes a smartphone app for different operating systems.
- Service and support. Availability of live chats, knowledge bases, or guides to find answers to questions.
Quality software is a tool for anyone on the team to learn to work with quickly, even with minimal technical training. All the options on the list have features to control the learning curve. When introducing new software into workflows, there are bound to be additional questions, so give preference to services with the support that can answer quickly.
ClickUp
ClickUp is a project management tool that allows you to set tasks, report on progress and send notifications. It provides planning, monitoring of the development process, and collaboration between departments.
ClickUp advantages:
- User-friendly interface
- Customer-oriented updates
- Cost-effective software
ClickUp ranks 14th among the most popular CRM systems for project management. Let's take a look at ClickUp's main features to see what accounts for this popularity.
Time Management. ClickUp's time management features optimize workflows, providing scheduling capabilities and helping you track progress.
Mobile Compatibility. ClickUp's mobile version provides users with the same benefits as the desktop version, while maintaining the same level of quality and usability.
View Types. In ClickUp, the user can choose from nine view types, including list, board, table, window, calendar, Gantt, timeline, and workload views.
To start using ClickUp, you need to go to the company's website, choose a plan and register. There are 100 listings and 5 spaces available in the free version. You can find out the details of each plan under the "Pricing" tab.
Monday.com
Monday.com is a cloud-based project management platform that is used to systematize processes such as:
- Customer Relationship Management.com's CRM features track leads, systematize the sales process, and help close deals.
- Software development. Developers plan and track sprints, manage backlogs, collaborate on code, and deploy applications.
- Staff management. Monday.com helps hire new staff, monitor employee performance, and implement training programs.
The company was founded in 2012 by Eran Zinmeno and Roy Man. More than 150,000 users use the platform, making Monday.com one of the best project management software in 2024.
Opportunities monday.com:
- Role Assignment
- Time charts
- Gantt charts
- Software Integration
- Dependencies
Monday.com had an IPO (NASDAQ: MNDY) in 2021. As of this writing, the value per share is 179.03 USD. So not only can you enjoy the benefits of Monday.com, but you can also own a piece of the company's stock.
Asana
Asana is a customizable workplace content management system (CMS) designed to help companies solve organizational challenges. With Asana, employees track progress and solve problems in one place.
Asana eliminates the need for constant meetings, email updates, and memos. In addition, Asana provides benefits such as:
- Attractive interface design
- Calendar synchronized with your tasks
- Ability to view personal tasks in one place
Users can choose the desired way of displaying data. For example, list, calendar, board, timeline. Asana allows you to switch between views, synchronizing information in each of them.
Every month, the company publishes a video report that presents the main updates of the past period. In this way, Asana continues to evolve, setting new trends for project management in 2024.
TOP 9 Trends in Project Management
There have been significant changes in project management over the years. They have evolved significantly and led from primitive solutions to SaaS and others. New technological advances and all market developments are causing exponential changes in project management. Companies must follow and know all possible trends in project management in 2024. Otherwise, they may fail. Below are
the TOP trends that will dominate the business environment in 2024 and the next few years.
Automatization and AI
Thanks to automation and artificial intelligence, many fields of work have undergone tremendous changes, from healthcare to agriculture or construction. They are needed to improve the results of specific projects and each employee's efficiency.
By automating routine and unimportant tasks, project managers free up their time, allowing them to concentrate more on the things that benefit the business. So bots can schedule meetings or collect data for further manual or automated analysis. All of this is displayed as notifications on
a user-friendly platform.
AI can improve automation itself by adding the execution of complex scheduling tasks and visualization. At the same time, there will be enough data to provide executives with important news about market changes to make strategic decisions. Incorporating AI into your business can improve project performance with cost, risk, or task duration forecasts.
AI applications in Project Management.
Source.
Automation and AI can be used to:
- Workflow optimization.
- Planning.
- Risk control and analysis.
- Creating performance data.
- Decision-making support.
- Resource optimization.
- Automation of simple and complex actions.
- Forecasting.
RPA (robotic process automation) is worth mentioning in this trend. An automation approach to performing repetitive tasks that can save time. This solution has great potential in the future.
Automation, AI can significantly simplify the work of project teams by streamlining basic processes and giving more time for more tough tasks that robots and bots are not yet available.
Integrating AI capabilities will give executives and companies more transparency because it will help pinpoint risks and influence decision-making.
Data analytics and attention to numbers
Analytics tools help add value to companies and are helpful for project management. Organizations create and work with large amounts of data daily, so applying them to real-time decisions is wise. This could be project planning, risk, or quality planning. Data analysis helps form a team, consider team size and all members, and position and assign responsibilities, skills, etc. All factors are needed to improve task results.
Analysis software simplifies project management because companies can quickly deal with specific problems that interfere with the main work. After completing the project, the software will help see the results, considering the development strategy.
AI-enabled analytics help you see the big picture of individual projects and the company. The software provides reports with customizable parameters. They also make it easier to visualize information the way a manager needs to make decisions in real-time rather than with intuition using manually generated reports.
The necessity of emotional intelligence
Project management
trends in 2024 also include having a leader with emotional intelligence. This skill is essential when dealing with people, especially in the corporate sector.
Emotional intelligence.
Source.
Successful implementation of project tasks is possible with proper management of people's resources, but initially, you need to understand them. Failure to understand all team members and lack of contact and communication can lead to problems.
Having this kind of social skill allows managers to perform the following tasks effectively:
- Build relationships with each team member individually, improving the team's mood.
- Ensure practical cooperation on the project.
- Negotiate, and find compromise solutions.
- Resolve disputes.
- Improve employee performance.
Dave Birdsall, senior manager of The Parker Avery Group, saw a great payoff when daily meetings stopped being all about work and connected with team members' personal lives. This balance has improved work efficiency and allowed remote employees to interact with others. At the same time, the manager acts as both a friend and controls work processes and issues.
Advanced instruments and software for project management and its personalization
One of the fastest-growing trends in project management is improving tools and software. According to Wellington, 54% of companies need access to critical real-time project performance metrics, and about 30% do manual data collection. This points to the need for new software and tools for the enterprise environment. Such automation applications can help simplify work and complex tasks.
Here are some useful functions for the software:
- Balance allocation controls and data.
- Monitor projects through dashboards that you can customize to make it easier to make the right decisions.
- Determining when to perform specific tasks.
Switching to collaborative work is also a valuable feature for team building. Personalization helps you effectively tailor the software to the project's needs and specific organizations.
Hybrid Project Management
The next trend in 2024 is the concept of hybrid management. The popularity is because all projects differ; only some teams can work according to a single methodology. As a result, companies experiment with different approaches.
A hybrid project management model is a way to incorporate elements of classical management, Agile, and Scrum. Together, this increases flexibility, speed, and the likelihood of completing tasks successfully. In addition, companies
can apply unique solutions to their industry.
Project teams building and management.
Source.
Remote job demand
The great popularity and growth of telecommuting comes during the COVID-19 pandemic. 97% of people in Forbes surveys want to work directly from home rather than go to the office daily at a set time. In addition, 25% of all jobs in North America will remain in a remote format.
Remote project management has many advantages:
- The flexibility of the schedule.
- Reduced travel time.
- Reduced project costs.
- Access to employees from anywhere in the world and a diverse approach to the talent pool.
Of course, there are a few disadvantages, including lack of live communication, sometimes demotivation of the team, lack of information, etc. Before implementing the trend in your company, preparing and investing in cloud applications is essential. They will help to control tasks and individual projects quickly and easily.
Remote work software will help to collect the necessary information, which is significant to keep track of, control the manager of his employees and make effective decisions promptly. Cloud-based software will help not only remote employees but also with a hybrid model of project management. It can be deployed worldwide, and the product will collect all data regardless of time or location.
Strict cybersecurity practices
Security is essential for hybrid project management models, remote working, and other digital products. Proper planning is necessary to ensure that a company does not have problems with information leaks and cyberattacks when introducing software.
Statistics show that over 80% of data leaks or misuse of information is caused by human error alone. To solve the problem, it is essential to constantly train staff to notice and identify fraud and attacks that may occur when working on projects on the Internet.
Cybersecurity practices.
Source.
Integrating the proper controls and protections will help prevent negative consequences. Such a project management trend will help executives and managers understand what steps a company needs to go through to improve operational efficiency. This is especially important for those in the professional services industry.
Soft skills
Technical aspects and analytics can be taken over entirely by automation tools and AI, but there are several other significant responsibilities that project managers can take on. People skills, emphasizing interpersonal skills, are essential for this.
Effective employees must communicate with clients, understand and report on clients, manage a team, and eliminate potential problems and obstacles in the way of projects.
Essential soft skills.
In 2024 the demand for specific skills will increase because such people can resolve conflicts, negotiate, and work with stakeholders. Additionally, they can make good decisions, manage time, and build effective teams.
Developing interpersonal skills will make a manager a sought-after employee and help bring value to any organization. Despite the digitalization of various sectors of life and the automation of several processes, social skills remain in trend, especially when looking for new employees.
Project managers with developed social skills are good at resolving conflicts, managing change, and other tasks that are (still) inaccessible to technology.
Mental health concerns
The modern man is always short on time, especially when there is a remote job from home and deadlines to meet. In addition, the lack of a daily commute to work can lead to burnout. To maintain motivation and increase the team's productivity (in the office or remotely), companies need to develop and be in methods to help cope with difficult situations. 2024 the trend toward paying attention to employee mental health will continue.
Modifying work schedules is an excellent place to start, making them more flexible. This will help develop employees' freedom of choice. Social events or sports programs will improve morale and health.
Considering the issue in terms of project management, managers can set clear deadlines and expectations for the work done, providing support instead of criticism.
Here are a few options for what companies can do in 2024:
- Updating staffing rules for full-time and part-time remote workers.
- Time-tracking software so the organization can address productivity issues.
- Adding digital tools that make tasks, scheduling, and project management more effortless.
- Dedicated programs to help support and get people out of burnout, stress, or anxiety.
- Resource reports help check team and individual workloads. If such a tool is not available, verbal checks can be done once a week. Psychological safety in the workplace is essential and helps you feel normal.
These are all IT project management trends that you need to know about and use today. Advances in technology like AI, automation, big data analytics, etc., can improve the entire team to achieve better results.
The other areas of project management, including emotional intelligence and mental health work, are all human factors, which are also important in human resources work. Improving the metric will make any project successful. Security and hybrid management enhance the flexibility and efficiency of tasks.
Selecting The Best Software For Project Management
Before choosing the software, many factors should be considered: price, fees, functions, reporting, possible integrations, and support.
Software should have essential tools and features for quality project management. These will give most projects success, but unique solutions can add convenience for individual companies.
Some of the more commonly used project management tools include:
- Budget functions. Give you the ability to download a specific budget, control costs further, and track invoices. This allows you to compare costs with the planned amount of investment. Considering deviations, you can see the risks and problems.
- Tools to control resources. Features will help plan, keep records, and keep track of resources used in the execution of a project. You can notice problems in availability or severe burnout of team members and then correct the work correctly, eliminating problems in the future.
- Task management tools. This includes invoice automation, critical project changes, and core process management. There can be tools for visualizing tasks and their progress, calendars, etc.
- Functions for work with risks. Helps to balance and monitor the execution of projects, taking into account risks. There are charts, lists, planning tools, cost breakdowns, and variance reports.
- Charts and reports. Software should include digital images for planning, timeline, and budget adjustments.
- A smartphone app. Such software will allow monitoring and manage the project from anywhere in the world, and all participants will be aware of the stages of work. Real-time information improves the efficiency of decision-making. The app is convenient to work with personalized content for each team member so that they will know the actions and milestones for each day.