Project tracking
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@JasGot said in Project tracking:
What do you use for tracking all of your active projects? I know there is software; but I was just about to order a big 'ol whiteboard, and then decided to ask here first.
Asana and/or Zoho Connect.
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@IRJ said in Project tracking:
I've used Jira the past 5 or 6 years at all the places I've worked
I've used it a lot, but I don't like it
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I’ve used Asana and liked that.
Currently using FreshService. That’s perfectly functional but I find it a bit more fiddly than Asana.Also Asana has a lot of integrations with other things like Teams and Slack.
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@scottalanmiller said in Project tracking:
@IRJ said in Project tracking:
I've used Jira the past 5 or 6 years at all the places I've worked
I've used it a lot, but I don't like it
I do. It's super easy to use from a user side. I've not done the admin side on it, but it's a great user experience.
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We have Jira, but are playing with Linear.
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@stacksofplates said in Project tracking:
We have Jira, but are playing with Linear.
Haven't used that one. Impressions?
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Jira for me over the last 5 or 6 years across a few different companies. I'm not the biggest fan, but it seems to work well I suppose.
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@JasGot said in Project tracking:
What do you use for tracking all of your active projects? I know there is software; but I was just about to order a big 'ol whiteboard, and then decided to ask here first.
Sometimes lo tech is the best tech.
That said, I think you need different tools for different type of projects.
For example, do you have hundreds of bugs and requests you need to keep track of or do you have complex time critical projects with lot of external vendors that needs to be planned?
If you know what kind of projects you want to track it's easier to know what software can get the job done. Trying to shoehorn your projects into the wrong tool is just a waste of time.
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I have been using KanbanFlow, Trello or Jira.
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@scottalanmiller said in Project tracking:
@stacksofplates said in Project tracking:
We have Jira, but are playing with Linear.
Haven't used that one. Impressions?
We are pretty much using it strictly for kanban and it’s great for that. Everything has keyboard shortcuts/command searching.
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@Pete-S said in Project tracking:
@JasGot said in Project tracking:
What do you use for tracking all of your active projects? I know there is software; but I was just about to order a big 'ol whiteboard, and then decided to ask here first.
Sometimes lo tech is the best tech.
That said, I think you need different tools for different type of projects.
For example, do you have hundreds of bugs and requests you need to keep track of or do you have complex time critical projects with lot of external vendors that needs to be planned?
If you know what kind of projects you want to track it's easier to know what software can get the job done. Trying to shoehorn your projects into the wrong tool is just a waste of time.
I want to keep track of sales deliveries, and installs; mostly.
For example, I want to have a nice way to track the progress of replacing a domain controller.
Power up; Windows Updates; AD Setup; DNS Setup; DHCP setup and shutdown, Group Policy, Printers, User Accounts, Redirected folders; data migration, server side applications install, etcI guess it's more of a singular project checklist, than anything else. But we may have 50 of these going at one time. So missing a step is possible, yet preventable with the right tool.
Sometimes we have one-off unique projects that may take months; during planning, we outline everything that needs to be done, and currently, try to remember to do it all!
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@JasGot said in Project tracking:
@Pete-S said in Project tracking:
@JasGot said in Project tracking:
What do you use for tracking all of your active projects? I know there is software; but I was just about to order a big 'ol whiteboard, and then decided to ask here first.
Sometimes lo tech is the best tech.
That said, I think you need different tools for different type of projects.
For example, do you have hundreds of bugs and requests you need to keep track of or do you have complex time critical projects with lot of external vendors that needs to be planned?
If you know what kind of projects you want to track it's easier to know what software can get the job done. Trying to shoehorn your projects into the wrong tool is just a waste of time.
I want to keep track of sales deliveries, and installs; mostly.
For example, I want to have a nice way to track the progress of replacing a domain controller.
Power up; Windows Updates; AD Setup; DNS Setup; DHCP setup and shutdown, Group Policy, Printers, User Accounts, Redirected folders; data migration, server side applications install, etcI guess it's more of a singular project checklist, than anything else. But we may have 50 of these going at one time. So missing a step is possible, yet preventable with the right tool.
Sometimes we have one-off unique projects that may take months; during planning, we outline everything that needs to be done, and currently, try to remember to do it all!
To me it sounds like a project management tool that is not directed towards agile would be the best fit. Most full featured project management tools will probably have more features than you'll need.
We're using Zoho Projects (as web and as mobile app) for similar things and I can tell you right of the bat that it would probably work beautifully for your use case. I'm sure there are other that that would work too but I would avoid agile tools that are better suited for other kind of projects.
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@JasGot said in Project tracking:
I guess it's more of a singular project checklist, than anything else. But we may have 50 of these going at one time. So missing a step is possible, yet preventable with the right tool.
Basically you set up project templates for different reccuring projects.
When you start a new project you will get all the tasks and milestones needed from the template. You can then make a plan and as you complete each task you can see exactly where you are, how much time you spent (for billing) and all tasks that remains to be done.
If you have a team you can obviously assign different tasks to different people and everyone has a clear view of what tasks they need to do across the projects they are involved in.
You'll also have a clear view of your 50 projects and their progress.
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@JasGot said in Project tracking:
Sometimes we have one-off unique projects that may take months; during planning, we outline everything that needs to be done, and currently, try to remember to do it all!
I honestly think a big whiteboard isn't going to cut it for you.
We have mostly projects that span months and seldom recurring projects that are more than an hour or two of work. Those are usually handled as support tickets with a few subtasks.
I think you could actually use something simplier for the recurring projects than a full-featured project management tool, but you'll benefit from it for longer projects so it makes sense to use that for both types of projects.
If you have a team that is doing both projects and support I think it is wise to be very clear about what is what. So we use the project management tools to plan and execute our projects and then ticketing/helpdesk software to keep track off and handle everything that happens down the line after the project has been "delivered". So for something to be a project for us it has pass a certain criterias.
BTW, if you are going to look at Zoho Project specifically you should look at the Enterprise plan. It has more customization and some features that are essential IMHO. As the other end you have the free plan but it's completely worthless for almost everything.
In the end it will be a major project itself to implement a project management tool into your workflow - especially if you don't use anything today.
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@Pete-S Thanks for all the thought you have put into your support. I'll have a look at ZoHo Ent. I did take a look at Monday.Com, I haven't decided if it will work yet.
Sadly, I am the biggest problem with our ticketing system, I almost never use it on a daily basis. I wish I had someone following me around for the sole purpose of keeping my tasks updated in our ticketing system!
Honestly, for MY tasks, a Word doc that I print in the morning is perfect.
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@JasGot For my personal task list, todoist.com is the best for me. But for tracking projects that involves more than one person, I do not find it good.
Asana, Freedcamp and monday.com were good from my experience.
Monday.com is somewhat unusual, but more flexible for different stuff. Asana and Freedcamp are "classic" project tracking apps and I find them good.But I never managed to find "ideal" or "best" app for project tracking
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@JasGot said in Project tracking:
@Pete-S Thanks for all the thought you have put into your support. I'll have a look at ZoHo Ent. I did take a look at Monday.Com, I haven't decided if it will work yet.
Hey, no problem, I'm happy to help.
Sadly, I am the biggest problem with our ticketing system, I almost never use it on a daily basis. I wish I had someone following me around for the sole purpose of keeping my tasks updated in our ticketing system!
Honestly, for MY tasks, a Word doc that I print in the morning is perfect.
I firmly believe that any system needs to easen the user's workload to be successful in the long run. It's just not enough that it has other benefits.
So I think you should look into how you can leverage the ticketing system in a better way.
For me, the ticketing system saves me time compared to doing the same thing manually. I keeps me more focused on each issue, a more effective communicator and I get things such as time sheets for billing (paid support) with minimal effort (automatic time tracking).
It's the same with the project management tool. When I'm in project mode it's basically works as my very well organized to-do list. It keeps me on the right track and saves me time.
However, both these systems required a significant amount of time to customize and hash out how to use them effectively for our use case. And as I mentioned earlier also to decide when a ticket actually becomes a project. It was however a worthwhile investment in time.
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What is an easy to use and efficient project tracking system I can use to keep track of my projects, which also doesn't create a lot of extra work in and of itself?
There are various project tracking systems available in the market, ranging from simple to complex, paid to free, and cloud-based to desktop-based. Here are some easy-to-use and efficient project tracking systems that you may find helpful:
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Trello: Trello is a simple and intuitive project management tool that uses a visual board format to help users manage their projects. The platform allows you to create cards for individual tasks, which can be organized into columns based on their status. Trello also has a mobile app, which makes it easy to track your projects on the go.
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Asana: Asana is a cloud-based project tracking system that is easy to use and offers a range of features to help manage your projects. The platform allows you to create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and track progress. Asana also offers a mobile app, which makes it easy to stay on top of your projects when you're away from your desk.
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ClickUp: ClickUp is a project management tool that is easy to use and customizable. The platform allows you to create tasks, assign them to team members, set priorities, and track progress. ClickUp also offers a range of integrations with other tools, such as Slack and Google Drive, to make project management even more streamlined.
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Monday.com: Monday.com is a project tracking system that uses a visual board format to help users manage their projects. The platform allows you to create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and track progress. Monday.com also offers a range of integrations with other tools, such as Trello and Google Calendar, to make project management even more streamlined.
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Airtable: Airtable is a cloud-based project management tool that combines the features of a spreadsheet with a database to help users manage their projects. The platform allows you to create tasks, assign them to team members, set deadlines, and track progress. Airtable also offers a mobile app, which makes it easy to stay on top of your projects when you're away from your desk.
All of these tools offer free and paid plans, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
What are 15 other options that fit my description?
Sure, here are 15 other project tracking systems that you may find helpful:
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Basecamp: A popular cloud-based project management tool that offers to-do lists, message boards, scheduling, and file sharing.
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Wrike: A cloud-based project management tool that offers task and resource management, time tracking, and project reports.
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Teamwork: A cloud-based project management tool that offers project planning, collaboration, and task management.
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Podio: A cloud-based project management tool that offers customizable workspaces, tasks, and project management.
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JIRA: A cloud-based project management tool that offers agile project management, issue tracking, and software development tools.
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Smartsheet: A cloud-based project management tool that offers project planning, collaboration, and automated workflows.
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Notion: A flexible all-in-one workspace tool that offers project management, notes, wikis, and task lists.
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Monday.com: A cloud-based project management tool that uses a visual board format to help users manage their projects.
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ClickUp: A project management tool that offers task management, project planning, and collaboration.
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Todoist: A cloud-based task management tool that offers lists, tags, and recurring tasks.
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Microsoft Project: A desktop-based project management tool that offers scheduling, task management, and resource allocation.
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Redmine: An open-source project management tool that offers issue tracking, wiki, and time tracking.
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Toggl Plan: A cloud-based project management tool that offers team planning, timelines, and project scheduling.
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KanbanFlow: A cloud-based project management tool that uses a Kanban board to help users manage their projects.
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Zenkit: A cloud-based project management tool that offers task management, collaboration, and data visualization.
All of these tools have different features and pricing plans, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
What are another 15 options? Then give me the top 5 of the 35 total provided that seem simplest, the least involved, and balanced with features and usefulness.
Sure, here are another 15 project tracking systems:
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MeisterTask: A cloud-based project management tool that offers customizable project boards, collaboration, and automation.
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ActiveCollab: A cloud-based project management tool that offers task and project management, time tracking, and invoicing.
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Zoho Projects: A cloud-based project management tool that offers task management, Gantt charts, and project reports.
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Clarizen: A cloud-based project management tool that offers project planning, collaboration, and task management.
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Hive: A cloud-based project management tool that offers task management, collaboration, and analytics.
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Easy Projects: A cloud-based project management tool that offers project planning, collaboration, and resource management.
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Paymo: A cloud-based project management tool that offers task management, time tracking, and invoicing.
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Workzone: A cloud-based project management tool that offers task management, project tracking, and collaboration.
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Freedcamp: A cloud-based project management tool that offers project management, collaboration, and task lists.
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GanttProject: A desktop-based project management tool that offers Gantt charts and task management.
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Smoove: A cloud-based project management tool that offers task management, project tracking, and collaboration.
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Evernote: A note-taking tool that can also be used for project management and collaboration.
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Google Sheets: A spreadsheet tool that can be used for project tracking and task management.
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Google Tasks: A simple task management tool that integrates with other Google tools.
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Google Keep: A note-taking tool that can also be used for task management and project tracking.
Out of the 35 project tracking systems mentioned, here are the top 5 that seem to be simplest, least involved, and balanced with features and usefulness:
- Trello
- Asana
- ClickUp
- Basecamp
- MeisterTask
All of these tools offer a simple and intuitive interface, along with a range of features to help you manage your projects effectively. They also have mobile apps, making it easy to track your projects on the go.
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IMO, it's time to get on the train or leave the station to make room for those who will... if you know what I mean.
