Project management tools and the difficulties in using them
Project management tools can greatly simplify the implementation of marketing tasks. They can help to organise activities on different levels, but only with the right use. Often, in the hope of increasing efficiency, a company will implement several such services at the same time. As a result, this approach complicates the team’s work instead of optimising processes.
The goals the company is trying to achieve should guide the choice of project management software. Understanding which service will be most effective in solving the company’s specific tasks is essential. One of the most significant criteria is to determine the user base. It is necessary to consider how many people and which departments will use the tool and their hierarchy. For example, creating and customising a marketing campaign is a team effort. It will involve content writers, IT, SEO and SMM specialists. In addition, the manager and the senior management team should oversee the processes.
Specifics of using software
One of the most common mistakes when implementing project management software is to isolate it from other departments. The marketing department implements its own solution that works separately from other services in the company. As a result, the activities of different departments are not coordinated. This reduces the overall efficiency of the company and hinders business development. What is important is not the number of tools used but their real value to the business. Tools should complement each other and be integrated to achieve a single result. Building an ecosystem will eliminate unnecessary operations, optimise processes and reduce software costs.
A natural stage in the development of an organisation and the improvement of its operations is the transition from one application of the TOE to another. In this case, it is extremely crucial to perform this step in a targeted and timely manner. At the same time, abrupt changes should be avoided as they may have negative consequences:
- reduction in the effectiveness of the change process
- increasing negative employee attitudes towards change, leading to internal sabotage of innovation;
- complicating work with old projects integrated into current tools.
According to experts, the optimal transition time may be when managers feel the need for it. In some cases, it is necessary to communicate the importance of innovation and its benefits to each specialist.
The cost of project management software requires special attention. It depends on the number of functions, the system’s scalability and other parameters. Furthermore, you can create a digital product from scratch for a specific company or use universal services. When analysing the costs, you should consider the return on investment, the reduced time needed to complete tasks and the improvement in the quality of work. It is, therefore, essential to look at the process of implementing such management tools in an integrated way. Automation will ensure high performance in the long run.