Engineering Project Management Software: Which is Best?
In the world of engineering, most tend to work in a ‘project environment’, managing many aspects simultaneously. If these aren’t effectively managed, complications can arise and project deadlines and budgets can be impacted negatively. There is a science to how projects are run and managed- this is where engineering project management software comes in.
Choosing the right engineering project management software
Before you begin searching for the right project management software, you should consider the following:
- What size are the projects that you manage?
- What is your budget?
- How many people will be working on each project?
- Is mobile access a prerequisite?
Next you should should determine whether you want a cloud based software solution or a self-hosted service; then you can move on with your quest for the best engineering project management software.
The Gartner Magic Quadrant applies a uniform evaluation and helps identify how well tech providers are performing within the market. We’ll use this reference as a guide to comparing the best cloud-based and self-hosted software solutions.
Let’s identify and compare the top 3 cloud-based engineering project management software programs:
Gartner chart cloud-based project management software
Here is a comparison table showing the main differences in functionality and spec of the top three cloud-based options as outlined by the Gartner Chart:
CLOUD-BASED SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS |
|||
Changepoint Daptiv |
Clarizen |
Innotas |
|
| Platform
|
Online
On premise Mobile |
Online
Mobile
|
Online
Mobile
|
| Functionality
|
✓ Collaboration
✗ Customization ✓ Issue Tracking ✗ Notifications ✓ Budgeting ✓ Resource Management ✓ Task Management |
✗ Collaboration
✗ Customization ✗ Issue Tracking ✗ Notifications ✓ Budgeting ✓ Resource Management ✓ Task Management |
✓ Collaboration
✓ Customization ✗ Issue Tracking ✓ Notifications ✓ Budgeting ✓ Resource Management ✓ Task Management |
| Project Management
|
✓ Cross Project Dependencies
✓ Interactive Gantt Charts ✓ Mind Maps ✗ Project Portfolio Management ✓ Project Templates ✓ Risk/Benefit Analyzer ✓ Supports Multiple Projects ✓ Calendar ✓ Scheduling ✗ Kanban ✗ Manage Product Backlog ✓ Burndown Charts |
✓ Cross Project Dependencies
✗ Interactive Gantt Charts ✗ Mind Maps ✓ Project Portfolio Management ✗ Project Templates ✗ Risk/Benefit Analyzer ✗ Supports Multiple Projects ✓ Calendar ✓ Scheduling ✓ Kanban ✓ Manage Product Backlog ✓ Burndown Charts |
✗ Cross Project Dependencies
✓ Interactive Gantt Charts ✗ Mind Maps ✓ Project Portfolio Management ✗ Project Templates ✗ Risk/Benefit Analyzer ✗ Supports Multiple Projects ✓ Calendar ✓ Scheduling ✓ Kanban ✓ Manage Product Backlog ✓ Burndown Charts |
| Reporting
|
✓ Custom Reports
✓ Resource Reports ✓ Dashboard ✓ Financial Reports |
✗ Custom Reports
✓ Resource Reports ✓ Dashboard ✓ Financial Report |
✓ Custom Reports
✗ Resource Reports ✓ Dashboard ✓ Financial Reports |
| Training & Support
|
✓ 24/7
✓ Phone ✓ FAQ ✗ Help Desk ✗ System Upgrades ✗ Recorded Demos |
✓ 24/7
✓ Phone ✗ FAQ ✓ Help Desk ✓ System Upgrades ✓ Recorded Demos |
✓ 24/7
✓ Phone ✗ FAQ ✓ Help Desk ✗ System Upgrades ✓ Recorded Demos |
Now let’s identify and compare the top 3 self-hosted engineering project management software programs:
Gartner chart self-hosted project management software
Here is a comparison table showing the main differences in functionality and spec of the top three self-hosted options as outlined by the Gartner Chart:
SELF-HOSTED SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS |
|||
Microsoft Project |
CA PPM |
Planview |
|
| Platform
|
Online
On premise
|
Online
On premise Mobile |
Online
On premise Mobile |
| Operating System
|
Windows
|
Windows
Mac |
Windows
|
| Functionality
|
✓ Collaboration
✓ Customization ✓ Issue Tracking ✓ Notifications ✓ Budgeting ✓ Resource Management ✓ Task Management |
✗ Collaboration
✗ Customization ✗ Issue Tracking ✗ Notifications ✓ Budgeting ✓ Resource Management ✓ Task Management |
✓ Collaboration
✓ Customization ✗ Issue Tracking ✓ Notifications ✓ Budgeting ✓ Resource Management ✓ Task Management |
| Project Management
|
✗ Cross Project Dependencies
✓ Interactive Gantt Charts ✗ Mind Maps ✗ Project Portfolio Management ✓ Project Templates ✗ Risk/Benefit Analyzer ✓ Supports Multiple Projects ✓ Calendar ✓ Scheduling ✗ Kanban ✗ Manage Product Backlog ✓ Burndown Charts |
✓ Cross Project Dependencies
✗ Interactive Gantt Charts ✗ Mind Maps ✓ Project Portfolio Management ✗ Project Templates ✗ Risk/Benefit Analyzer ✗ Supports Multiple Projects ✓ Calendar ✓ Scheduling ✓ Kanban ✓ Manage Product Backlog ✓ Burndown Charts |
✗ Cross Project Dependencies
✓ Interactive Gantt Charts ✗ Mind Maps ✓ Project Portfolio Management ✗ Project Templates ✗ Risk/Benefit Analyzer ✗ Supports Multiple Projects ✓ Calendar ✓ Scheduling ✓ Kanban ✓ Manage Product Backlog ✓ Burndown Charts |
| Reporting
|
✓ Custom Reports
✓ Resource Reports ✓ Dashboard ✗ Financial Reports |
✗ Custom Reports
✓ Resource Reports ✓ Dashboard ✓ Financial Reports |
✓ Custom Reports
✗ Resource Reports ✓ Dashboard ✓ Financial Reports |
| Training & Support
|
24/7
✗ Phone ✓ FAQ ✓ Help Desk ✗ System Upgrades ✗ Recorded Demos |
✓ 24/7
✓ Phone ✗ FAQ ✓ Help Desk ✓ System Upgrades ✓ Recorded Demos |
✓ 24/7
✓ Phone ✗ FAQ ✓ Help Desk ✗ System Upgrades ✓ Recorded Demos |
Get to know the product first
Before you take the plunge with one operator, the best approach is to try out some free trial plans to find out more about their features and find out if it will be a good fit for you. You’ll be able to get some first-hand experience with the software before you actually invest money in it.
Choosing the right project management software is by no means an easy task. It is a sizable investment and you need to make the right decision. Be sure to select a solution that is adaptable and can be changed as your business plans and strategy evolve.
Once implemented, the software can make tasks and responsibilities easier by organizing information and consolidating projects in a quick-to-use display that can be accessed easily. Implementation of an effective project management software will lead to cost savings and time savings. Projects can be completed faster and to a better standard by integrating your projecting management software with the other software tools that your business is currently using.
