Some of the best project management tools we recommend include: Firsthand struggles with the spreadsheet software, such as missing deadlines or letting vital tasks slip through the cracks, could mean that it is time to upgrade to more advanced project management software that streamlines your workflows and minimizes errors. Last, but not least, you may find that Excel is no longer up to snuff for managing projects if it negatively impacts your bottom line. To play it safe, PM software that makes data entry almost automatic and offers seamless calculations could be a better fit. Even the slightest data entry error in Excel could lead to inaccurate results that send your project into a tailspin. And if team collaboration is critical, then you definitely may seek project management software instead of Excel, as Microsoft’s offering lacks in this area.ĭo your projects require complex calculations? Excel can help with basic ones, but PM software may be your best bet as your team and projects grow, and calculations become more complex. While we will offer examples of ways Excel can help you manage projects, you may want more than it can offer to enjoy added features like bid management, job monitoring, etc. Project managers may choose PM software over Excel if they want access to more bells and whistles. And if you need to share that data with external stakeholders, they may find Excel’s presentation style too outdated or inefficient. As data grows and your spreadsheets get out of hand, finding essential bits of information can take a ton of time. A perfect example of where you may outgrow Excel is if you have to manage a lot of data. The more your team grows, the more moving parts it will have, making it difficult to manage your projects with Excel’s simple spreadsheets as you add moving pieces. Project management software gains the upper hand over Excel for teams with more than five employees, for example, or those that are continuously growing. If you want additional features, such as Views, Gantt Charts, built-in collaboration tools, or third-party integrations.If you have more than five employees working on a project.Here is a brief list of reasons why you might choose project management software over Excel, followed by a more detailed explanation: Is Microsoft Excel the ideal project management solution for every team? Of course not, which is why many other PM software alternatives exist. When To Use Excel Alternatives To Manage Projects You can learn more about Office 365 in our Microsoft Office 365 Review. And, if you do not, you can purchase access with a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Outlook, starting at $6.99 per month. If your organization already has access to Microsoft Office, you can virtually use Excel for free. With Excel, you can get the essential project management features your team needs with minimal investment. Lastly, Excel is a solid choice for project management for teams with very limited budgets.ĭepending on team size and the features offered, some PM software can cost thousands per month and cut into your profits. With Excel, project managers can pick simple spreadsheets that fulfill their needs and fill them with data to create task lists, track hours/inventory, and more. But with such features, those solutions also require a ton of time for onboarding and learning the software. Some project management software solutions are loaded with features. Excel can provide the basics you need to manage such projects without overloading you with advanced PM features you may never use.Īnother example of when Excel may be ideal for project management is if you want something simple to use.
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