As an organisation, project management is vital. By allowing you to schedule and visualise the many tasks your staff have to complete, you can produce an efficient, productive plan for the coming days, weeks and months.
Fortunately, Microsoft 365 offers many intuitive project management solutions, including the aptly named Microsoft Project. As its name suggests, Microsoft Project is a project management software application designed to help managers and teams plan, manage and report on projects. It can be used for simple or complex projects, with dependencies and resource requirements that can be tracked. The software is available as part of the Microsoft 365 suite, and can be accessed through a web browser or a mobile app.
The paid-for Microsoft Project plans (of which there are three) give business owners a great way to develop schedules and work towards projects with the best use of time and resources. This article will run through a few tips you should follow to make the most of Microsoft 365’s project management tools.
What is Microsoft Project?
Microsoft Project is a cloud-based project management solution perfect for your business. It works exceptionally well if you already use (or plan to begin using) Microsoft 365, since it seamlessly integrates with many other applications.
Microsoft Project comes in three enterprise price plans (see the next section). You can also buy an on-site version of the software if you prefer.
With Microsoft Project, expect access to all the project management tools you’ll need. It has many built-in templates, including Agile, Application Development and Enterprise Project, so you can quickly and easily get started. You’ll be able to view projects in three ways: Grid, Board, and Timeline (Gantt chart). It’s whatever works for you! The sky’s the limit.
As a project management solution, Microsoft Project’s most appealing feature is its cloud integration. It’s also highly customisable, meaning you can change it to suit your business’s operations.
How much does the Microsoft Project cost?
At the time of writing, there are three cloud-based Microsoft Project plans: Plan 1, Plan 3 and Plan 5. All prices don’t include VAT.
- Plan 1– £7.50 per user per month.
- Plan 3 – £22.60 per user per month.
- Plan 5 – £41.50 per user per month.
Plan 1 is a reasonably basic version of the cloud software. You’ll have access to all the project management tools, but there isn’t much in terms of linking to other programs. Plan 3 gives much more freedom to work with your supply chain by connecting resource management options. You also get a desktop client on up to five PCs. Finally, Plan 5 includes all of the above but comes with additional analysis features, helping your business and staff adapt as your projects develop.
A non-cloud version is also available for £679.99 (Standard) or £1,149.99 (Professional). Purchasing these means no subscription costs. However, the trade-off is reduced productivity compared with the widely interconnected Microsoft 365 network.
We’d strongly recommend a cloud-based option, since it offers the most resources when everything’s considered. Plan 3 or Plan 5 will give you the most flexibility and adaptability. To keep costs down, consider how many people need complete access to the system, and use the Power Platform to keep everyone else in the loop.
How can my business project management make the most of Microsoft 365?
Microsoft Project has been designed for use with many other cloud programs. It’s customisable, ensuring you can make it work most effectively for your SME.
Use Microsoft Power BI to build overview pages for all your employees to see. Create automatic responses when you edit things in Project, such as emailing staff, contractors or clients to request extra resources or update them on the timeframe.
Whatever you need, it can probably be done. Chat with your in-house IT team or consider a consultation with a specialist.
What Vantage 365 can do to help
Vantage 365 is a highly experienced Microsoft 365 consultant. We work with small businesses around the Midlands, catering to every budget and offering our expertise to optimise your IT. We strongly believe that digital transformation and cloud-based systems like Microsoft 365 are the most future-proof option for everyone.
Microsoft Project is an excellent option for organising your business, staff and, of course, tasks. We’ve helped many companies set it up and use it. You’ll probably find that the savings it brings far outweigh the cost. For help with developing a Microsoft 365-integrated Project system, why not give us a call? We’re always happy to have a chat, completely obligation free. We’ll sit down with you to work out the best approach for your business and go from there. Get in touch with us on 01384 593720 or email us at hello@vantage365.co.uk. We can’t wait to hear from you.