Microsoft Project has been around for a while. Some even claim that it was the first project management software. There have been many other project management software since then. JIRA, Trello and Asana are just a few of the many project management software that have emerged.
Microsoft’s recent revival is easy to mock. Some of their legacy products aren’t as powerful as they once were. Microsoft Project is surprisingly strong. How does Project make it stand out amongst the many PM software programs? We decided to have a look.
Microsoft isn’t known for its sleek, slim programs…
Microsoft was a company with enormous ambitions when MS Project was created over 30 years ago. Behemoths that span entire countries, even the globe. Companies that are not like ours. It’s easy for you to imagine yourself in the early 1990s company mindset.
It is simple enough to manage projects at a local level. Things got difficult when everyone started using the internet to manage their projects. This is something that only very large firms will ever be concerned about.
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MS Project is the leader in project and program management software. Despite the fact that Project is notoriously heavy and cumbersome, many people still love it. It is not immediately suited for small- or medium-sized companies.
Recent data shows that these businesses are the ones who use it. Recent surveys have shown that Project is used by about two-thirds all small- and medium-sized companies as their primary tool for project management. What about the ones who don’t use Project? Different data suggests that two-thirds will move within a year.
Why is it that so many companies use a tool that was once considered cumbersome? Why are so many project managers switching to it? One word: Office.
Microsoft capitalized on its ubiquitousness
Why would companies choose to stay with MS Project or switch to MS Project? Two words, Office 365. It is impossible to overstate the importance of Office 365’s ability to integrate MS Project and Office 365. It turns out that this is the biggest reason for most users.
A survey was conducted to identify project managers from small and medium-sized U.S. businesses that planned to switch to MS Project. One third of all project managers surveyed said that MS Project integrates well with Office 365.
This is likely a result of a trend that was identified last year by market analysts: Google has been acquiring a growing number of low-budget companies and their productivity suite requirements with G Suite by Google.
It’s easy for executives and managers to see why they would be drawn to Google’s range of options. Google was also making significant inroads into small- and medium-sized companies that have project management needs.
Microsoft must have realized that small- and medium-sized businesses are markets they can’t afford losing. Microsoft seems to have made significant efforts to make its suites of office solutions more attractive, including by significantly improving interoperability.
A more useful and preferred platform
Even a few years ago, it would have seemed unbelievable to call MS Project useful. It’s safe now to say that Office 365 is a favorite piece of technology for companies of any size — and project managers as well. According to surveys, Office 365 is used by many companies. They all focus on facilitating team collaboration, which is crucial for completing projects successfully.
According to surveys of businesses of all sizes, email and calendar are the most used capabilities of Office 365. You’re familiar with Office 365’s suite and know how it has improved the interoperability.