Undertaking administration professionals know the nice, dangerous and ugly of Microsoft Undertaking Server. On the one hand, it has highly effective challenge administration capabilities, however however, Microsoft Server will be costly, troublesome to make use of and never collaborative. Nonetheless, MS Undertaking Server integrates seamlessly with different Microsoft merchandise, corresponding to Microsoft Workplace, SharePoint On-line and Microsoft Undertaking.
However is Microsoft Undertaking Server the most effective challenge administration software program? Let’s put it to the take a look at. We’ll discover its advantages and options, record the place it falls brief and overview a few of the greatest Microsoft Undertaking Server alternate options available on the market. After studying this thorough rundown of MS Undertaking Server, potential customers can have the knowledge they should resolve whether or not Microsoft Undertaking Server or one of many MS Undertaking Server alternate options is the most effective match for his or her tasks.
What Is Microsoft Undertaking Server?
Microsoft Undertaking Server is an enterprise challenge administration (EPM) answer that integrates with Microsoft SharePoint Server. It offers customers a complete suite of options for managing and delivering tasks and packages throughout organizations. It’s ideally suited to companies that want superior challenge administration functionality, corresponding to challenge scheduling, useful resource administration and portfolio administration in a collaborative setting.
Nonetheless, organizations which might be in search of a extra versatile challenge and portfolio administration software program at a aggressive worth level that doesn’t require the funding in infrastructure will discover themselves available in the market for a Microsoft Undertaking Server various. ProjectManager is award-winning challenge and portfolio administration software program that received’t break the financial institution and nonetheless gives the highly effective challenge administration options wanted to ship on time, and inside price range whereas prioritizing high quality.
Our software program has strong Gantt charts that hyperlink all 4 process dependencies, filter for the essential path and set a baseline to trace challenge variance in actual time. That’s considered one of a number of challenge views, together with process lists, kanban boards and calendars. Actual-time dashboards present a high-level overview of challenge metrics, whereas customizable experiences supply priceless perception and will be shared with stakeholders to maintain them up to date. There are useful resource administration options to set availability, steadiness workload and extra whereas automated workflows with approval settings preserve high quality management. Roadmaps handle a number of tasks in a single place for portfolio and program administration. There’s a cell app for iOS and Android, plus our software program is suitable with Apple merchandise. Add to {that a} extra collaborative platform and our Microsoft Undertaking Server various is the way in which to go. Get began with ProjectManager at the moment at no cost.
MS Undertaking Server Advantages & Options
There’s a motive Microsoft Undertaking Server is a well-liked Microsoft challenge administration instrument. It has many advantages and superior challenge administration options. Let’s check out these key options and advantages to higher perceive how MS Undertaking Server may help ship tasks efficiently.
Undertaking Scheduling
Microsoft Undertaking Server can create detailed challenge plans with duties and milestones and hyperlink some, however not all dependencies. It has Gantt charts and might do essential path evaluation and baseline administration. This advantages tasks by way of extra exact challenge scheduling and monitoring.
Useful resource Administration
Useful resource administration options embody allocation, leveling and capability planning. There’s additionally monitoring of useful resource availability and utilization. The advantage of useful resource administration is that it prevents overallocation, which may result in burnout, and offers challenge managers instruments for efficient useful resource planning and administration.
Portfolio Administration
Organizations managing a program or portfolio can prioritize, align tasks with enterprise targets, assess challenge efficiency and optimize challenge portfolios. This helps with strategic planning and alignment of organizational goals.
Collaboration
In contrast to Microsoft Undertaking, Microsoft Undertaking Server has collaborative options by way of integration with SharePoint and different Microsoft merchandise. This enhances teamwork and sharing of data to provide higher challenge outcomes.
Reporting
Reporting options permit for the monitoring of challenge efficiency, which helps challenge managers make extra knowledgeable choices. This monitoring of challenge metrics leads to the optimization of challenge outcomes.
Cons of Microsoft Undertaking Server
Now that we’ve given Microsoft Undertaking Server its due, let’s take a extra essential take a look at what it does and doesn’t do. The next is a listing of the place MS Undertaking Server falls brief.
- Excessive price of licensing and implementation, particularly for big organizations
- Complicated options and configuration choices imply a steep studying curve, not splendid for small tasks or groups
- Requires substantial IT sources for deployment, configuration and upkeep
- Customizing and integrating with different enterprise programs is complicated and time-consuming
- Bigger information units or complicated tasks can produce efficiency points, corresponding to gradual response instances
- Interface isn’t user-friendly or intuitive in comparison with fashionable challenge administration instruments
- Restricted cell performance in comparison with Microsoft Undertaking alternate options
- Integration with non-Microsoft instruments is difficult and should require further customization
- Dependant on SharePoint integration for collaboration, which provides expense
- Restricted customization may not meet all group necessities
- Implementing updates and modifications is complicated and might disrupt ongoing tasks
MS Undertaking Server Pricing
Regardless of the professionals and cons, usually the underside line in whether or not to decide on Microsoft Undertaking Server is cash. Microsoft Undertaking Server requires a separate setup and licensing in comparison with Microsoft’s extra consumer-oriented challenge administration instruments.
MS Undertaking Server will be bought by way of a quantity licensing settlement. It’s not often out there by month-to-month subscription and pricing can fluctuate relying on the particular settlement, variety of customers and degree of customization or further companies required.
It integrates with SharePoint, subsequently, the price of licensing this software might also apply. SharePoint will be licensed through completely different plans, which is able to have an effect on the associated fee.
Generally, the associated fee for Microsoft Undertaking Server licenses ranges from a couple of thousand {dollars} per yr per server, however that worth can fluctuate relying on the contract and negotiation.
Greatest Microsoft Undertaking Server Alternate options
Contemplating the value and limitations of Microsoft Undertaking Server, customers will understandably hunt down Microsoft Undertaking Server alternate options. Let’s take a look at a few the most effective and see why customers have chosen them over MS Undertaking Server.
1. ProjectManager
ProjectManager is award-winning challenge and portfolio administration software program that has a number of benefits over Microsoft Undertaking Server. It’s a extra versatile instrument and user-friendly answer. It options an intuitive and fashionable consumer interface that’s simple to be taught, in contrast to the steep studying curve related to most Microsoft challenge administration software program.
The net software program offers customers a totally collaborative platform with out having to subscribe to different instruments. Plus, it delivers real-time information for dashboards, customizable experiences, useful resource administration and different options. Customers can share recordsdata, remark on the process degree and keep updated with e mail and in-app notifications.
The subscription-based mannequin is extra simple, with predictable month-to-month prices, which makes it simpler to price range and scale, in contrast to MS Undertaking Server with its larger upfront prices and funding in setup, customization and upkeep.
ProjectManager is a extra versatile instrument that may serve all challenge administration methodologies and even customers who work on Apple merchandise. There are a number of challenge views together with strong Gantt charts, sheet view, process lists, kanban boards and calendars. Plus, time-tracking options to assist tasks keep on schedule.
What customers discover most interesting outdoors of the higher worth, fuller collaborative options and ease of use is the easy implementation and minimal setup required. ProjectManager is able to handle tasks instantly, whereas Microsoft Undertaking Server has a protracted and intensive deployment, which entails important effort.
2. Microsoft Undertaking Server Viewer
For these in search of a Microsoft challenge, there’s Microsoft Undertaking Server Viewer, which gives particular functionalities for viewing and interacting with challenge information from Microsoft Undertaking Server. Whereas not a full Microsoft Undertaking Server various, it’s designed to enrich the software program.
It does this by permitting customers to view challenge information from Microsoft Undertaking Server with out having the complete suite of Microsoft Undertaking Server’s complicated functionalities. It might probably view MPP recordsdata, generate experiences and entry information.
This makes the Microsoft Undertaking Server a cheaper answer in comparison with Microsoft Undertaking Server for customers that solely want viewing capabilities. It’s additionally less complicated to make use of and gives entry to challenge information from Microsoft Undertaking Server in a format that may be considered and interacted with by way of a web-based interface.
Nonetheless, it doesn’t present full challenge administration capabilities and requires Microsoft Undertaking Server to perform. Subsequently, it’s nice for customers who simply wish to view challenge information however generally is a downside for many who want extra performance.
Easy methods to Import MS Undertaking Server Information Into ProjectManager
If the group is wedded to Microsoft Undertaking Server, however customers wish to get the pliability and ease of use supplied by ProjectManager, there’s an answer. That’s as a result of ProjectManager can import MS Undertaking Server recordsdata, the place they are often edited after which exported again to Microsoft. First, begin a free 30-day trial after which comply with these steps.
1. Import MPP File
Launch the Gantt chart and click on on the import button, which will be discovered on the highest proper of the display screen. It appears to be like like a field with an arrow pointing down from the highest of the field.
2. Choose MPP File
A window will ask which file to import. Navigate to the MPP file to be imported. It would have an MPP file extension.
3. Make Import Choices
Select whether or not to import the MS Undertaking Server file to an current challenge or open it as a brand new challenge. There’s additionally an choice to both substitute the information or hold it.
4. Import Every part or Only a Job Record
At this level, select learn how to import the file. One possibility is to import all the information, one other is to simply import the duty record.
5. End Up & See Microsoft Undertaking File On-line
When a window that claims, Success seems, customers can now share the file, edit it after which export the file again to MS Undertaking Server. It’s that simple.
Extra Microsoft Undertaking Server Alternate options
There are greater than a few Microsoft Undertaking Server alternate options that customers can select from. Listed below are a couple of extra Microsoft challenge administration software program choices that may assist run tasks with out the pitfalls of Microsoft Undertaking Server.
1. Microsoft Undertaking for the Net
Microsoft Undertaking for the Net is a cloud-based Microsoft Undertaking Server various and a part of the Microsoft 365 suite. It has a contemporary and intuitive design that helps customers plan, handle and collaborate on tasks. It has Gantt charts, process administration options and a board view to accommodate completely different challenge administration methodologies.
2. Microsoft Undertaking On-line
Microsoft Undertaking On-line is one other cloud-based Microsoft Undertaking Server various that may deal with each challenge and portfolio administration. It’s additionally a part of MS 365 and has Gantt charts, useful resource administration and collaboration instruments. There are reporting and dashboards that permit challenge and portfolio managers to investigate information in addition to personalized templates to assist customers get began.
3. Microsoft Undertaking Skilled
Microsoft Undertaking Skilled is a desktop Microsoft Undertaking Server various that’s utilized in superior challenge administration. Options embody Gantt charts, some process dependencies and demanding path evaluation. It has useful resource administration instruments to allocate, degree and monitor sources in addition to process and price administration options. There are built-in customizable reporting and collaborative instruments.
Microsoft Undertaking Server FAQs
To finish the article, let’s gather some often requested questions on Microsoft Undertaking Server to assist readers select whether or not this challenge and portfolio administration someplace is an effective match for his or her group.
Is Microsoft Undertaking Server Free?
No, Microsoft Undertaking Server shouldn’t be free. It’s a paid product that requires licensing charges.
Is Microsoft Undertaking Server the Identical as Microsoft Undertaking for the Net?
No, Microsoft Undertaking Server shouldn’t be the identical as Microsoft Undertaking for the Net. They serve completely different functions and supply completely different functionalities.
Is Microsoft Undertaking Server Included in Microsoft 365?
No, Microsoft Undertaking Server shouldn’t be included in Microsoft 365. It’s a separate, enterprise-level answer that requires a definite licensing settlement.
Associated Microsoft Content material
For individuals who are nonetheless on the fence and wish to dig slightly deeper into Microsoft merchandise and the way they examine to different challenge administration instruments, listed below are a bunch of hyperlinks to free articles that may assist one resolve the most effective instrument for them.
ProjectManager is on-line challenge and portfolio administration software program that connects groups whether or not they’re within the workplace, out within the area or wherever else on the planet. They’ll share recordsdata, remark on the process degree and keep up to date with e mail and in-app notifications. Be part of groups at Avis, Nestle and Siemens who’re utilizing our software program to ship profitable tasks. Get began with ProjectManager at the moment at no cost.
