If you want to make smart decisions for your business, using the data that these dashboards provide is an excellent way to get a comprehensive overview of your organization. However, with so many of these dashboard monitoring tools today, it can be hard to know which is right for your business. 

While you have a wide array of options in 2024, we will help you narrow down some of the best KPI monitoring tools out there. Some are clunky but customizable, while others are cookie-cutter but easy to set up and visualize.

No matter how small of a business you are, or how large your enterprise is – looking into and implementing the top KPI dashboards to monitor metrics should be a part of your current business planning process and strategy.

What is KPI Software?

You should never operate your business without a plan or go into any situation blindly. Your business will never reach its fullest potential if you don’t plan ahead and follow a path of accurate data to get to the end goal. Without a plan or direction, you are more likely to be efficient in your work.

That’s why dashboards and metric monitoring software should be essential to your strategic planning process. These digital tools can quickly overview your organization’s performance, well-being, and expected growth. Broken down, dashboards and metric monitoring are actually two separate tools that work together to provide you with the data you need to visualize and make informed decisions. 

Dashboards effectively provide a comprehensive and concise overview of the performance and well-being of your organization. They display data visually appealingly, allowing you to understand your specific key metrics and performance indicators quickly. Typically, you can manipulate these dashboards how you want to see the data, providing a customized option suited to your business goals. 

Metric monitoring software is designed to collect data through manual inputs or by extracting it from other sources and transform that data into meaningful insights. This type of monitoring enables you to track your KPIs and monitor their progress over time. Monitoring metrics allows you to identify trends and opportunities for improvement and measure the success of your strategies.

However, you still need to input your KPIs and set up your specific dashboards and monitoring software to be as efficient as possible. But, when both the dashboard and the monitoring metrics work together, they are a well-oiled machine that offers your business all the data you need to know if you hit/exceeded goals or KPIs and the fodder you need to adjust your strategy as needed.

What Is A KPI Dashboard?

Key performance indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable metrics that allow businesses to track their progress toward specific goals. Examples of KPIs that can be set up include:

• Customer satisfaction
• Revenue growth
• Website bounce rate
• Revenue per client
• Profit margin
• Conversion rate

KPIs can be set up for your business as a whole and at the individual employee level. For example, your business could have a KPI metric of “increasing website traffic to 2k in April,” while a single employee could have a KPI metric of “checking in with five customers every week.” Each KPI depends on the business and should be customized to your needs.

Using a dashboard to track both business and individual KPIs is a smart way to quickly see how well your business is meeting its strategic goals and objectives and instantly identify areas of improvement. A KPI software and dashboard will typically include visuals such as graphs, diagrams, tables, and charts that help make it easier for stakeholders and peers to understand the data at a glance.

In addition, a good KPI dashboard provides a comprehensive overview of a company’s performance (the metric part of this tool), allowing managers to identify areas of strength and weakness and adjust as needed. If you’re looking for anything from a sales KPI dashboard to a marketing dashboard, we’ve got some recommendations.

The Top KPI software for your business needs

With so many KPI software and dashboard tools available, choosing the right one for your business can be challenging. Before you pick any tool, you need to consider your business’s size, specific KPIs, budget and ability. It is also essential to choose a user-friendly and easy-to-understand tool, as this will help ensure that your team can use it effectively and not get bogged down with any complicated setups or maintenance.

Choosing the right KPI software for your business needs is essential, so research and find one that meets your specific requirements. With the right KPI dashboard, you can quickly identify areas of improvement and adjust accordingly, helping to ensure long-term success.

Here are our favorite KPI software options to add to your tech stack:

1. Hive

Hive is a popular project management platform that can also be used as a KPI dashboard tool. It offers a comprehensive solution for businesses of all sizes, allowing you to manage projects, track performance, and visualize meaningful data. Hive’s Goals dashboard uses various metrics to paint a picture for your organization. From automation reporting to pulling data from other systems into the Hive Goals dashboard, your business has the tools it needs to input, capture and track it’s most important data points.

Also, with Hive, you can create custom dashboards and set up automated workflows to ensure that your team is always on track. You can also track your KPIs cross-departmentally in real-time, providing a quick and easy way to understand your projects’ performance. In addition, Hive integrates with various other tools, such as Google Drive, Slack, and Trello, making it an all-in-one solution for your team.

Get started with a free 14-day trial of Hive to see how you can track KPIs and achieve results today.

2. Google Analytics

Google Analytics is one of the most popular and widely used KPI software tools. It provides a wealth of data and insights into website traffic and user behavior, making it an excellent choice for businesses of all sizes. While Google Analytics has its own dashboard, it can often be challenging to set up and understand how to slice and dice the information you need.

While it is extremely data-driven and useful, this tool requires additional training and setup than some of the others on this list. However, it is free, easy to set up for basic KPIs and is the place every business needs to start as they work to set up their business goal tracking. This is a very popular marketing KPI dashboard tool.

3. Klipfolio

This dashboard tool offers a range of features and integrations that make it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. With Klipfolio, you can create custom dashboards and reports, making tracking and measuring your KPIs easy.

This cloud-based software platform gives its users a real-time business dashboard with visibility on who is using their data on the web, mobile devices and more. It offers visibility for your most important data and metrics. This KPI software is user-friendly and easy to set up and offers a ton of prebuilt templates for dashboards and examples of successful ways to track metrics and KPIs. 

4. Tableau

A powerful KPI monitoring tool, Tableau provides detailed insights and real-time data. Said to offer “limitless data exploration without interrupting your flow of analysis,” Tableau definitely delivers. Built with a mindboggling amount of ways to slice and dice data for your team, this analytics dashboard is a powerhouse for enterprise clients who want to dig into their metrics.

Perfect for sales, marketing or accounting teams, Tableau’s platform is laser-focused on pulling data out in a way for its stakeholders to understand robust data in the simplest terms, making it both a great KPI software and KPI reporting software.

5. Scoro

Scoro’s KPI software offers a holistic view of each aspect of the business, allowing users to track projects, workflow, and financial KPIs in real time. 

Pricing for Scoro begins with the Essential subscription at $26/user/month and requires a minimum of 5 users. The plan includes projects, calendars, task list & task board, contacts & customers, quotes, invoices & receipts, bills, dashboards and summary of financial reports. One  downside is Scoro doesn’t have a free version, only a free trial, while Asana has a free forever version with limited features.

6. Airtable

Airtable is a project and task management software with the capability to create dashboards with this KPI software. Its completely customizable Interface Designer’s dashboard layout lets you aggregate information, highlight trends, or visualize distribution in charts and graphs.

You can sync the data you need to display on your KPI report directly from your Airtable base into a reporting dashboard. Airtable also offers different views for your data, such as Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and calendar views. Airtable has a free plan with limited functionalities and a paid plan starting at $10/month. 

Unsure if Airtable can create the type of dashboard your team needs? See how Airtable compares to others in the same category.

7. DashThis

DashThis simplifies the process of tracking and monitoring KPIs for marketing campaigns by providing a centralized dashboard that allows users to view all KPIs related to their campaigns in one place. With native integrations to popular marketing tools across all major channels, such as Ahrefs, Semrush, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Mailchimp, users have access to all the data they need.

DashThis also offers a range of ready-made templates and a drag-and-drop interface to customize the dashboard, making it a powerful tool for analyzing marketing campaign KPIs. It is also helpful to use this tool for a general sales KPI performance management software.

8. Polymer

Polymer is an exceptionally user-friendly business intelligence tool. It enables the creation of tailored dashboards and perceptive visualizations, allowing you to showcase your data professionally without any technical configuration. The platform is compatible with various data sources, such as Google Analytics 4, Facebook, Google Ads, Google Sheets, Airtable, Shopify, Jira and more. Additionally, data sets can be easily uploaded using CSV or XSL files.

Something else that makes Polymer stand out is its adaptability for use by all departments within an organization — from marketing and sales to RevOps. For example, marketing teams can utilize Polymer to pinpoint top-performing channels and see how marketing resources impact their conversion rate. Meanwhile, Revenue Operations can perform detailed analyses on the fly.

9. Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is an interactive data visualization and KPI software that allows you to easily connect to various data sources, transform raw data into meaningful insights, and create visually compelling dashboards that highlight your organization’s KPIs. What makes Power BI stand out is its ability to handle large and complex datasets, allowing you to analyze vast amounts of data and uncover actionable insights.

The software offers a wide range of visualization options, including interactive charts, graphs, and maps, enabling you to present your KPIs in a visually engaging manner. Additionally, Power BI provides real-time data updates, so you can monitor your KPIs and make informed decisions in a timely manner.

Its user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality make it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. The software can be accessed on desktop and mobile devices, and pricing starts at $10/user/month.

10. Databox

Databox is a highly effective KPI software that lets users combine data from multiple sources and present them in a visual format. It can integrate with over 100 different data sources, including Google Analytics, social media platforms, CRMs, and many more. This capability allows users to pull in all relevant KPIs into a single platform and visualize them in real-time, aiding the process of making data-driven decisions.

Databox also offers a range of customizable dashboard templates, allowing users to accommodate the presentation of their data to their unique needs. It features a simple to use, drag-and-drop interface that doesn’t require any coding knowledge, and it’s accessible on both desktop and mobile devices. Databox’s alerts and scorecards feature sends updates about important metrics, so you can always stay informed about your performance.

With Databox, users can quickly and efficiently monitor, analyze, and act on their metrics, making it one of the top KPI dashboard options. There’s a free plan for individuals and small teams, and paid plans are available starting at $47/month for growing businesses.

11. Domo

Domo is a powerful KPI dashboard solution with over 150 types of charts, including Trellis charts, data science charts and period-over-period charts. You can customize maps in unique ways with Domo — the platform offers another 7,000 custom maps and also lets you upload your own map. 

Easy to use, Domo also allows you to use drag-and-drop to build dashboards and data visualization interfaces. Domo has a robust filter that lets you sort data without altering the data source of affecting other people’s views. 

You can try Domo for free, if you decide to use the application you’ll need to contact their sales team to get a quote for your company. 

12. Coupler.io

Coupler.io provides a convenient functionality of KPI dashboard software. With this full-scale analytics and automation platform, businesses can automatically gather, transform, and visualize their data in dashboards. Users can choose from ready-made dashboard examples and templates and customize dashboards for their needs effortlessly.

The platform allows exporting data from over 70 popular apps – from accounting software to email marketing tools. Users can check the performance of their Facebook Ads, Google Ads, or other ad campaigns, get viewer insights from their YouTube channels, evaluate sales KPIs, or display financial metrics.

Notably, there is an opportunity to request a custom data source as well as use data consultancy services to build unique KPI dashboards. Coupler.io has a 14-day free trial, during which you can examine its capabilities. Meanwhile, paid plans are available from $49 per month.

How to choose the best KPI dashboard

Now that you’ve seen some of the top KPI dashboards on the market, it’s time to line-up a criteria to what you should consider when choosing the best key performance indicators dashboard for your organization. 

1. Compatibility and Integration

You’ve done the hardest part which is defining what metrics you’ll track to reach your goals and objectives. Now, it’s key that when measuring them you build a dashboard that can fully integrate with the systems your company already has in place. Hive, for instance, offers many integrations to the main databases, CRM, ERP, such as Salesforce, Jira and Hubspot. 

2. Ease of Use and Customization

You also want to make sure your KPI dashboard can be used with ease by your team members. The insights your dashboard will display should help in your decision making and facilitate updates with C-level executives. Make sure the KPI dashboard platform that you choose has an easy navigation, can be customized to your organization needs, offers data visualization capabilities with real-time updates, such as Hive Analytics add-on. 

3. Security and Permissions

Your key performance indicators represent the health of your business and there’s nothing more sacred than that — that’s why you should choose a KPI dashboard that offers security, including data encryption, role-based access controls, and compliance with data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

4. Scalability and Performance:

Evaluate the scalability of the dashboard tool you are selecting. The KPI dashboard should be capable of handling large volumes of data as your business grows. Ensure you run a test for speed of data processing and response time before selecting your key metrics performance platform. 

5. Cost and Value for Money

You can find a KPI dashboard that checks all the boxes of the four points we covered so far, but it wouldn’t matter if you just couldn’t afford to pay for it. Cost can be a key factor when choosing a platform to track your key metrics. Make sure you cover the scalability of your business to the sales reps of the software you are evaluating, after all, if you are planning to grow you want to make sure that’s a steady process without increasing too much on your business cost.

Do you have a KPI dashboard you love that tracks your metrics? Let us know in the comments below!

Projects are largely information technology infrastructure or software development-related, and the project management team works closely with different business units across the company, so cross-departmental collaboration and communication play a key role in the organization’s success. 

We caught up with Michele Fazio, Senior Vice President of the company’s Project Management Office (PMO), to find out how Veros has been using Hive to manage day-to-day operations as the company scales and evolves.

How Veros managed its day-to-day workload before adopting Hive

When Fazio joined Veros in 2015, the project management team was not using a specific project management tool. Fazio and the team adopted another tool, which they used for six years. During this time, Veros grew and evolved, so Fazio and the team began looking for a more robust project management solution to help them meet the demands of their changing workload. They transitioned to a new project management system but found it did not have the functionality to support how they wanted to work. 

“I spent 50-60% of my time just managing the administrative functions of the new platform, just so that people could use it in the way that they wanted to,” Fazio explains. “So, we quickly began looking for a better solution.” 

Veros researched five different project management platforms, exploring their functions and capabilities. Hive stood out to Fazio due to its strong project management functionality and its ability to streamline cross-departmental collaboration.

When Fazio discovered that Hive’s External Users App would enable her to bring people from other departments into her team’s workspace, she saw the potential to create meaningful efficiencies.

Now in their second year of using Hive, Fazio and the project management team have automated over 75% of their project set-up processes and successfully onboarded other teams into the PMO’s Hive workspace. 

“Our Legal and Compliance team are now working in Hive, and we’ve got them up and running on a vendor management platform, so we can manage all our vendors within Hive,” Fazio adds. “We’ve also extended Hive to IT & Dev and are in the process of onboarding them now.” 

Fazio has also moved their CAB (Change Advisory Board) process into Hive, streaming it with a form and approval process. Hive has made it possible to go from a completely manual process to 75% being automated and tracked within the platform.

How projects are organized in Hive

Projects at Veros are mainly information technology infrastructure or software development based. The project management team uses Hive templates to get new projects up and running quickly.

Project Managers (PMs) create new projects using a range of custom project templates, which prepopulate key information, such as tasks, custom columns, and different project views. PMs then input project-specific information, such as project dates and make any necessary changes to customize each new project. PMs also use action card templates for routine actions, such as reminders and project customization. PMs are able to quickly adapt any project plan to meet specific needs with Hive’s built-in functionality, allowing them to spend more time focused on their teams.

Fazio highlights that before using Hive, PMs and the legal team kept track of reminders, such as upcoming contract renewals and vendor reviews via Excel. Now that they are using Hive, they’ve built these reminders into their project templates, so everything can be easily tracked within Hive. 

Overseeing work with Project Views

Hive provides a wide range of viewing options for users to oversee ongoing project work. Fazio explains that Portfolio View, which enables users to look at multiple projects at the same time, is frequently used by the team.

“From a PMO perspective, Portfolio View is ideal, and from a management perspective, I use the analytics and the resourcing views as well as Portfolio View,” says Fazio. 

Using Hive Forms

The PMO uses customized Hive Forms to gather information from people internally or externally for a variety of use cases, including project intake, annual reviews and audit requirements. Fazio and the team have set up custom forms to automatically create action cards in Hive with all the form details automatically populated, reducing the need for manual input.

“Everything is set up in Hive, from form submission to conducting due diligence on annual reviews and meeting audit requirements. We’re now at the point where processes are over 75% automated. So, using Hive takes a lot of that inefficiency and manual overhead out of the picture,” explains Fazio.

Conclusion: The main benefits Veros finds with Hive

Hive has been key in helping the project management team cut time-consuming manual input by automating their project set-up and intake by using templates and custom forms. Fazio also highlights how easy Hive is to work with as a company and how happy she’s been with customer support. 

“We’re now in year two of working with Hive, and it’s been absolutely fantastic. Honestly, your customer service and your support is unmatched in the industry, at least from my experience. From my perspective, it’s been a phenomenal relationship, and the product itself is a great fit for our needs. Hive is ahead of the curve. You all are consistently releasing new functionality that adds value to what we’re doing,” she concludes.

So, what’s next for Veros and Hive? Fazio says the team plans to move the information technology ticketing system into Hive. The company currently has three different platforms for ticketing and plans to consolidate them into just one on Hive.

© 2024 Veros Real Estate Solutions (Veros®), a Veros Software company. All rights reserved. For more information on Veros, visit www.veros.com

However, as a productivity platform whose ultimate goal is to help you work more efficiently, we believe that AI writing tools are here to stay — and here to help. As much as we can see the other side of the argument (not the machines taking over, but the stealing our jobs argument), AI can ultimately be used as a tool to help you do your job better, not completely take it over from you.

We are firmly in the camp that using AI writing tools for content creation can be highly beneficial. If you are also interested in how AI tools can maximize your content output, follow along to learn about the best AI writing tools and how you can implement them into your workflow today.

How to pick the best AI writing tools for your content

HiveMind and RyterAI and JasperAI, Oh my!

While it doesn’t have the same ring as lions, tigers, and bears, it still brings forth the same apprehension that Dorothy Gale from the Wizard of Oz felt: the fear of the unknown and so many to choose from. So where do you start?

If you are overwhelmed by all the AI writing tools on the market today, and their use cases are all blurring together, here are my top AI tools that are definite content contenders.

1. HiveMind

HiveMind is an AI-powered tool built into Hive’s project management product that automates tasks ranging from content writing to data extraction and translation. As one of the only AI writing tools built into a project management platform, this tool leverages NLP algorithms to generate summaries of long articles or documents quickly and accurately.

HiveMind was built to work seamlessly within the Hive project management platform, and can also help generate project outlines, next steps, and respond to emails.

HiveMind’s AI was constructed not to just write blogs and essays for you but to increase user productivity and efficiency across the board. More than just a content builder, it is an assistant, project manager, and editor all in one.

HiveMind Pros:

• Free with Hive plans
• Access OpenAI’s full suite of AI services
• Integrates with Hive’s enhanced suite of project management capabilities
• Creates project tasks based on simple inputs
• Responds to emails automatically

2. JasperAI

JasperAI, formally known as Jarvis, is an AI assistant that helps you brainstorm, edit, and publish excellent content, and is at the top of our AI writing tools list. Powered by natural language processing (NLP), this tool can understand the context of your copy and suggest alternatives accordingly.

It can also provide insights on trending topics and keywords, giving you a better understanding of how to craft content that resonates with your audience. Jasper AI is a popular tool among many writer demographics globally.

JasperAI Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface
• Integrates well with other writing platforms like SurferSEO and Grammarly
• Excellent at writing long-form content like stories or essays

JasperAI Cons:

• Can be pricy
• Can significantly miss the mark, and the content output goes off the rails

3. RyterAI

RyterAI is a natural language processing tool that helps you create content faster, more efficiently, and more accurately than ever before, and one of the best AI content writing tools on the market. RyterAI’s usage of NLP algorithms will read through your text and offers personalized suggestions on how to improve it through grammar, word choices or by increasing clarity. It also identifies popular keywords so you can find the best ones to use for SEO purposes and rankings.

RyterAI Pros:

• Excellent at grammar and spelling checks
• Great at finding keywords to help you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs)
• User-friendly interface

RyterAI Cons:

• It can be expensive if you plan on using it for all your content needs
• The final content still needs some tweaking/editing
• Does not offer additional SEO features or 3rd-party integrations

4. Paraphrasingtool.ai

Paraphrasingtool.ai is a one-stop solution for all your writing needs, issues, and queries. From creating fresh content like articles, blogs, or essays to checking for plagiarism, and grammar mistakes, this website has you covered. Most tools are free to use and accessible from any device. Paraphrasingtool.ai offer applications for mobile users. Premium users get access to complex writing needs. 

Paraphrasingtool.ai Pros:

• Sleek UI, easy to use, and offers free modes and features.
• Users can create, check and finalize their content in one place
• Excellent results that compare with other top paper writing services and free essay writing tools

Paraphasingtool.ai Cons:

• People with limited knowledge of AI tools might face issues using it
• Monthly or yearly paid subscription is required for complex writing needs

5. ChatGPT

You can’t search the web these days without someone mentioning ChatGPT and how it is revolutionizing AI content. But, it is just the new AI kid on the block, with more “fancy” features and a deeper code algorithm that “understands language.”

Essentially, ChatCPT is a conversation AI engine that enables developers to create chatbots and other conversational interface applications.

Unlike other AI writing tools, ChatGPT is an open-source tool with several useful features like text prediction, dialogue flow control, and natural language understanding.

It’s crucial to note that while ChatGPT brings helpful advancements, there are inherent risks associated with generative AI. Vigilance and responsible utilization of such powerful AI writing tools are imperative to mitigate these risks.

ChatGPT Pros:

• Open source platform
• It can be used to build complex conversational applications
• Easy-to-use API’s

ChatGPT Cons:

• Lacks the advanced features of other popular AI tools on the market
• Limited support for languages other than English

6. Byword

Byword is one of the most advanced AI writing tools for producing high-quality AI content at scale, built from years of experience scaling websites with AI-powered SEO. For example, the website Causal went from 0 to 750K/mo SEO traffic in 12 months by only using Byword’s AI-generated content.

You can upload 1,000s of keywords or titles and create SEO-optimized articles in a few clicks. Then publish the articles straight to your website using Byword’s CMS integrations. Simply enter a topic and click ‘generate’ to get started for free.

Byword Pros:

• Best tool for producing AI content at scale
• High-quality GPT-4 powered writing output
• Publish straight to your website with CMS integrations
• SEO features such as indexing, internal linking and more

Byword Cons:

• Less suitable for small businesses or those looking to dip a toe into AI content
• Slightly higher cost than other solutions ($2.50-$3.96 per article)
• The quality of AI images generated could be improved

7. Quillbot

Quillbot is an AI writing tool that takes text input and assists you with paraphrasing, checking grammar, identifying plagiarism and more. The AI-powered assistant can make your thoughts and ideas more coherent and fluent by rephrasing them with changes to vocabulary, tone and style.

Easily customize your text using a slider feature along with a mode selection to adjust the output to your writing needs. You can save time using Quillbot’s summarizer and citation generator features and present your writing with confidence.

Quillbot Pros:

• Can help improve vocabulary and language skills
• Offers additional writing tools and features
• Integrates with multiple platforms

Quillbot Cons:

• May struggle with complex sentences
• Limited customization options in the free version
• Only available in English

Now that you have seen some of the top generative AI writing tools available today, let’s look and see which of the tools is best suited for your content needs. Of course, each tool has its pros and cons, and you might be more comfortable with one interface but like the output of another. For a more in-depth look, check out my winners below, as they might help you pick the right tool for your AI-generated content. 

8. Paraphraser 

Paraphraser AI is an excellent paraphrasing tool that can improve all written works. Paraphraser can find the most suitable synonyms and phrases to craft a compelling and captivating message. The software can also modify sentence structure, expand your word choice pool, change your message voice from passive to active and improve the readability of your copy. Paraphraser offers a monthly and yearly plan and a student package with a special discount rate. 

Paraphraser Pros:

• It’s easy to use, straightforward, and free up to 500 words. 
• Offers plagiarism and grammar checks 
• Students only pay $9 per week for the premium package. 

Paraphraser Cons:

• Limited free package. The premium package costs $23 a month. 
• Website is not user friendly 
• Pop-us and many adds might make navigation confusing 

9. Rapide.ly

Rapide.ly is an AI-powered content generator for social media, allowing entrepreneurs and businesses alike to create captivating posts tailored specifically to their audiences. With Rapide.ly GPT-3 AI-designed brainstorming engine you can craft effective messages that engage your followers across multiple platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Rapide.ly Pros:

• Calendar prompts help your content planning to stay on top of celebration dates
• Weekly design trends for Reels (audio and ideas)
• Monthly content creation challenges to improve your content performance on social platforms

Rapide.ly Cons:

• Pay version only after free trial
• Limited languages (currently, only English and French)

10. Hubspot

HubSpot’s AI Content Writer is an AI writing tool that helps you and your business scale content output for your email, landing page or blog post. By inputting a simple prompt or topic, the AI-powered copywriter tools generate a first draft of engaging, researched, and tailored content for your use.

The AI content writer is designed to be user-friendly and work alongside any of your other HubSpot or external tools. You can provide additional details regarding your brand voice, customer persona, and additional entails to make your content exceptionally unique. Each content produced includes research, proofreading, and even SEO optimizations.

Hubspot Pros:

• Excellent for grammar and proofreading
• Content includes research and search engine optimization
• User-friendly interface and sync with existing HubSpot tools

Hubspot Cons:

• Still in the public beta phase
• Content produced is a first draft which may require some additional tweaks and edits

11. Writesonic

Writesonic is an incredible AI writing software that offers a wide range of features on its platform. With its free plan, users can access 10,000 words on its optimized GPT 3.5 platform, while paid plans are powered by the even more advanced GPT 4. Writesonic also offers innovative products like Botsonic and ChatSonic, which provide customers with additional AI-powered tools. Thanks to Writesonic’s advanced AI technology, users can effortlessly generate high-quality written content in no time. 

Writesonic Pros:

• Saves time and effort in researching and writing articles.
• Helps in generating unique and creative ideas for your content.
• Provides accurate and error-free content that is ready to publish.
• User-friendly interface that is easy to navigate.

Writesonic Cons:

• The AI may not always produce completely accurate copies and may require some human editing.
• Some of the copy generated by Writesonic may sound robotic and strange, requiring additional modification to make it more human-like.

12. Flick AI Caption Generator

Flick AI Caption Generator has emerged as a game changer, revolutionizing caption creation, especially for social media. It leverages the power of AI and Natural Language Processing to generate high-quality and engaging captions. With Flick AI Caption Generator, you will never run out of caption ideas. Just enter a topic, and this tool will generate hundreds of captions within seconds.

Flick AI Pros

• Boosts productivity by generating captions quickly
• Crafts unique and highly personalized captions
• Auto-generates hashtags based on your captions
• Provides suggestions, brainstorming, and outlining support
• Adapts the tone of voice and style of captions to sound like you

Flick AI Cons

• No free plan
• Limited contextual understanding
• Learning curve

13. Simplified

Simplified is one of the top AI writing tools, known for its high-quality content, ease of use, affordability, and comprehensive templates. It uniquely combines GPT with features like image processing and data analysis, going beyond text generation. 

With options for personalization, such as training on custom data, Simplified adapts to users’ evolving needs, optimizing for speed, accuracy, or complex queries. Its AI engine accesses top language models from OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and includes Simplified’s custom model, ensuring a balanced use of technology and reducing dependency on a single source. It is designed for business contexts like marketing and sales. 

Simplified Pros

• Excellent user experience that is simple to utilize
• A vast range of tools
• Library of  designs and templates 
• Excellent social media scheduling capabilities

Simplified Cons

• The presentations are rather basic and need to be polished
• Writer is not superior to Chat GPT

Which AI Writing Tool is best for you?

1. Best AI tool for Generating content automatically

Winner: HiveMind

HiveMind beats out the competition in this category thanks to its free plan, seamless integration with the Hive project management platform, and ability to create project tasks based on simple inputs. This AI tool is perfect as a content assistant that works off of previous successes, and it can be integrated into your current Hive work process.

2. The Best AI tool for writing long-form content

Winner: JasperAI

JasperAI wins this contest, hands down. With its long-form content writing capabilities and integration with other writing platforms like SurferSEO and Grammarly, it gets the long-form blog content job done. It offers excellent prompts to input tone of voice and keywords, and you can also use protective text and suggestions to help write the entire blog for you. Long-form couldn’t be easier with the help of JasperAI.

3. Best AI tool for writing social media posts

Winner: ChatGPT

Will ChatGPT take over the job of a social media manager on the web? Probably not. But helping us create social media tags, posts, and captions is a great way to utilize ChatGPT for content creation in your everyday marking activities.

Furthermore, its open-source platform and conversation AI ability add to the reasons why it’s great for social media posts. And because it can ultimately help you quickly generate engaging content that resonates with your audience, this tool is an excellent addition to any content creator’s arsenal.

From some of my top picks for AI tools to their best use case scenario – you definitely have a lot to consider when picking an AI writing tool for your content. While each one of the tools mentioned will get the job done, some are better than others, and only you can decide what tool will work within your content workflow.

Considering the wide range of AI tools available, it’s essential to find the one that aligns with your specific needs. An AI detector can also help you assess the accuracy and reliability of these tools, ensuring you make an informed decision.

Fun fact: Gantt charts were originally developed to provide a visual representation of work progress and deadlines in large construction projects, such as building ships and buildings. As they were used more and more, charts quickly gained popularity in other industries due to their simplicity and effectiveness in tracking tasks and timelines.

Over the years, Gantt charts have evolved to include more advanced features and integrations with project management software, making them a staple in project planning and execution processes worldwide.

In the 1960s, the Critical Path Method (CPM) and Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) were introduced, revolutionizing project management. Fast forward to the 21st century, project management software has become essential for efficiently managing projects. Tools such as Hive, Trello Asana, and Microsoft Project have made it easier for project managers to plan, track, and coordinate tasks.

These tools help teams collaborate, communicate, and stay on track to meet project deadlines. With the advancement of technology, PM tools continue to evolve, offering more features and functionalities to streamline project workflows and improve project outcomes.

Project management software has become an essential component in today’s fast-paced business world. These tools help teams collaborate, communicate, and stay organized, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. With so many PM tools available on the market, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one for your team.

Understanding Project Management Tools

Project management tools have become essential in maintaining order and efficiency within teams, regardless of their size or industry. These tools help streamline processes, foster collaboration, and improve overall productivity. They encompass a variety of software applications designed to aid in planning, executing, and monitoring projects from inception to completion.

These applications often include features such as task assignments, timelines, budget tracking, and reporting capabilities. The main goal is to provide a centralized platform for teams to work cohesively and efficiently, reducing miscommunication and ensuring everyone is on the same page.

The modern workplace is fast-paced and often chaotic, making it increasingly important for teams to adopt PM tools. Without a structured approach, projects can easily veer off track, leading to missed deadlines and increased costs. A project management app helps in organizing tasks, timelines, and resources effectively.

Moreover, these tools can enhance collaboration, providing a space for team members to share updates and communicate in real-time. They also offer transparency, enabling everyone to see who is responsible for what and how progress is being made, leading to higher accountability and motivation.

Assessing Your Team’s Needs

Identifying Key Features

Before diving into app comparisons, it’s crucial to identify your team’s specific needs. Consider the features that will be most beneficial for your workflow. Common features include task management, calendar integrations, file sharing, resourcing, templates, and reporting tools. Prioritizing these features helps ensure that you choose an app that aligns with your operational requirements.

Engaging your team in this discussion can provide valuable insights. Questions to consider include: What features do they find most useful in their daily work? Are there specific pain points in your current processes? Gathering this information will help you create a focused list of must-have features.

Understanding Team Size and Structure

Your team’s size and structure significantly influence your choice of project management online tools. Larger teams may require more robust applications that can handle multiple users and complex projects, while smaller teams might benefit from more straightforward, user-friendly solutions.

Additionally, consider the roles within your team. If you have specialized roles like developers, marketers, or designers, you may need a tool that caters to the specific needs of those groups. Understanding the dynamics of your team will guide you towards an appropriate solution.

Evaluating Your Workflow

Analyzing your existing workflow is essential for selecting the right app. Identify how tasks flow through your team and where bottlenecks occur. This assessment can help highlight features that will improve efficiency and productivity.

For example, if your team struggles with communication, look for tools that prioritize collaboration and messaging. If project tracking is an issue, consider apps with strong reporting and visualization capabilities. Tailoring your choice to fit your workflow can lead to significant improvements.

Exploring Popular Project Management Apps

1. Hive

Hive is a powerful project management tool that brings together all aspects of project management into one intuitive platform. We might be biased, but features like as task management, time tracking, team collaboration, and project planning, makes it easy for teams to stay organized and focused on their goals. Hive’s user-friendly interface and customizable options make it a great choice for teams of all sizes and industries.

One of the standout features of Hive is its ability to integrate with a variety of other tools and services, such as Google Drive, Slack, and Salesforce. This integration allows teams to streamline their workflows and access all of their project information in one centralized location.

In addition to Hive, there are several other PM tools that are worth considering for your team. Some of these tools include:

2. Asana

Asana is a popular project management tool that offers a wide range of features, including task management, team collaboration, and project tracking. Asana’s user-friendly interface and customizable options make it a great choice for teams looking to improve their project management processes.

This is a common tool that teams chose if they might not have a ton of experience with project management software, but want to start somewhere.

3. Trello

Trello is a visual project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help teams organize and prioritize their work. Trello’s intuitive interface and flexible features make it a popular choice for teams that prefer a more visual approach to project management.

4. Jira

Jira is a project management tool designed for software development teams. It offers features such as issue tracking, agile project management, and release planning, making it a great choice for teams working on complex projects with tight deadlines.

Something to note about Jira is that there is a bit of a learning curve – we’d recommend this as an option best suited for PM experts and teams looking to manage agile workflows and sprints, as it’s one of the best project management tools for agile.

5. Monday.com

Monday.com is a versatile project management tool that offers a wide range of features, including task tracking, team collaboration, and project planning. Monday.com’s customizable options and user-friendly interface make it a popular choice for teams of all sizes and industries.

6. Basecamp

Basecamp is a simple and easy-to-use project management tool that offers features such as task lists, file storage, and team collaboration. Basecamp’s minimalist design and straightforward features make it a great choice for teams looking for a no-frills project management solution.

7. ClickUp

ClickUp is a project management tool that offers a wide range of features, including task management, team collaboration, and project tracking. ClickUp’s customizable options and user-friendly interface make it a great choice for teams looking to improve their project management processes.

Comparing Features and Pricing

When evaluating these tools, create a comparison chart that outlines the features, benefits, and pricing of each option. This visual representation can streamline your decision-making process. Pay attention to both upfront costs and any ongoing subscription fees, as these can vary widely – Hive for example, has very few, while an app like Wrike has many.

Additionally, consider whether the app offers a free version or a trial period, which can allow you to test its features without financial commitment. Doing so helps mitigate risks associated with investing in a new tool.

Reading User Reviews and Testimonials

User reviews and testimonials can provide insights into how a tool performs in real-world scenarios. Websites like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot feature user experiences that highlight both pros and cons of specific software applications.

Look for feedback regarding ease of use, customer support, and any bugs or issues encountered. Pay attention to reviews from teams similar in size or structure to yours, as their experiences may offer relevant insights.

Trial and Error: Testing Apps

Setting Up Free Trials

Once you have narrowed down a few options, take advantage of free trials. Most project management tools offer a limited-time trial period where you can explore the features and functionality of the app. This hands-on approach allows your team to evaluate the tool in a real-world context.

During the trial, set up test projects to simulate actual workflows. Encourage team members to use the tool actively and provide feedback on their experiences, which will help you gauge its effectiveness comprehensively.

Gathering Team Feedback

After the trial period, convene your team to discuss their experiences with the app. Gather feedback on usability, features, and overall satisfaction. This collaborative review process not only helps in assessing the tool but also fosters a sense of ownership among team members.

Consider using surveys or structured feedback sessions to facilitate this discussion. Ask specific questions to identify strengths and weaknesses, which will be invaluable when making your final decision.

Making the Final Decision

Weighing Pros and Cons

After evaluating user feedback and usability, list the pros and cons of each app you’re considering. This analysis can help clarify your preferences and aid in making a well-informed decision.

For example, if one tool excels in task management but lacks in reporting features, weigh that against the needs of your team. Sometimes, less popular tools can offer niche features that align perfectly with your requirements, making them worth considering.

Considering Long-Term Support

As you make your decision, think about the long-term support offered by the software provider. A tool with robust customer service can make a significant difference in troubleshooting issues and ensuring smooth operations.

Research the availability of tutorials, documentation, and community forums. An engaged user community can also be a valuable resource when learning to navigate the tool.

Budgeting for Your Choice

Budget considerations are paramount when choosing project management software. Ensure that your chosen tool fits within your budget, considering both initial costs and potential future expenses as your team grows.

Many tools offer tiered pricing plans based on the number of users or features. Be certain to forecast your team’s growth and needs, as upgrading plans in the future can impact your budget significantly.

Onboarding Your Team

Once you’ve selected a project management tool, the next step is onboarding your team. This phase is critical for ensuring that everyone understands how to use the new software effectively.

Consider hosting a training session to introduce the tool, highlighting key features and functionalities. Providing resources or guides can also assist team members in acclimating to the new platform.

Begin by setting up initial projects within the tool to familiarize your team with the interface. Create sample tasks, assign roles, and establish deadlines to illustrate how the software facilitates project management.

Encourage team members to explore the tool’s features during this setup phase. This hands-on experience will boost confidence and promote engagement from the outset.

Training and Support Resources

Utilizing training resources can enhance your team’s proficiency with the new tool. Many project management applications offer in-app tutorials, webinars, and extensive knowledge bases to guide users.

Encourage your team to explore these resources, and consider scheduling regular check-ins to address any questions or challenges that arise during the transition.

Reviewing and Adjusting

After your team has been using the project management tool for a while, it’s essential to track its impact on efficiency and productivity. Monitor project completion rates, task assignments, and overall team performance.

Soliciting ongoing feedback from your team is vital to ensure that the project management tool continues to serve its purpose. Schedule regular check-ins to discuss what’s working and what isn’t, creating an open dialogue for improvements.

This approach not only enhances team engagement but also leads to continuous optimization of your project management processes. As your team evolves, so too may your project management needs. Be open to adjusting your processes and potentially even revisiting your choice of tools if significant shifts occur.

Stay informed about updates and new features from your chosen app, and remain adaptable to changes within your team dynamics or project requirements.

Choosing the right project management tool can significantly enhance your team’s productivity and organization. By understanding your team’s specific needs, exploring popular options, testing them through trials, and making informed decisions, you can find a tool that serves your unique workflow.

Implementation and ongoing reviews are crucial for ensuring continued success. Remember that the right tool can evolve with your team, making it a vital ally in managing projects efficiently.

Encouragement to Stay Organized and Productive

In today’s fast-paced working environment, staying organized is key to achieving your goals. Embracing a suitable project management tool can make all the difference, allowing your team to thrive in a structured and supportive framework. With the right choices and adjustments, you can foster a culture of accountability and productivity. Keep pushing forward!

FAQs

What is a project management app?

A project management app is a software application designed to help teams plan, execute, and monitor projects efficiently. It typically includes features for task management, collaboration, and reporting.

Why should I use project management tools?

Using project management tools helps improve organization, communication, and accountability within teams. It streamlines processes, reduces miscommunication, and enhances overall productivity.

How do I choose the right project management tool?

Assess your team’s specific needs, prioritize key features, evaluate size and structure, and explore popular options. Testing through free trials and gathering team feedback can also guide your decision.

Can I change project management tools later?

Yes, you can always switch tools as your team’s needs evolve. Regularly review your current tool’s effectiveness and remain open to adjustments for improved efficiency.

What if my team is resistant to using new software?

Address resistance by involving the team in the selection process, highlighting the benefits of the new tool, and providing adequate training and resources to ease the transition.

Why Project Management Tools Matter

If you’ve never used a project management tool, or maybe don’t think your team needs it, let me just share some numbers with you.

Project Management Statistics

First, keep in mind that 77% of high performing or over achieving teams use project management tools. That’s enough to make any team with lofty goals want to consider looking into project management tools instead of using Excel or their Notes app.

Another staggering statistic is that for every $1B invested in the US, over $120M was wasted due to poor project performance. That’s a hefty price tag for a lack of project management expertise and insight.

Overall, software project management tools plays a crucial role in helping teams collaborate, communicate, and stay organized. By choosing the right tool for your team’s needs, you can improve your project management processes and drive greater efficiency and productivity.

Whether you choose Hive, Asana, Trello, or any of the other tools mentioned in this blog post, the key is to find a tool that is intuitive, customizable, and scalable to meet your team’s unique needs. By investing in a reliable project management tool, you can set your team up for success and achieve your project goals more effectively.

However, without proper planning and structure, meetings can quickly become unproductive and time-consuming. This is where meeting agendas play a crucial role in ensuring that meetings are efficient, focused, and productive.

What is a Meeting Agenda?

A meeting agenda serves as a roadmap for the discussion, outlining the topics to be covered, the objectives of the meeting, and the expected outcomes. By establishing a clear agenda before the meeting, participants can come prepared and have a better understanding of what is expected of them.

This helps to keep the meeting on track and ensures that time is used effectively – there’s nothing worse than a meeting that could’ve been an email!!!

A meeting agenda typically has a few components:

• Meeting goals
• Meeting attendees and time
• Meeting format
• Supporting documents
• Action items
• Space for follow-ups

Every team is going to have different processes for meetings and agendas, typically teams will place this agenda in the calendar invite. But better yet, you can use something like Hive Notes that can connect directly to your Zoom meeting and contain all of your necessary items.

Types of Agenda Templates

There are also several types of meeting agenda templates that can be used and leveraged by teams, a few of the most popular.

• Project Kickoff Meeting Agenda Template
• Weekly Team Meeting Agenda Template
• 1 on 1 Meeting Agenda Template
• Formal Meeting Agenda Template

Why Are Meeting Agenda Templates Important?

Meeting agenda templates are a valuable tool for organizing and conducting successful business meetings. These templates provide a structured outline of what topics will be covered during the meeting, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and that time is used efficiently.

One of the key benefits of using meeting agenda templates is that they help to create a sense of focus and direction for the meeting. By outlining the specific topics that will be discussed and the order in which they will be addressed, participants can come prepared and ready to contribute to the discussion. This can help to prevent off-topic conversations and ensure that the meeting stays on track.

Establishing Expectations

A meeting template also help to establish expectations for the meeting. By clearly outlining the objectives and goals of the meeting, participants can understand what needs to be accomplished and can work towards achieving those goals within the allotted time frame. This can help to reduce confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Valuable Reference Tool

In addition, a great agenda template can also serve as a valuable reference tool. By documenting the key points and decisions made during the meeting, the template can be used to track progress and hold participants accountable for their actions and follow-up tasks. It’s a win-win for all involved – and can be used as a format for outlining in-meeting notes and next steps.

Creating The Perfect Meeting Template

Like we mentioned before, Hive Notes are a great place to start pulling together your meeting agenda template. A great part about Hive Notes is that we also have AI integrated, so you can literally just ASK AI to make your perfect meeting agenda template.

To do that, first open up Hive Apps -> Notes. From there, use the blue “+” sign and scroll to HiveMind Assist.

From there, you can just ask Hive Mind to write the perfect meeting agenda template based on the items you drop into the prompt.

Here’s the meeting agenda template that Hive Mind gave us…

The best part?? Hive will do all of the work for you, creating a perfect meeting template that can be modified and customized. Once you’ve got that format and template set, you can continue to make changes or save it as a template. From then on, you can reference this meeting agenda template any time you have a new meeting.

In Conclusion

Overall, meeting agenda templates are an essential tool for effective meeting management, helping to ensure that meetings are productive, efficient, and successful. Whether you’re looking for a project kick-off meeting agenda template, a simple meeting agenda template, a 1 on 1 meeting template, we can get you exactly what you need.

There’s no easier way to create a meeting agenda template than by using Hive to do the work for you. Once your meeting agenda template has been set, you can share that note with teammates or external parties before or after your meeting.

During the meeting, you can also add next steps directly to the note and turn your meeting agenda template into a living, breathing document. You can also add comments, images, and more.

Have feedback for us? Let us know by emailing marketing@hive.com

These plans provide a roadmap for all team members to follow and help ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards a common goal. Better yet, having a project plan template make that roadmap even more clear and replicable across teams.

The Main Benefits of Project Plans

One of the key benefits of project plans is that they provide a clear direction for all team members involved in the project. By clearly outlining the goals and objectives of the project, team members can understand what is expected of them and how their individual contributions fit into the bigger picture. This helps to align everyone’s efforts towards achieving the desired outcome – and that’s even easier with a project plan template.

Project plans also help to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. By outlining the specific timelines and resources required for each phase of the project, project managers can better track progress and make adjustments as needed to keep the project on track.

Hive’s to-do list view pictured above.

This helps to mitigate the risk of delays and cost overruns, which can have a significant impact on the overall success of the project.

Additionally, project plans help to identify potential risks and challenges that may arise during the project. By considering these factors early on, project managers can develop strategies to address them proactively and minimize their impact on the project.

This can help to improve the overall chances of success and reduce the likelihood of unforeseen issues derailing the project. Making project plans repeatable with a project plan template also helps the reduction of issues that could arise.

What Does A Project Plan Template Help You Do?

What’s even better than any old project plan? A free project plan template, built custom for your team and needs. When you’re just starting out, you don’t always have the money, time, or energy to spend on paying someone to build out a complex plan. But our free project plan plan template will cover that for you.

Set Clear Goals

One of the key reasons why project plans are important is that they help teams to clarify their vision and set concrete goals for their project. By outlining the project’s mission, objectives, and strategies, a project plan provides a framework for decision-making and helps to keep the team or organization on track towards its long-term goals – it can even help you automate them.

Without a clear plan in place, it can be easy for teams to lose focus and become overwhelmed by day-to-day operations. That’s why we’re helping you develop this project plan template – it will take you 60 seconds to create, and it will save you HOURS down the line. Here’s why it’s helpful to have a project plan template.

Communicate With Stakeholders

In addition to providing a roadmap for the business, a well-developed project plan also serves as a communication tool for stakeholders. Whether it’s potential investors, employees, or suppliers, a project plan can help to convey the project’s goals and objectives in a clear and concise manner. There’s no easier way to ensure you’re all on the same page than a project template.

This can be particularly important when seeking financing, as lenders and investors will want to see a well-thought-out plan that demonstrates the company’s potential for success.

Anticipating Future Challenges

Another key reason why project plans and a project plan template are important is that they help store and replicate successful past projects. If you’ve got a project template that has been battle-tested and used throughout the course of months and years, it’s easier to guarantee project success.

This level of preparation can also help the business to navigate unforeseen challenges and adapt to changing market conditions.

6 Steps to Writing A Project Plan

Writing a project plan is essential for effectively managing and executing a project. To ensure success, it is important to follow a systematic approach to develop a comprehensive and well-thought-out plan.

The following are the steps needed to write a project plan, whether it’s from a project plan template for Word, or something more complex, like an agile project plan template:

1. Define the project scope: Identify the objectives, deliverables, timeline, budget, and resources required for the project. Clearly outline what needs to be accomplished and the constraints that need to be considered.

2. Identify key stakeholders: Determine who will be involved in the project and their roles and responsibilities. This includes team members, sponsors, clients, and any other relevant parties.

3. Create a work breakdown structure: Break down the project into smaller tasks and subtasks to organize and prioritize the work that needs to be done. This will help ensure that all aspects of the project are considered and accounted for.

4. Develop a timeline: Create a schedule that outlines the start and end dates of the project, as well as key milestones and deadlines. This will help keep the project on track and ensure that tasks are completed in a timely manner.

5. Assign resources: Allocate resources, such as personnel, equipment, and budget, to each task in the project plan. This will help ensure that the necessary resources are available to complete the project successfully.

6. Monitor and control progress: Establish metrics and key performance indicators to track progress and measure the success of the project. Regularly review and update the project plan to address any deviations or issues that arise.

By following these steps, you can develop a well-structured and detailed project plan that will guide the successful completion of your project.

Get Hive’s Free Project Plan Template

We know how hard it is to get started with a business – we started one too! Hive has been around since 2016, but we know that it can be so tricky to get out of the gate.

The good news is that we’ve used our project planning and AI superpowers to bring you a free business plan template that can be customized to your EXACT needs. How you might ask? Our super impressive new AI tool.

All you have to do to get your own personal business plan is visit mind.hive.com and type in the following command: “Create a project plan for me.”

You’ll be able to add in the amount of days you’d like it to plan across, and you can also interact in real-time and add feedback to the AI planner. So if it spits out something that you don’t like, you can just ask the AI to change it.

From there, you can get and download your project plan, get started, and head for world domination. Getting a free business plan template has really never been easier. And you’re in total control!

Best Prompts to Generate a Great Project Plan

With Hive’s project action plan template generator, you’ll need to feed a prompt to the AI. Here are a few places to start:

• “Generate a project plan for a new startup in the cosmetics space looking to launch their first product”
• “Build out a project plan for a construction company looking to kick off three local house builds at once”
• “List the steps I’d need to take to start a business in Colorado”
• “Generate a free startup plan for a non-profit dog adoption agency in Minnesota”

These are just a few places to start! The sky is the limit, and we want this project plan template to be as customized as possible.

Have any feedback for us about project plans? Email us at marketing@hive.com.

What is OKR Software?

These OKR tools are more than just simple programs that track the linear progress of a project from point A to B. Instead, they are complex and robust programs that incorporate project management metrics and can be tailored to your business goals and strategy.

In project management, the system of Objectives and Key Results (OKR) has become a popular way to track a team’s progress. The use of digitally tracking OKRs has opened up a world of possibilities as software companies have created intuitive programs that can be used to measure and monitor your team’s performance by setting objectives with associated key results.

There are several great OKR software tools on the market in 2024. Here we will focus on some of the best, discuss their key features, and determine which OKR software solutions are worth your investment.

What are OKRs and how do they work together?

If you have been following basic project management tactics for your business, the term “Objectives and Key Results” should have popped up along the way. However, if this term is still unfamiliar, I’ll summarize it in simple terms. The term OKR refers to a goal-setting framework that defines and tracks progress toward specific, measurable, and time-bound objectives.

OKRs consist of two parts combined: Objectives & Key Results.

Objectives

These are high-level, qualitative targets an organization aims to achieve. Objectives are typically ambitious and inspiring and help align team efforts that strive toward a common goal. Objectives need to be defined, communicated and reviewed regularly. These objectives are meant to challenge teams and take on ambitious goals. Examples of objectives for your business can include “improve employee engagement or “improve customer satisfaction”.

Key Results

These are quantifiable metrics that measure the progress toward the objectives. Key Results are more aggressive but realistic. They are used to help track the success of the objectives and are part of the equation used to ensure that they are attainable and measurable. Examples of key results for your business can include “Increase participation in company events by 30% by the end of Q2” or “improve customer satisfaction scores by 5%”.

Notice how both objectives and key results work together? For example, you can’t just expect your business to succeed in the objective to “improve customer satisfaction” without the key results stepping in to move it along to hit certain goals or benchmarks.

ORKs work together like a boat works with a rudder. A boat without a rudder can move – it just might not go in the direction you want. Combine the boat and the rudder, like you combine both objectives and key results, and you can get your project moving in the right direction in no time!

Choosing The Right OKR software

When you search for your OKR software, what is your business end game or requirements? Do you need this tracking software for individual goal setting or collaborating on larger team goals? Do you want your tracking platform to have AI capabilities and be suitable for a small team, or do you need enterprise capabilities to scale as your organization grows?

Knowing exactly what your business needs and how you want to track it helps you hone in on what goal-setting platform you need for your short and long-term objectives and results.

Here are some of the top OKR software platforms to help your organization stay on track. 

1. Hive

Hive is a project management platform that allows individual users and businesses to manage projects, track tasks, set goals and monitor progress. To support your OKR-setting needs, Hive has a powerful Goals application that lets users create and track customizable goals and objectives.

Once you create a goal, Hive lets you share it with other users, assign the goal to relevant teammates, track activity and give yourself a deadline. Hive’s Goals dashboard is much more than a list of endpoints — it’s your North Star.

Key features include:

• Creating goals with other team members in real-time
• Sharing of the team’s objectives within a dynamic dashboard
• Accurate tracking with automated notifications and AI assistance
• Project-based goals that populate statuses based on task completion and overdue items

Learn more about Hive’s pricing here.

2. Weekdone

Weekdone is an OKR software tool designed to help large enterprises measure, track and improve their organizational performance. While it does offer long-term goal setting, this platform focuses mainly on, you guessed it, projects worked on and completed during a week. From weekly updates to quarterly meetings, Weekdone’s OKR framework offers an all-in-one solution for businesses that want to increase their team’s productivity and cross-department communications.

Key features include: 

• Team objectives and key results for each department
• Automated reminders for goals
• Interactive real-time dashboards
• Quarterly OKRs mixed with weekly planning and success metrics

3. Coda

Coda is another great option for setting organization-wide OKRs that focus on employee engagement. From creating progress visualizations for stakeholders to connecting OKR tables and analysis to other documents, Coda is the perfect platform for businesses looking to simplify their OKR framework. Coda’s team-building abilities also make it easy to get your whole organization on track, and its interconnected platform ensures that projects are tracked, measured and

Key features include: 

• Prebuilt templates take the guesswork out of your campaigns
• Seamless integration with Slack, Zoom, and other applications
• Useful activity feeds drive and facilitates discussion amongst team members
• Offers “one source of truth” for users

4. Lattice

Lattice is an OKR software designed to help small and medium-sized business track objectives, manage collaboration and share progress. This platform provides a place to track tasks and objectives and allows employees to communicate, engage and grow within their roles freely.

Key features include:

• Integrated goal tracking with performance reviews
• 360-degree feedback
• Real-time messaging and collaboration
• Customizable security settings

5. Trello

Trello is a project management software known for its Kanban boards, which makes an effective way to track OKRs. You can also use lists and card views to see your projects and tasks. Navigate to Trello’s template library and you’ll find pre-made boards with OKR planning. 

In the first column, you’ll see “Objective” (category) and in each card, within the column, you’ll find a “Key Result” (goal/target). With Trello’s OKR template, your team can easily update their progress periodically.  Trello is an intuitive tool, its no-code automation features help you optimize the time spent on repetitive tasks.

Additionally, Trello allows you to invite new members to collaborate in your workspace, track tasks, and use color-coded labels for organization. And it integrates with many popular apps like Slack, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams, so there’s no need to stop using software you already love. Trello has a free version, and its paid plans start at $5 per user/month.

Key features include:

• See your work from multiple angles: Kanban board, timeline, table, calendar, and more
• Automate repetitive tasks and enhance workflow
• Integrate with over a hundred of your favorite tools
• Dozens of premade templates
• Pre-built Trello playbooks designed for all teams

6. Profit.co

Profit OKR is a project management software that helps companies prioritize goals, save time, engage teams and execute strategies with limited resources. Profit OKR dashboard makes it easier to visually track progress and issues, helping managers to adjust tactics and fix project misalignments. You can filter and export files from the dashboard and easily measure performance by department. Profit is free for up to five users. Its paid plan starts at $9/monthly per user.

Key features include: 

• Real-time heatmaps allow managers to identify potential problems easily and push for progress.
• Link your tasks with Key Results with expert-step guidance, and facilitate the progress of Key Results with the assigned tasks.
• Employees can tag colleagues with @mentions which encourages more collaboration, and also they can share their learning with #tags.
• Available for iOs, Windows and Android.

7. ClickUp

ClickUp offers a library of customizable templates, including Company OKRs and Goals. Its flexible framework lets you craft your company’s goals while setting up the important metrics for each team. The template includes filters such as status, custom fields, tags, apps, and view types.

One of the advantages of automated systems on ClickUp is the possibility of working with external apps by integrating them into your workflow. For example, you can automate ClickUp tasks with Google Sheets, Dropbox, Calendly, GitHub, Slack, and Airtable integrations. ClickUp has a free plan, and its paid plan starts at $5 per member/per month. To see how ClickUp stacks up against other tools on the market, check out our complete guide to Click Up alternatives.

Key features include: 

• Automation: allowing users to reduce manual efforts in specific tasks while freeing up teams to focus on other priority goals.
• 50+ pre-built automation to help with workflow automation and processes. 
• Native chat and email, dynamic recurring tasks, customizable board views, and free integrations.

8. PeopleGoal

PeopleGoal is another good choice for tracking OKRs because it provides apps specifically designed for setting and managing objectives. With its OKR app, users can set specific and measurable goals, assign them to individuals or teams, track progress, and receive timely feedback. The platform also offers custom reports and analytics that allow companies to drill deeper into their OKR data and build custom reports with charts, graphs, and interactive data sets. 

Additionally, PeopleGoal provides apps for SMART goals, 360 feedback, continuous feedback, performance reviews, surveys, development plans, one-to-ones, career plans, job families, and more. PeopleGoal has a 7-day free trial and offers a simple plan at $4/user/month with a minimum charge of $199 per month (approximately 50 users). 

Key features include:

• No-code configuration for HR workflows
• Apps for OKRs, SMART goals, 360 feedback, performance reviews, surveys, and more
• Custom reports and analytics
• Seamless workflows across teams.

9. Mooncamp

Mooncamp is a comprehensive OKR software solution with an intuitive and user-friendly interface. It enables businesses, regardless of size, to create, manage, and track their strategic goals effectively, promoting a results-driven organizational culture. By providing visibility into individual, team, and company-wide objectives, Mooncamp fosters alignment and boosts overall productivity. It has real-time tracking functionality that allows for easy progress monitoring, with collaborative features that encourage team engagement, making goal tracking not just a managerial task but a collective effort.

Mooncamp plans start at $6/user/month and you try it out free for 14 days.

Key Features Include:

• Objective alignment across individuals, teams, and the organization
• Real-time updates on OKR progress
• Completely customizable goal system
• Integrates with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, and Microsoft Teams

10. Perdoo

Perdoo is another great OKR software candidate with a strong emphasis on goal alignment and integration. It has an intuitive, user-friendly interface which makes OKR management less intimidating for those who are new to the concept. It guides users through the process of setting and tracking OKRs, ensuring that objectives are clearly defined and results are measurable. The software promotes transparency throughout an organization by displaying how individual objectives fit into the broader company goals.

Perdoo also offers integration with popular tools such as Slack, Google Sheets, Jira, and more. There’s a free plan for up to 10 people and paid plans start at $3.50/user/month.

Key features include:

• ‘Initiatives’ feature that allows you to link tasks and projects to specific objectives
• ‘Health Check’ feature for regularly assessing the progress and status of OKRs
• Resources and coaching services to help businesses with OKR methodology
• ‘Insights’ to analyze the success of OKRs and derive data-driven decisions
• Create custom user roles and permissions

11. Simple OKR

As the name suggests, Simple OKR is a tool designed using the principles of Objectives & Key Results (OKR) methodology to create and track measurable goals. The vision behind Simple OKR is to incentivize employees to see who their work contributes directly to the company’s goals and priorities. How? By setting between three and five high-level objectives that are key to the overall success of your business, this way you will be able to engage each member of your team and inspire them to deliver their needed contributions to make those goals possible. Simple OKR offers a free 7–day trial and their paid plan has a unique tier: $49.99 /month. The plan includes: company, team and personal OKRs, progress tracking with OKR targets, OKR alignment for all team members, Single Sign-on (SAML v2) and unlimited users.

12. Quantive

Quantive is an OKR software known for its easy-to-use interface and project management capabilities. Quantive offers charts, collaboration features such as commenting and notes, it has a vast library of customizable templates and an easy drag-and-drop functionality. The solution also offers task tracking, Gantt charts, and resource management. The platform has a vast library of templates for OKRs, from sales to cash flow to website traffic improvement.

Quantive has a free plan, with limited features and storage.  Their paid plan starts at $18 per user per month.

Key features include: 

• Goal setting
• Progress tracking
• Communication and collaboration
• Reporting and analytics
• Customer support (email, help desk, phone support, 24/7 live rep, chat)

13. BetterWorks

Betterworks is a goal and OKR platform that can help drive strategic organizational alignment and employee performance through its powerful features. Betterworks facilitates the collaboration between managers and direct reports offering transparent snapshots of performance and letting both managers and direct reports add comments or send nudges. Bettworks integrates with commonly used applications and allows employees to quickly update goal progress without even leaving their current application.

Key features include: 

• Goal setting and tracking
• Performance management with 360-degree feedback, performance reviews, and compensation management
• Employee engagement with employee recognition, social learning, and surveys features.
• People analytics with reports that identify trends, make better decisions, and improve overall performance

14. 15Five

15Five’s strategic performance management platform that helps HR leaders and organizations to track performance at ease. The tool lets you set organization and individual goals, collaborate and track goals in a dashboard that gives transparency and accountability to everyone. The reporting capabilities of 15Five’s software helps businesses in their decision making by offering a clear understanding of employee’s engagement, performance and manager effectiveness, as well as turnover. 15Five has four plans, each of them with specific features, goals and limitations.

Its Engage plan starts at $4 per month per user and includes surveys and insights towards engaging employees. Its Perform plan costs $10 per month per user and focuses on feedback and strengthening managers effectiveness with features that include: 360º feedback, Talent Matrix and Career Path and Plans. Its Total Platform plan costs $16 per user per month and includes all the features of Engage and Perform, plus AI assistance. 15Five’s Transform plan offers all the above, plus manager training and coaching and packages starts at $99 a month.

Key features include: 

• Real-time OKR tracking 
• Reporting capabilities
• Surveys, feedback capabilities
• Courses and coaching sessions
• Gamified experience

In Conclusion

While this list is by no means exhaustive, you can see that by evaluating different OKR software options, you’ll be able to find the best one for your organization’s needs. Whether it’s a platform that offers excellent employee communication options or one with stellar goal-tracking metrics like Hive, each tool has unique features that may make them better suited for specific tasks or businesses. For example, if you use Jira, you can explore the potential of integrating Jira OKR solutions into your strategy.

OKRs are a great way to measure progress and ensure success in 2024. By choosing and setting your team up with a new OKR software tool, you can track progress and ensure everyone is on the same page.

Learn more about the teams using Hive here.

Are you more familiar with other tools? Let us know in the comments below!

What’s even better than any old business plan template? A free business plan template. When you’re just starting out, you don’t always have the money, time, or energy to spend on paying someone to build out a complex plan. But our free business plan template will cover that for you.

Why Are Business Plans Important?

One of the key reasons why business plans are important is that they help entrepreneurs to clarify their vision and set concrete goals for their business. By outlining the company’s mission, objectives, and strategies, a business plan provides a framework for decision-making and helps to keep the business on track towards its long-term goals – it can even help you automate them.

Without a clear plan in place, it can be easy for entrepreneurs to lose focus and become overwhelmed by day-to-day operations.

Communicate With Stakeholders

In addition to providing a roadmap for the business, a well-developed business plan also serves as a communication tool for stakeholders. Whether it’s potential investors, employees, or suppliers, a business plan can help to convey the company’s vision and objectives in a clear and concise manner.

This can be particularly important when seeking financing, as lenders and investors will want to see a well-thought-out plan that demonstrates the company’s potential for success.

Anticipating Future Challenges

Another key reason why business plans are important is that they help entrepreneurs to anticipate potential challenges and develop strategies to overcome them. By conducting market research, analyzing competitors, and forecasting financial performance, entrepreneurs can identify potential obstacles and develop contingency plans to address them.

This level of preparation can help the business to navigate unforeseen challenges and adapt to changing market conditions.

Get Hive’s Free Business Plan Template

We know how hard it is to get started with a business – we started one too! Hive has been around since 2016, but we know that it can be so tricky to get out of the gate.

The good news is that we’ve used our project planning and AI superpowers to bring you a free business plan template that can be customized to your EXACT needs. How you might ask? Our super impressive new AI tool.

All you have to do to get your own personal business plan is visit mind.hive.com and type in the following command: “Create a business plan for me.”

You’ll be able to add in the amount of days you’d like it to plan across, and you can also interact in real-time and add feedback to the AI planner. So if it spits out something that you don’t like, you can just ask the AI to change it.

From there, you can get and download your project plan, get started, and head for world domination. Getting a free business plan template has really never been easier. And you’re in total control!

Best Prompts to Generate a Free Business Plan Template

With Hive’s free business plan template generator, you’ll need to feed a prompt to the AI. Here are a few places to start:

• “Generate a business plan for a new startup in the cosmetics space”
• “Build out a business plan for a California based construction company looking to grow nation-wide”
• “Give us a free business plan template for a family-run clothing business that wants to grow to $1M revenue in 2025”
• “List the steps I’d need to take to start a business in Colorado”
• “Generate a free startup business plan template for a non-profit dog adoption agency in Minnesota”

These are just a few places to start! The sky is the limit, and we want this free business plan template to be as customized as possible.

For a restaurant, the KPI could be reservations, meals ordered, or total sales volume. For an individual in a corporate sales structure, the KPI could be cold calls, MRR, or ARR generated.

Defining KPI for Your Business

KPIs are essential in providing organizations with valuable insights into how well they are performing and if they are on track to achieve their desired outcomes in project management especially.

As we noted above, these indicators can vary across different industries and businesses, depending on their goals and priorities. Common KPIs include metrics related to sales, revenue, customer satisfaction, employee performance, operational efficiency, and more.

If you’re looking to set KPIs for your team, we’d recommend starting at the lowest common denominator – is there something that everyone collectively is responsible for? One thing that people can rally behind? If we’re using a fast casual restaurant example, the answer would likely be meals sold.

Other KPI examples:

1. Customer retention rate – a key performance indicator for companies like Apple, measuring the percentage of customers who continue to purchase Apple products and services over a specific period of time.

2. Revenue growth – a key performance indicator for companies like Amazon, tracking the increase in revenue generated from sales and services over time. This requires measuring daily, weekly, or monthly revenue and plotting changes over time.

3. Employee productivity – a key performance indicator for companies like Google, measuring the efficiency and output of employees in terms of projects completed, tasks accomplished, and overall performance. This would require things like task completion ratios, employee satisfaction surveys, and manager reviews.

4. Website traffic – a key performance indicator for companies like Facebook, monitoring the number of visitors and user engagement on their website, app, or platform. This is strictly based on visitors to site, so it’s easy to track and reference over time.

By setting and monitoring KPIs, companies can make informed decisions, identify areas for improvement, and drive overall business success.

How KPI Metrics Power Success

KPIs help businesses stay focused on their strategic goals and ensure that efforts and resources are aligned with these objectives. They provide a way to measure progress towards key targets and enable management to make data-driven decisions. They also help in identifying trends, patterns, and areas of concern that may need to be addressed promptly.

By setting realistic KPIs and regularly monitoring them, businesses can stay focused on their strategic objectives and make necessary adjustments to achieve their desired outcomes. Ultimately, these goals serve as a powerful tool in empowering organizations to drive success and alignment, and bring teams or groups of people together with common goals.

Best Tools Tracking & KPI Dashboards

As you start to lay out the KPIs for your team, you want to hold up your end of the bargain by tracking and understanding progress of these KPI data points over time. That’s why it’s always best to have a tool for reporting KPI changes, tracking KPI progress, and more. Here are a few of our favorites:

Hive

Hive is known for being a powerful project management software, but they recently launched their robust Dashboards functionality which is the perfect KPI tracking tool. With dashboards, users can bring in stats from inside Hive, i.e. tasks completed, actions outstanding, average time spent on a project, goal progress, and more in ONE central dashboard.

In terms of time savings, Hive has you covered – you can do everything, from team communications to PM, in the same place. And use that data to make informed decisions about your goals and track trends over time.

Want to try Hive? Here’s a 14 day free trial.

Tableau

Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool that allows users to create dynamic and interactive dashboards. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to connect to various data sources and customize dashboards to suit specific business needs.

With its advanced analytics features and drag-and-drop functionality, Tableau is a popular choice for organizations looking to visualize and track key performance indicators effectively.

Power BI

Power BI is a cloud-based business intelligence tool that enables users to create visually appealing dashboards with real-time data updates. Its intuitive interface allows for easy data exploration and customization, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.

Power BI also offers advanced data modeling capabilities and integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products, making it a versatile tool for creating insightful dashboards.

Klipfolio

Klipfolio is a cloud-based dashboard platform that specializes in creating dashboards for businesses of all sizes. Its wide range of data connectors and visualization options make it easy to track key performance indicators from multiple sources in one centralized dashboard.

Klipfolio also offers advanced features such as data blending, formulas, and data alerts, allowing users to create highly customized and actionable dashboards to drive business decisions.

Domo

Domo is a cloud-based business intelligence platform that provides users with the tools to create visually appealing and interactive dashboards. Its drag-and-drop interface, extensive data connectors, and pre-built templates make it easy to design and customize dashboards to track key metrics in real-time.

Domo also offers advanced features such as predictive analytics, data sharing, and collaboration tools, making it a comprehensive solution for organizations looking to create impactful dashboards.

Setting Up KPI Tracking

Once you’ve chosen your preferrer KPI tool, gotten your primary goals laid out, what’s next? Whether it’s a sales KPI, social media KPI, or something totally different, you need to stay on track when it comes to reporting and data management. Without your team contributing to proper reporting and tracking, the power of the tool isn’t going to matter

You Need Team Buy-In

Proper and accurate data collection is crucial when tracking Key Performance Indicators in any organization. As we’ve discussed, these are absolutely essential metrics that help businesses evaluate their progress towards specific goals and objectives. Without accurate data, organizations cannot make informed decisions, set realistic targets, or measure their overall performance effectively.

Accurate data collection ensures that the KPIs being tracked provide a true reflection of the organization’s performance. If the data collected is inaccurate or incomplete, it can lead to misleading results and the organization may end up making decisions based on faulty information. This can have serious consequences for the business, impacting its ability to achieve its strategic objectives and hindering its overall success.

Proper data collection also ensures that KPIs are consistent and standardized across the organization. It allows for a comparison of performance across different departments or teams, enabling leaders to identify areas for improvement and allocate resources effectively.

Accurate data collection is also essential for benchmarking against industry standards and competitors, providing valuable insights into the organization’s position in the market. By investing in accurate data collection processes, organizations can enhance their performance measurement and drive continuous improvement.

How To Encourage Team KPI Tracking

If you’re struggling to get your team aligned with KPI tracking, here are a few strategies for ensuring buy-in across the organization.

1. Clearly communicate their importance:

Team members need to understand why tracking these metrics is essential for achieving the team’s goals and objectives. Clearly explain how they are connected to the overall success of the team and how they can help in measuring progress and identifying areas for improvement.

2. Set specific and actionable performance indicators

Ensure that they’re are relevant, measurable, and achievable. Work with team members to establish goals that are aligned with the team’s objectives and that can be easily tracked and monitored.

3. Provide training and resources

Offer training and resources to help team members understand how to track data effectively. Provide guidelines, templates, and tools that can assist in monitoring and analyzing data.

4. Recognize and reward progress

Acknowledge and celebrate team members who are successful in tracking these key performance indicators and achieving their targets. Consider implementing rewards or incentives for those who consistently meet or exceed their KPIs.

5. Regularly review and discuss KPIs

Schedule regular meetings to review progress and discuss any challenges or obstacles that may be hindering achievement. Encourage open communication and collaboration to address issues and make necessary adjustments to improve tracking.

In Conclusion

Overall, KPIs play a vital role in the success and growth of any organization. These key performance indicators help to track the progress towards achieving business objectives, identify areas that need improvement, and make informed decisions based on data rather than assumptions.

By regularly monitoring KPIs, businesses can measure their performance, optimize their processes, and stay competitive in today’s dynamic market. It is essential for companies to establish clear, relevant, and measurable KPIs that align with their strategic goals. Ultimately, having a solid system in place for tracking KPIs can drive efficiency, accountability, and overall success within an organization.

This article will explore various tips and strategies to aid in project management for small businesses. By implementing these techniques, small business owners can improve their project planning, execution, and monitoring, leading to greater success and growth.

Throughout this article, we will discuss the key components of project management for small businesses, including defining project scope and goals, building an effective project team, creating a project plan, managing and monitoring progress, managing project risks, and closing out the project. Let’s dive in.

Step 1: Defining Project Scope and Goals

Defining project scope and goals is an essential strategy in project management for small businesses. It involves identifying the project’s requirements and deliverables, setting project goals and objectives, and defining the project timeline and milestones. This strategy helps small businesses clarify what they need to achieve through their projects, the timeline for completion, and how they will measure success.

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By defining the project scope and goals, small businesses can effectively plan and allocate resources and ensure that everyone on the project team is aligned on the project’s purpose and vision. A well-defined project scope also helps small businesses stay focused on the essential aspects of the project and prevents scope creep, which can lead to delays and budget overruns.

To define the project scope and goals, small businesses should engage key stakeholders of the project, such as customers, suppliers, and team members, to identify project requirements and determine the project’s scope. This process ensures that everyone understands what the project entails, the outcomes to be achieved, and what success looks like. Small businesses should also set clear objectives and goals that are measurable, specific, and time-bound, enabling them to track progress and measure success.

In summary, defining project scope and goals is an essential strategy for kicking off project management for small businesses. By clarifying the project’s purpose, timeline, and success metrics, small businesses can effectively plan, allocate resources, and ensure that everyone on the project team is aligned, leading to successful project completion.

Step 2: Building an Effective Project Team

Building an effective project team is a crucial component of successful project management for small businesses. It involves identifying team members, developing clear roles and responsibilities, and establishing effective communication to ensure that everyone is working together towards the project goals.

To begin, it is important to identify the skills and expertise required for the project and to select team members with the appropriate qualifications and experience. It is also important to consider team dynamics and ensure that team members have a positive working relationship and can collaborate effectively.

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Once the team has been established, it is important to develop a communication plan that outlines how team members will communicate with each other and with project stakeholders. This plan should include regular team meetings, progress updates, and channels for resolving issues or conflicts.

To ensure that each team member understands their role and responsibilities, it is essential to define clear and specific tasks and sub-tasks. Each team member should be aware of their contribution to the project and the timelines and deadlines associated with their tasks.

Finally, effective project team management requires ongoing monitoring and adjustment as needed. This includes regular progress updates, open communication with team members, and addressing any issues or conflicts that arise. By building an effective project team, small businesses can ensure that their projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the satisfaction of stakeholders.

Step 3: Creating a Project Plan

Creating a project plan is a critical step in project management for small businesses. It is essential to have a clear understanding of what the project entails, what resources are required, and what the timeline for completion is. The following are some key points to consider when creating a project plan:

Firstly, the project manager should define the project tasks and sub-tasks. This involves breaking down the project into smaller, more manageable tasks, and identifying any dependencies or interrelated tasks.

Secondly, it is crucial to develop a project timeline and schedule. This involves estimating the time required for each task and sequencing the tasks in a logical order. The project manager should consider any potential bottlenecks or delays, and build in some contingency time to allow for unforeseen events.

Lastly, it is essential to allocate resources and budget appropriately. This involves identifying the resources needed for each task, including personnel, equipment, and materials. The project manager should also estimate the cost of each task, and develop a budget that covers all project expenses.

By creating a project plan, small business owners can ensure that their projects are well-organized and that they have a clear roadmap for achieving their goals. A good project plan can help to avoid delays, manage resources effectively, and ensure that the project is completed on time and within budget.

Step 4: Managing and Monitoring Progress

Strategy 4: Managing and Monitoring Progress is a critical component of successful project management for small businesses. The purpose of this strategy is to ensure that the project stays on track and achieves its goals within the defined timeline and budget.

To manage and monitor progress effectively, the project manager should utilize a project management system that enables them to track project milestones, identify potential roadblocks, and take corrective action as needed. This system should include regular check-ins with team members to evaluate progress and ensure that everyone is aware of any changes or updates to the project plan.

It is also essential to maintain open communication with team members to ensure that they have the support and resources they need to complete their tasks on time. This includes addressing any issues or concerns promptly, providing feedback, and recognizing team members for their contributions to the project.

Regular project status reports should be produced and shared with stakeholders, outlining the project’s progress and any changes to the project plan or timeline. These reports can help keep stakeholders informed and involved in the project, promoting transparency and building trust.

Overall, effective project management requires continuous monitoring and management of progress to ensure that the project stays on track and achieves its goals. By implementing a project tracking system, maintaining open communication with team members, and providing regular status reports to stakeholders, the project manager can help ensure that the project is successful.

Step 5: Managing Project Risks

Managing project risks is a crucial component of project management for small businesses. In order to ensure project success, it is important to identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.

The first step in managing project risks is to identify potential risks. This can be done by brainstorming with the project team and stakeholders to determine any factors that may impact the project negatively. These risks can be categorized into different types, such as technical, financial, or environmental risks, with a consideration for alternative financing.

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Once risks are identified, a risk management plan can be developed. This plan should outline strategies for addressing each risk, including preventative measures, mitigation strategies, and contingency plans. Preventative measures may include implementing quality control processes or adding redundancies to minimize the likelihood of a risk occurring.

Mitigation strategies may include developing alternative plans to address a risk if it occurs. Contingency plans should be in place in case a risk does occur and should include steps to minimize the impact of the risk on the project timeline and budget.

It is important to monitor and address risks throughout the project lifecycle. Regular risk assessments should be conducted to ensure that any new risks are identified and addressed. Communication with the project team and stakeholders is also crucial, as they may have valuable insights into potential risks and can provide feedback on risk management strategies.

By effectively managing project risks, small businesses can ensure that their projects are completed on time and within budget, minimizing the impact of unexpected events on their operations.

Step 6: Closing Out the Project

The final stage of a project management process is closing out the project. It is an essential stage as it involves evaluating the success of the project, gathering feedback from team members and stakeholders, and documenting project lessons learned for future reference. Here are some key aspects of the last step: closing out the project:

Firstly, evaluate the success of the project. This includes measuring project performance against its goals and objectives. It is important to identify any areas where the project did not meet expectations and understand why. This will help in planning future projects.

Secondly, gather feedback from team members and stakeholders. This feedback can be obtained through surveys, interviews, or meetings. It is essential to understand what worked well and what could be improved upon in the next project.

Lastly, document project lessons learned. This is crucial for the continuous improvement of project management processes. Documentation should include information such as what worked well, what did not work, and what could be improved. It is important to share this information with other project managers in the organization to help them learn from the experience.

In conclusion, closing out the project is a critical aspect of project management. It provides an opportunity to evaluate the success of the project, gather feedback from team members and stakeholders, and document project lessons learned.

By following this strategy, small businesses can continuously improve their project management processes, which will lead to increased efficiency, effectiveness, and success.

Top Project Management Tools for Small Businesses

Now that we understand the benefits of these tools, let’s talk about the best project management software for small businesses. Here are a few of our picks to help your team stay on track:

1. Hive

Hive is a powerful project management tool that helps teams streamline their workflow and collaborate more efficiently. It offers a variety of features, including project templates, task management, time tracking, team collaboration tools, and analytics.

One of its unique features is its ability to integrate with other productivity tools such as Google Drive, Slack, and Zoom, making it easy to manage projects from one central location. Hive also provides a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for team members to navigate and use.

Whether managing a small project or a large team, Hive is a flexible and reliable project management tool that can help teams stay organized and productive. Hive offers a free 14-day trial to get started today.

2. ClickUp

ClickUp is a powerful project management tool that offers many features to help businesses manage their projects efficiently. It provides a central hub for managing tasks, calendars, goals, and other project-related information, enabling teams to collaborate and work together seamlessly. ClickUp offers a customizable workspace that allows businesses to tailor the tool to their specific needs and workflows.

The tool offers features such as task management, time tracking, document management, and integrations with other popular tools. Its user-friendly interface and extensive functionality make it an excellent option for project management for small businesses.

3. Monday

Monday.com is a popular cloud-based project management tool that helps teams to collaborate and manage projects effectively. It offers a user-friendly interface with customizable templates that make it easy for teams to organize their tasks, track progress, and meet deadlines. With Monday.com, team members can communicate seamlessly, assign tasks, and share files, making it an excellent tool for remote teams.

The platform also features Gantt charts, a timeline view, and a calendar view that allow teams to visualize project progress and adjust their plans as needed. Monday.com integrates with other apps such as Slack, Google Drive, and Trello, making it a versatile tool for project management for small businesses.

4. Basecamp

If your small business needs a project management software that is cost-effective, Basecamp is a good solution. Basecamp is a simple-to-use, no-code platform, ideal to work on projects among multiple departments. The tool has templates, group chat, inbox notification, built-in time tracking, the ability to assign priority levels to tasks, and generates data reports.

Basecamp offers a free plan with limited features, and its Business plan has a flat fee of $99 per month. If you are unsure if this is the best free project management software for your team, check out our guide for Basecamp alternatives.

5. Asana

Small business owners often need a project management system that can serve their task tracking needs while staying on a budget. Asana can be a great solution as it offers a free plan to up to 15 people. Asana’s free plan lets your small team collaborate, create unlimited tasks, projects, messages, activity logs and unlimited file storage (100MB per file). As an agile tool, Asana has features to streamline work pipelines and easily spot bottlenecks and backlogs.

The platform is built on tasks, which can be grouped into larger projects and assigned out to individual team members. Asana has flexible dashboard views, such as Kanban, board, Gantt chart and calendar view. Asana has a free plan with limited features. Its paid plan unlocks premium features and starts at $57 per user, per month billed annually.

To see how Asana stacks up against other tools on the market, check out our full guide to Asana alternatives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, project management for small businesses is a critical process that helps teams achieve their goals efficiently. By defining project scope and goals, building an effective project team, creating a project plan, managing and monitoring progress, managing project risks, and closing out the project, small businesses can ensure that their projects are successful and deliver the desired outcomes.

To achieve success in project management, it is essential to maintain open communication with the team members and stakeholders, allocate resources and budget wisely, and adjust the project plan as needed. Furthermore, it is crucial to document lessons learned from each project to improve future projects and increase the chances of success.

It is essential to remember that project management is an ongoing process that requires ongoing attention and refinement. Small businesses must continue to evaluate their project management strategies and adjust them as necessary to ensure that their projects continue to be successful. By implementing the tips and strategies outlined in this article, small businesses can effectively manage their projects and achieve their goals while remaining competitive in their industry.