8 Benefits of Cloud-Based Project Management
Of the multitudes of realizations that came out of the pandemic, one of them was that
we can’t keep all our knowledge in our desks. The day may come when our co-workers can’t
come by and ask for that piece of paper with that list of stuff on it that we always
keep in the second drawer on the right.
And one day we may not be able to get to the second drawer on the right. Who knew?
This has created a huge push toward a more centralized system of operations and
knowledge storage.
Enter cloud-based computing and even more important: cloud-based
project management.
The ability for multiple staff and even multiple organizations to have simultaneous
access to documents, project information and applications to do business.
So, what exactly is cloud-based project management?
This is software that allows you to coordinate all the collaboration, planning,
delivery and monitoring of projects all in one space that is independent of the
location of the team members. This enables team leaders and employees to work
using all the tools in the software in real time simultaneously rather than
relying on a relay system of handing off information and waiting for responses
before completing the next step in a process. It makes managing projects easier
for all involved because it reduces time lag and increases communication.
How is this beneficial? Following are eight ways that cloud-based project management
and computing are the way to go in today’s business climate.
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Ease of Access
This is one of the most useful benefits of a cloud-based project management
computing system because it allows employees to access information in the cloud at any
time from anywhere as long as there is an internet connection where they are.
And it also allows access from various devices such as tablets and smartphones.
Team members don’t need to have a connection to a company server or work on a
specific platform to get the information they need or to share with other team members.
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Ease of Use
Sometimes being hooked into a company server often requires additional training and
logistical issues. Cloud-based systems require none of this. No additional tools and
no additional training. All you need is an access point and you are in business.
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Cost Efficiency
Servers are expensive. And the bigger the project and the number of team members,
the more power required of servers and other computer systems. That means big bucks
for companies. Cloud-based project management systems need none of this to work. Because of this
increased efficiency in cost and process, cloud computing has become the standard
for customer experience. This translates to greater profitability and will
ultimately increase your bottom line.
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Increased Productivity
There’s no doubt that productivity increases when everything is in one place and
information can be easily accessed. Sharing documents and leaving comments where
the entire team can function as if everyone were in the same space without having
to write anything down or share anything physically speeds up communication time
immensely. This results in increased productivity and shorter turnaround times.
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Increased Collaboration
When you don’t have to wait for a reply; when you can see immediately and in real
time what your team members are working on; that fosters increased collaboration.
Not having to send emails back and forth. Not having to leave messages in phone
calls. A cloud-based system can eliminate almost all of this. In addition, the
tools within cloud-based software enhance collaboration, making it easier for
teams to work together on a project.
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Reduced maintenance
Servers and server-based software require maintenance and upkeep. Have you ever
logged on to your laptop and gotten one of those update notices and lost an hour
of your time while it processes? The cloud never has to do that! Cloud-based
computing means you’ll never have to wait for a technician to reboot your server
or manage your software. At most, you might have to deal with a slow or downed
internet connection for a bit.
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Remote Team Support
The other big outcome of the pandemic is a lot of our workforce went home and
never came back. Remote working that started as a way to promote health and
safety quickly became a permanent solution to an improved work/life balance
and reducing corporate brick and mortar footprint. Finding solutions to having
a remote workforce introduced the benefits of cloud-based project management
in order to facilitate team members sharing information when working from
multiple locations.
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Reduced Time Spent on Projects
Project Managers spend a lot of time considering time. The amount of time
certain aspects of a project are going to require. The overall time required
to complete a project. Cloud-based project management can reduce the time on
all these. Team members and managers can visualize and create projects more
thoroughly including developing timelines and tracking how much time each
task requires. Roles are better defined and everyone completes their task
in a timely manner to meet deadlines.
It’s very easy to see how cloud-computing and cloud-based project management has
tremendous advantages for today’s project managers and project teams. There are
many ways that working in “the cloud” can increase productivity, reduce redundancy
and make the workflow much smoother. If your organization hasn’t explored the
benefits of cloud-based computing and project management, it may be time to give it a look!
Sources:
https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/benefits-of-cloud-project-management
https://www.globaldots.com/resources/blog/cloud-computing-benefits-7-key-advantages-for-your-business/