Project management software suggestions please.

[snipe12]

I need some form of project/event management software.

We book conferences all over the world but the people we deal with are the speakers and educators rather than delegates so none of the software seems to suit or has a million and one features.

Already have custom booking software etc so all I need is a reminder system of sorts.

In my head it's a first page listing the event name. Under each event name heading there would be a list of tasks still to do on that event with due dates. Some form of reminder for overdue tasks and a notes box within each event. I was tempted to get something custom but I don't know exactly what other features I might find useful at this early stage. I quite like CloakingIT but it's online based when I need offline.

Ideally I am looking at under £300 a user but could push up to about £500 for the perfect one if this is realistic?

Any suggestions would be very helpful.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Carsie]

I can probably help you .

I'm around this afternoon if you'd like to call or alternatively drop me line.

I need a little more detail about what you're currently using and what other software you have- what your "pain points" are etc

Contact details on my website -

 

[movietub]

Purely from a point of view of ease of sharing I would suggest MS project.

It enables you to differntiate between movable blocks of work (milestones) and those that are fixed time, and prioritises resources around these rules.

Of benefit to you will be that it ties in to MS outlook and is able to email clients, contractors etc with progress reports, new deadlines and availability of resources (such as staff).

It also prints fantastic charts showing who does what and when, including people or events that rely upon each other to complete. These can then be turned into PDF's and emailed around.

We use and it saves a lot of arguments. Everytime we alter any plans at our end we update the project file and email everyone. In other words, no one can ever say we didn't communicate and we never get the blame for anything much these days!

 

[garyk]

All the projects I have worked have used M$ project.

 

[movietub]

All the projects I have worked have used M$ project.

M$

I don't want to get into the MS monopoly arguments... But I would think project is about the only piece of software that is so widely used in project planning that it can be shared in a dynamic fashion.

Sure you could pick up software which does the same for less, but you can't share the files of course.

All the major build projects I work on use project, so we use it too.

 

[snipe12]

I can probably help you .

I'm around this afternoon if you'd like to call or alternatively drop me line.

I need a little more detail about what you're currently using and what other software you have- what your "pain points" are etc

Contact details on my website -

Hello.
I don't use anything for the project planning other than paper files. I use a bespoke system to book people on to the events and keep a record of contract days used and the names of the events plus notes but the little bits like book flights for x person using x airline is something which is on paper which will just get messy.

Before this was possible but my work load is set to triple in the next month so I imagine it will become an issue.

Will have to check out MS project. I have already tried MS Access to make something and it seems ok actually if a little too basic.

Thanks everyone.

 

[movietub]

Hello.
I don't use anything for the project planning other than paper files. I use a bespoke system to book people on to the events and keep a record of contract days used and the names of the events plus notes but the little bits like book flights for x person using x airline is something which is on paper which will just get messy.

Before this was possible but my work load is set to triple in the next month so I imagine it will become an issue.

Will have to check out MS project. I have already tried MS Access to make something and it seems ok actually if a little too basic.

Thanks everyone.

If you haven't got the full office package already then I would say go that route. To get the best out of Project you need Outlook also.

For example booking flights. We tag the booking email to the event on Project and make it downloadable by all parties. So all those paper notes of yours become electronic and instantly viewable wherever you are!