Let’s pretend for a moment that we’re all using project management software that is keeping our projects and deadlines from becoming a mess of overdue items. Let’s pretend that we’re not perplexed by the complexity of the software and that its very presence is helping improve the work culture of our organization. Let’s pretend that it helps you manage your team and your projects so efficiently that no tasks are falling through the cracks and large business goals are being met. Now, here’s the hard question. Is the software you’re using to manage your work right now giving you these advantages? If not, it’s time to switch to Wrike (www.wrike.com)
Wrike is an online project management tool that turns all those pretend moments in the preceding paragraph into reality. How does it accomplish that great feat? Let’s find it out!
An initial look at Wrike gives you the dashboard, a virtual “lobby“ area where users are directed to upon first logging into their account. This is the area where task management happens, users go to see lists of tasks that need to be done when managing project workloads. When you imagine a lobby area, you might picture hundreds of people coming in and out, bringing then leaving numerous files and folders, tasks that have to be completed by the next day. But here, the developers behind Wrike have made sure that the interface is clean and coherent. There are three window panes for the folder list, the task list, and for the task descriptions. You begin by creating a task that can have additional subtasks under it. It’s like setting a goal for your own self or creating a small task that is part of a larger project. Then you can assign these tasks to yourself or to different team members and supervise their progress right from the same screen. You never have to leave the workspace with this collaboration tool in your hands. Moreover, you don’t even have to guess about the performance of any project as Wrike can output detailed reports in a few simple steps. So with Wrike, you’re always in control!
Wrike gives your entire organization tools for project management no matter what department someone is in. So whether you’re working in the marketing team or as a production head or as a sales consultant, Wrike can help you organize and manage your work. For example, the Wrike email integration (for Apple Mail, Google Apps, or Outlook) lets you convert any incoming email directly into tasks, saving you a lot of time and obviously, headache! There are numerous other features like cloud storage integration (with Google Drive, Dropbox and Box), document editor, and Gantt charts that always come in handy when trying to balance the workload of several people.
The user interface is easy to use, and can be customized both to your tastes and your team needs. Whether it’s handling your neverending list of to-do items or making sense of complex projects, you’ll never lose track of your tasks. You’re always in control. Adding to further flexibility, Wrike has released its iOS and Android apps as well. So wherever you go, Wrike access goes with you! There is even an extension for the Google Chrome browser that makes it easy to turn any website into a task.
With Wrike, you can always make use of the free plan for really small teams. But if your organization is growing, there are paid subscription plans starting from $49/month for 5 users. If you have specific requirements, flexibility is their speciality. So if you’re still pretending to like your previous project management software, stop. You won’t need to pretend when you switch to Wrike.
Pros: easy-to-use, coherent interface; email integration; team-collaboration; iOS and Android apps available; Chrome extension; free plan available.
Cons: none.