Online project management tools – project management made easy

September 22, 2023
By:  Ben Davidson

Several new online project management tools now make online Internet collaboration with coworkers, clients, friends, or family easy and intuitive. Basecamp, Intranets.com, and Groove are three products aimed at managing online collaborative projects.

An online project management tool is an application that creates a private network you then use to collaborate and interact with other users. The management of to-do lists, uploading and downloading of files, scheduling meetings, and use of whiteboards and online chat rooms are just a few featured tools.

Basecamp offers the most basic online solution

The simplest management tool around is probably Basecamp. This web-based Internet application requires no software or hardware install. Better yet, its most basic version is free. It also rates highly on the user friendliness scale, offering an easily configurable web site. Users can post messages, tasks, and manage scheduling within minutes of first logging in. Exporting items to an XML file, automated notifications of site changes, and sharing files via an FTP server are other online options.

In a nice touch, Basecamp’s appearance is completely customizable. It will look like you or your management team created the site from scratch! All server information is backed up immediately after being entered, and then every 24 hours after that. Basecamp works equally well as an extranet or intranet system. Of all three products, Basecamp is the most accessible, and the best “pure” tool for web-based project management.

Choose Intranets.com for powerful options

Intranets.com resembles a more advanced (and expensive) version of Basecamp. Users can manage online databases, Web conference and present live PowerPoint presentations, post files and manage online discussion forums, and conference call from a dedicated 800 number. While powerful, Intranets.com scores points for accessibility. A shortcut tool speeds up common tasks; while robust help tools and live support technicians provide quick answers.

Groove provides a desktop software solution

Groove Virtual Office uses the peer-to-peer approach. Instead of storing information on a third-party web server, all data resides on the user’s machine. Groove’s “virtual workspaces” are customizable windows for managing and collaborating on information. After installing Groove’s software, you’ll be able to launch the system app and begin project collaborations. Groove offers some other great features like the ability to designate differing workspaces: “file-sharing” is especially helpful, allowing multiple users to edit the same file (Groove immediately updates and synchronizes the changes among users).

For a hands free approach to communication, there’s Voice over IP. If your online collaborations require real time imaging, you’ll appreciate Groove’s inclusion of a whiteboard for freehand sketching, as well as instant digital image displays. Overall, Groove software is more sophisticated than Basecamp and Intranets.com. Two options are available, with the Full Professional Edition featuring tools like integration with Microsoft SharePoint, customizable forms, and virtual Web conference meetings.

With software and Internet choices like these, its no wonder that everyone from wedding planners to IT management are embracing managing tools like Basecamp, Groove, and Intranets.com. Once you find the right project management tool, you’ll never look back.

About the Author
Ben Davidson is a successful freelance writer and contributor to Web-Conferencing-Zone.com.  Your definitive guide to web conferencing services, online collaboration software and web meetings for business.