6 Project Management Apps No Contractor Can Do Without

Project managers have high burnout rates because they have to cope with so many responsibilities. They must take advantage of different apps to streamline tasks and manage workflow effectively.

Rachel Burger of Capterra reached out to several project managers in the contracting industry. They told her they are pursuing more creative solutions for project management. This includes adapting new technology, such as smartphone and desktop apps.

“The construction critical path method (CPM) is a tool that many project managers use, often with their construction management software, to help figure out the best steps to take to finish a job efficiently. This critical path method, otherwise known as critical path scheduling, is one of the most frequently used construction planning techniques. Critical chain, on the other hand, looks specifically at the longest chain considering task and resource dependencies.”

Here are the best apps project managers will need in 2016. They can help you stay in budget and improve quality assurance.

1. Asana

Project managers often need to oversee multiple teams with different responsibilities. Asana is a great platform for this. At least 140,000 companies use Asana for project management.

You can create multiple virtual workstations and assign work to members of each team. For example, contractors can have separate workstations for their HVAC, electrical and glass installation teams.

You can provide up to 15 users for free. If you want to manage a team with 15 to 29 users, you will need to upgrade and pay $50 a month.

2. WorkflowMax

WorkflowMax is a specialized project management app for contractors. They allow general contractors and subcontractors to coordinate with each other. It can be accessed from job sites and has a seamless billing tool, which is something most other project management tools lack.

The interface is customized around the terminology used by most contractors, so it’s highly intuitive.

3. MeisterTask

MeisterTask is one of the newest project management tools. It has a unique GUI interface that allows project managers to coordinate tasks through dragging and dropping lists. You can also generate project frameworks with mind maps, rather than building them from scratch. It’s ideal for contractors that are still in the early stages of planning after getting blueprints from an architect.

Since it’s highly automated, MeisterTask is much more efficient than many of its predecessors. You can add an unlimited number of projects and users with the freemium version of MeisterTask. However, the functionality is limited. If you want unlimited integrations, you will need to pay $9 a month.

4. Clarizen

Clarizen is ideal for managing complex projects where the stakes are high. It has a number of resource management and Financial management tools, which helps project managers complete projects within budget. Clarizen also has a number of document management and social sharing tools, which is ideal for complicated projects that require numerous documents.

All versions of Clarizen require a paid subscription, which begins at $30 a month. However, it’s definitely worth paying for the service if you want a highly versatile project management interface.

5. Dapulse

First project management solutions rely on a binary task management system. After a task is completed, you simply click the checkbox. Unfortunately, this approach isn’t always very practical, because most tasks are multistage processes.

Dapulse provides a more granular and useful approach. You can keep track of various stages in a task. It’s easier to provide progress updates to your clients and superiors.

6. Basecamp

Tools like Dapulse and Asana are great for compartmentalizing work for multiple teams. However, sometimes it’s better to use a more centralized project management interface.

Basecamp allows you to keep all of your projects in a single, central location, where all team members can give input. If you have a team that requires a lot of coordination between members of various departments, Basecamp is a great solution.

Basecamp subscriptions start at $10 a month. However, they provide a 60-day free trial, which is great if you want to test the interface before making the commitment.

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