Microsoft 365 Features Are Ideal For Project Management?

11 September 2022

Project management software streamlines tasks, collaboration, document storage, and visibility into projects.  Microsoft 365 covers all of these features well. In fact, Microsoft 365 has been tuned for project management from the ground up.

To begin with, any organization using project management software must have proper file storage. Since Microsoft 365 integrates with SharePoint Online as its primary document storage solution, it’s a good fit for most organizations that use project management software.

Additionally, if you or your team logs activities through Microsoft Workplace directly in Microsoft 365 apps like Word or Excel, then that integration is also beneficial.

Even though many companies will find this integration between project management software and Microsoft 365 redundant at first glance, there are other features in the mix which make it an ideal combination for those using both services together. Let’s take a closer look at some of them below:

• Microsoft Teams: A Hub For Collaboration

Microsoft has rebranded its chat solution as Teams. It’s designed as a hub for collaboration across teams and projects. Teams are seamlessly integrated with Microsoft 365, so users can work together on files in real-time.

All of your Microsoft 365 users can be invited to join a team, no matter which app they’re working in. Teams are a great way to keep your projects and teams organized. You can set up groups to keep everyone on track and add channels for different projects.

• Microsoft Planner: Task Management In-Sync With Discussions

As we’ve seen, project management software provides task management tools and collaboration features across teams. Microsoft Planner is a task management tool that’s built into Microsoft 365. Unfortunately, it’s quite limited compared to third-party project management software. The planner has some great integrations with other Microsoft 365 apps—but not with third-party solutions.

Fortunately, Microsoft has created Planner task lists that can be easily imported into third-party solutions. While you won’t be able to use Planner’s features for more in-depth project planning, this import feature is a good fit for those who want to use Microsoft 365 for collaboration and Microsoft Project for project management.

• Office 365 Calendar: Time Is Synchronized Across Tasks

Office 365 calendars are already in-sync across teams. If your team members use Microsoft 365 for project management, you’ll already be able to view their calendars for collaboration. When assigning tasks to team members, you can select the date and time you want that person to complete the task.

This feature is useful for those who use time management as part of their project management methodology. However, it may not be ideal if you’re using a hybrid approach to project management—especially if you’re using a cloud-based solution. This is because there’s no way of syncing your project management software to the Office 365 calendar.

• Microsoft Azure Storage

Microsoft Azure Storage is a cloud-based data storage solution. It can be used to host documents and files. While most project management software solutions include storage solutions, Azure Storage can be a good option for companies that need scalable, reliable data storage. Organizations using Microsoft 365 with project management software can host their documents on Azure Storage.

This can be useful if your project management software can’t scale to accommodate increased data storage needs. Keep in mind that not all project management software is compatible with Azure Storage. Make sure to research your options and find the best solution for your organization.

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 is a robust platform designed to cover all aspects of business operations. The need for project management software arises in most organizations at some point or the other. This guide has explored how Microsoft 365 can be a good alternative to third-party project management software.

We’ve also highlighted the benefits of using Microsoft 365 for project management. These include the ability to view calendars and tasks in one place, seamless collaboration across teams using Teams, and the Dark Theme to reduce eye strain. The best way to determine if Microsoft 365 is right for your organization is to get a trial and test it out in your workplace with the help of the service provider. This will give you ample time to explore all of the platform’s features, identify areas of improvement, and determine whether or not it’s a good fit for your organization