@task Reviewer's Comments
|
You may also be interested in these review sites...
|
@task is an all-inclusive and customizable project management solution that is sure to open the avenues of communication and increase productivity in your business. @task focuses on organizing objectives, schedules, documents, resources and existing business data. These qualities and more make @task our choice for the “TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award” project management software.
@task is available in a browser-based version that is accessible by anyone from anywhere with an Internet connection. Speaking of anywhere—this is one of the few products that supports multiple languages. @task supports Japanese, German and French and will soon support Spanish, Chinese, Dutch and Polish.
@task Screenshots. Click to Enlarge
Ease of Use:
Like most project management software, @task has a learning curve; be prepared to spend some time navigating the interface and reading the documentation in order to familiarize yourself with the program. We found the multimedia tutorials to be especially helpful.
The developer provides Excel-based templates called “KickStarts.” These templates allow you to import an entire project management environment based on your type of business. This allows you to start immediately plugging in projects and tasks and will save you time in the setup process. Nevertheless, be prepared to do some customization so your setup fits your business best. Whether you’re creating reports, exporting information, collaborating with other teams or simply viewing the interface, @task is incredibly customizable.
Once you’re familiar with the program, navigating around is simple; easy–to–read menus and navigation bars help direct you to where you need to be.
Feature Set:
A standout feature of @task is its dashboards and portals. When you first run the program, you can customize each dashboard, choosing from a list of pre–defined options. This allows each individual user to display the information they think is most important and in a way that fits their personal needs and work style.
Another key feature is the ability to create templates. Every aspect of the program can be saved as a template. For example, if you have the same task and same report each month, this can be stored as a template, saving time in the future.
Ease of Installation:
@task is available as a web-based application; meaning the program is run from @task’s company servers, there’s no software to install. All of the information is sent and received securely through SSL. Additionally, @task takes extra precautions ensuring their servers remain secure and have a 100% uptime.
The alternative to a web-based application is the On Premise installation. The software installs on your corporate server.
Help/Support:
We were especially impressed with @task’s extensive support, including documentation, FAQs, phone numbers, email support and multimedia tutorials. There are also threaded notes, which are similar to forums, related to many aspects of @task. If needed, you can purchase additional training including Rollout Coaching, @task Boot Camp and On-Site Consulting. These training programs range from $1000 to $4500—more information regarding these programs is available on their website.
Project Management:
Creating a new project in @task is as easy as choosing one of several options, filling in pertinent information and assigning specific tasks to groups and individuals via drop–down boxes. You can even set the priority of each task or project and automatically send emails should the task become overdue or priority change occurs.
@task recently introduced a new and impressive feature called Risk/Benefit. This chart has an x and y axis and circles of different sizes that represent each prospective project. The chart incorporates the benefit of the project, how well it aligns with the company’s goals, the risk of the project and the cost of the project. The chart creates a visual depiction of possible projects for the company and makes it easier for the management team to make an informed decision.
Resource Management:
Adding a user or resource to this product is very easy. Once you add a user, you can also add their contact information, and if they’re a client, assign them to specific companies. Again, you can customize the setting for each user or add them to a group with specific settings.
@task recently added a Capacity Planner to their project management application. The capacity planner allows you to add a project to a schedule and see if it is feasible to accomplish during that period. The application will compare the resources you have to the resources the project requires. You can easily drag and drop the project to a different time; therefore, calculating the best timeframe to proceed with the project.
Collaboration:
The focus of this program is the ability to have everyone involved in a project on the same page. Whether you’re the client, team member, manager or CEO, you can easily see the status of the project. Additionally, each member involved with the project will have an interface and information customized to his or her needs.
Summary:
If you’re the type of project manager that’s big on collaboration, then @task is what you need. It’s ideal for creating an environment where employees and management can easily keep in touch with the project’s progress.
©2008 TopTenREVIEWS, Inc.
