I was recently introduced to a neat project management software. It is an online application that runs in the cloud and enables you to access the information on any computer. It is called 5pm Project Management. Probably my favorite feature is the fun interface. It really is a joy to move around in the applications. The buttons are nice and big and the colors are bright. On the left side you have 4 tabs: projects, timeline, reports, and profiles.

Projects Tab – the main window is divided into two windows. This is much like the preview window in Microsoft Outlook. The left window has folders that you can name. Each folder can be a name of a project. You can expand the folders much like you can in windows explorer.  You can also choose a due date and see a progress bar on how you are doing with the tasks. The window on the right displays more details on the tasks and allows for team members to share comments and have on-going conversation. This is a great habit to form as we all know that team members rely too much on email and items ended up getting lost.

Timeline Tab – This is an awesome way to view all of your projects in a handy timeline. Also known as GANTT charts, it gives you a great overview of when projects are due and how your team is doing in getting them done. You can view the timeline either by project or all projects at once.

Reports Tab – There are basically two types of reports that you can run. One is called a time report and you pick the dates that you want to run the report. The other is referred to as a general report and there are many different types of reports that you can run.

Profiles Tab- the last tab on the left side of the application is where you manage all of the team members. You can decide who gets administrative access and who does not. You can easily add new team members here as well.

What I Like

1. I like that everything is just a tab click away. It seems really easy to get to anything related to your project. Whether you need a file, add a to do, view a deadline, or make a comment to a teammate, it is all right there.

2. I like the graphics and the interface. As mentioned before I like the bright colors, the large tabs, and the large icons.

What I Don’t Like

I actually do not have a whole lot of negative things to say about this one. If I had to pick something it would be that I wished there was an easier way to add a task without waiting for a pop-up window. Also, a mass input feature would be nice so that once you undertake a new project you can easily add several tasks at once.

Conclusion

All that being said, 5pm Project Management has some impressive clients that include: McDonald’s, Best Western, Grand Hyatt, and Caribou Coffee. There is also a free iphone app. Whether you are looking for a personal project management system or you have a team that you want to work more efficiently, I would encourage you to give 5pm a try. Right now they are offering a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed.