Engineering Project Management Software – Using The Outlook Calendar
Engineering Project Management Software – Using The Outlook Calendar
Have you been put in charge of running an engineering project? If you’ve never managed a project before, there is a good chance that you’re going to be a hesitant. The truth of the matter is that running a massive project can be downright tough. The good news is that there are some specific things that you can do to make the process a lot easier. Investing in a good engineering project management software regarding time tracking, will make a big difference in the long run. The program will make your job much easier, while also simplifying things for your employees. Below, you’re going to find out why you should be using a software that works seamlessly with the Outlook calendar.
The Familiarity Of Microsoft Outlook
First and foremost, you need to understand that Outlook is one of the most popular programs on the planet. In fact, there are thousands of companies that rely solely on this program for sending emails, checking calendars and so much more. There is a good chance that you and your teams are already familiar with Microsoft Outlook. If this is the case, you’re definitely going to want to take full advantage of an engineering project management software that is compatible with Outlook.
By doing so, you won’t have to worry about training your employees too much. After all, your employees are already going to know the software very well. Therefore, they should be able to pick it up almost immediately. This can also save your company on training costs. Using Outlook compatible time tracking software is really in your best interest.
Engineering Project Management Software That Enhances Competitiveness
At this point in time, there is a pretty good chance that you have hundreds of companies competing against you. In your local community, you most likely have a few competitors. With this in mind, you really need to get the competitive edge over these companies. There are numerous things that you can do to achieve an edge. However, there are few things that are going to be easy. Using Outlook based engineering project management software will make a huge difference right away. This type of software will give you the ability to get projects completed much quicker and cheaper than ever before.
The right project management software will allow you to gather and analyze reports. Then, you’ll be able to use this information to ensure that your resources are put to the best use humanly possible. This can ensure that your employees are using their time to the best of their ability. In return, this will make your company more agile and competitive. Once potential clients realize this, they’re going to come to you to get their projects completed.
Attaching Information
To ensure that your engineering project is completed on time, you really need to guarantee that your staff has the information that they require. It would be possible to call them up and give them the information that they need. Nevertheless, this would be time consuming and inefficient. This is why you need to make sure that your employees have the information that they need in advance. Your project management program can help. This type of program will give you ability to attach crucial information to each and every appointment.
This will ensure that the project gets completed in the specific manner requested by the client. You can even attach comments and allow the supervisor to approve or reject submitted appointments. This will ensure that everyone is on the same page. This is why you need to choose the right project management program. It’ll make a big difference in the long run.
Assigning Roles And Permissions
When it comes down to it, not all of your employees are going to be good with computers or technology. This is why it is pertinent to make the process as simple and convenient for your employees as possible. After all, you do not want them to get bogged down in the program and wind up wasting their time. Choosing a project time tracking program that gives you the ability to assign roles and permissions is recommended. This will make your job and your employees’ jobs so much easier. This will give you the ability to lock certain employees out of more in-depth features, such as reports.
Instead, they’ll only be given the option of logging in and reporting their time. This will ensure that your employees are able to focus solely on their work. They won’t find themselves spending ten or even twenty minutes messing around with a complicated program. Plus, the management software will be compatible with Outlook, which will make it so much easier to use.
Overviews And Reports
In order to successfully manage your engineering project, you need to make sure that you have access to the information that you need. You need to be able to analyze the specific amount of time spent on certain projects, how your teams are using their time, and the time spent for specific organizations. If you do not have this information in front of you, you are really going to be making guesses. That will increase the likelihood that you’re going to make a wrong choice along the way. This is why you need the right project management software.
With the right software, you’ll be able to gain access to overviews of time spent, as well as standard reports. The reports should be available in various forms, including pie and bar graphs. This is going to make it so much easier for you to read the data within a short period of time.
Hourly Rates And Expenses
There is no doubt that most engineering projects are going to be somewhat expensive. With that being said, you need to take steps to find ways to maximize your profits, while decreasing your expenses. Your project management program for time tracking can make a big different in this area. Just make sure that you choose a program that gives you the ability to add hourly rates and expenses to each project. Your software should give you the ability to define hourly costs and hourly revenue. This information should be available for the entire project or each specific activity. By looking at this information, you’ll be able to see how your money is being spent and that can help you find ways to save more.
You’ll also want to be able to attach expenses. For instance, your employees should be able to add unique costs, such as hotel fees or mileage. This information can be attached to the time reports. This will guarantee that you have little to no trouble reimbursing your employees for the money that they spend out of their own pockets.
Notifications And Approvals
Once your employees have finished the day, they’re going to submit their time using your project monitoring software. You need to make sure that every employee gets their time submitted on time. If they do not, there is a possibility that they’re not going to be paid in full on time, or that you may not bill your clients correctly. This is why you need to choose software that comes with a notifications feature. With this feature, you can receive alerts when timesheets have not been entered. In return, you’ll be able to get in touch with the employee in question and rectify the problem right away. This is best for everyone involved, including you and the employee.
It is also pertinent to be able to approve or reject time entries. There is a chance that your staff has gotten busy and has entered something wrong. If you weren’t able to approve or reject these entries, you would be out of luck. Supervisor approval of all time entries is a must. This will ensure that all information provided is accurate.
Access Via Smartphone
Pretty much everyone uses a cellphone in this day and age. With that being said, it would only be smart to ensure that your teams are able to access your time reporting software with their smartphone. Thankfully, there are many time tracking solutions that will be compatible with various smartphone operating systems. Since your employees are diverse, there is a good chance that they’re all going to be using different phones. Some may have an iOS phone, but others may might have an Android phone.
Make sure your program is compatible with all major smartphone operating systems. This will allow them to submit the required information within the shortest period of time.
Language Options
Diversity is a must for all engineering companies. You’re going to need skilled individuals to complete every task ahead. There is a chance that some of your employees may not speak English as their first language. If this is the case, you’re going to need to take steps to ensure that these people are accommodated. When looking for engineering project management software for time reporting, you need to need to choose one that offers various languages. It is also a good idea to ensure that your software of choice gives you the ability to create and edit your own language files. This will prove to be very beneficial for companies in this day and age.
How To Continue From Here - What You Should Do Now
