Zoho Projects is a comprehensive and cloud-based project management software designed to help teams plan, track, collaborate, and achieve their project goals efficiently. Here’s an overview of what the product does and its key features:
What is Zoho Projects?
Zoho Projects is part of the larger Zoho ecosystem of apps but can be used independently. It is tailored to assist project managers and teams in organizing, tracking, and prioritizing work, making it a versatile tool for small to medium-sized organizations as well as enterprise customers.
Key Features
Task Management
- Users can create standalone tasks or group similar tasks into task lists. Tasks can be customized with features like phase owners, and users can filter tasks based on specific criteria such as task status.
- The platform includes built-in project templates and task lists to streamline the setup process, and custom fields can be added to meet specific project requirements.
Automation and Workflow
- Zoho Projects allows users to automate various tasks and workflows using its Blueprint feature. This involves designing the process flow, configuring settings, and executing the process, which helps in streamlining routine tasks and complex workflows.
Collaboration and Communication
- The platform includes a built-in chat feature that enables real-time communication among team members. Users can create private chat groups related to specific tasks or projects, ensuring that only relevant team members are involved.
Project Tracking and Visualization
- Zoho Projects offers robust visualization tools such as Gantt charts to build and track project plans. These charts help in identifying critical tasks, dependencies, and any deviations between planned and actual progress.
- The dashboard provides a comprehensive view of the project portfolio, including active projects, upcoming deadlines, ownership information, and cost and schedule performance. This dashboard is highly customizable to suit individual needs.
Time Tracking and Invoicing
- The timesheet module allows users to log billable and non-billable hours either manually or using timers. This module integrates with Zoho Invoice to automatically generate invoices based on the logged hours.
Issue Tracking
- The in-built issue tracker module helps in resolving issues efficiently while keeping track of deadlines and other project metrics.
Customization and Scalability
- Zoho Projects is highly customizable, allowing users to create custom fields, layouts, statuses, and workflows. It also supports the creation of custom roles and profiles, giving full control over permissions within the platform.
- The cloud-based infrastructure is designed to support business growth, with a network of global data centers ensuring high availability and minimal downtime.
Mobile Application
- Dedicated mobile apps for Android and iPhone enable users to manage tasks, track milestones, log work hours, and view project updates on the go. Features include push notifications, social media-like feeds, and the ability to view and upload documents.
Integration
- Zoho Projects integrates seamlessly with other Zoho apps and various third-party applications, providing a centralized system for managing all project-related data and files.
Reporting and Analytics
- The platform includes multiple built-in reports accessible via the portfolio dashboard or the left navigation panel, helping in detailed project oversight and analysis.
In summary, Zoho Projects is a powerful project management tool that offers a wide range of features to enhance collaboration, automation, and project tracking. Its scalability, customization options, and seamless integrations make it an ideal solution for businesses of all sizes.