Basecamp alternatives with various task manager features – An overview.
Basecamp is one of the well-known online project and team management web application. It was developed by 37 signals.
This application allows groups of people to share files, assign tasks, meet deadlines etc. It provides time tracking, chat, message facilities and web-based text documents. It is in great demand with developers and designers. It is a very easy to use application with simplicity and clarity. It focuses on communication and collaboration. Basecamp supports multiple languages like Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Japanese and many more. The entire Basecamp system is accessed and managed online thus none of the software or data is actually stored on one’s computer.
But this system has some drawbacks. It does not allow tagging of data or sub-categories or even search within categories. The shortfall also included an overall calendar, highlighting of upcoming tasks, regular software updates. It also does not allow uploads to be directed to a local server. This application was also very expensive.
This gave rise to various requests from users and competitors came up with Basecamp alternatives.
Some of the common Basecamp alternatives, with their features, are as follows:
Teamwork PM: includes calendar, email integration, time zone support, version control, notebooks and more.
ProjectPier: includes an import function which can migrate the existing data from Basecamp .It allows self-hosting.
Go plan: includes Tickets and tasks, subtasks, events on calendar.
ActiveCollab: allows tagging, graphics, multiple company and client support.
Lighthouse: includes activity streams, has an API, integrates with version control.
TeamBox: includes start and end date which helps in making GANNT charts.
Feng Office: has a unique concept of workspaces.
Intervals: time and cost management tool than any other product.
COMINDWORK: includes wikis and project blog. It is available as hosted or self hosted solutions.
Project-open: includes invoicing, time logging, human resource management, and integrated wiki.
Redmine: It is cross database and supports multi databases also.
5pm: features gadgets such as desktop time tracker to submit time logs and iPhone application.
Huddle: It offers an iPhone application to keep track of the project.
Goalkeeper: includes a dashboard which can be customized when one needs more information or when one wants to keep information to a minimum.
Mindquarry: includes sharing of documents, images, media files and wiki editing.
Evernote: allows one to capture data in any environment using any device or platform. This data is accessible and searchable anytime and from anywhere.
Getsignoff: it provides a mechanism of presenting site designs, organising multiple versions of a design and managing feedback.
According to one’s requirement, expectations vary, when it comes to computer based to-do lists. Some want something similar to a paper list while others want features like tags, due dates, reminders, recurring tasks etc. Thus an application designer needs to include the most useful features.
Web-based services like Google provide calendars and to-lists that synchronise with multiple computers and smart phones.
It sets alarm when a task is due.
If one needs it can automatically remove completed tasks.
Export task to an HTML format.
Sorts the tasks.
It shows status of tasks and can also highlight or hide the tasks till the due date is reached
.
JobTraQ: provides a real-time integration with Microsoft Outlook. It does not overwrite but adds a new copy of each task.
It allows users to pick their daily tasks from a task list or view it in the Outlook calendar.
Changes are saved in the audit trail.
Send notifications when a status is updated or has reached milestone.
An extended task manager feature displays the following:
Disk input/output activity.
Network with IP address of external computer.
Information of applications that used the CPU or memory at any time.
All files locked by a process.
Finds all files locking a process.
Allows freezing of windows.
Use different colours for each service.
Query list of every file, module used by a process.
Includes a summary tab which shows the overall state of the system.
Thus task manager features boost management effectiveness, improves productivity, and improves customer satisfaction by guarding against missed deadlines.