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reviewer1584720 - PeerSpot reviewer
IT Project Manager at a transportation company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Good technical support with very helpful roadmap functionality and reliable stability
Pros and Cons
  • "Technical support has been very helpful."
  • "We'd like to be able to see different timelines as a part of one task."

What is most valuable?

The roadmap functionality is very nice. All the dependencies and timelines are there. 

The board mode and the list of tasks are very handy to have in front of me. It looks very similar to a Trello board. It's very easy to navigate and understand.

The stability is very good.

Technical support has been very helpful.

What needs improvement?

I'd like to have few more specific features, however, it's possible that Microsoft will decide to implement and deploy them in the future. 

It would be nice, for example, if we have stages of the project, to have some tasks that can be split. We'd like to be able to see different timelines as a part of one task. 

I'd like to see the dependency of one task but split into a few parts. I'm mostly working with infrastructure projects in the company. Sometimes I have to stop the implementation of one part of the project due to various reasons, and I have to switch to another task. I have to see the stage and stop and show in another part I'm taking in the work. I'm not stopping the project. I'm just switching tasks and I have to see when I can continue the previous response. I need to see that the one task continuing, but not all the time. Right now, the organization is done mostly in my head, however, it would be ideal if I could visualize it with adjusted timelines.

For how long have I used the solution?

We just started using the solution a few months ago. We're still in the testing phase and haven't fully decided on what were are going to go forward with.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

We didn't have any problems with the product. It's very stable. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. It works great.  

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Project
January 2025
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How are customer service and support?

We had contact with technical support on another project and had questions about our migration between two tenants. We talked directly to support and it was quite helpful to use them to get advice and assistance. We had a nice experience overall.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We've worked with Zoho One in the past, as well as a few other premium CRM providers. We were working on a full complex solution for our office that was a CRM with different other solutions. It was for complicated projects, however, we decided to switch to another software.

We are using currently using Office 365 and additional applications from Office 365 such as Branches, Project, and Power BI. We decided to have all the complex solutions from one company that offers connected applications, rather than just choose all different software without the basic platform from which we can connect. That's why we chose Microsoft Project.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We have three licenses. Three people have an opportunity to make projects, and two people are included in the project so they can see the timeline, the board, the task. They're quite happy with what they see in terms of being able to watch over the project.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

While we're likely to use Microsoft, we're also looking at Jira, Confluence, and Trello.

What other advice do I have?

We're customers and end-users of the solution.

While we are currently using the cloud as we test things out, it's possible, once we make a concrete decision about Microsoft, that we will switch to an on-premises deployment.

Currently, I'd rate the solution at an eight out of ten simply due to the fact that I don't know all the opportunities it offers us just yet. We haven't been using it for so long and need some more time to discover all the features on offer.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Review2077 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Consultant, Financial Services - IT Advisory Services at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
There needs to be better integration with other Microsoft products. Tech support needs improvement.
Pros and Cons
  • "They have begun to improve with the new cloud integration."
  • "There needs to be better integration with other Microsoft products such as SharePoint, and the like."
  • "Tech support needs improvement."

What is our primary use case?

They have moved from a paper to a project management tool. That's the big change. Earlier, they were using papers and then they started using Project Professional to run their project server, it's a huge change and a huge transition.

What needs improvement?

I think they've begun to improve with the new cloud integration. Previously, this was an issue. Now, I don't think there are any further changes that need to be done for the cloud issue.

There needs to be better integration between SharePoint and other Microsoft platforms and this solution. Furthermore, there should be a better integration with the use of the cloud and mobile devices.

For how long have I used the solution?

One to three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

For individual users, I don't think there is a stability issue. I've not really seen any performance issue with that.

How is customer service and technical support?

The tech support needs improvement.

How was the initial setup?

The setup was straightforward. It took us about three hours to do so. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I do not have personal experience with pricing or licensing of this product.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Project
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Project. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
832,138 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer2145327 - PeerSpot reviewer
Strategic Consultant at a government with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Good reporting and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "The reporting and national resource capacity planning are the most valuable features."
  • "The collaboration has room for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

I use the solution for scheduling and planning.

How has it helped my organization?

The solution helps us stay on track with our project and insures we meet our deliverables and requirements.

What is most valuable?

The reporting and national resource capacity planning are the most valuable features.

What needs improvement?

The collaboration has room for improvement.

I would like to request the addition of risk management and financial management to the solution.

The cost has room for improvement.

The initial setup has room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for ten years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I give the scalability an eight.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is complex.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is expensive.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution an eight out of ten.

I recommend the solution.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1663461 - PeerSpot reviewer
Utilities Consultant at a consultancy with 51-200 employees
Consultant
Reliable, simple, and pretty intuitive, but needs better reporting and integration
Pros and Cons
  • "It is easy to use and pretty intuitive. User interfaces have stayed the same for the most part for the last 20 years. So, there is a familiarity."
  • "Its reporting and its integration with some of the other related systems should be improved. It is not very easy to integrate."

What is our primary use case?

I am a utilities consultant, and I use it within the utility industry for managing different types of projects, such as for implementing a new system or new processes.

How has it helped my organization?

I don't know how it directly benefits our business per se because it helps our clients.

What is most valuable?

It is easy to use and pretty intuitive. User interfaces have stayed the same for the most part for the last 20 years. So, there is a familiarity.

What needs improvement?

Its reporting and its integration with some of the other related systems should be improved. It is not very easy to integrate.

Its scalability is not so good for the most part.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for altogether 20 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is pretty reliable. I can't recall any issues.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is not so good for the most part. It is good for what we needed it for. Occasionally, we needed to be able to scale it up, but it is not as effective as some of the other systems.

We have around 30 project managers who are using it. We're all dispersed across the US, and it is being used extensively.

How are customer service and technical support?

We have no experience with them.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I've used other project management solutions. Its simplicity and ease of use are the primary drivers.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward. I didn't do it. Our IT guys did it, but once they got the process done, it took less than an hour.

What about the implementation team?

We just did it ourselves. For its maintenance, we require probably a fourth of a person. 

What other advice do I have?

As with anything, there is training, and there are standards. Make sure you have enough training and make sure you've established enterprise standards.

It is reliable, and a lot of people know it. I would give it a seven out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1500081 - PeerSpot reviewer
Unemployed at a healthcare company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Pretty user-friendly, good stability, and easy to set up
Pros and Cons
  • "It served the purpose. It was pretty user-friendly."
  • "I am not that close to it anymore, but I know that there were some cut and paste issues when we were trying to move one group of roles to another, and they used to muck up the interdependencies between the tiers, rows, and other things."

What is our primary use case?

We used it in my previous organization for business process optimization projects, application development projects, system integration projects, program management over a multitude of projects, and program interdependencies.

What is most valuable?

It served the purpose. It was pretty user-friendly.

What needs improvement?

I am not that close to it anymore, but I know that there were some cut and paste issues when we were trying to move one group of roles to another, and they used to muck up the interdependencies between the tiers, rows, and other things.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Project since it was first introduced.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It was pretty good in terms of stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

While integrating on one server, sometimes, there was a challenge. When you were leveraging the server aggregation tool, where you had everything, and you were integrating on one server to have the plans integrated for interdependencies, there was a constraint. I can't remember what it was.

A lot of Microsoft products are very Microsoft friendly, but they don't integrate well with a lot of other things. They fail in the extensibility model in the architecture design.

In terms of the number of users, we probably had about 200 or 300 people who were using Microsoft Project. In my past companies, I've had 700 people using them.

How are customer service and technical support?

I never used the tech support for Microsoft Project.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have used HP's PPM. There were two other tools that I have used.

How was the initial setup?

It was pretty straightforward. Essentially, you should have taken classes in it and worked with it in order to understand some of the nuances of it. It can have a little bit of a learning curve.

What other advice do I have?

I would advise others to look at what they have on the market because, with the advent of the cloud, so many different types of tools are coming into play that can integrate with other cost analysis platforms.

I would rate Microsoft Project an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1330623 - PeerSpot reviewer
Founder & Director at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
Real User
A complete, all-rounded enterprise product from the portfolio management and individual project management perspective
Pros and Cons
  • "It is a complete and all-rounded enterprise product. From a portfolio management perspective and an individual project management perspective, it is a corporate-wide project management product. It can be used for resource planning, financial planning, task planning, etc."
  • "It is a traditional Waterfall-based solution, so it doesn't lend itself particularly well to Agile development. You can record Agile sprints within it, but it is not really an Agile-based product. It can store the basic information about budgets that an Agile set of work is looking to use, but that's about it."

What is our primary use case?

I used it at another company. I'm not working for the same company at the moment. I was employed on a consultancy basis, and this product was used for IT project management.

What is most valuable?

It is a complete and all-rounded enterprise product. From a portfolio management perspective and an individual project management perspective, it is a corporate-wide project management product. It can be used for resource planning, financial planning, task planning, etc.

What needs improvement?

It is a traditional Waterfall-based solution, so it doesn't lend itself particularly well to Agile development. You can record Agile sprints within it, but it is not really an Agile-based product. It can store the basic information about budgets that an Agile set of work is looking to use, but that's about it.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using it for 25 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Its stability, reliability, and performance are fine.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

There are no problems with its scalability. 

We had about 150 users. It was being used on a daily and hourly basis. I was the program director, and all the project management teams were using it daily.

How are customer service and support?

To my knowledge, I have not directly contacted them on this particular product. We had reached out to the original implementation consultants who were a Microsoft accredited organization but not for technical support. It was more for consultancy.

How was the initial setup?

It was quite complicated. It needed consultants that were specialists in it to help with the implementation. Most of it was done before, but it wasn't widely used. So, we took that implementation and built on it.

In terms of maintenance, because it's a cloud-based solution, it's real-time.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It was a three-year license deal that was reconciled on a quarterly basis. It is a reasonably priced product, and I consider that we got good value for money.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend it to others, but it really depends on what they're looking to gain out of this. I would not recommend buying the portfolio management product if you do not have an established and reasonably mature portfolio management setup. If you don't have that, then you're paying for a product, but it will only get used as an individual standalone project management product, and you will not take advantage of the portfolio features. So, buying the portfolio management licenses doesn't make sense unless you've got an established or reasonably mature project office. There should be better alignment and integration with general portfolio management.

It is not a fully integrated Agile product set. It can be used to store basic information. If you've got a blend of Waterfall and Agile projects and you've got overall budgets, then you can record your Agile perspective within it, but you can't use it purely as an Agile product. For that, you'd probably use Azure DevOps or something like that.

It needs a degree of planning before it's implemented. I would recommend organizations to do that, rather than jumping in feet first.

I would rate it an eight out of 10.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1600185 - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager - Operations Advisory (Finance transformation and performance improvement) at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Real User
User friendly, stable, and easy to do complex project plans
Pros and Cons
  • "Microsoft Project is user-friendly and easy to use to do very complex project plans."
  • "The dashboard could be improved."

What is our primary use case?

I was using this solution for project planning and status reports for a work project I was involved in.

What is most valuable?

Microsoft Project is user-friendly and easy to use to do very complex project plans.

What needs improvement?

The dashboard could be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for six months.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have found the solution to be very scalable. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We had evaluated other solutions before we chose Microsoft Project, such as Clarizen. Based on our discussion with the client, we decided to go with this solution.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Microsoft Project an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
PeerSpot user
Sr. Enterprise & Project Portfolio Manager/Consultant, Master Scheduler, Enterprise Architect at Jeffrey A. Bloom
Real User
Dependencies and well-constructed templates help to mitigate challenges in our projects
Pros and Cons
  • "Dependencies (not typically effectively used in "Agile" techniques) allow understanding of actual project status and challenges."
  • "This solution needs more templates focused on types of projects to ease setup."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution with CA Clarity PPM.

How has it helped my organization?

With well-constructed templates that include milestones that allow upper management to effectively measure progress, the dependencies between project and external activities that often diminish project success can be mitigated.

What is most valuable?

Dependencies (not typically effectively used in "Agile" techniques) allow understanding of actual project status and challenges.

What needs improvement?

This solution needs more templates focused on types of projects to ease setup.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using this solution for thirty years.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
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Updated: January 2025
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