We are using it for building Research and Development Project labs.
Director, Project Management Office at a wholesaler/distributor with 10,001+ employees
The ability to look at resource loading is useful, but it needs collaboration features
Pros and Cons
- "The ability to look at the resource loading is most valuable."
- "Collaboration within the tool is lacking when you compare it to online or cloud-based tools."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
It has been helpful for calculating the time of completion of our projects and looking at the critical parts of our projects.
What is most valuable?
The ability to look at resource loading is most valuable.
What needs improvement?
Collaboration within the tool is lacking when you compare it to online or cloud-based tools.
We should be able to notify assignees about the tasks that have been assigned to them. This is something that we don't have, and it could be because of the way it was deployed for us.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Project Server
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Project Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
830,526 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for about five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is pretty stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It seems scalable to me.
How are customer service and support?
I don't have any experience with them.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
It was our company's decision to switch to this. With my previous employer, I have used different solutions. Smartsheet is one of them.
How was the initial setup?
I did not deploy it myself. I am an end-user. We have an IT organization for its deployment.
What other advice do I have?
You have to define your use case and see if this tool makes sense for your use case or not.
I would rate 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.
Operations Manager at Innolead Consulting
Effective collaboration, useful scheduling tool, and good technical support
Pros and Cons
- "Microsoft Project Server helps organizations in collaboration."
- "The initial setup was complex."
What is our primary use case?
My clients are mostly using Microsoft Project Server for infrastructure-type projects management as a scheduling tool.
How has it helped my organization?
Microsoft Project Server helps organizations in collaboration.
What is most valuable?
The scheduling tool is useful.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Project Server for a number of years.
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 scalability of the Microsoft Project Server to be good.
We have approximately 10 to 20 uses using this solution in my organization and we plan to increase usage. We do consult for clients and we are always looking for more business.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously used Oracle Primavera.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was complex.
What about the implementation team?
We used consultants for the implementation of the solution.
We have approximately two people that do the maintenance and support of the solution.
What was our ROI?
I have seen a return on investment from the use of this solution, it has been good.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the Microsoft Project Server could improve, it is expensive here in Africa. When comparing Microsoft Project Server to Oracle Primavera for us, Microsoft Project Server is quite cost-effective.
What other advice do I have?
I noticed recently there are lots of new solutions coming out, but I don't know if they offer solutions that are more for agile product management. This would be a benefit if there were.
I rate Microsoft Project Server an eight out of ten.
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.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Project Server
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Project Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
830,526 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Agile PMO Chief at Claro
Simple user experience with good usability and accessibility
Pros and Cons
- "The usability is excellent."
- "We need to be able to compare milestones, calls, and other variables regarding the projects we are working on. I have to contract developers to make reports, which is where things get complicated. They need to develop personal and custom fields for us."
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use the solution based on its mobility. I can use it online or via mobile phones or anywhere I can get internet access.
How has it helped my organization?
I'm able to curate the SPI (Schedule Performance Index) and the CPI (Cost Performance Index) that helps us measure the performance in regards to costs and even taxes that projects have.
I can create metrics about costs either project by project or phase by phase.
What is most valuable?
The permissions are the most valuable aspect of the solution. I can configure groups to access different information. The solution allows us to manage the project baseline very well. I can control the baselines in specific user groups, which is very useful for me.
The solution offers very good availability in that we can access it from anywhere, whenever we need to.
The usability is excellent.
We've found the user experience to be quite simple. The views and filters in particular are very good.
What needs improvement?
The reports need to be improved. It's complicated. The default views are good. However, we need more. We need to be able to compare milestones, calls, and other variables regarding the projects we are working on. I have to contract developers to make reports, which is where things get complicated. They need to develop personal and custom fields for us. We also need to use Power BI, which needs to connect with Project Server, in order to generate reports.
The scalability capabilities could be improved upon.
There should be an interaction between Microsoft's Planner app and this solution. Their Planner is a good solution. I would like them both to connect directly, with the Planner tasks in the Project plans. It would also be helpful if the solution integrated with Microsoft Teams. My company uses Office 365, and therefore it would be great if everything was integrated.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solution for a long time. It's been longer than a decade. I'd say it's around 15 years at this point.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution's stability is good. Of course, it depends on the cloud provider. This is important. When you have a good cloud provider or infrastructure provider, stability is good. You have to play with the servers and processors and memory about the solution. When you have a good provider, it's no problem. When you have a bad provider, you have problems.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability could be improved upon. Sometimes I want to create some instance or other Project Servers to create, for example, test environments. We need to create a test to do a pilot to sell the idea. However, it's complicated to establish what is the best instance to manage the project.
We have about 2,000 users online, however, it depends on the cloud environment. How many users we have depends on the infrastructure provider. They ensure the scalability and stability of the environment.
We do plan to increase usage. We still have to configure new project types in the project server to gain more users. We want to achieve 1,000 users this year. Right now, I have 300 active users. The plan for this year is to include more project types in the project server throughout the environment and at the end to achieve 1,000 users, at a minimum.
How are customer service and technical support?
I haven't really dealt with technical support. The relationship with Microsoft is in the IT area. I am not personally part of that group. I am the portfolio manager, therefore I don't have a direct relationship with Microsoft. That said, I'd say it's good, as I don't have any problems. When we have made a request to IT they answer it quickly. Therefore, I'd say we're pretty satisfied with the level of support on offer.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used to use Clarity for our Agile projects, however, this solution is less expensive.
Clarity is good, however, it is complicated to use as it makes it more challenging for the final users to understand the project plans. Also, the templates to manage the project plans are complicated. I like Microsoft Project better than Clarity.
How was the initial setup?
At the moment, the initial setup is not overly complex. It's pretty straightforward. that's due to the fact that I know the solution very well. I've worked with the 2010 version as well and have ten years of experience and have used it in my everyday work for so long, the setup is not hard for me.
The deployment depends on the company and its culture. I have implemented Project Server in two months, which is pretty fast. However, it depends on the organization's needs.
The reports, for example, are a viable gain for executive teams. When the executive teams watch good reports to manage the portfolio projects, it's easier to deploy the solution.
My strategy is to do a pilot. Over two months, I may do ten projects. I'll generate reports and deliver good information and the executive team of the steering committee can easily see the value for the company. Once the pilot shows the value to the steering committee, I usually have the go-ahead to continue the deployment in our organization.
We had five people for deployment and maintenance. It's a good number. You need one person, that knows the information in regards to users and other people training the other people. There should be another person working on the cost measures such as the reports.
What about the implementation team?
I handle the implementation myself. I have a good amount of experience and therefore don't need further experience. I don't need the help of integrators, resellers, or consultants.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
While the solution is less expensive than Broadcomm's Clarity, it more expensive than Planview.
That said, I'm unsure of the exact pricing or how often we pay licensing.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We've also looked at Planview and Jira. We found that the solution has better technical support on offer than other options. That said, I like Planview as it's even less expensive than Project Server.
What other advice do I have?
We are Microsoft Partners.
Currently, I am using Project Online and Project Server. The 2015 versions.
At the moment, I am in the process of deploying, the solution in more areas. I start with IT projects and telecom projects. Currently, I am working to introduce regular projects, marketing projects, product projects, etc. I am working to introduce more areas in the Project Server environment.
On a scale from one to ten, I would rate it at an eight.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Chief Digitalization Executive at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Good resource management and cost management capabilities with helpful support services
Pros and Cons
- "It can scale well."
- "The solution needs to be much more stable."
What is our primary use case?
When it comes to enterprise projects, we need a consolidated environment where we can interlink all project management activities, including the cost, resources, timeline, and the whole landscape of project management and portfolio management. We needed enterprise resource planning, and we implemented this for the organization.
How has it helped my organization?
It helps us integrate the projects. We can handle cost analysis, resource analysis, task analysis, and all the basic factors that should be covered and are important for any project.
What is most valuable?
Resource management and cost management are very critical features for us.
It can scale well.
Technical support is helpful.
What needs improvement?
The solution needs to be much more stable.
The project support is missing. We tend to use Primavera as opposed to MS Project when we are doing engineering or large-scale projects.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used the solution for six years or so.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It isn't stable enough. This is something Microsoft needs to work on.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is quite scalable. It extends well.
How are customer service and support?
Technical support has been very good. We are pleased with their level of support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have used Primavera in place of Microsoft Project on a few projects.
How was the initial setup?
It is not too complex to set up. It is actually pretty straightforward.
What was our ROI?
We have noted an ROI while using the solution.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is moderate. Something like Primavera is more expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I am not using the latest version. I'm on the 2017 version.
If you have a Microsoft environment and aren't working on too complex a project, it is quite good and a solution.
I'd rate the solution nine 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.
Project Manager at a computer software company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Accurate project metrics are critical to being able to manage our projects from a central database
What is our primary use case?
- Project metrics
- Document management
- Financial reporting
- Resource management.
We use the data collected to manage project data, create and manage assignments and schedule via MS Project connectivity. We also track the current and future assignments for our resource to determine their availability and workload for current and future endeavors.
How has it helped my organization?
One source of truth for project metrics, management, and financial reporting. Through additional dashboards and reports, we have developed a way we can distribute project data and updated it to all of our stakeholders and customers.
What is most valuable?
- Project management
- One consistently updated and backup/secured location for all project data
- Accurate project metrics are critical to being able to manage our projects from a central database.
What needs improvement?
OOB reporting is not very robust. We have utilized SSRS, Excel Services and Qlik Sense to expand the OOB reporting capabilities. We use a hosted on-premise version so that we can have better direct access to the SQL server data.
For how long have I used the solution?
More than five years.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
MS Project standalone version and SharePoint repositories were our previous solutions.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Engage an experienced and highly rated vendor to help in the discovery and planning of the implementation. Project Server is better priced than many of the higher-end project management solutions.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
No.
What other advice do I have?
Training for the userbase is a primary concern. Make sure there is a great training plan in place to ensure the userbase can be productive very early in the process.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Project Management Analyst at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
It strikes the fine balance between being a project management tool and a management tool.
What is most valuable?
This product gives the ability to have all project data in one location and look across information while still giving PMs the flexibility to manage their project and have a tool to use with their team (fine balance between project management tool and management tool).
- Views can be controlled organization role.
- Custom attributes can be added as trigger levels to include in a management report, view or dashboard
- The use of SharePoint allows team collaboration and gives the PM the flexibility to add document libraries, lists, etc. to manage their project.
How has it helped my organization?
Dashboarding of information has given the organization insight, so we can move to be more proactive versus reactive.
What needs improvement?
Risk Management: Risk and issues are stored in the project SharePoint but there is no real auto communication of assignments (unless the end user sets it up); there is no mechanism for automatic escalation (much needed).
Issues are visible within the application (My issues area) so individuals can log in and see issues assigned to them.
Project Managers can set up email communications when issues change. (Admin can’t do it across the board but individual PMs can set up.)
We flag issues that need to be escalated and use SSRS reports that are emailed out at regular intervals.
For how long have I used the solution?
I implemented Project Server in November 2014 (and have used MS Project since 2000).
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Nintex workflow integration does give us some performance delays. Workflow response times can take up to 20 minutes to proceed to the stage (this is a work-in-progress for our IT team).
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I did not encounter any scalability issues.
How are customer service and technical support?
Technical support is 8/10.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used Business Engine Network for 12 years. Business Engine Network was bought by Planview and sunsetted. We were geared up to implement Planview’s product when the opportunity arose for us to look at MS Project Server. While Planview is a great portfolio management tool, its project management is weak.
How was the initial setup?
We used a third-party supplier, Pcubed, for initial setup.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Pricing varies according to many variables (on premise, MS hosted, third-party hosted, etc.)
What other advice do I have?
Having a PM business process in place prior to tool implementation to support that project not only makes it easier to configure the tool but makes it easier to grow the tool and become more mature in your business process.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Projects director at a recruiting/HR firm with 11-50 employees
Complex and less user-friendly interface, frequent technical issues, and slower speed compared to other project management tools
Pros and Cons
- "One notable positive aspect is its effective project-tracking capabilities."
- "Improvements are needed in the technical support process, aiming for a better user experience."
What is our primary use case?
The main use case was related to task management, involving the assignment of tasks across departments. It provided visibility into individual performance, allowing for team member invitations, and monitored key performance indicators.
How has it helped my organization?
Our experience with Microsoft Project Server wasn't very positive, and due to high demand, over 70% of employees requested to stop using it. They encountered technical difficulties and faced challenges with the customer helpdesk. Getting in touch with a representative for assistance was a prolonged and frustrating process.
What is most valuable?
One notable positive aspect is its effective project-tracking capabilities.
What needs improvement?
Remote usage and tracking pose challenges, requiring navigation through numerous technical details and troubleshooting. This inconvenience sometimes leads to abandoning the task on the device and waiting until the next workday to resume operations. Improvements are needed in the technical support process, aiming for a better user experience. The current process, when encountering difficulties, should be more user-friendly, streamlined, and efficient. Quick and accessible customer support is crucial, especially when seeking assistance during work hours.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with it for eleven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability was consistently problematic and we experienced frequent ups and downs with the MS Network, encountering issues like lagging and having to restart the system. At times, the problems were more severe, requiring a full computer restart due to the software freezing and affecting the entire computer screen. While these issues didn't occur daily, they were a recurring problem, happening quite often. I would rate it four out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would describe it as moderate for my team. It's manageable, but it doesn't meet our expectations fully. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate it a five. We have approximately three thousand users working with it.
How are customer service and support?
Our experience with its customer support services wasn't satisfactory at all. I would rate it two out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Negative
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Asana and monday.com provide faster customer service responses compared to MS Project. Among them, monday.com stands out for its promptness, while both surpass MS Project in responsiveness. This highlights the need for MS Project to enhance its support system and streamline the user experience in handling technical challenges. MS Project's speed falls below expectations; it's notably slow and often requires reloading. The dashboard is not user-friendly, leading to considerable time spent on training people to use it effectively. In contrast, Asana and monday.com stand out at the top of the league in terms of speed and user-friendliness.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was notably complex, in contrast to Asana and monday.com, which offer more simplicity and user-friendliness.
What other advice do I have?
For those looking to work in real-time and seeking a faster and more accessible project management solution, I strongly recommend considering top project management software. Opting for cloud-based solutions with features for both project and portfolio management is crucial. There are several options available, such as monday.com and Asana, and even tools like Trello and others. Overall, I would rate it four out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Cyber Security Engineer at Oyak Cimento
The product is highly scalable, user-friendly, and provides excellent technical support
Pros and Cons
- "The product is user-friendly."
- "The price of the product must be improved."
What is our primary use case?
We are using the solution for our security and infrastructure projects.
What is most valuable?
The product is user-friendly.
What needs improvement?
The price of the product must be improved.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the tool’s stability a seven out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The tool has a high scalability. I rate the scalability an eight out of ten. Around ten people, including project managers, portfolio managers, and engineers, use the tool in our organization. We use the solution once a month.
How was the initial setup?
I rate the ease of setup an eight out of ten. The deployment took us months.
What about the implementation team?
We deployed the product with the help of a reseller.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate the pricing a seven out of ten. It is a bit costly.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I rate the tool 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.
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Updated: December 2024
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