A Web-based Project Management and Collaboration Tool: Basecamp

Project budgets and deadlines are always major concerns in any line of business. Regardless of the size of a project, there is always a need for being on top of activities to make sure that deadlines are met and work can be completed without running off budget. As the number of contributors to a project increases, it gets more complicated to coordinate the multitude of tasks handled by different people. No matter how complicated projects are, using a project management tool will always be helpful in completing them successfully.

Project management tools mainly help in scheduling activities, following progress and coordinating people and their tasks. While a simple to do lists may work very well as a project management tool to manage small projects, at the opposite extreme we may see sophisticated enterprise level project management software which are not only costly, but may also require a lot of experience to be utilized effectively. In this article I want to mention about a project management application that is much more functional than a to-do list. At the same time it does not offer the bells and whistles that many high end project management tools have.

Before getting into the details of Basecamp, let me mention a couple of things about the company behind it. 37Signals is a software development company which develops web-based applications mainly for small businesses and individuals. They focus on creating practical solutions that are not bloated with features, but provide sufficient amount of functionality that is good enough to get things done efficiently. It seems like their philosophy has been working. Used by millions, their web based tools have gained a lot of popularity among professionals who try to run their businesses smoothly.

Let’s review some of the important features Basecamp has to better understand if it is something that would help you manage your projects. First of all, Basecamp is a web-based application. This provides a lot of flexibility in terms of access to the application and saves significant amount of headache when it comes to maintaining the software. You can use the application from any computer or mobile device as long as you have internet access and a web browser. You also do not need to worry about installation and updates of the application. If 37Signals comes up with a new feature or any bug fix, these will be centrally uploaded and the next time you sign in you will have the changes automatically implemented in your application.

With Basecamp you can manage multiple projects under one account. Currently, Basecamp offers 4 paid plans, namely Basic, Plus, Premium and Max. Each has a different limit on the number of projects you can manage. There is also a free account option, which lets you manage only one project.

As would be expected from a project management application, Basecamp provides functionality to manage project milestones and define tasks that are associates with each milestone. Tasks can be assigned to individual project participants who can access the system through their own accounts. All subscription plans allow you to create unlimited number of users under your account. So you can connect not only with your staff but also with your customers to effectively share project information and track project progress. Users also can receive notices about task assignments and project updates by email.

Tasks you are responsible of or which you assign to other project participants can be grouped in to-do lists. You can create as many to-do lists as you want and can organize the order of these lists and the tasks they include conveniently by dragging and dropping them using your mouse. To-do lists can come handy especially if you are signed up for a free account, since they can be used as if they are projects to work around the single project limit.

Time keeping is an essential component in project management for billing and performance tracking. If you have a “Plus” or higher level subscription, Basecamp provides you the capability to keep track of hours spent on a task or a complete project.

Basecamp does a good job in providing functionality for information sharing and collaboration. Messaging enables project participants exchange messages in a project specific area just like regular email with attachments, and back and forth comments. Messages can be categorized under different groups which make it easy to locate conversations. On the other hand, having a project specific messaging system saves you the hassle of organizing project related communications within your daily email traffic.

While chat and file sharing are self explanatory, I believe the Writeboard function requires a mention. A Writeboard enables multiple users to collaborate on any kind of text. This may, for example, be a press release, page content for a section on your web site or a status report. All users invited to a Writeboard can view, edit and comment on the text. Basecamp can keep multiple versions of a Writeboard and allows comparison between these versions.

Who is Basecamp for?

As a reflection of 37Signals’ philosophy for product development, Basecamp offers functionality that is easy to use, avoids bells and whistles and focuses on communication and collaboration. It is more for users that prefer getting things done practically and don’t really care about the formal charting and reporting side of project management. There are so many users who think that Basecamp is the best ever project management tool. On the other hand, there are users who have preferred other project management applications and think that their selections are unrivaled. It may actually be a personal preference, requirements of a person’s management style or the specific needs of a project. You have to decide for yourself!

Pricing

Cost is always a key component in product evaluation. So, I think the pricing summary below will help you in deciding whether Basecamp is right for you.

All the plans in the table allow unlimited users, which means you can include as many employees or customers as you need in your project communications. You can also try Basecamp with a free trial account which allows only one project, unlimited users, no time tracking and no file sharing. Although it is very limited, the free plan is a great opportunity to find out more about the product and to determine whether it will serve your project management needs.

Obviously Basecamp is not the only web based project management and collaboration tool available. I am looking forward to write about those other products as well in the near future. Until then, I would love to hear comments about your experiences with Basecamp and also about similar products you are using for your projects.

Disclosure: WiseClicker.com is an affiliate of Basecamp. When you visit the Basecamp web site by clicking on links or banners on this web site and sign up for Basecamp’s services, WiseClicker may earn commissions.

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