Project Management for Web Designer?

[Heal3r]

I am looking for suggestions on project management software. I'd prefer to keep my data in house vs hosting on off site. And if it is set up specifically for web designers or something similar that's even better.

I manage anywhere from 50 to 1000 new accounts each month so it needs to have that kind of organization power. Doesn't have to have accounting abilities but whatever. Need collaboration applications, maybe email, IM ability.

If you use or know of something please post it and describe it please. Special thanks to anyone who can show me an example of the application they use in action.

[imvain2]

I personally haven't installed these, so I cannot account for anyone of them

Billing for hosting:
AccountLab Plus
phpCOIN - phpCOIN.com Main Page

Project Management:
PHProjekt - PHProjekt :: an open source groupware suite

[webracadabra]

I work with an excellent web developer who implemented something that also works with his clients. Check out:

www.clientsection.com

I'm not sure of the admin side of things, but from a client's perspective, I loved it. It made collaborative work very simple with a clean interface.

James

[chrisJumbo]

We use ACT!. We are quite a few versions behind the latest It isn't taylored for Web Designers but it helps you keep your contacts and tasks organized.

We have custom software that manages our billing. I believe Act! provided odbc access so it can be tied into other databases and such as well.

[brentan0]

A buddy of mine is an indie developer and does a lot of subcontracting. He swears by Basecamp, and has even started providing Basecamp setup to his clients as an additional service.

Project management, collaboration, and task software: Basecamp

[ambassador]

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Jan 29, 2008

Have you considered Mosso? I have never used their service but they may offer the kind of account management services/applications for which you are looking.

Ambassador
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[deewpeb]

If you are looking for client management, then SugarCRM is great.

We use it to manage out client base. It is initially aimed at the sales process with lead generation -> conversions -> accounts, but yuou can use it for mail, meetings, documentation and there are a whole lot of addons.

There are two flavours, the Open Source version and a paid pro version.

SugarForge: Open Source CRM, CRM software, CRM Open Source, opensource CRM, SugarCRM

We use the Opens Source version and it does what we need, I am trying to find an integration to WHMCS to synchronise our clients

PM me if you want to talk more about it.

[kylegetson]

I work for a web design firm and we use salesforce and dreamteam (a product of salesforce). And I hate both. I think they are slow and bulky. When 'used correctly' takes more time to do 'task updates' than the actual task itself. The outlook 'plugin' makes it easy for others to flood an account and opportunity with useless emails.

if it were up to me, we wouldnt use it.

[Orion]

Do the CRM solutions offer enough to be considered for project management?

I haven't found a decent solution myself yet either but have looked around, part of my issue was set up time. I'd also LOVE to find something that will work with my PDA (windows pocketpc / mobile)...

[John Redfield]

I use Axosoft Ontime, it is specific to software development, has feature and defect tracking, help tickets, email integration, and is very customizable. Check it out Bug Tracking Software by Axosoft Defect and Issue Tracker HelpDesk

They have a free 1 lic deal, fully functional, which I used on my desktop for years. However, obviously you cant colloborate with team members. I am a freelance developer, so initially sprung for the hosted version for the customer portal interface for my clients. It is pricy, but it is great, nice AJAX interface for an almost pure desktop flexibility.

john

[racerx]

We are a web development and hosting company and we use Dot Project. Its free, robust and exceptionally easy to use.

Its also offered as a hosted solution at Project Management Software

The hosted solution has made it extremely easy for companies to get setup. Once they sign up, its usually running within a few hours without any work on the clients side. You also get your own custom domain , I.e. yourcompany.smoothprojects.com

The project management software has domain addresses for test sites and is very flexible for adding custom fields for log-ins passwords etc. It has an integrated forum software for brainstorming so that the project itself doesn't get cluttered up. You can assign tasks easily and it has a permissions schema that you can easily allow a client to log-into to view your progress if you like.

Great Stuff!

[tk-123]

When considering the time, cost, technical overhead, hardware and other maintenance needed to operate an internal project management app - not to mention the lack of product support, patches, feature improvements or other updates that you don't tend to get with something you buy and install yourself (in most cases) - it's usually best to go with a third-party hosted/supported system -- like BaseCamp. We spent a few weeks assessing both options and dozens of different products about 1.5 years ago - and BaseCamp was the clear winner. Project management and collaboration IS their business... Why should you spend time re-inventing (or installing and managing) that wheel yourself?

[krisidious]

Microsoft project professional...

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/pr...747981033.aspx

it has online collaboration and all that jazz, they've been doing serious project management for years... I've used it for construction uses, I was a commercial project manager for some time. the thing I liked about it most was the automatic updating of project goals via preceding checkpoints that you set up. so if you didn't get B done on time, then C would automatically update the calender with the changes needed over the entire project.

[Heal3r]

Fantastic feedback. Thank you. Some of those I have seen and many I have not and will certainly review.

[krodenhizer]

I think MS Outlook Business Contact Manager (BCM) is underrated and under marketed. Not sure why, but you might want to review the options. You can customize your pages and communicate between your outlook business contacts and MS Accounting. I am not an expert, but I know you can use ASP to interface with the SQL tables to produce all your expected web input and report options. I bought a book on the topic but have not had time to read it yet. Good luck.

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ac...366591033.aspx

[webanalyst]

Great post and some very helpful replies. I have to say I like the look of Basecamp myself, it seems to suit webdesign activities. Some of the others are aimed more at sales.

[daBigBee]

I've worked on many web project and used many project management software and for straight-forwardness and simplicity, I don't believe anything beats Basecamp. There are many plugs made for it now from cash flow management apps to invoicing apps to online chatting apps. In my opinion, it can't be beat. I would start there. Project management, collaboration, and task software: Basecamp and Simple small business software, collaboration, CRM: 37signals.

[rdarling]

One more vote for Basecamp software designed by 37 Signals. It ROCKS and was designed for smaller design-type shops who manage multiple clients and their projects. We have used it from day one and it has saved our business lots of time and hassle. All communications and assets are stored online in one central place. Our clients LOVE IT. It will manage messages, unlimited categories of your choosing, to do lists, time tracking, milestones, etc.

Project management, collaboration, and task software: Basecamp - this is our referral link in case you want to use it!

You can have one project for free to try it out; or a monthly license that we think is the best bang for your money. Their customer service is excellent too,, and they have won a lot of awards for this.

[texxs]

I'm A Web Designer/Web Developer and I use "TasksPro"
Tasks Pro™
One of the lead guys w/ WordPress developed it. Works out pretty great.

[jeffposaka]

We use SugarCRM for clients and DOT Project to keep track of projects inhouse.

I like Microsoft Project a lot but I think online collaboration is more difficult than Dot Project.

Sugar is really cool.