Team Management App 101

Team Management App 101

Managing a team is no walk in the park, especially when you have to juggle work schedules, tasks, and communications. It can be tricky to keep everyone on track, organized, and in the loop.

Thankfully, the invention of the team management app has made this process a whole lot easier. There are now a variety of apps on the market designed to help managers and team members collaborate and stay organized.

three people developing a team management app

In this article, we will go through some of the incredible features that team management apps have to offer, as well as how you can successfully choose and implement one for your business.

Click through the links below, or keep reading for the 101 on team management apps!

What is a team management app?

Simply put, a team management app is an online tool that helps managers and team members collaborate and communicate more effectively. A good team management app should provide a central platform for organizing tasks, sharing files, and communicating with others in the team.

The best team management apps also offer features like time tracking, invoicing, and reporting. This can make it easier for managers to keep track of team progress and identify any potential bottlenecks.

Why should you use one?

There are a number of reasons why you might want to use a team management app. Perhaps you’re a manager who wants to improve communication and collaboration within your team. Or maybe you’re a team member who needs a better way to keep track of tasks and deadlines.

A good team management app can help you to:

  • Organize tasks and deadlines
  • Share files and ideas
  • Communicate with other team members
  • Track team progress
  • Identify bottlenecks

Components of a team management app

Let’s go through some of the main features of a team management app so that you can better understand how they help boost productivity and efficiency.

Time management

One of the most common features of team management apps is their ability to track time and report on time usage data.

For example, some apps will track which websites and applications you use the most, how long you spend on each, and how productive that time was. This data can help team leaders see where their team members are spending the majority of their time and whether or not it is being put to good use.

a person checking their team management app

Time management tools can help your team by:

  • Giving an overview of how time is being spent. Often, team management tools provide a summary of where time is being used and how productive it is. This data can help team members re-evaluate how they spend their time and see where they might be able to make changes.
  • Allowing for comparisons between team members. Time tracking data can help identify which team members are the most or least productive. This information can be used to help team members learn from each other and to challenge themselves to be more productive.
  • Helping set realistic deadlines. When team leaders have a good understanding of how much time their team members need to complete tasks, they can better set deadlines that are achievable. This can help reduce stress for team members and prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.
  • Making it easier to identify time wasters. Time tracking data can help team leaders see which activities are taking up the most time but aren’t contributing to the team’s overall productivity. This information can be used to help team members eliminate or reduce these time-wasting activities.

Project management

Many team management apps will also provide you with tools for tracking your projects. This might include a Gantt chart view, which shows you all the tasks that need to be completed and how they relate to one another, as well as a calendar view so you can see when tasks are due.

For example, one of the more popular project management apps is Trello. Trello lets you create boards for each of your projects, and then add cards to those boards with all the information you need about that task. You can also add collaborators to cards so they can help you complete the task, and set deadlines and notifications so you never miss a beat.

five people analyzing team management app data

Project management tools can boost your business by:

  • Helping you stay on track with your deadlines. By seeing all of your project details in the one place, you can quickly identify which tasks are due soon and need your attention.
  • Allowing you to track progress. You can see at a glance how much progress has been made on each task and how close you are to completing the project. This can help you budget your time better and avoid any nasty surprises.
  • Enabling better communication. With project management tools, you can easily communicate with your team about tasks and updates. This can help avoid any misunderstandings or confusion.

Team organization and collaboration

The best team management apps are ones that allow you to organize your team and assign clear roles and responsibilities. When everyone is aware of their duties, the team can function more smoothly.

For example, many team management apps include tools for creating and managing tasks, and they allow you to assign certain people to tasks as required. This can help to ensure that everyone is aware of what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.

Another important component is collaboration. A good team management app should make it easy for team members to share files, comments, and ideas. This can help to speed up the decision-making process and improve overall productivity.

two hands holding a sheet of paper filled with text

Apps that allow for organization and collaboration can help your business by:

  • Reducing confusion and overlap in tasks. When everyone can see who’s in charge of what, it’s less likely that tasks will be duplicated or left unfinished.
  • Encouraging communication and collaboration. When team members can easily share files and ideas, they’re more likely to work together effectively.
  • Improving productivity. Well-organized and well-run teams are more productive than teams that are struggling to keep track of what’s going on.

Payroll and administration

While administrative duties aren’t necessarily team-related, the best team management apps will include features like payroll and invoicing. This can make tracking team hours, reimbursements, and payments much simpler, meaning you’ll have one less thing to worry about.

Some apps even offer online payment options, so team members can easily and securely pay you. And, of course, all of your data will be backed up and secure.

Team management apps with payroll and administrative features can boost your company by:

  • Freeing up time for teamwork and company improvement. If all your time is spent on menial tasks like bookkeeping, you’ll have less time to focus on what’s important — your administrative team and your business.
  • Allowing for secure online payments. This can make it easier for both you and your team members to pay each other quickly and easily. No more missed payments or long waits!
  • Encouraging transparency and organization. By keeping your team’s finances organized and easily accessible, you’ll encourage everyone to stay on top of their work.
  • Helping you stay compliant with regulations. Depending on your location or the industry you’re in, there may be specific regulations governing how you run your business. A good team management app can help you stay compliant and organized.

Finding the perfect team management app for your business

Depending on what your needs are, different team management apps will work better for you. For example, if you need to manage a remote team, then an app like Asana or Trello might work better for you than something like Basecamp.

two people using a team management app on their laptops

Some things to keep in mind when looking for a team management app include:

  • The features offered by the app. Does the app have the features you need to manage your team effectively?
  • How user-friendly is the app? Is it easy to learn and use?
  • The price. How much does the app cost? Are there any discounts or free trials available? Does it fit within your budget?
  • The customer support. What kind of customer support is available? Is it easy to get help if you need it?

Once you’ve found a team management app that meets your needs, be sure to test it out and see how it works for your team. You may need to tweak things a bit to make sure the app is working well for everyone, but with a little bit of effort, you should be able to find an app that makes managing your team a breeze.

Implementing your app for optimal efficiency

Once you’ve found the perfect app for your team, the next step is to actually use it to its full potential. As with any new software, there is a learning curve when it comes to using team management apps effectively. But with a little effort and organization, you can make sure that your team’s app helps you work smarter, not harder.

Here are some steps you can take to make the most of your team management app:

Familiarize yourself with all of the app’s features

Take some time to explore all of the features your team management app has to offer. This might include things like task management, file sharing, messaging, or calendar integration. Knowing how to use all of these features will help you run your team more effectively.

a pen, a laptop, a pair of round eyeglasses, a pink stapler, a clipboard, and a white smartphone on a peach colored desk

Create a plan for how the app will be used

Before you start using the app, sit down with your team and come up with a plan for how it will be used. This might include things like setting up specific workflows or creating task lists. Having a plan in place will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows what to expect from the app.

Use the app regularly

The best way to get the most out of your team management app is to use it regularly. This means adding tasks, sharing files, and messaging your team members on a regular basis. The more you use the app, the more efficient you’ll become and the better your team will function.

Train new team members on how to use the app

If you have a new team member, be sure to train them on how to use the team management app. This includes showing them how to add tasks, share files, and communicate with the team. Training new team members on how to use the app will help them get up to speed quickly and make them more productive.

By following these simple steps, you’ll have your team management app up and running in no time!

Some of the best team management apps

If you’re stuck on which app to choose, here are some of the best team management apps for different purposes:

  • Day.io allows you to track the time your employees spend on different tasks, with a simple clock-in method and five different security measures in place. It also integrates seamlessly with other team management apps for a totally streamlined workflow.
  • Asana is great for creating tasks and tracking progress. It allows you to add due dates, assign tasks to team members, and add notes.
  • Trello is perfect for organizing projects into boards with lists and cards. Team members can easily see what’s being worked on and provide feedback.
  • ClickUp is great for managing and sharing files, as well as tracking deadlines and tasks. It also allows you to create custom templates for different tasks, track progress, arrange your tasks in a board, and more.
  • Google Drive is ideal for storing files and collaborating on documents. You can share files with team members, make changes together, and leave comments.

Each of these apps has its own strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to choose the one that will work best for your team. Sometimes you may need to use a couple of different apps, which is where integration really comes in handy!

two people sitting beside each other while holding a laptop

Bottom line

If you haven’t already begun using team management apps in your business, now is the time to start. Not only will they make you more organized and productive, but they can also help improve communication between team members.

The right app can make all the difference in your team’s productivity and efficiency. So, do your research, find an app that meets your needs, and start using it today!