Task management software has become more popular recently, and it’s going to become even more important as remote work continues long term. In fact, telecommuting has increased by 115% over the last ten years, meaning there are many more people who need to collaborate with their team using online tools. Whether you just need a way to organize everyday tasks, or you’re looking to simplify enterprise-scale projects, there’s a task management tool that can help you.

Read on to learn more about task management software, or use our Product Selection Tool at the top of the page to get a customized list of product recommendations for your company’s specific needs.

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Best task management software by company size

Small	Medium	Large
TaskQue	Trello	ZenHub
FunctionFox	Outplanr	ClickUp
GetBusy	Asana	LiquidPlanner

Table of contents

• What is task management software
• Best task management tools 2020
• Common features and tools in task management software
• Task management software considerations for SMBs
• Task management software considerations for enterprises
• Choosing a task management platform

What is task management software?

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Task management software helps users track tasks from initiation through completion. Individuals can see how a task is progressing and who is involved to get a better idea of timeline and project costs. Task management software has a lot of overlap with project management software, and many tools will offer functionalities for both.

The main difference between project and task management is the scope. If your overall project is to build a new smartphone app, there are many individual tasks you need to complete before the project has finished. Task management deals with these individual pieces, rather than the project as a whole. Task management software works well for both individuals and teams to keep important tasks from slipping through the cracks.

Also read: The Best Project Management Software for (Almost) Any Task

Best task management tools 2020

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Product	Email Notifications	Integrations & APIs	Task Prioritization	Automation
TaskQue	yes	yes	no	yes
Asana	yes	yes	yes	yes
GetBusy	yes	yes	yes	yes
Trello	yes	yes	yes	yes
Outplanr	yes	yes	yes	yes
ClickUp	yes	yes	yes	yes
ZenHub	no	yes	yes	yes
FunctionFox	yes	no	yes	no
LiquidPlanner	no	yes	yes	yes

Scheduling features are available with each of these task management tools, so your team can easily track deadlines and keep projects moving. If scheduling and prioritizing tasks are the main features you’re looking for, you shouldn’t have any issue finding a task management software that will work well for your business.

While most of these software vendors provide integration abilities, some only integrate with one or two third party apps while others offer more variety. If integration is important to your business, you should look into which tools integrate with the software you’re already using before making a decision.

Similarly, automation is offered in almost every software, but some offer workflow automations while others simply automate resource allocation. While both can be helpful in a variety of industries, some businesses may rely on one more than the other. If you’re looking for automation, decide what kind of automation features you need before deciding on a product.

Also read: Task Management Software Options for Individuals and Teams

Common features and tools in task management software

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With task management software, functions range from simple to-do lists to tools that can help teams collaborate more efficiently. Most task management software will have the following features in common.

Email notifications

With so much work being done remotely and on the go, email notifications are crucial to ensuring everyone involved in a task gets the updates they need. While email and in-application notifications might seem redundant, busy employees will love them because the emails will help them ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. Thankfully, most task management systems let you set specific times when you’ll get email notifications, so you won’t get bombarded with emails while you’re not working.

Task creation and assignment

In order to manage a task, one has to be created. Task management systems allow you to create tasks within the system, so everything is in one centralized location. Once tasks are created, you can also assign them to people on your team to ensure they are seen and completed in a timely manner. Some platforms will even automatically assign tasks based on who has room in their workflow. Finally, you can check each task off when you’re done with it to move it out of your dashboard and make room for the next item on your list.

Integrations and APIs

Task management software becomes even more helpful when you can integrate it with other software that you use, like your CRM or collaboration software. Let’s say you have a list of tasks that need to be completed when you onboard a new client. Some task management platforms can integrate with your CRM to automatically create those tasks whenever you land a new client. Depending on the platform, you may need to create an API to do so.

Task management software considerations for SMBs

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Many small businesses have employees that are located in the same office, so they may not need the same level of collaboration in their task management software as enterprises. However, employees of small businesses often wear many hats, so keeping their tasks organized is extremely important. Email notifications, prioritization, and scheduling all work to keep employees clear on their tasks and when they need to be completed.

In addition to organization, small businesses should also look for platforms with good customer service and helpful support. Most SMBs don’t have the IT resources to quickly diagnose and resolve problems with the software, and they could lose valuable time if the software’s support team isn’t responsive. Try to engage customer support before you purchase software, so you can get an idea of how long it takes them to respond to inquiries. Many task management tools also have free trial periods that you can take advantage of to see how they work before you buy.

Also read: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Project Management Software Free Trial

Task management software considerations for enterprises

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Enterprise companies often have the personnel and resources available to customize their software, so they may look for task management tools with API capabilities. Using APIs, companies can automate the creation of certain tasks and easily integrate their platform with other software they use often. This will help free up your employees’ time and make them more efficient when completing tasks.

Also read: 6 Customizable Software Tools for Agile Project Management

Additionally, enterprises often have employees that work remotely or are spread out over several offices but still need to work together to complete tasks. Choosing a task management software with robust collaboration tools can help your team complete tasks more easily, no matter where they are. The ability to leave comments on tasks or rope in other employees as necessary can streamline the process and keep things moving.

Choosing a task management platform

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Task management software is a great way to keep your business organized and your employees on track. When choosing a task management platform for your business, you need to decide which features are most important to you. You might not need much customization, so having API capabilities won’t be as important as something like scheduling. Taking advantage of a company’s free trial period is a great way to learn which tools work well for your business before actually investing in them.

There are tons of different task management tools out there, but we can help lower your research time. To find the perfect task management software for your business, check out our Product Selection Tool by using the banner at the top of this page. After answering a few simple questions, you’ll get a short, unbiased list of software vendors tailored to your company’s needs

• • Which task management software is right for your business?
  • Find out now