DEV Community: ONES.com

ONES Product Overview

Sofia — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 09:08:31 +0000

ONES provides an all-in-one solution for software development teams to plan and track, manage tests and collaborate.
✨Visit our website to learn more: https://ones.com

ONES Project is a project management tool to keep everything well-organized. ONES Wiki is a knowledge management tool that supports real-time collaboration and versatile content editing. ONES TestCase supports test management throughout the whole test life cycle to ensure quality software release.

8 Best Workflow Automation Software for 2023

Stacy — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 14:00:08 +0000

In the business world, time is money. The more efficiently you can work, the more money you can make. That’s why workflow automation software is so essential. It helps you to automate your work processes, saving you time and money.

What is workflow automation software?

Workflow automation software is a program that automates business processes. Workflow automation tools are essential for businesses because they help to improve efficiency and productivity. Companies can save time and money by automating simple, repetitive, time-consuming tasks. Additionally, workflow automation tools can help to enhance communication and collaboration within teams.

How Does Workflow Automation Software Work?

Workflow automation software automates the processes involved in a business’ workflow. It can create rules and conditions that trigger specific actions when they occur, helping streamline and automate day-to-day operations. For example, suppose a customer places an order on an e-commerce website. In that case, workflow automation software can automatically generate an invoice and send it to the customer.

Workflow automation software can also assign tasks to the right people, ensuring everyone is on the same page. It can automate creating and sending reports, guaranteeing a consistent and accurate output. The software also helps to reduce manual errors and helps to reduce the risk of data loss. It can be used to set up notifications, alerts, and reminders to keep everyone up to date with the latest information.

Workflow automation software can also integrate different systems and applications, ensuring that all the relevant data is in one place. This helps improve efficiency and accuracy, making finding the information you need easier.

In addition, workflow automation software can be used to create workflow processes that can be easily adjusted and scaled as needed. This helps to ensure that processes are kept up-to-date and accurate.

Workflow Automation Solution: Key Features

Many different workflow automation software tools are available, each with its own features. It cannot be easy to decide which tool is right for your business. The following are some key features when choosing a workflow automation tool.

Automatic task assignment : The tool should be able to automatically assign tasks to the appropriate employees based on their skills and availability. This will help to ensure that tasks are completed quickly and efficiently.
Notifications : The software should be able to send notifications to employees when a task is assigned to them or when a deadline is approaching. This will help to keep employees informed and ensure that tasks are completed on time.
Access Control : Access controls can help ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data. This can help to protect the privacy of business information.
Integration : The software should be able to integrate with other software applications used by your business. This will allow you to automate tasks that are already being done manually.
Collaboration features : The tool should allow employees to collaborate on tasks and share information. This will help to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.
An intuitive user interface : The tool should be easy to use and understand. Employees should be able to learn how to use the tool quickly and easily.
Data security : Workflow automation software tools provide several features that can help to protect data. These features may include data encryption, access controls, and automatic task assignment. This can help to ensure that data is kept safe and secure.
Status indicators : The tool should be able to track the progress of tasks and indicate when they are completed. This will help ensure that tasks are not forgotten, and deadlines are met.
Interoperability : The tool should work with different platforms and software applications. This will allow you to use the software with your existing applications.

When choosing a workflow automation solution, it’s essential to consider these key features. But it’s also important to consider your specific needs. Not all workflow automation solutions are the same. Each one has its own unique set of features.

So, how do you decide which workflow automation solution is right for you?

Comparison Criteria

Company Needs

Before you can even begin looking at software tools, you need to determine your company’s needs. What business processes need to be automated? What are the pain points that need to be addressed? Each software tool has different features, so you must ensure the tool you choose has the features required.

Price

Price is always a consideration when making a purchase. Workflow automation software is no different. The prices for the various tools vary greatly, so you need to find one that fits your budget.

System Integration Capabilities

To get the most out of your workflow automation software, it is essential that the tool can integrate with your other business systems. The software should be able to easily connect to your accounting software, CRM, HR system, and so on.

User Interface

The user interface is another important consideration. The tool should be easy to use so your employees can quickly learn how to use it. The user interface should also be visually appealing so that employees will want to use it.

Ease of Use

The tool should also be easy to use. It should be intuitive and easy to navigate. Employees should be able to start using the software without any training.

Number of Users

The tool should also accommodate the number of users you have. It should have the capacity to grow with your company.

Now that you have a better understanding of what to look for in workflow automation software, let’s take a closer look at the eight best workflow automation tools you can use.

8 Best Workflow Automation Software Tools

1. ONES.com

ONES.com is a workflow automation software that enables users to create and manage workflows easily and efficiently. It offers a wide range of features and tools that make workflow creation and management a breeze. ONES.com is a software-based project management tool that helps simplify project management using Gantt charts. It also offers worklogs, reporting, and automation features to help teams work more efficiently. ONES.com is great for businesses of all sizes and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as project management, task management, time tracking, and more.

2. Asana

Asana is a project management and workflow automation software that helps businesses coordinate projects, tasks, and teams. It enables users to set up tasks and subtasks, assign tasks to team members, and track progress in real-time. It also provides features such as custom workflows, progress dashboards, and project timelines.

3. Trello

Trello is a project management and workflow automation software that helps businesses manage projects, tasks, and teams. It provides an intuitive visual workflow with boards, lists, and cards, enabling users to organize tasks, collaborate with team members, and track progress. It also offers features such as integrated calendars, automated notifications, and due dates. Trello can be integrated with popular applications like Slack, Confluence, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Evernote.

4. Zapier

Zapier is a workflow automation software that helps businesses automate manual tasks and processes. It enables users to easily create workflows that connect applications and services, such as web forms, email, and CRM tools. It also provides features such as error handling, task scheduling, and real-time data transfer.

5. Jira

Jira is an issue-tracking and workflow automation software that helps businesses manage projects, tasks, and teams. It allows users to create custom workflows and visually track the progress of tasks. It also provides features such as real-time reporting, project timelines, and automated notifications. Jira integrates with Slack, Zoom, GitHub, and Zendesk.

6. Hubspot

Hubspot is a customer relationship management and workflow automation software that helps businesses manage customer data, track sales pipelines, and automate marketing processes. It provides features such as contact management, automated emails, conversations, and customer segmentation. More importantly, it can be deployed on Cloud, SaaS, Web, Android/iOS mobile, or iPad.

7. monday.com

monday.com is a project management and workflow automation software that helps businesses coordinate tasks, projects, and teams. It provides features such as drag-and-drop boards, real-time updates, and task automation. It also enables users to set up custom workflows, track progress, and collaborate with team members. monday.com integrates with business tools such as Typeform, Trello, and Twilio.

8. DocuWare

DocuWare is a document management and workflow automation software that helps businesses manage documents and automate processes. It provides features such as document storage, access control, and versioning. It also enables users to create custom workflows, manage document approval processes, and track progress. Over 500 apps, including Microsoft Dynamics, Sage, QuickBooks, and SAP, are compatible with DocuWare’s email, team portal, CRM, ERP, and HR management tools suite.

Workflow automation software is an excellent tool for streamlining and automating processes. It can help to improve efficiency and accuracy, reduce manual errors, and save time and resources. You can also integrate different systems and applications into them to create workflow processes that can be easily adjusted and scaled as needed.

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 27, 2023.

Roles And Responsibilities In An Agile Team

Stacy — Wed, 18 Jan 2023 14:00:26 +0000

Agile is one of the most sought-after project management methodologies, especially regarding software development. It allows you to divide the project into smaller segments ( sprints ) and have your team members handle each with precision. The Agile methodology ensures seamless collaboration and prepares you to tackle unforeseen circumstances throughout your project’s course.

To understand Agile, it is important to understand the different Agile roles and responsibilities in a team. Being highly collaborative in nature, Agile requires you to assign dedicated roles and responsibilities to different team members. Members with different roles come together and bring an Agile project to fruition. Each of the Agile roles is performed keeping in mind the principles of self-organization.

Here are some of the most important Agile roles and responsibilities in a team that take your project forward:

Product Owners

These are the professionals responsible for managing the product roadmap and prioritizing the backlog to be covered. They define the core product vision and shoulder the responsibility of managing different stakeholders. They have the authority to make important decisions and ensure that all team members are working on the right project items.

A product owner should be able to communicate effectively with all stakeholders to explain their vision and monitor the team’s progress. They also need to understand what the end users/customers want, communicating their needs to the team members as they work on the Agile project.

Product owners often link the technical/engineering and business teams. They also provide personalized and valuable insights to the marketing and sales teams to achieve common project goals.

Developers

As the name suggests, developers are responsible for developing your product. Depending on your project’s requirements, you may have one or more developers on your team. If you are working on a software development project, you need software developers trained in suitable languages and frameworks.

Developers are responsible for identifying the end user’s needs, designing the product, developing it, and testing it based on the standards set during the planning stage. Some developers provide support and maintenance services after the product is developed and deployed. Developers are required to stick to the project timeline while working in different sprints.

Moreover, developers need to stay in sync with the latest tech trends in the industry while working on Agile projects. This helps you stay relevant and build products that match the industry standards.

Scrum Masters

Scrum is an Agile methodology focusing on experience, experimentation, and observation. It stresses the importance of teamwork, iterative development, and accountability at all project stages. This lets you and your team move towards common project goals.

Scrum masters are the professionals that overlook the application of the scrum methodology within your organization. They act as coaches and managers to ensure that each sprint is performed effectively. They are responsible for holding daily meetings and ensuring seamless sprint planning while keeping the team focused. They also manage sprint reviews, seek feedback, and analyze the same to eliminate roadblocks hampering the project’s progress.

Team Leaders

It is common to confuse Scrum masters with team leaders. While a Scrum master is responsible for managing the application of the Scrum methodology, team leaders overlook the Kanban methodology.

Kanban is an Agile methodology that focuses on real-time communication and complete transparency. It involves visually representing work items on a dedicated Kanban board. This allows all team members to keep track of the project’s status at any point in time.

Team leaders ensure that their teams follow the Agile methodology throughout the project. They also facilitate effective communication within the group to share important ideas, strategies, and courses of action. Kanban team leaders choose the right Kanban tools suited for the project.

Stakeholders

Simply put, stakeholders are people having a vested interest in the project. They may belong to your internal team or be external to your organization. Internal stakeholders are responsible for developing your product and performing business processes important to achieve your inherent goals. These professionals include developers, team leaders, managers, and everyone working within an organization.

On the other hand, external stakeholders often influence your project without working within your organization. These stakeholders include suppliers, customers, partners, investors, and everyone who doesn’t work within your organization.

Stakeholders are considered important Agile roles as they impact your project (direct or indirect). From making important decisions to navigating through crises, stakeholders help keep your Agile project on track.

Integrators

Integrators are professionals managing larger Agile projects. They are responsible for handling projects with multiple teams and sections. As the name suggests, an integrator integrates different aspects of your projects, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

These Agile roles are applicable only in larger projects where multiple teams work together to build complicated products.

Independent Testers And Auditors

Again, these are Agile roles best suited for larger and more complicated projects. Independent testers and auditors are responsible for overlooking the functioning of your teams and identifying mistakes therein. Just like financial auditors assess your financial statements and software testers test your software applications, these professionals assess your Agile projects and ensure that they are performed effectively.

Bringing independent testers and auditors together enhances your product testing stage. They ensure that the product you develop meets the industry standards and is in sync with your initial project plan. They troubleshoot all minor and major issues, keeping your project on track.

Architects

Architects are the professionals responsible for ensuring that any solution throughout your Agile project works within your enterprise structure’s context. They assess the feasibility of solutions before they are implemented, making sure the end users get what they asked for.

The Final Word

These were some of the essential Agile roles and responsibilities in a team. While working on a project, always ensure that clearly defined roles are allotted to suitable team members. This helps you eliminate bottlenecks and bring your project to fruition in the best way possible.

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 18, 2023.

The 4 phases of the project lifecycle

Stacy — Tue, 17 Jan 2023 14:00:28 +0000

IT project management is a pure dichotomy of the states of mind — at times sheer joy, sometimes absolute chaos. Managing IT projects is no cakewalk, but it gets easier with intuitive project management SaaS tools. Tools do help you in IT project management, but a tool can only be as good as the person using it. You can make the best use of IT project management tools if you understand the entire project lifecycle. And then you may devise intuitively, which tool you need at what stage of the project lifecycle. Read this insight to dive deeper & understand the ins & outs of the 4 phases of the project lifecycle — Plan, execute, monitor & iterate, and closeout.

What’s a project lifecycle?

In information technology projects, irrespective of whether you are involved with simple software development, on-premise hardware installation, architecting solutions in the cloud, or designing an ETL solution — at a granular level, the project progression includes

Research
Planning
Gathering resources
Doing the mathematics of costs & profits
Delineation of responsibilities,
Execution of plans,
Monitoring & revision, and
A bunch of other operational, regulatory, and compliance things

A project lifecycle is a sequence of phases grouping together aforementioned granular-level project tasks into individual phases based on the task’s characteristics & dependencies.

Why do we need project lifecycle phases?

While IT projects are quickly moving through iterations of different project phases, they may fall prey to the risks of the continuously changing technology landscape and unpredictive business scenarios. Project lifecycle phases make you better equipped to take on surprises — make you resilient.

There are multiple ways to go about managing an IT project. The route you take impacts the project lifecycle. Project managers are recommended to choose from tried and tested project lifecycle management techniques to

Reduce the cost of the project by avoiding extensive rework,
Keep the project on track,
Improve inter-team communication, and
Build solutions in rather less risky and more controlled environments.

What are the different project lifecycle types?

Project Lifecycle can either be predictive i.e., plan-driven , or adaptive i.e., change-driven.

Predictive Lifecycle

This is rather a traditional approach to project lifecycle management but is still used by many organizations. Commonly known as the waterfall approach. In this, the requirements and project flow is defined precisely at the very beginning and there is a minimal deviation from the charted plan during the course of project execution. Change of scope is accepted but only after strict scrutiny and assessment.

Adaptive Lifecycle

This is a modern style of project lifecycle type. More popularly known as the agile approach in the project management community. This too makes use of project planning & execution, but more so in an iterative style than a linear one. Change of scope is more generously embraced in this type of project lifecycle.

Is Project Lifecycle only applicable to software development?

Nope. In fact, it won’t be wrong to generalize the concept of project lifecycle phases to just any other project from any other industry. From architecting a smart city to designing an autonomous car — the project lifecycle can be segmented into the same four phases, with of-course industry & project-specific distinctions.

What are the 4 project lifecycle phases?

As mentioned earlier, a project lifecycle is a structured framework laid down in four phases to take a project from idea to market:

Initiation: Project Lifecycle Phase I

This is the fundamental & critical project lifecycle phase. You, the stakeholders, and the team developing the software/hardware solution need crystal clear clarity about WWWWH.

WWWWH

What you are building?
Why are you developing?
Who is going to be part of the project development?
When it will be released to the market or put to use if an internal org tool?
How the project development team will build it?

What’s the recommended step-by-step approach to project initiation?

The below-mentioned steps for the initiation phase of the project lifecycle can be pursued linearly or in parallel as it may feel appropriate-

Absorb the high-level project idea/objective/brief.
Identify the key data points you need to bridge any gap in understanding the WWWWH of the project.
Identify the key stakeholders of the project i.e., the clients & the customers.
Find out the pulse of the problem at hand by extensively interviewing the stakeholders.
Precisely define project goal/idea/objective/brief in a non-jargon lingo.
Determine scope, resources, and deliverables.
Assess feasibility with cost, resources, time, and quality constraints.
Adjust the project plans in line with feasibility.
Communicate the updated plan & expected deliverables to stakeholders (mostly clients) to take their approval/feedback.

What’s the outcome from the Initiation phase of the project lifecycle?

A detailed Scope of Work (SoW) with project objective, stakeholder information & their involvement details, project risks & benefits, cost, resource, and time constraints, etc. RACI chart with tentative roles and responsibilities can also be prepared in the project lifecycle initiation phase.

Planning: Project Lifecycle Phase II

The planning phase of the project lifecycle is all about laying down a model (document) that guides the project from initiation to its completion. It essentially involves outlining a comprehensive project plan document, or a blueprint written clearly highlights:

Project backlog (features list)
Project timelines & milestones
Enhanced RACI charts
Dependencies of project components on other project components
Dependencies of team members on fellow teammates to complete a task
Security threats
Cost estimates
Criticality of milestones or project components
Protocols for change processes i.e., how the responsibilities transition happen if a member has to leave the project during its development
Protocols for communication between team members, and with clients
Quality testing of the product being developed or services rendered

What’s the recommended step-by-step approach to project planning?

In the project lifecycle planning phase, the following steps can be pursued in a linear fashion or in parallel as necessary:

Assess the skills you will need to complete the set project backlog, cost, and timeline goals.
Gather your troops (team members) & let them know about the mission using simple, succinct, clear words.
Breakdown roles & responsibilities for each member of the team
To bridge any skill gap, invest in training respective members.
To stay on the timeline, augment your team temporarily with external staff if need arises.
Establish the best practices to be followed during the course of the project.
Establish communication protocols & daily meetings or sync-ups to avoid violating the agreed timeline.
Schedule your calendars for finishing deliverables, reviewing deliverables, fixing bugs, etcetera.
Hold a Kickoff meeting & revisit all the aforementioned points, esp budget, time, and resources.
Update other stakeholders to keep them in loop.

What’s the outcome from the planning phase of the project lifecycle?

A detailed project plan, of course. This includes product backlog, team member details, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), request for proposal (RFP), DOs and DON’Ts, Gantt charts with milestones & timelines mapped to individuals, and a risk register that highlights security threats and risks associated with the project and potential risk mitigation methodologies.

Execution & Monitoring: Project Lifecycle Phase III

Plans are an utter waste without action. The 3rd phase of project lifecycle is all about high-octane action — implementation of the plan. In the project lifecycle execution & monitoring phase, actual product development starts. This project lifecycle phase includes:

Meetings & discussions to track project progress
Development sprints
Quality assessments
Risk identification & management
Bug identification & fixing
Incorporating change requests
Playing with Gantt charts, aka burndown charts

What’s the recommended step-by-step approach to project execution & monitoring?

Put the development team into action — one deliverable at a time.
Track, track, track like a maniac. It saves a lot of time, cost, and pain.
Track the schedule of deliverables.
Monitor workflow progress.
Monitor the change requests flowing in and their impact on the planned course of action.
Track the cost of the project, esp how it gets influenced when external factors sneak up in this project lifecycle phase — like consultant charges to fix an unforeseen challenge or resource costs.
Track project KPIs to measure performance.
Hold regular meetings with the team, and with stakeholders to keep them in the loop and aware of the advancements or challenges identified.
Anticipate challenges ahead of time, and prepare accordingly.
Keep execution engines all fired up!

What’s the outcome of the Execution & monitoring phase of the project lifecycle?

Project deliverables are the obvious outcome of the project lifecycle execution & monitoring phase. To be precise, actual beta product. Additionally, we get extensive documentation of the project developed, the challenges faced, and a log of bugs with their fixes and future threats that might arise. Also, the cost reports.

Closing: Project Lifecycle Phase IV

Celebration phase. Though some projects do feel like going on till eternity, ultimately now or later, every project comes to an end. In the closing phase of the project lifecycle:

The product is rigorously tested for quality and performance
Reports are submitted
Closeout meetings are hold
Team is dismantled

What’s the recommended step-by-step approach to project closing?

After the final deliverable, hold a meeting to see if all the boxes are ticked in the project backlog and change request log.
Revisit cost reports to bill the respective stakeholders.
Test the product rigorously to see if there are any issues left which are critical and need immediate attention.
In the retrospectives, list down what future enhancements can be done. Send a copy of this to the stakeholders and keep one with you.
Revisit the learnings and help them make their way into the organizational knowledge base.
Prepare the project closeout report.
Terminate the project.
Party time!!!

ONES.com — your partner in all the Project Lifecycle phases

The 4 phases of the project lifecycle simplify things and undoubtedly boost efficiency & profitability. It also helps streamline processes, establishes effective communication channels, and improves visibility into project workflow for all stakeholders.

ONES Project is an advanced software development project management tool for enterprises. It helps in all the project lifecycle phases and seamlessly connects with extensive world-class integrations like Zapier, Google Workspace, etcetera. It can also be easily connected to native internal products of your enterprise.

Explore ONES Project now!

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 17, 2023.

Top 9 most popular Jira Plugins (best Jira add-ons in 2023)

Stacy — Sun, 08 Jan 2023 14:00:29 +0000

Managing a software project can be hard, time-consuming, and stressful. It is also a part of almost every company’s workflow, as software development is an important part of almost all businesses.

Every manager who deals with software development projects has probably had the same question at one point “What plugins does Jira provide?” That is why we created an ultimate list of the best Jira plugins to help you manage your software development team.

What is the Jira tool for Agile Project Management?

Jira aids software development teams in tracking their projects from start to finish by providing the necessary tools and features to plan, track and report on their progress. With the help of Jira, you can visualize your projects and understand how they fit into your company’s overall strategy. It can take care of the whole project management journey.

Top 9 Jira Plugins (Best Free Jira Add-Ons)

The Jira plugin ecosystem is huge, which means many tools are available to help you get the most out of your software. Here are the top 10 most popular Jira plugins:

Tempo Timesheets

Via Tempo Timesheets

Tempo Timesheets is a great option if you’re looking for a time-tracking solution that integrates well with JIRA. It’s one of the most popular JIRA plugins, and for a good reason. Tempo Timesheets makes tracking time and project progress easy and integrates well with other popular project management tools.

Zephyr for JIRA

Via Zephyr for JIRA

If you’re looking for a plugin to help you with test management, Zephyr for JIRA is a great option. With this plugin, you can create, edit and delete tests, run them, and see the results within JIRA. There’s also a nifty little feature that allows you to clone tests, saving you a lot of time if you have similar tests that need to be run.

Bitbucket Integration

Via Bitbucket

If you’re using Bitbucket, you’ll want to check out the integration that allows you to connect the two tools. With this plugin, you can track your Bitbucket issues within JIRA and see information about related commits, branches, and pull requests.

The Bitbucket Integration is available for both Cloud and Server versions of JIRA, and it’s free to download. Just head over to the Atlassian Marketplace to get started.

HipChat Integration

Via HipChat Integration

To improve communication within your organization, HipChat Integration is a must-have. This plugin allows you to connect your HipChat account to JIRA to receive notifications and updates directly in HipChat.

You can also use HipChat Integration to chat with other team members, share files, and even conduct video meetings. This plugin is available for both HipChat Cloud and HipChat Server.

Portfolio for JIRA

Via Portfolio for JIRA

For tracking the progress of your projects, the Portfolio for JIRA plugin is a great option. It lets you see how your projects are doing in development and provides insights into their performance. You can also use it to create reports and track your team’s progress.

Bamboo Integration

Via Bamboo Integration

Bamboo Integration is one of the most popular JIRA plugins because it allows you to integrate your Bamboo server with your JIRA account. It was developed by the same developer who created Jira.

With Bamboo Integration, you can automatically create JIRA issues when builds fail, and you can view build results and artifacts from within JIRA. This plugin allows you to view Bamboo plans and their statuses within JIRA. This plugin is a must-have if you’re using Bamboo for continuous integration. The plugin is well-made and will save you time and hassle.

Rich Filter: PDF Reporter

Via Rich Filter: PDF Reporter

If you’re looking for a way to generate PDF reports from your JIRA data, then PDF Reporter is a great option. This plugin allows you to create custom reports and export them to PDF format.

PDF Reporter is a flexible tool that lets you specify what data you want to add to your report, and you can even include charts and graphs. This plugin is interactive, so you can easily drill down into the data to get more details.

JIRA Misc Custom Fields

Via JIRA Misc Custom Fields

Misc Custom Fields is a great add-on if you want to add extra fields to JIRA issues. The fields can be text fields, number fields, date fields, single or multiple select lists, checkboxes, or radio buttons. You can also make the fields required or optional and add default values.

Another neat feature of Misc Custom Fields is that you can add field configurations to specific JIRA issue types, so you only see the relevant fields. For instance, you can add a custom field for ‘Department’ on the ‘Bug’ issue type but not on the ‘Task’ issue. This makes it super easy to keep your JIRA issues organized and streamlined.

Roll-up Reports for JIRA

Via Roll-up Reports for JIRA

Roll-up allows you to create various types of summary reports within JIRA. You can use these reports to track the progress of your projects with only the information you want to be displayed.

The Summary Reports for JIRA plugin is an ideal way to get an overview of your project, and it’s one of the most popular plugins for JIRA. It’s also one of the easiest plugins to use and is very user-friendly.

ONES.com Solution: All-in-one platform for the developer team

ONES.com offers sophisticated solutions for enterprise management scenarios such as top-down team resource management, risk control, and performance assessment by taking into account the needs of the American market.

ONES.com provides expert project management and team collaboration tools for businesses of all sizes, speeding up product launches.

Conclusion

To conclude, JIRA is a great tool, but it can be even better with the right plugins. There are many options, but the 10 plugins on this list are the best in their respective domains. You can get more out of JIRA by using some of these plugins. Or you can also use ONES.com, the all-in-one tool to manage your projects, execute testing, generate reports and manage the knowledge base in one platform. Sign up now!

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 8, 2023.

What Techniques Can A Scrum Master Use?

Stacy — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:00:36 +0000

Scrum is one of the most sought-after project management methodologies, especially for software development projects. It is an Agile methodology that encourages team members to learn from experiences and self-organize their efforts while working on specific problems. It also involves reflecting on your team’s wins or losses to ensure continuous improvement.

The reins of a scrum project are in a scrum master ’s hands. The ultimate success or failure is attributed to a scrum master and their efforts. They keep track of the project’s progress and ensure that their team achieves the inherent goals.

So, what techniques can a scrum master use?

Depending on the nature and scope of the project, a scrum master can use multiple techniques to bring the project to fruition. However, before discussing these techniques, let us briefly understand who a scrum master is.

Who Is A Scrum Master?

As the name suggests, a scrum master is the master of a scrum project. They are the professionals responsible for a scrum project’s smooth and effective execution. They facilitate all communication and collaboration throughout the project’s course, ensuring they achieve the desired outcome.

The success of a project often relies on the scrum master’s expertise. Some of their key roles and responsibilities include:

Organizing stand-up meetings (daily), demos, reviews, and other meetings regarding the project at hand
Making the team members understand the scrum principles and best practices
Providing personalized assistance to the team members throughout the project
Facilitating conflict resolution
Encouraging and partaking in open discussions
Identifying and resolving issues
Regularly updating activities in the project management tool

What Techniques Can A Scrum Master Use?

Now that we have understood who a scrum master is and what they do, let us have a look at some of the most important techniques they can use to enhance project execution:

1. Clearly Defining The Project Goal And Vision

One of the most important techniques a scrum master uses to ensure fruitful project management is defining the project goal and vision for the team. They are responsible for identifying the gaps the project sets out to fill, the purpose the project serves, and the objectives they need to attain.

Establishing a shared vision for the entire team gives the team members a clear sense of direction. It allows everyone to have a common goal in mind and work towards the same while executing the scrum project. For example, if a scrum master is working on a custom software development project, they will clearly define the look, feel, and functionality they are looking for as the end result. This will allow their team to keep this vision in mind while working on the project.

2. Encouraging The Team To Prioritize Work

As trivial as it sounds, this is an important technique used by scrum masters. Whenever any team member loses sight of the goals they need to achieve, the scrum master brings them back on track and helps them complete their tasks on a priority basis.

For example, if a UI/UX designer starts spending more time on documentation, a scrum master will draw their attention towards their work, helping them finish their tasks in the best way possible.

3. Ensuring Transparent Communication

Transparent communication within the team is the key to a successful project. A scrum master needs to ensure that everyone is on the same page at every project stage. As an Agile project is executed in different sprints, a scrum master must ensure that every member knows when to move on to the next sprint.

For example, if a team has developed a software application and is heading towards testing, the scrum master ensures everyone is aware of the shift towards testing and QA.

4. Organizing Team Meeting Whenever Required

A scrum project calls for seamless collaboration, which is impossible to achieve without extensive planning. A scrum master facilitates team meetings whenever there is a need to do so. These meetings can be about planning the upcoming spring or analyzing the previous one to smoothen out potential errors.

For example, suppose a software development team has completed designing an application and is moving towards developing it. In that case, the scrum master may call for a team meeting to discuss aspects like resource allocation, delegation of responsibility, etc.

5. Getting Rid Of The Obstacles Blocking Progress

A major responsibility of a scrum master is to identify the obstacles blocking their team’s progress and get rid of them. Without losing sight of the project’s goals, a scrum master strives to eliminate all distractions and issues arising from internal or external factors.

For example, if excessive client interference is slowing down the project’s speed, a scrum master would explain the issue to the client and reduce their interference to an admissible level.

6. Mentoring Team Members Throughout The Project

It is a scrum master’s responsibility to coach and mentor their team members throughout the course of the project. Depending on the training required, they may coach their team members individually or in small groups. Either way, a scrum master shares knowledge about the domain, the project, and the techniques used to make their team give its best.

For example, if the team members working on documentation are not able to identify and record the right requirements, the scrum master would guide them in preparing the right project documents that lead the way.

7. Staying In Sync With The Latest Trends

In 2022, you can no longer execute a project using traditional methodologies, technologies, and equipment. A scrum master needs to stay updated about the ongoing trends to keep the project relevant. They also ensure that their team members are in sync with the industry’s latest market and tech trends.

For example, if a software development project requires incorporating AI tools, the scrum master should know the latest AI trends and applications to ensure effective project implementation.

8. Facilitating Change Management

Anticipating changes is the essence of the Agile framework. A scrum master should be capable of facilitating change management, ensuring that all their team members implement the concerned change without hindering the project at hand.

For example, suppose a new version of a software development framework is launched halfway into a project. In that case, the scrum master may need to alter the project according to the new version, helping their team members do the same.

The Final Word

These were some of the most important techniques a scrum master can (and should) use to bring their project to fruition. A scrum master’s decisions shape their projects and help their team move closer to the desired objectives.

With ONES.com, scrum masters can make better use of these techniques to fulfill the potential of scrum teams.

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 6, 2023.

Top 9 Test Management Tools

Stacy — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 14:00:17 +0000

Test management tools have been integrated into today’s agile world. They have a significant role in planning, monitoring, and managing testing activities. In addition to bug tracking, these tracking tools are used to optimize the outcomes of the test reports. With the development of software technology, many test case management tools have been identified in the market. How can you decide which software fits your needs? Through this article, you can decide the right tool that best suits your preferences.

What are test management Tools?

Test management tools are the software systems that are used to improvise your automated scripts, project tasks, test cases, reports, and other tracking processes. It allows DevOps and software testers to minimize testing problems and improve productivity.

Why do we need these testing tools?

These tools help with regulatory compliance by keeping track of test requirements. As the developer manages the bugs, defects, and test cases, these management tools help to minimize data duplication. It provides visual information to ensure project accuracy. Through this software, it is facile for the developers and teams to collaborate with one another.

List of Top 8 Test Management Tools

As a newbie, it is quite challenging to opt for a suitable test management tool that best suits your preferences. Don’t worry. This article guides you through the top 9 test management tools. Let’s discuss them one by one.

ONES TestCase

It is one of the most advanced, efficient, and reliable tools for complete test management, covering everything from linking test cases to ensuring the test quality of the concerned project.

ONES.com is an all-in-one, fully customizable tool to manage, organize, and track testing. With flexible permissions, powerful filters, and easily customizable report templates, ONES.com ensures to streamline your manual processes seamlessly.

Features

Builds a closed-loop test process by linking test cases and tasks, sprints, and test plans to facilitate seamless execution
Fully customizable reports with smart reporting functionality to visualize the data
It also provides automatic report-generation functionality
Customization of permissions, fields, workflows, and views
Supports bug tracking across requirements
Easy management of test plans with the assistance of the test library

Testpad

Via Testpad

Testpad is one of the best test management tools used to pinpoint real bugs. It is a significant alternative to spreadsheets and traditional school test management software. It comes with a keyboard-driven and user-friendly interface. The tool offers a 30-day free trial. It is linked with tools like Jira, Pivotal, and GitHub. Automated testing is not available. Only manual services are provided. Let’s get into more features of this pragmatic test software.

Features

It is especially used for manual testing and optimized for improvising test templates according to your preferences.
The tool is pretty easy to navigate and integrates a checklist approach to simplify the process.
It is perfect for exploratory testing. You can add tests during the session as per your choice.
The tool works on a fast learning curve approach. It means that you can delegate testing to guest testers without buying licenses.
Through the drag-and-drop organization, you can group the checklists into various folders to make the process easier.

XStudio

Via XStudio

XStudio provides its users with a flexible test management solution to manage their projects. It improves effective communication between the teams to accomplish the projects up to the mark. You can access its top-notch services free of cost for a month. Let’s get into its features.

Features

It supports multiple testing processes like manual, exploratory, and automated management testing.
This tool deals with a flexible bug tracker that improves system quality.
It integrates 90-plus automation frameworks to analyze the projects easily.
Moreover, it also supports third-party systems like Jira, Jenkins, GitLab, and others for a better testing approach.
Comes with built-in requirement management to track your project.
You can also orchestrate your test execution by following campaigns and test sessions.

PractiTest

Via PractiTest

PractiTest is a centralized and end-to-end management testing tool. It provides a real-time experience to monitor your testing system. This tool saves time and captures complete visibility. This project management tool manages various tests in one place. It offers you a 14-day free trial.

Features

This software supports several testing methods, like manual, automated, and exploratory testing.
This tool integrates an error management system and data structuring services.
It provides multiple customization options to use the tools as per your needs and preferences.
You can plan and orchestrate your entire question bank.
It provides you with an opportunity to improve the communication and productivity of your team.
It offers pretty fast services and maintains reliable control systems to oversee your projects.

Testmo

Via Testmo

It is one of the best-unified test management tools that improvises your test sessions, cases, and projects effectively. It offers you a free trial for 21 days. You can use actionable metrics to oversee your test performance levels. It is fully customized and integrated with testing tools to improve productivity.

Features

It offers first-class exploratory, manual, and automated testing services.
You can manage your test sessions for continuous delivery.
This tool supports full integration of test automation with your tools. You can automatically track your tests, submit your report, and track project errors.
It supports a user-friendly interface for test case management.
This tool works with any cloud platform, CI pipeline, or build system.

QMetry

Via QMetry

QMetry is a top-notch test management software for agile teams. It offers codeless automation to improve project quality. You can track test issues with modern development tools. Through quality analytics, you can manage your team members to stay on track and monitor their performance.

Features

It offers test authoring options with requirement management.

The codeless automation provides a time-efficient test management experience.
There are built-in dashboards and integrated issue-tracking tools.
It offers an Al-enabled testing system to improve the reusability of test projects.
You can access highly customized reporting, real-time test analysis, and actionable insights to make decisions.

SpiraTest

Via SpiraTest

SpiraTest is one of the best test management, bug tracking, and software testing tools for agile teams. It has integrated requirement management for full traceability. You can organize your test projects within the dashboards and charts. You can access this software free of cost for 30 days. It provides excellent customer service to its users.

Features

It offers real-time reporting with test automation tools.
Through map requirements, you can trace your test coverage. You can create, execute and track test cases with editing options.
It provides manual, automated, and exploratory test management with scheduling.
Bugs tracking software to pinpoint defects, errors, and issues during test execution
Real-time customized options and personalized dashboards to organize everything.

TestLodge

Via TestLodge

TestLodge is a first-class test case management software that allows you to manage your test cases, plans, and sessions easily. You can take a free trial of this top-notch tool for a month. It simplifies your testing procedures and helps you organize your tasks. You can collaborate with teams to manage the tests with no user limit.

Features

It offers activity feeds, graphical charts, and dashboards to check the status of the tests.
This tool also provides self-optimized templates and allows you to design your own tests.
You can use the built-in customizable options and test reporting services to improve your tests.
It integrates with over 20 bug-tracking tools to make new bug test reports.
It is best for agile software teams. You can manage your team projects with our user workload test reports.

Xray

Via Xray

Xray is a top-quality native test management software. With all the development requirements for testing, it infuses quality into everything. With sprinter speed, you can manage the tests with your agile teams in a streamlined way. It offers you a free trial for a full month.

Features

The software offers automated and exploratory testing to improvise your test plans.
It offers full visibility of tests in real time. You can get total test coverage and catch issues with full control of the system.
Through full traceability reporting, you can fix any problem and improve test quality.
With orchestration and integration with management tools, you can run and optimize tests as per your choice.
Native BDD support and Jira native experience enable you to maintain report productivity.

Conclusion

In short, test management tools are significant in optimizing test cases, resource management, test reports, sessions, and other testing activities. These tools improve transparency by reducing bugs and issues in the testing procedures.

If you are looking for the best test case management tool, ONES TestCase can be your top pick. It is highly customizable, with a test case library and reports templates. On top of that, it offers a 14-day worry-free trial with no credit card required.

What makes you wait so long?

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 5, 2023.

The 10 Best Task Management Software In 2023 (For The Developer Team)

Stacy — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 14:00:10 +0000

Achieving business goals is impossible without effective task management. Reaching your business goals requires you and your team to perform various tasks. For this, you need to manage them effectively. Holistic task management brings you closer to your goals and lets you achieve them efficiently.

Over time, modern task management tools and practices have replaced traditional methodologies. Several task management software solutions are available for businesses of all scales and operating in all industries.

So, what is task management software?

What Is Task Management Software?

Task management software is a software solution that helps you organize, prioritize, and streamline your business tasks to achieve your goals. It enables you to fulfill your goals or execute your projects effectively. Modern task management software provides automated tools that prevent your team from performing repetitive processes manually.

The essence and purpose of task management are similar to project management. The two services’ software solutions often overlap and provide similar business tools. However, it is essential to understand the subtle difference between task management and project management.

Project management has a broader scope than task management. It includes identifying a core goal to be achieved and several aspects involved in reaching that goal. On the other hand, task management involves handling each project element simultaneously. Instead of worrying about the project timeline, task management is concerned with the team’s specific task(s) deadline.

The 10 Best Task Management Software In 2023 For Your Developer Team

Software development involves multiple team members performing different tasks. Especially if you follow the Agile development methodology, it is crucial to ensure seamless coordination between your team members as they perform different tasks. Task management software helps your developer team track their processes and work towards a common goal.

Here are 10 of the best task management software in 2023 for your developer team:

1. ONES.com

ONES.comis a powerful project and task management software that helps you organize your performance and achieve your goals in the best way possible. Designed especially for managing software development projects, ONES.com allows you to identify, define, and track all developer tasks you need for your software development project.

ONES.com provides your developer team with manageable milestones, roadmaps, sprints, and more to align them with your objectives. Depending on your business requirements, you can create, track, and perform tasks using a centralized platform. The task management software also allows all users to view their teams’ workload and the status of the ongoing tasks while highlighting the most productive aspects.

2. ClickUp

Via ClickUp

ClickUp is another major task management software used by some of the industry’s biggest names, including Google, Airbnb, and Webflow. It provides users with several features that boost their productivity and ensures effective management of all tasks.

ClickUp also allows businesses to track multiple tasks performed for multiple projects. Some of the major tools and features of ClickUp include templates, recurring tasks, reminders, priorities, notifications, assigned comments, views, etc.

3. ProofHub

Via ProofHub

ProofHub is a comprehensive project and task management tool dedicated to improving your teams’ productivity and efficacy. It gives managers a 360-degree view of all their tasks and complete control over communication, projects, and tasks.

ProofHub also provides users with seamless collaboration tools that allow multiple team members to work on a centralized platform. It allows the management to make important company announcements hassle-free. Moreover, ProofHub readily integrates with third-party applications and services like OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, and more.

4. Todoist

Via Todoist

Todoist is a simple, straightforward, and easy-to-understand task management software for businesses. It is designed like a holistic to-do list app that allows you and your team to manage multiple tasks using a single unified platform. Its no-frills UI is built around a simple, minimalistic design with advanced task-tracking features.

Some of the key features of Todoist include priorities, sub-tasks, recurring due dates, mobile applications, and more.

5. Any.do

Via Any. do

Any. do is a unique task management software that labels different items as “today”, “tomorrow”, and “upcoming”. This gives users a quick overview of the tasks and the timeline they need to follow.

Unlike most of its competitors, Any.do provides users with an intuitive calendar to help them see how their tasks and events fit together. It also helps you organize tasks and filter workflows by specific categories and/or due dates.

6. Chanty

Via Chanty

Chanty is a collaborative platform with modern task management features. It employs a chat-first model to create a holistic task management system. Task management software allows users to convert any message into a dedicated assignment, allocate it to the right person, and set a due date for the same.

7. Taskque

Via Taskque

Taskque is an ideal task management software to implement if you want to move just a notch about a to-do list application. A brilliant tool for resource management, Taskque works best for teams performing similar functions using similar skills.

Some key features Taskque offers users include discussions, a calendar, automatic task assignment, workflow management, a to-do list app, and more.

8. Flow

Via Flow

Flow should be your first choice of task management software if you are a project manager who prefers using a Grantt chart. It provides users with color-coded projects that help them easily manage and switch between different tasks.

Moreover, Flow provides your team members with templates and repeat projects to help them work on a project repeatedly or stage a different event easily.

9. Hitask

Via Hitask

Hitask is a holistic task and project management solution that offers a centralized dashboard to its users featuring all ongoing tasks along with their due dates, teams, projects, and other relevant details. The simple UI and functionality make it easy for users to create, edit and assign the right tasks to the right team members.

Some key features offered by Hitask include file storage, task management, email creation, reports, mobile application, time tracking, and more.

10. Trello

Via Trello

Trello is one of the most popular task management tools that lets you manage the simplest and the most complicated tasks to be performed. Its Kanban interface allows you to set up dedicated cards for different tasks and projects as if they are post-it notes.

The Final Word

These were some of the best task management software you can choose from for your developer team in 2023. Always make sure you implement a software solution according to your project’s complexity and scope.

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 4, 2023.

12 Best JIRA Alternatives in 2023 (Research Done for You)

Stacy — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 14:00:51 +0000

Atlassian, with its 242,2623 active paying customers, is known for developing Jira. The powerful software is a go-to tool for software development and project management teams regarding debugging and issue detection. However, businesses have started to look into Jira alternatives.

The software is still considered an all-in-one solution for automating a company’s workflow, but there are many reasons why you should start looking for some other tool.

Why Look for a Jira Alternative?

Jira may be a valuable agile project management software, but its drawbacks are getting hard to ignore.

It’s costly, with pricing of up to $12,000/year.
The software is difficult to learn and too clunky for daily use.
Jira’s interface is outdated and hard to figure out.
You cannot export data from Jira to any other project management tool.
You can only assign a single person to a project

Now that we’ve discussed why you should move on from Jira, let’s discuss the much better Jira alternatives in the market.

12 Best Jira Alternatives in 2022

1. ONES.com

ONES.com is the best one of the Jira alternatives if you want to target and resolve the pain points of project management. Like Jira, ONES.com also resolves task management, bug management, and basic project management. ONES.com also supports the collaboration of online documents, linked pages, and projects.

It stands out for its features, including:

ONES.com enables the communication between teams of different domains using its features to remove any barriers to miscommunication.

2. Wrike

Via Wrike

Wrike is an easy-to-use project management tool. It streamlines the workflow of your business while giving you full visibility of the process. The tool comes with excellent customer support and task management features.

Wrike’s automation level is equal to Jira’s, if not more, but with the added benefits of:

Free and paid packages
Plenty of customizability options
Collaborative with many project management tools

Many users have claimed satisfaction with Wrike as their go-to tool and have reviewed why they prefer it over the rest.

3. Asana

Via Asana

Asana is one of the Jira alternatives that allows assigning tasks to team members without restricting them to that one project. Tasks are visible to all team members, making the agile project more efficient to complete.

Besides the advantages of integration with third-party apps and real-time communication with team members, Asana also offers the following:

Intuitive interface
Free basic plan
Multiple workspaces

4. Backlog

Via Backlog

Backlog is one of the simple Jira alternatives that won’t frustrate you with unneeded complexity. Backlog’s responsive interface puts its automation level ahead of Jira’s. You can simply fix bugs with drag-and-drop options and push notifications.

Apart from that, the software is easy to learn with its:

Simultaneous coding and project management feature
Progress tracking with burndown charts
Customizable fields to suit various projects

5. Blossom

Via Blossom

Blossom was designed while keeping remote teams in mind, which require effective project management. The software is based on the Kanban methodology to provide full transparency to the project manager.

Among all the Jira alternatives, this one catches the eye with its:

Visual management of workflow
Performance analytics reports
A daily email about progress highlights

6. nTask

Via nTask

This is one of the most simple-to-use Jira alternatives, especially beneficial for individuals and small businesses. With features of bug tracking, time tracking, and smart search, the software is easy on the eyes and has customization options as well.

The software also offers the following:

Risk Control
Gantt charts
Google Drive collaboration feature for saving files

7. Pivotal Tracker

Via Pivotal Tracker

Pivotal Tracker is the perfect agile project management tool for software teams. After helping you plan and track a project, the software will also help you in making changes after receiving customer feedback.

Though the tool is similar to Jira in lack of integration capability, it:

Looks out for hazards and problems
Analyzes past team performances
It is efficient for all team sizes.

8. Smartsheet

Via Smartsheet

Smartsheet is your tool if you find excel sheets efficient. The interface is similar to the layout of a spreadsheet, and the software’s automation is better than that of Jira. There are also Kanban options; you can view updated project dashboards in real-time.

The tool also:

Helps with administrative tasks
Resource management.
Collaboration of team portals.

9. Digital.ai

Via Digital.ai

Digital.ai was previously known as VersionOne software. It allows communication with team members in the whole organization and is the best for agile projects. The software is cloud-based and can also help software development teams to reduce interfering risks that hinder the project.

The software supports the following:

Multiple agile project methods
End-to-end visibility
Collaboration with leading software development tools

10. Target Process

Via Target Process

Target Process is a commercial tool specially designed for agile project management. It is famous for its custom views and allows you to build your own diverse boards. The tool can visualize the project in terms of charts and diagrams and offers quick reports for its users.

Other features include

SaaS integration
Bug tracking
Adaptability for both IT and non-IT projects.

11. Mavenlink

Via Mavenlink

Mavenlink is a comprehensive project management tool that lets you break up the structure of the project into milestones and categories. It stands out with how it monitors your budget and timelines while improving business intelligence with its analytics.

It helps with the following:

Resource management
Predicting problems
Suggesting suitable solutions

12. Kanbanize

Via Kanbanize

Kanbanize is the perfect software to overcome the challenges of team project management. It has multiple features to make sure the workflow is smooth as possible and can help you to scale up your business.

Along with features like kanban boards and a time tracker, the tool also:

Predicts avoidable risks
Predicts project performance using old data history
Offers visual aids like diagrams and charts

Final Word

The market has so many Jira alternatives. You just need to find which one suits your business and your team best. You should look at the most upcoming products introduced by ONES.com for a smoother workflow.

Finding an alternative may seem like a hassle, but it’ll be the change you need to take your business to the next level. You can try ONES.com free trial to understand better how much value it can bring to your business.

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on May 15, 2023.

8 Best Scrum Tools For 2023

Stacy — Mon, 02 Jan 2023 14:00:06 +0000

Project management takes center stage when performing tasks in an organized manner. Effective project management methodologies and frameworks help organizations reach the desired goals in the best way possible.

Regarding holistic project management, scrum is one of the most sought-after frameworks companies worldwide gravitate towards. It is an important Agile methodology that focuses on accommodating changes and continuous improvement. It helps you clearly identify your project goals and reach them with your team’s extensive cooperation. To bring your project to fruition in 2023, you can choose from several scrum tools depending on your needs and preferences.

Before getting to these tools, let us briefly understand the scrum framework.

What Is Scrum?

Scrum is a project management framework emphasising different teams and team members working together. It gets its name from the game of rugby. Much like the game, the framework allows your team members to self-organize to solve a problem, learn through experiences, and find ways to improve continuously.

While several software development companies follow the scrum framework, it can be applied to any project in any industry. The framework describes a set of tools, roles, and meetings that come together to help you manage your project and teams.

One of the biggest benefits of scrum is that it allows you to adapt to the changes along the way. It prepares your team to tackle unexpected changes without following a rigid timeline. Such flexibility helps your teams shift gears whenever needed as long as it adheres to the desired outcome.

Best Scrum Tools For 2023

Here are some of the best scrum tools to choose from while managing your projects in 2023:

1. ONES.com

ONES.com is an advanced scrum tool dedicated to software development projects. It helps you identify the business goals you want to achieve via software development and manage your teams throughout the process.

ONES.com allows you to manage multiple projects, tasks, documents, test cases, and much more using a centralized tool. It puts your team at the center of your project and lets you organize its tasks by creating manageable roadmaps, issues, sprints, milestones, etc.

ONES.com allows you to align your team’s objectives with your project goals to get the desired results. It breaks down complicated tasks into actionable sprints, making delegation of responsibility easier. Instead of taking on a major task as a whole, your team members can focus on smaller sprints while coordinating with each other on ONES.com.

With ONES.com , you can gather your software development project requirements on a centralized platform, manage them effectively, and work towards releasing better products for the end-users. It provides users with three products, ONES TestCase, ONES Wiki, and ONES Project, starting at $7.99/user/month.

2. ClickUp

Via ClickUp

ClickUp is one of the most preferred scrum tools for productive and agile project management. It provides several features for product owners, scrum masters, and scrum team members to help them achieve the desired business goals.

ClickUp helps you track bugs, manage sprints, and facilitate smooth product launches. However, the biggest reason why organizations choose to work with ClickUp is that it offers a Free Forever Plan. This plan provides you with features like unlimited tasks, a Gantt chart, real-time collaboration, and more. ClickUp’s paid version starts from $5/user/month.

3. ActiveCollab

Via ActiveCollab

ActiveCollab is a robust scrum tool that facilitates seamless collaboration, communication, planning, and organization of your project. It allows scrum masters to divide a task into actionable sprints, assign the right tasks to the right team members, and overlook every project stage to get the desired results.

Some of the key ActiveCollab features include start and due date reminders, unlimited projects, actionable tasks and sub-tasks, colored labels, and more. It provides users willing to test the tool with a free version. Its paid editions with more advanced features start at $9 per month for up to 3 users.

4. Infinity

Via Infinity

Infinity is a fairly new scrum tool that provides users with an easy UI and simple drag-and-drop functionality. It is preferred for non-technical users who do not want to spend time learning the tool.

The scrum tool helps you keep track of the tasks your team members perform at every project stage. It lets project managers assign tasks, prepare relevant items for future sprints, visualize progress, and perform many more tasks. The paid Infinity plan starts at $9/user/month.

5. MeisterTask

Via MeisterTask

MeisterTask is another dependable scrum tool that facilitates easy sprints and product backlog management. It is one of the best scrum tools to implement if you are just starting out with the framework. However, it lacks a follow-up/due date feature that helps you track deadlines.

Along with a free basic plan, the paid MeisterTask versions start from $4.19.

6. Nutcache

Via Nutcache

Nutcache is an effective scrum tool that helps you manage both complex and simple projects. It lets you define your scrum goals, select an ideal sprint duration, and link the right sprints to the right releases.

The scrum tool provides you with a time-tracking and reporting functionality to ensure that everyone is on the same page. It also gives you a Gantt chart to organize your tasks visually.

Along with a free basic plan, Nutcache comes with paid plans starting at $6/user/month.

7. OrangeScrum

Via OrangeScrum

OrangeScrum is one of the most preferred scrum tools by IT companies. Designed specifically for the IT sector, it specializes in construction project management. OrangeScrum provides users with multiple features like Kanban view, invoicing, daily scrum, time log, and more.

The basic OrangeScrum plan is priced at $9/month for up to 10 users. However, this plan is too basic to add any significant value to your project. Most users prefer working on more advanced plans to manage their IT projects.

8. ScrumDo

Via ScrumDo

ScrumDo is a scalable scrum tool with robust reporting features. It helps you monitor every little aspect of your project to understand the progress in the best way possible. It lets you visualize reports using burnups, burndowns, cumulative flow diagrams, histograms, and other options.

Along with a basic free plan, the paid plans of ScrumDo start at $8.99/month for up to 10 users.

The Final Word

These were some of the best scrum tools you can use for seamless project management in 2023. Before you choose the right tool, understand your project’s scope and the objectives you want to achieve. Irrespective of a scrum tool’s effectiveness, you will get the desired results only when you implement the right tool.

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 2, 2023.

Best 8 Online Document Collaboration Tools In 2023 (Pros, Cons, and Pricing)

Stacy — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 14:00:45 +0000

Gone are the days when employees in every team worked individually. In the age of digitization, seamless collaboration is a must. Digital document has evolved over time, and modern tools ensure everyone is on the same page.

Organizations worldwide use robust online document collaboration tools to streamline document management. They allow multiple users to work on the same platform, making their tasks easier. Modern document collaboration tools increase your organization’s productivity and facilitate real-time collaboration.

Before looking at some of the most online document collaboration tools, let us briefly understand what they are and how they work.

What Is A Document Collaboration Tool? How Does It Work?

As the name suggests, a document collaboration tool is a tool that allows different users to collaborate on the same digital documents. Whether it is a Google document, PDF file, spreadsheet, or any other file format used by multiple individuals, a document collaboration tool allows them to work the file at once.

These tools are designed to increase transparency and reduce data silos within an organization. They ensure that the changes made by one user are seen by multiple users with access to the document.

When multiple users contribute to creating and modifying the same documents, it eliminates the need for revaluation. This also reduces the scope for error as multiple users proofread the same documents as they access them.

Best Online Document Collaboration Tools In 2023

To ensure effective document management, implement a suitable online document collaboration tool according to your business needs. Ensure that you choose a collaboration tool that syncs with your team members’ needs and business objectives.

Here are eight of the best online document collaboration tools you should implement in 2023:

1. ONES Wiki

ONES Wiki is an online document collaboration tool by ONES.com. It allows different users to connect and collaborate without unwanted silos. The document collaboration tool is designed to create collaborative content and keep people (and ideas) on the same page.

ONES Wiki allows you to create user-friendly content on multiple documents in real time by using powerful blocks. It allows all users to have document access to co-edit the files and add important comments directed to specific users. It also allows different team members to discuss their tasks, delegate responsibility, and obtain clarity while working on the same documents.

ONES Wiki is ideal for organizations operating at all scales. Billing the solution on a yearly basis gets you a 15% discount. On-premises is also supported for enterprises.

2. ClickUp

ClickUp is one of the most sought-after project management tools for productivity enhancements. ClickUp provides users with multiple features that facilitate remote collaboration, one of them being its online document collaboration tool.

Via ClickUp

ClickUp’s document collaboration tool is called ClickUp Docs. With ClickUp Docs, you can create, store, and share important documents while collaborating with your team members. It provides multiple features to enhance seamless collaboration, such as real-time editing, user detection, sync, etc.

However, ClickUp does not give you white-labeling support and does not allow you to export your dashboards. While the document management tool comes with a free trial version, its paid versions start at $5/user/month.

3. Google Docs

It is impossible to discuss online document collaboration tools without mentioning Google Docs. The Google offering is one of the most widely used document collaboration tools that provide users with a simple, straightforward, and intuitive interface. The biggest benefit of Google Docs is that it is free for everyone. All you need is a Google account to access this tool. The paid plans start at $6/user/month if you need additional functionality.

Via Google Docs

However, Google Docs does not support PDF annotation and cannot be used offline unless you have it as a Chrome extension. Moreover, unlike many of its peers, you cannot use Google Docs as a knowledge base system.

4. Confluence

Confluence is another important document management tool that ensures all team members are on the same page. It helps your teams work in unison and stay up to date at all times.

Via Confluence

Confluence provides you with meeting notes to organize your team meetings. It also allows users to compartmentalize their clients’ information to ensure easy data access.

However, implementing Confluence will make you excessively dependent on plug-ins instead of giving you rich in-built features. The document collaboration tool’s pricing starts from $5/user/month.

5. Microsoft OneDrive

With the unshakable credibility of Microsoft, OneDrive has been providing seamless document collaboration features to businesses for quite some time now. It is a cloud-storage application that brings different team members and employees working in different teams together to work on common projects.

Via Microsoft OneDrive

While Microsoft OneDrive gives you a whopping 5 GB of storage space with easy onboarding features, users often face difficulties editing, proofing, and sharing documents beyond Microsoft365.

Microsoft OneDrive team plans start at $5/user/month, making it a fairly affordable document management solution.

6. Dropbox Paper

You must have heard of (or even worked on) Dropbox as a cloud storage. With Dropbox Paper, the software enters into the document collaboration space, allowing your team members to create, edit, and share documents in real-time.

While Dropbox Paper facilitates effective communication between your team members and helps you create holistic project timelines, users often complain about the tool creating a separate file when multiple users view it.

Via Dropbox Paper

While most Dropbox Paper users work on its free edition, its paid versions start at $15/user/month.

7. ONLYOFFICE

ONLYOFFICE is an open-source document collaboration tool ideal for startups and small businesses. It can be implemented on-premise and on the cloud according to your preferences.

Via ONLYOFFICE

ONLYOFFICE comes with robust MS Office compatibility with self-hosted and cloud-based versions. It also facilitates suitable third-party integrations to expand the tool’s functionality. However, if you want to work on ODF file formats, ONLYOFFICE will convert them to OOXML.

While the cloud-based version of ONLYOFFICE is free for up to 5 users, the paid plans start at $4/user/month.

8. Avokaado

Avokaado is a document collaboration tool ideal for legal teams. It facilitates real-time collaboration on legal documents on a centralized platform, allowing users to enhance their workflows.

Via Avokaado

Avokaado comes with a dynamic approval process and robust audit trails. However, users often need to switch from its freemium version to a paid version to unlock its best features. Apart from its freemium version, paid Avokaado editions start at $28.68/user/month.

The Final Word

These were some of the best online document collaboration tools you can implement to leverage your projects and improve your workflows. Do not make the mistake of rushing the implementation and choose the alternative that is best suited for your business and your teams.

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on January 1, 2023.

Agile Vs. Waterfall: What Is The Difference?

Stacy — Wed, 28 Dec 2022 14:00:01 +0000

Project management methodologies help businesses organize their processes and perform them in a systematic way. They help you move in the right direction for attaining your business goals while sticking to a solid plan.

Especially when it comes to software development, Agile and Waterfall are two of the most sought-after project management methodologies. While they apply to many projects, they are very common among software development companies building custom software applications.

To choose the methodology that best suits your needs, it is important to understand the difference between these two popular alternatives. Complete knowledge of the Waterfall methodology vs. Agile helps you analyze your requirements and execute your project in the best way possible.

Let’s start by briefly understanding each of the two methodologies:

What Is The Agile Methodology?

Agile is a fluid and holistic project management methodology that enhances the efficiency of software development projects. Software development and maintenance is an ongoing process. Technologies and trends are likely to change during the course of your project.

Agile acknowledges these changes and makes provisions for the same. This makes Agile a much more flexible methodology as it prepares developers for the changes that may come their way during project execution. Agile also gives a lot of importance to the stakeholders’ feedback throughout the course of the project. It ensures seamless collaboration between all team members to bring out their best.

The Agile methodology involves all team members working on different project stages simultaneously. Here, the delegation of responsibility is clear, and everyone works with short-term deadlines. Instead of the project manager, the team drives the project. The methodology empowers all team members working on the project to bring it to fruition.

What Is The Waterfall Methodology?

The Waterfall methodology is a more linear project management methodology that involves performing one task at a time. It is best suited for projects whose final outcome is clearly defined at the beginning. Here, the project manager establishes the scope of the project and the expectations for every stage before the execution begins.

In the Waterfall methodology, the team must fulfill the requirements of one phase to move on to the next. It follows a more rigid approach that does not leave enough scope for making unplanned changes during the course of the project.

Agile Vs. Waterfall: A Detailed Comparison

The key aspect to consider while looking into the Waterfall methodology vs. Agile is the approach of both methodologies. While the Waterfall methodology is more rigid in accommodating changes, Agile is more adaptive and flexible.

In fact, the Agile methodology was created as a response to the Waterfall methodology. It can be considered an antidote to Waterfall as it overcomes all its shortcomings.

Here are some of the most important parameters that help you differentiate between the Waterfall methodology and Agile:

Project Timeline

The Waterfall methodology involves a fixed project timeline. The project manager clearly maps out the project’s fixed beginning and end. Here, the entire course of the project is defined before the execution begins, leaving little scope for improvisation.

On the other hand, the Agile project timeline is more flexible , with provisions made for changes. It allows the team members to experiment in different directions. Here, the schedule develops and adapts to changes over the course of the project.

Involvement Of The Client

The Waterfall methodology does not involve the client during project execution once the beginning and end are established. Apart from minor check-ins or reviews, the client is not actively involved in executing the project. Waterfall does not incorporate the client’s feedback while executing the different project phases.

Agile actively involves the client at every stage of the project. It takes its feedback seriously and incorporates it throughout the course of the project. As the team progresses with the project, the clients are updated with the ongoing status with necessary changes made according to their requirements. The Agile methodology prioritizes client satisfaction over everything else.

Project Flexibility

The Waterfall methodology is not flexible as it clearly defines your project’s beginning and end. Here, the entire project is mapped out and executed precisely according to the plan. Moreover, the Waterfall methodology focuses on only one project phase at a time. The team members do not progress to the next stage without completing the previous one.

On the other hand, the Agile methodology is much more flexible. It involves simultaneously performing multiple stages of a project, ensuring holistic project completion. Agile gives importance to short bursts of work known as sprints. It doesn’t involve a fixed and rigid plan of action, leaving space for changes and improvisation. Whether the course of action needs to be changed during the early stages or toward the end, the project methodology facilitates the incorporation of new information at any time.

Budget

Just like its project timeline, the budget of the Waterfall methodology is fixed. As all aspects of the project from start to finish are clearly defined, the fixed budget is calculated in advance. Here, there is little to no room for altering the budget mid-way.

On the contrary, the Agile methodology budget is flexible. It is more open to changes and adaptations during the course of your project’s execution. As an Agile project can change its direction at any time, the budget can be altered mid-way. If you discover a way to reduce your expenses during the project, Agile helps you accommodate relevant changes hassle-free.

Agile Vs. Waterfall: What Should You Choose?

You should consider many different factors before choosing the right project management methodology. If your project’s scope is clear and requires strict regulations, you should implement the Waterfall methodology. It lets you clearly define all your requirements so you know exactly where you are headed.

On the other hand, if you want your client’s active involvement in the project and seek seamless collaboration, you should go with Agile development. The Agile methodology is ideal for projects with shorter deadlines. If you are open to changes and want to accommodate them in your project, Agile methodology is the way to go.

Whatever your decision, ensure that your project management methodology syncs with your requirements and business needs. Either way, ONES.com provides you with both Agile and Waterfall project templates to choose from, so you don’t have to switch between tools when the project scope is different. Try ONES.com for free.

Originally published at https://blog.ones.com on December 28, 2022.