Category: Microsoft 365

Microsoft has consolidated its project management offerings, including Microsoft Project and Project Online, into a single app called Planner. This new Planner app is available in different plans, each offering various levels of features and capabilities. Below is a breakdown of the costs and features associated with each plan: 

Microsoft Planner (Included in Microsoft 365) 

Cost: Included with your Microsoft 365 subscription. 

Features: 

Real-time collaboration, commenting, and sharing via the Planner app in Microsoft Teams or the Planner web app. 

Creation and management of tasks with features like files, checklists, and labels. 

Tasks organized by “My Day,” “My Tasks,” and “Assigned to Me.” 

Basic plan templates. 

Ability to view reports and dashboards. 

List, Grid, and Board views, as well as Charts. 

Task dependencies. 

Security, compliance, data privacy, accessibility, and Microsoft 365 customer support. 

Planner Plan 1 (Formerly Project Plan 1) 

Cost: $10.00 per user per month. 

Features: 

Includes everything in Planner for Microsoft 365, plus: 

Project goals. 

Backlogs and sprints for Agile project management. 

Premium plan templates. 

Enhanced reports. 

Timeline (Gantt) view. 

Task dependencies. 

Customization and integration options. 

Project Plan 3 (Advanced Features) 

Cost: $30.00 per user per month. 

Features: 

Includes everything in Planner Plan 1, plus: 

Copilot in Planner (preview). 

Task history tracking. 

Roadmaps for project planning. 

Baselines and critical path analysis. 

Resource request capabilities. 

Program management. 

Project financials, budgeting, and costing. 

Advanced task dependencies with lead and lag. 

Access to the Project Online desktop client. 

Project Plan 5 (Comprehensive Enterprise Solution) 

Cost: $55.00 per user per month. 

Features: 

Includes everything in Project Plan 3, plus: 

Portfolio management for large-scale project tracking. 

Enterprise resource management and allocation. 

Advanced tools for managing complex project portfolios. 

How to Add a Plan to Office 365 

1. Log in as an administrator to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. 

2. Purchase the Desired Plan: Navigate to the billing section and select Planner Plan 1, Project Plan 3, or Project Plan 5. 

3. Follow the prompts to purchase and activate the plan. 

4. Assign Licenses to Users: After purchasing, assign the appropriate licenses to users in your organization. 

5. Install the Planner App in Microsoft Teams: To use the new Planner app, go to the Microsoft Teams app store, search for “Planner,” and click the “Add” button to integrate it into your Teams environment. 

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What is the difference between Office 365 Planner and Project? 

Yes, Office 365, now known as Microsoft 365, includes project management capabilities through the new Planner app, but there are some details to consider regarding the inclusion of advanced project management features. 

The New Planner App 

Microsoft 365 has introduced the new Planner app, which consolidates features from Microsoft Project, Planner, and To Do into a single, unified tool. This means that basic project planning and task management features are included with most Microsoft 365 subscriptions. However, to access the full suite of advanced Microsoft Project features within this app, you may need to upgrade your subscription. 

Basic and Advanced Features 

Basic Planner Features: These are available with most Microsoft 365 subscriptions and include core project management functionalities like task assignments, visual Kanban boards, and integration with Microsoft Teams for easy collaboration. 

Advanced Project Features: To access advanced project management tools such as Gantt charts, detailed scheduling, and resource management (formerly exclusive to Microsoft Project), you need to upgrade to Project Plan 3 or Plan 5. These plans unlock the comprehensive project management capabilities within the new Planner app. 

Integration with Microsoft Teams 

One of the significant advantages of the new Planner is its seamless integration with Microsoft Teams. You can manage all your project tasks, collaborate with your team, and track project progress directly within the Teams interface, streamlining your project management experience. 

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Microsoft 365 offers a variety of tools for project management, each designed to meet various levels of complexity and project needs. The main tools used for project management within the Microsoft ecosystem are the new Planner, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Power Automate. Here’s a breakdown of these tools and how they contribute to project management: 

The New Planner 

The new Planner is the primary project management tool in Microsoft 365. It combines the features of the previously separate tools—Microsoft Project, Microsoft Planner, and Microsoft To Do—into a single, integrated platform. 

Features: 

Task management with scheduling and assignments. 

Visual Kanban boards for easy tracking of project progress. 

Advanced project management tools, including Gantt charts and resource management. 

Integrated personal task management from Microsoft To Do. 

Use Cases: 

Managing small to large projects. 

Teams that need both high-level planning and detailed task management. 

Organizations that require comprehensive tracking and reporting. 

 Microsoft Teams 

Microsoft Teams is a central hub for communication and collaboration, playing a crucial role in project management. 

Features: 

Communication: Channels for project-specific discussions, video meetings, and chat. 

Task Integration: Direct integration with the new Planner to manage tasks within Teams. 

Collaboration: File sharing and real-time document editing, integrated with SharePoint. 

Use Cases: 

Managing project communications and meetings. 

Collaborating on project documents and tasks within a unified platform. 

Keeping all project-related conversations and resources in one place. 

SharePoint 

SharePoint is essential for managing project documents, providing a centralized location for file storage, organization, and collaboration. 

Features: 

Document libraries for storing and organizing project files. 

Version control and document collaboration features. 

Customizable project sites for team access and resource sharing. 

Use Cases: 

Managing and sharing project documentation. 

Setting up collaborative spaces for teams to work on project files. 

Ensuring proper document versioning and control within projects. 

Power Automate 

Power Automate is used for automating workflows and processes within project management, helping to streamline repetitive tasks and increase efficiency. 

Features: 

Automation of task assignments, approvals, and notifications. 

Integration with other Microsoft 365 tools to create seamless workflows. 

Customizable automation processes to fit specific project needs. 

Use Cases: 

Automating routine project management tasks. 

Triggering actions based on project milestones or changes. 

Integrating various tools and services to create efficient workflows. 

Simplifying your workflow 

One of the key advantages of using Microsoft 365 for project management is the ability to access and integrate these tools within Microsoft Teams. This allows for a seamless project management experience without needing to log in to multiple platforms. 

Alternative: Trovve 

For those looking for a more unified project management solution, Trovve is an alternative that offers end-to-end project management with deep integration into Microsoft 365. Trovve can be accessed directly from Microsoft Teams and provides AI-powered tools to help manage projects more efficiently. 

Try Trovve on Microsoft Teams free for 7 days – no credit card required 

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Yes, Microsoft 365 is an excellent platform for project management, offering a range of tools that cater to different project management needs. Whether you are managing small tasks or large, complex projects, Microsoft 365 provides versatile solutions that can be tailored to fit your specific requirements. 

Key Tools for Project Management in Microsoft 365 

The New Planner 

The new Planner is a unified tool within Microsoft 365 that combines the capabilities of what were previously separate tools—Microsoft Project, Microsoft Planner, and Microsoft To Do. This tool allows you to manage projects, tasks, and to-dos in one place, making it easier to track progress, assign tasks, and collaborate with your team. 

Features:

Task scheduling and assignment. 

Visual Kanban boards for tracking progress. 

Integrated to-do lists for personal task management. 

Advanced project management features from Microsoft Project. 

Microsoft Teams 

Microsoft Teams is the hub for team collaboration in Microsoft 365, providing essential features for project management: 

Features: 

Communication: Teams offer channels for project-specific discussions, video meetings, and chat. 

Integration: You can integrate the new Planner directly into Teams to manage tasks and projects without leaving the platform. 

File Sharing: Teams work seamlessly with SharePoint for document management, allowing easy access to project files. 

SharePoint 

SharePoint is crucial for managing project documents and files, providing a centralized location for your team to store, organize, and collaborate on documents. 

Features: 

Document libraries for organized file management. 

Version control and collaboration features. 

Customizable project sites for team access to resources. 

Power Automate 

Power Automate is a tool for automating workflows and processes, helping you streamline repetitive tasks and improve efficiency in project management. 

Features: 

Automate task assignments and approvals. 

Trigger notifications based on project milestones. 

Integrate with other Microsoft 365 tools for seamless workflow management. 

Integrating All Components Seamlessly 

One of the major advantages of using Microsoft 365 for project management is the integration of these tools within Microsoft Teams. You can access all these tools from within Teams, without needing to log into multiple platforms. However, while these tools work together, they may require some customization to fully integrate and meet your specific project needs. 

Alternative: Trovve 

For those seeking a more unified and deeply integrated project management solution, Trovve is an alternative worth considering. Trovve is a project management platform that offers end-to-end management capabilities, integrates deeply with Microsoft 365, and can be accessed directly from Microsoft Teams. It features AI-powered tools that help you save time and manage projects more efficiently. 

Try Trovve on Microsoft Teams free for 7 days – no credit card required 

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Yes, Microsoft 365 offers a unified project and task management tool called the “new Planner,” which combines the capabilities of what were once separate tools—Microsoft Project, Microsoft Planner, and Microsoft To Do. This consolidated platform allows you to manage projects, tasks, and personal to-dos all in one place, making it easier to oversee your projects and collaborate with your team. 

The New Planner 

The new Planner integrates the best features of these previous tools into a single, cohesive system: 

Microsoft Project: Previously known for its detailed project management features like Gantt charts, resource management, and comprehensive reporting, these capabilities are now part of the new Planner. 

Microsoft Planner: This tool’s simplicity and visual Kanban board interface have been incorporated into the new Planner, making it easy for teams to track tasks and progress. 

Microsoft To Do: This personal task management tool is now integrated, allowing users to handle both personal and team tasks seamlessly within the new Planner. 

Additional Tools for Enhanced Project Management 

While the new Planner serves as the central hub for project management, several other Microsoft 365 tools complement it to create a robust project management ecosystem: 

Microsoft Teams: Teams enhance communication and collaboration by enabling you to manage project channels, hold meetings, and integrate Planner tasks all within the Teams environment. It’s the primary platform for team conversations, file sharing, and video conferencing. 

SharePoint: SharePoint is key for managing project documents and files. You can create project-specific sites where your team can collaborate on documents, track changes, and maintain version control. 

Power Automate: This tool is used for automating workflows and processes within your projects. Whether you need to automate task assignments or set up notifications, Power Automate works with the new Planner to streamline your project tasks. 

Accessing Tools via Microsoft Teams 

A major advantage of Microsoft 365 is that you can access all these tools directly from Microsoft Teams. This integration means you don’t have to log into multiple platforms; everything is available within the Teams interface. However, while these tools are integrated, achieving a fully seamless experience might require some customization and creativity. 

Alternative: Trovve 

If you’re looking for a more unified experience that brings all these tools together with deeper integration, Trovve could be a better alternative. Trovve is a project management platform designed for end-to-end project management within Microsoft Teams. It offers a simple interface and AI-powered tools to help you save time and increase efficiency. Trovve is built to work seamlessly with Microsoft 365, providing a more cohesive experience for managing your projects from start to finish. 

Try Trovve on Microsoft Teams free for 7 days – no credit card required 

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