MinuteMan Systems provides low cost, easy-to-use project management for the SMB project manager with MinuteMan. MinuteMan’s focus is on ease of use and management of a single project. I found that MinuteMan exceeded my expectations and was very easy to learn, get started, and use.
Project Management software is a mature market. Several big players dominate this market, especially in the medium to enterprise business space. All project management software needs to satisfy some basic requirements, such as: calendar and deadline functions, resource allocation, workflow & timelines, and budgeting. MinuteMan provides these features in an easy-to-learn package.
Features (4 out of 5)
MinuteMan supports Gantt charts , project plan charts, and Pert charts for overall project views. Three ways of numbering tasks are possible: sequential numbering as tasks are entered and two types of outline numbering. Resources can be tracked by name, job category, or hourly labor costs. Expenditures can be tracked by purchase or by piece parts. Projects can be divided in up to five sub-projects.
MinuteMan does only manage a single master project at one time. For tracking up to 100 projects concurrently, the company offers MinuteMan-Plus. MinuteMan can import Microsoft Project data, and import and export project schedules in spreadsheet .CSV format.
Usability (5 out of 5)
MinuteMan is easily the simplest project management software I have ever used. Entering the Timeline View & adding and defining tasks was immediate, intuitive, and hassle-free. Recording progress and comparing task completion with the schedule and deadlines was also easy.
MinuteMan’s interface for adding and configuring resources took me a minute to figure out, but I can’t say it was difficult. Resource leveling and utilization tracking are simple to turn on and off. Reports are easy to generate, but they aren’t as full-featured as those from a more expensive PM program. MinuteMan Systems has definitely accomplished their goal in creating an easy-to-use PM solution.
Pricing (5 out of 5)
At such a low price ($49.95) for a single user license, MinuteMan is an excellent value. MinuteMan-Plus is only $99.95. Even the unlimited site license ($849.95) is a great deal. MinuteMan allows for a full-featured free trial, so it’s a no-brainer to check it out. I believe this program is the best value in its market. For the small business project manager or independent contractor, this is an ideal solution.
Overall (5 out of 5)
I was extremely impressed with MinuteMan. I’ve used Microsoft Project for years as it has been the standard for most of my clients and business partners. MinuteMan is easier to use, easier to learn, and it’s far less expensive. Any feature I have ever really needed in managing a project is present in MinuteMan.
Granted, there may be advanced features and functions that some of you need, but if you do, you can probably afford one of the more expensive products that offer those features. If you need to manage multiple projects at once, MinuteMan Pro provides that functionality.
Give it a try!
