Project Management Software Comparison

During the definition phase of ]project-open[, we have closely analyzed the market for "project management related applications" and the available systems. In this page we want to publish our findings.

However, we want to stress that we are not neutral with this comparison. Also please note that the valuation and comments on this page represent the current state of our analysis (6/2005). The presented facts may be incomplete, wrong or misleading. Please contact us in case of doubt.

Types of Project Management Applications

... is the type of applications we were looking at when developing ]project-open[. The manager of a Venture Capital firm in Hamburg said: "There are zillions of project management applications around, one for each niche [...]."

So we have tried to classify our "competition" into several types, according to the functionality they provide. We have found the following prototypical types of systems:

Classical ERP systems
that also provide some support for project management
Internet Collaboration Systems (eRooms)
allow for cross-organizational project collaboration
Timesheet Management Systems,
dealing with cost and time accounting
Project Management Systems
with a focus on project scheduling, Gantt charts etc.
Intranet, Extranet and Portal Systems
with the focus on content management and allow for improved collaboration between departments or facilities in a distributed company
Online Community Systems
with the focus on interaction and knowledge management

Functional Modules

We have found that very few systems that could be classified clearly into a single category. So we have defined a number of "functional modules" and the terms "basic coverage", "standard coverage" and "extensive coverage", according to the relative degree of coverage in each module. However, these valuations are difficult to make (and imposible to defend..), so we would invite you to take a closer look yourself. Again, please contact us if you feel that we got something woring.

"Classical" ERP Modules

Invoices & Payments:
Issue invoices based on an invoicing model and a price list. Printing or transmission of invoices to the customers. Follow-up of payments, reminders of outstanding payments
Accounting:
General ledger, assets, liabilities, costs (with clasifications), ...
Reporting:
Financial ratios, revenues & profitability by project, customer, market, ...
HR / Employee Management
Salaries, legal & tax, performance evaluations, recruiting, ...
Customer Management / CRM
Presales management, campaign management, customer interaction tracking (web site integration), customer profitability, ...

Project Collaboration (eRooms)

These are modules for project participants who have to collaborate on a single project, being spread geographically or in different organizations

Shared Project Files:
Allows project member from several organization to share project documentation etc., typically to deal with security restriction of corporate intranets.
Discussion Forums, Chat
Time & Cost Capturing:
Capturing and classification project related efforts and costs
Project Calendar:
Shared project calender with meetings, deadlines etc.
Discussion Forums:
Communication means for geographically distributed projects teams, track-record of communication
Task & Incident Management:
Distribution of tasks and incidents within a distributed team, workflow, tracking of task/indident completion

Project Management

These tools are for project managers or senior management, who are planning projects.

Project Scheduling (Gantt charts, etc.)
Classical Gantt charts, dependencies, ...
Resource Planning:
Association of resources with tasks for a single project.
Project Tracking:
Comparison between the timeline and work done
Project Portfolio Management
Tracking of the project sales process, probabilities of potential projects, enterprise-wide project resource planning

Intranet, Extranet, Portals & Online Communities

Corporate Content Management:
Lifecycle management for documents, publication workflow, access rights management
Publication of enterprise databases etc.
Integration with other applications
Framework for integration with other applications, typically based on a shared authentication mechanism (Single Sign-on)

Generic & Specific Applications

During our study we have found three different types of applications:

Generic Applications
These application address "horizontal" generic necessities, without entering into sector specific business processes. Examples include MS-Project (project scheduling), Grove (file sharing) and content management systems. These applications have mostly a "tool" character, specializing on a single task or a small set of tasks.
Sector Specific Applications
These applications address the "vertical" necessities of a specific industry sector and claim to provide a "solutions" for these companies. Examples include the BMC products for the IT sector, Espressor for Translation etc. These applications have a "ERP" character, claiming to take control of the entire company.
Generic Applications With Sector Specific Configurations
Some applications allow for sector specific configurations or sector specific extensions, providing for both horizonal and vertial components. All large general purpose ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, GD Edwards, People Soft, ...) can be found in this group. However, there are few project-ERP systems of this type, with ]project-open[ being a prominent exception...

Figure 1: Example of a matrix between sectors and functional modules (]project-open[):
There are "horizonal" modules shared across sectors while "vertical" modules (BOMs & Version Man., Workflow and Freelance Man.) provide solutions for specific sectors.

Applications

For our comparison we have analyzed the following software packages:

IT Sector Specific

PHPGroupware
An open source collaboration application with a large installed base. Contains several modules specifically for IT organizations.
PHProject
Similar to PHPGroupware, but more focused on project scheduling.
Tutos-Online
Another PHP project collaboration tool, available in many languages.
dotProject
Another simple to use PHP project management system.

Translation Sector Specific

LTC Organiser
Integrated project managagement and execution solution for the translation industry.
Expresso
Internet application for the management of small translation agencies. Includes a tight integration with the Aquarius freelancer marketplace.
Plunet Business Manager
Plunet BusinessManager offers translation companies a powerful software solution that enables them to handle their order processing, partner management, data, and document management on a single platform.

Project Management

MS-Project
The default project scheduling solution today. The enterprise extensions allow integration with out look and web management (intranets and Virtual Private Networks only).
Dovico Track-IT Suite
Timesheet management system for IT organizations with extensive reporting.
eProject Enterprise
Online project tracking & timesheet system with a large number of features.
Yellow Zone Project Manager + Time Card
Easy to use timesheet management project tracking system.
Business Management Central
Touches on projects, but focuses on specific tasks in the management of large corporations IT departments.
Job Pro Central
Integrated organization of project oriented organizations, including purchase, sales and HR management.
Timelog
Easy to use timesheet and expense management system.
At Task
Task-centered project collaboration tool, including billing and profitability reporting.
Mr Project
An open-source project scheduler for Linux/Gnome.

To be classified soon:

Open-Source Web ERP Systems

Open for Business
Internet eBusiness shopping system, extended towards fulfilment and delivery tracking.
Compiere
Small general purpose ERP system

General Information and Costs

	Product Name	Web/ Company	Open Source?	Web Based	Tech- nolo- gy	$/ Unlim. Users	$/ User (per-petual)	$/ User/ Month


]project-open[
	]project-translation[ V1.1	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	Tcl	0	0	0
	]project-advertizing[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	Tcl	0	0	0
	]project-consulting[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	Tcl	0	0	0
	]project-knowledge[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	Tcl	0	0	0
	]project-engineering[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	Tcl	0	0	0

Open-Source Project Systems
	PHP Groupware	www.phpgroupware.org	yes	yes	PHP	0	0	0
	PH-Project	www.phproject.de	yes	yes	PHP	0	0	0
	Tutos-Online	www.tutos.org	yes	yes	PHP	0	0	0
	Achievo	www.achievo.org	yes	yes	PHP
	dotProject	www.dotproject.net	yes	yes	PHP
	Mr Project	mrproject.codefactory.se	yes	no	X11/Gnome

Open-Source ERP-Systems
	Open for Business	www.ofbiz.org	yes	yes	Java	0	0	0
	Compiere	www.compiere.org	yes	yes	Java	0	0	0

Translation Industry
	LTC Organiser	www.translation.net/ltcorg.html	no	some	MS-Access	-	€ 4.000	€ 100
	Espresso	www.aquarius.net	no	yes	PHP	€ 12.500	€ 550	-

Closed-Source Systems
	MS-Project	www.microsoft.com/office/project	no	some	ASP/Win43		$300
	Dovico	www.dovico.com	no	yes	Win32
	XY Project Man	www.yzmanager.com	no	yes			$100	$10
	eProject	www.eproject.com	no	yes	Win32
	Job Pro Central	www.jobprocentral.com	no	some			€ 800
	TimeLog	www.timelog.com	no	yes
	At Task	www.attask.com	no	yes	Java
	ACE	www.ace-solution.com	no	yes	PHP	$695
	Epiware	www.epiware.com	no	yes			$60

"Classical" ERP Functionality

	Product Name	Web/ Company	Invoices & Payments	Reporting	HR & Emplo-yee Man	CRM	Inventory/ Stock	Ship-ment Track-ing	Quotation Process	e-Com-merce Shop
			ERP Modules
]project-open[
	]project-translation[ V1.1	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	some	some	no	no	no	yes
	]project-agency[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	some	some	no	no	no	yes
	]project-consulting[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	some	some	no	no	no	yes
	]project-knowledge[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	some	some	no	no	no	yes
	]project-engineering[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	some	some	no	no	no	yes

Open-Source Project Systems
	PHP Groupware	www.phpgroupware.org	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
	PH-Project	www.phproject.de	no	no	no	some	no	no	no	no
	Tutos-Online	www.tutos.org	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no
	Achievo	www.achievo.org	no	some	no	no	no	no	no	no
	dotProject	www.dotproject.net	no	no	no	some	no	no	no	no
	Mr Project	mrproject.codefactory.se	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no

Open-Source ERP-Systems
	Open for Business	www.ofbiz.org	no	no	no	some	yes	yes	no	yes
	Compiere	www.compiere.org	yes	yes	some	yes	yes	yes	yes	no

Translation Industry
	LTC Organiser	www.translation.net/ltcorg.html	yes	some	some	no	no	no	some	no
	Espresso	www.aquarius.net	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no	no

Closed-Source Systems
	MS-Project	www.microsoft.com/office/project	no	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
	Dovico	www.dovico.com	no	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
	XY Project Man	www.yzmanager.com	no	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
	eProject	www.eproject.com	no	yes	no	no	no	no	no	no
	Job Pro Central	www.jobprocentral.com	yes	yes	yes	some	yes	yes	yes	no
	TimeLog	www.timelog.com	some	some	no	no	no	no	no	no
	At Task	www.attask.com	yes	yes	some	no	no	no	no	no
	ACE	www.ace-solution.com	no	some	no	no	no	no	no	no
	Epiware	www.epiware.com	no	no	no	no	no	no	no	no

Project Collaboration Functionality

	Product Name	Web/ Company	Shared Project Files	Forum & Chat	Project Calendar	Tasks Manage-ment	Incidents & Help Desk	Time Capturing	Cost Capturing
			Project Collaboration
]project-open[
	]project-translation[ V1.1	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes
	]project-agency[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes
	]project-consulting[V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
	]project-knowledge[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	no	yes	yes	yes	yes
	]project-engineering[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes

Open-Source Project Systems
	PHP Groupware	www.phpgroupware.org	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
	PH-Project	www.phproject.de	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
	Tutos-Online	www.tutos.org	yes	some	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
	Achievo	www.achievo.org	no	no	no	some	no	yes	no
	dotProject	www.dotproject.net	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
	Mr Project	mrproject.codefactory.se	no	no	no	no	no	no	no

Open-Source ERP-Systems
	Open for Business	www.ofbiz.org	no	no	no	yes	no	yes	no
	Compiere	www.compiere.org	no	no	no	no	no	no	yes

Translation Industry
	LTC Organiser	www.translation.net/ltcorg.html	no	no	no	yes	no	no	no
	Espresso	www.aquarius.net	no	no	no	no	no	no	no

Closed-Source Systems
	MS-Project	www.microsoft.com/office/project	yes	some	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
	Dovico	www.dovico.com	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes
	XY Project Man	www.yzmanager.com	no	no	yes	yes	no	yes	yes
	eProject	www.eproject.com	yes	yes	yes	yes	some	yes	yes
	Job Pro Central	www.jobprocentral.com	no	no	yes	yes	no	yes	yes
	TimeLog	www.timelog.com	no	no	no	no	no	yes	yes
	At Task	www.attask.com	no	no	no	yes	some	yes	yes
	ACE	www.ace-solution.com	yes	yes	yes	yes	some	yes	no
	Epiware	www.epiware.com	yes	yes	yes	yes	no	yes	no

Project Scheduling Functionality

	Product Name	Web/ Company	Project Scheduling	Resource Planning	Project Tracking	Project Portfolio Man.	Risk Manage-ment
			Project Scheduling
]project-open[
	]project-translation[ V1.1	www.project-open.com	some	some	yes	some	no
	]project-agency[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	some	some	yes	some	no
	]project-consulting[V1.0	www.project-open.com	some	some	yes	some	no
	]project-knowledge[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	some	some	yes	some	no
	]project-engineering[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	some	some	yes	some	no

Open-Source Project Systems
	PHP Groupware	www.phpgroupware.org	some	some	some	some	no
	PH-Project	www.phproject.de	yes	yes	yes	some	no
	Tutos-Online	www.tutos.org	some	some	yes	some	no
	Achievo	www.achievo.org	no	no	yes	no	no
	dotProject	www.dotproject.net	no	no	yes	no	no
	Mr Project	mrproject.codefactory.se	yes	some	yes	no	no

Open-Source ERP-Systems
	Open for Business	www.ofbiz.org	no	no	no	no	no
	Compiere	www.compiere.org	no	no	no	no	no

Translation Industry
	LTC Organiser	www.translation.net/ltcorg.html	yes	yes	yes	yes	no
	Espresso	www.aquarius.net	no	no	no	no	no

Closed-Source Systems
	MS-Project	www.microsoft.com/office/project	yes	yes	yes	yes	some
	Dovico	www.dovico.com	no	no	no	no	no
	XY Project Man	www.yzmanager.com	yes	no	yes	some	no
	eProject	www.eproject.com	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
	Job Pro Central	www.jobprocentral.com	some	some	yes	some	no
	TimeLog	www.timelog.com	some	no	no	no	no
	At Task	www.attask.com	some	some	yes	no	no
	ACE	www.ace-solution.com	some	no	yes	some	no
	Epiware	www.epiware.com	no	no	no	no	no

CMS/Portal & Nonfunctional

	Product Name	Web/ Company	Content Manage-ment	Search Engine	Per-mission System	Multi-lingual
			Portal & CM		Non-Func.
]project-open[
	]project-translation[ V1.1	www.project-open.com	some	yes	yes	no
	]project-agency[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	some	yes	yes	no
	]project-consulting[V1.0	www.project-open.com	some	yes	yes	no
	]project-knowledge[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	some	yes	yes	no
	]project-engineering[ V1.0	www.project-open.com	some	yes	yes	no

Open-Source Project Systems
	PHP Groupware	www.phpgroupware.org	yes	yes	some	yes
	PH-Project	www.phproject.de	no	yes	some	yes
	Tutos-Online	www.tutos.org	no	no	some	yes
	Achievo	www.achievo.org	no	no	some	yes
	dotProject	www.dotproject.net	no	no	some	yes
	Mr Project	mrproject.codefactory.se	no	no	no	yes?

Open-Source ERP-Systems
	Open for Business	www.ofbiz.org	yes	no	yes	yes
	Compiere	www.compiere.org	no	no	yes	yes

Translation Industry
	LTC Organiser	www.translation.net/ltcorg.html	no	no	some	no
	Espresso	www.aquarius.net	no	no	some	no

Closed-Source Systems
	MS-Project	www.microsoft.com/office/project	no	no	yes	yes
	Dovico	www.dovico.com	no	no	no	yes
	XY Project Man	www.yzmanager.com	no	no	yes	no
	eProject	www.eproject.com	no	no	yes	yes
	Job Pro Central	www.jobprocentral.com	no	no	yes	yes
	TimeLog	www.timelog.com	no	no	some	yes?
	At Task	www.attask.com	no	no	no	yes?
	ACE	www.ace-solution.com	no	no	some	yes?
	Epiware	www.epiware.com	no	no	no	yes?