Editors' Review by the Project Management Software Review Team
Wrike is a project management software that aims to streamline the workflow of projects in order to get them done faster and with more efficiency. A common problem that companies face when handling big projects that have a lot of dependencies, resources, and stakeholders is that it can get too complex and will, therefore, be hard to track. Wrike is a solution to that issue by providing a solution wherein projects can be created, planned, executed, and relayed to the right people all in one place.
Wrike is easy to use and flexible and is a good fit for companies and projects of all sizes. With this software, companies are able to create timelines, make use of the integrated time tracking, and create tasks that will only be shared with the pertinent people. It gives users the ability to get a real-time view of the project at any time and is also accessible even on mobile phones and tablets.
With Wrike, users are able to simplify projects into folders and tasks, streamlining greater efficiency. The simplification also makes them less complicated, which further saves time and effort. In the dashboard, users are able to create their own folder for different projects. They are also able to add subfolders so they would be able to break the whole project into its core components. For example, if a company were to have a website design project, the first subfolder could be labeled as brainstorming, the next one initial design, and so on.
Next, users are able to add tasks to the parts of their project. When creating a task, users are able to add a name to it, assign it to certain members of the team, and set the schedule as well. In task creation, users are also able to set three different types of tasks. The first one is “backlogged” tasks that are characterized by having no dates in the schedule. These are tasks that have no exact date assigned yet. Users may also use these for storing supporting documents and files. Take note though, that these backlogged tasks do not show up on the to-do list because of the lack of dates.
The next type of task is the “planned” task, which has both a start and an end date. This is useful for tasks that need to be accomplished in a certain amount of days. The last kind of task is called a “milestone.” These tasks have only a single date and they basically mark important points of the project’s timeline. Users may also set the status of tasks depending on what state it is currently in, be it active, completed, deferred, or canceled.
After that, users are able to use the timer. This feature of Wrike tracks the minutes or hours that team members use while doing tasks in projects. Members are able to log their times spent, as well as document what they did with that time. Users are also able to set dependencies in order to manage the timeline and work order of certain tasks. However, this is only for those tasks that have a strict timeline, and users are always able to leave this part blank or unchanged.
Another part of Wrike’s task manager is the sharing feature. Here, users are able to set who is able to see certain tasks of the project. Documentation is also one of the key features of this software, as most windows show who created what at what time, and who can see what part of the project. A step above of the sharing feature is the follower feature. This includes the person who created a project or task, as well as people who are shared in. These are the members of the team who will receive email notifications from Wrike when changes are made in the tasks.
For those who receive these notification emails, they have the option to open up Wrike to see the update. Alternatively, if they want, they can also simply reply to the email and this will then show up as a comment on the task, which means the recipients of these notifications don’t have to open Wrike to give feedback. For those office documents like Word or Excel that are uploaded into the Wrike repository, users are able to edit those directly in the Wrike interface. Users don’t have to open other programs, edit the file, save, and then re-upload the file in order to update it. For other files that are not compatible, users can then download and then edit it using the program of their choice.
All activity made in the task is tracked and can be seen by members of the team that the task is shared with. As well as tasks, users are also able to share the main folder with certain people so they can view every aspect of the project.
Wrike is able to efficiently fulfill what it aims to do, which is to make it easier for users to create, track, and share tasks of a project. Almost every action made within the software is documented, which gives visibility into who made what changes. Details are easily seen on the interface, so users need only glance at it to learn everything there is about the project or task. Everything is easily accessible within the platform, and because of its multiple integrations to other third-party software files, you don’t need to use other programs just to change something on a certain file. They can also even leave comments on the software without necessarily opening it. The interface is designed so anybody can easily learn to navigate what they need in order to make full use of Wrike.
Wrike currently has four payment plans available for companies to take advantage of. However, there is also a free plan that supports unlimited users — and the other packages that users need to pay for also have a free trial period. The free plan already features file sharing, management of tasks, and a real-time activity stream. It also allows for a spreadsheet view of the entire project and its tasks, and also has basic integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and others. It also features applications for both Android and iOS and has 2GB worth of storage space per account.
This package has all the features that the free version has, and more. It now has subtask management, a dynamic timeline, shareable dashboards, and allows advanced integrations for MS Project and Excel. It also has up to 2GB worth of storage space per user.
Aside from the features the Professional Package has, this payment plan also has customizable fields and workflows, report templates, and real-time report sharing that comes with scheduled notifications. It also has graphical analytics, resource management, and request forms. Integrated time tracking is now available, as well as Salesforce connectivity and a branded workspace. Users are may now be put into groups, and storage goes up to 5GB per user.
This plan also has business package features, and it has tighter security and more optimized controls. This package allows active directory integration and SAML 2.0 single sign-on authentication. It has customized password policies, IT-controlled admin permissions, and user audit reports. It also has network access and compliance policies as well as 10GB storage space per user.
The Pinnacle plan offers all Enterprise features, with powerful tools and analytics for more complex work. This package includes advanced reporting and BI, team performance dashboards, and locked spaces. It also has digital asset management software, with SharePoint and HTML5 proofing and approvals. 15GB of storage space is available per user.
When people look for a one-stop, all-in-one project management tool, they should consider Wrike. Its custom functionality and its ease-of-use make for a handy software that is robust and yet easy to use. As a result of its mobile applications you can check the status of tasks and projects on the go, and as long as you are on the follower list, you are sure to be notified whenever there are things that need your attention on a task or project. For making sure your project timeline is expedited, Wrike is definitely worth a try.
