Summary: Web-based software for small and medium businesses designed to manage a number of projects at the same time. This program could be useful, if your current tracking system consists of just an Excel spreadsheet and you want to add a bit of collaboration in you management process.
Project management features: OPM creator comes with predefined structure that means that when you create a project, you need to choose a “project leader,” status of this project, estimated time necessary for its completion, project description, etc. Only then you can create tasks and assign them to users. OPM creator allows you to create an unlimited number of projects and tasks. However, if you have overlapping projects, you won’t be able to connect them. You’ll have to create the same tasks for different projects; this might make the monitoring process difficult. It also could be hard to guess what project you are working on when you view your tasks. This software gives you the opportunity to store files and organize them in folders. It’s also possible to leave comments on the uploaded files in case you want to confirm the fact that the file has been uploaded. It could be a little inconvenient not to be able to connect your uploaded files to tasks. Users can create and update tasks by recording hours and percentage complete. Each task is displayed on a Gantt chart. The software also features an online calendar. Here you can leave notes on your projects. The system will, however, duplicate them and show one note two times, first as your personal note and second as a note on a project.
Collaboration features: Since the software is Web-based, your team members, clients and partners can have access to it. The project manager is the key user of the software; he can let his associates access the tool and view projects, tasks and other relevant items. Using his administrator functions, the project manager can give other users permission to create, edit and delete projects or tasks. It’s possible to send e-mails directly from the tool without going to your inbox.
Usability/training: You can customize your login page, personalize your project’s main page or add your own logo, welcome note and colors. However, this will be possible only for the user with administrative access. The live demo will give you a quick inside view of the tool, but you’ll have to sign up to actually try to set up your work in OPM creator. OPM creator offers a free, 30-day trial version, where you can set up your projects and share them with only 4 users; you can also create tasks, upload files and add links. However, you have to be very careful with the buttons you push. If you push the “new project” button, you’ll have to actually create a new project; you cannot view over projects and tasks until you are finished with this one. So you probably will not want to use this trial version for real projects, as you are going to lose all your project data if you by chance miss the end of the trial date.
Various training materials are available online. This includes the getting-started brochure, user guide, project management ebook, etc.
Pricing: You can purchase OPM Creator on a monthly or yearly basis. There are 2 versions of the software available; therefore, 2 pricing plans are offered. You can subscribe for OPM team, paying $15 per 5 users per month. This plan targets small teams with small projects. This version allows between 5 and 20 users. OPM cluster allows between 25 and 500 users and costs $125 per 25 users per month. This version targets midsize businesses with partners and clients online.
Installation/Upgrades: OPM creator is Web-based, so there is no need to download and install it. Upgrades come automatically.
Help/Support: You can e-mail your questions to support@opmcreator.com and send your feedback to feedback@opmcreator.com. There’s also the FAQ section available at your personal Web-space online.