Action Register – The Smart Alternate to Excel Sheets
Despite the variety of project management packages arriving in the software market, Microsoft Excel is one of the most versatile tool used for project management. While Excel and similar spreadsheet solutions are popular due to existing familiarity with them, the use of excel sheet comes with its own set of limitations.
Spreadsheets typically slow people down by driving team players to manually execute repetitive tasks that can be easily automated on other platforms. This can include things such as manually filtering information into numerous files, and taking extra cautionary steps such as sending e-mail notifications. But too much of time getting consumed leads to piling up of tasks, for employees, and all departments, leading to companies losing a lot in terms of productivity.
Spreadsheet solutions lack basic project management features, such as time-tracking and due date notifications. These aforementioned reasons should be conclusively motivation enough for you to switch gears and opt for an alternative to Excel.
⭐Common Bottlenecks in Spreadsheets and Excel Sheets
Spreadsheets are often not connected
Spreadsheets and Excel Sheets do not offer any form of connect that can lead to siloed information, particularly if spreadsheets are being mailed.
In spite of being secure on cloud, spreadsheets do not attach or store related files, or allow comments to be inserted. The siloed nature of spreadsheets leading to data getting crammed, and the lack of visibility end up affecting the accuracy of reports and live status updates.
Spreadsheets lack accountability and not secure
Spreadsheets often result in errors and version control issues as they inherently lack the power to identify and track changes, recognising who modified what data and when. Although some spreadsheets enable workers to track changes, this feature is not always available.
Often a cloud-based work execution database that offers audit trails seamlessly collects and retains information about events related to your information, such as who accessed it and what changes they made, help to mitigate a number of malicious attacks. It is important to protect sensitive business information in the growing era of cybercrime. A secure platform helps to manage your work and makes you feel safe that only some assigned users can access specific confidential data.
Spreadsheets don’t let you scale
Managing a set list of tasks may turn out to be a problem in spreadsheets. The issues can spiral out of control as more people are introduced leading to a breakdown. Instead of depending on spreadsheets search for a platform that helps you to grow, with secure features that improve collaboration, accountability, and accuracy so that you can move quickly and have an impact on your organisation.
⭐What Are Action Registers
An action register is a central database where the project manager can compile different actions associated within the scope of a project, related to its owners, due delivery dates and other important information.
With an action register, it is simpler to keep track of all the actions needed to keep a project running smoothly.The Action Register tracker can be available as a configurable software based project management tool. The various activities on a /programme/project can be broken down into manageable and congruent actions. Each of the action can be then assigned to individual owners with clearly providing the requirements and expected completion. A well-managed action register makes it easier for you to achieve your goals within budget and schedule, especially goals that are simple to note down in meetings but are difficult to execute and accomplish.
⭐How Action Registers resolve Bottlenecks in Project Management
In a complex programme/project, while there are multiple interdependent activities between diverse teams, prioritising the actions becomes a challenge, the schedule slips due to multiple bottlenecks.
Bottlenecks occur when a crucial part of the project falls behind the schedule is held up and as a result, tasks dependent on the first crucial part pile up. At this stage, it becomes difficult to identify the root cause the setbacks as resources are dedicated to firefighting. Deadlines are looming ahead in tandem with the threat of spiralling costs. Action registers step in to help teams streamline their project planning and execution in order to avoid this situation. Some of the functions typically taken care of by an action register are:
Breaking down of Tasks
Action registers help to assess and evaluate how much time and what resources each task used to get accomplished. This helps to identify bottlenecks and pivot future project activities in order to avoid them in future.
Accountability and Budget Control
An Action Register helps to understand how much overspending for a task is due and also take into account extra expenses incurred if a task is not completed on schedule. Who is responsible for getting the task over the line?
Clear Work in Progress Status
Action Registers are the best way to track and view accurate stage status information for each task in a project. Action registers also help you to constantly review progress with your client and team, collecting all of the feedback and decisions made in a tool that can hold both sides accountable.
⭐ How does An Action Register Help the Project Manager in comparison with an Excel template
1. Usage of Customised tools
A project manager can use tailored tools (customised or make it yours) instead of spreadsheets and e-mail threads. These custom tools usually function on a single platform, giving the team a wide variety of options to assign and perform various tasks such as share pictures/files, insert comments, upload attachments, etc.) without having to manually check each spreadsheet painstakingly. A siloed platform allows everyone to view updates, comments and instructions – all in one place, saving time and removing margins for errors caused by having gone through the wrong e-mail thread or not being updated with an old instruction, and the like.
2. Greater Transparency
Tasks and subtasks can be assigned to leads and sub-leads, and everyone’s tasks can be monitored round the clock. Managers can see who’s in charge of which assigned task, and who should be contacted if issues arise.
3. Devising better time-lines
Tools that have integrated features (such as Gantt charts) immensely help when mapping out a project’s timeline. Schedules can be determined as follows: how long each task would need to be accomplished, how much scope is allowed if a task is not immediately completed, and how to adjust the timeline to accost unforeseen roadblocks
⭐GoPlims’s Action Register-The smart Alternate to Microsoft Excel
GoPlims’s Action Register comes across as a tool that makes a strong impression by its features that normally you would associate with third-party application integrations. An excellent all-rounder when it comes to handling projects and tight schedules, ActionR makes a solid substitute for Excel.
ActionR facilitates easier project management for you by allowing you to store, process, organise and collaborate on tasks all in one platform. These core task management functions, including time monitoring and project reporting, are experienced through a clean user-interface, designed for ease-of-use and comfort.
⭐ Top Features
- Comprehensive feature set including task assignment, prioritisation, Kanban boards, and document attachment
- Time tracking module facilitating timesheet management and tracking of individual task efforts
- Meeting management module for automatic generation and distribution of meeting minutes
- Manage agenda, recurrence, follow-ups, and decisions to share with team members
- Issue management for timely identifying and resolving issues associated with your projects
- Risk management for documenting potential risks and devising a mitigation plan for effectively dealing with them
- Powerful collaboration features, like comments within tasks and timesheet approvals
- Notifications, reminders, and alerts for staying on track
⭐ Pricing
Experience all the above-mentioned features and many more for Free and through our free trial program. The choose from one of our four subscription plans, with plans starting from less than 1 euro per person per day. You can even pay annually and benefit from an additional 10% discount. Due to the security measures we take, please allow up to 3 business days from the time of payment until your secure space on the cloud is available.
Click here for an overview of our subscription process. Got a large team? ActionR also caters to enterprises through the customisable Enterprise plan. See for yourself why teams across the globe now trust Action Register for business and project management.