What are team management apps?

Team management apps allow employees to collaborate and communicate with other team members. Many team management apps feature a calendar, to-do list, updates section and project tracking function. These features help managers oversee the team’s progress, allow employees to effectively collaborate and let employees easily contact managers for assistance on certain tasks.

When multiple employees are assigned to the same project, team management apps allow them to work together in one centralized location. They can upload project files to a dedicated channel and access research data or download images without delay.

Team management applications have evolved into full-featured software packages, replacing basic to-do lists with calendars, reminders and other project-management tools.

Benefits of using a team management app

The most common benefits of using software for team management include:

• Increased collaboration among employees: Because employees are working in a centralized location, it’s easier for them to share their ideas. For example, an employee may post ideas for a budget proposal and receive feedback in real time.
• Streamlined processes: Team management apps are generally designed to help managers assign tasks, set deadlines and automate repetitive processes to ensure smooth workflow management.
• Increased efficiency: Using an app for team management helps eliminate the need for employees to use separate software for scheduling, project management and collaboration.
• Enhanced security: Team management apps can help enhance security by integrating features that protect sensitive data, ensure secure communication and manage user access. Some apps include file encryption and automatic file backups.

Common features of team management apps

Team management applications typically have the following features:

• Scheduling and shared calendars: This feature increases transparency by letting employees know when managers are available to answer work-related questions or address concerns. Shared calendars may also make it easier to see team availability for scheduling meetings, set meeting agendas and better analyze productivity levels.
• Messaging and communication tools: Some apps have built-in messaging tools, which allow employees to message each other privately or send group messages. These tools also make it easier to share files, deliver feedback and check on the status of shared projects.
• Deadline management: Many apps allow employees to add tasks and deadlines to their to-do lists. Employees can also adjust deadlines in case they’re assigned higher-priority items.
• Search function: Many software packages allow users to search for specific keywords in private messages, group conversations and files. The search function reduces the amount of time it takes for employees to find the information they need to do their jobs.
• Task management: Team management apps often come with to-do lists and other features designed to help employees manage assigned tasks. You can break large tasks into multiple steps, informing employees of every stage of the project.

Top picks for team management apps

These are some of the most popular team management apps on the market.

Asana

This app helps you easily set goals and assign tasks to your employees. As a manager, you can set deadlines and track employees’ progress to ensure each project remains on schedule. You can also download reports to analyze how well your employees performed.

Asana offers these additional features:

• Kanban boards: If your team uses the Kanban approach to project management, you can create boards to help employees visualize their work.
• Subtasks: Managers can create and assign subtasks, making it easier for employees to understand the steps involved in completing a project.
• Task assignments: Managers are able to assign specific employees at the task level so they can see a description of the task and its due date.
• Forms: Managers can use Asana to create job forms, making it easier to capture details.
• Attachments: Users can attach files from Dropbox, Google Docs and other platforms, making it easier to share information.

Slack

If collaboration is important to your team, Slack may be a good option. The platform allows you to create custom channels, making it easier to organize projects and promote collaboration. For example, you can create a channel for your graphic design team, enabling them to share image assets and collaborate on design projects.

Slack offers multiple communication features:

• Huddles: You can use Slack Huddles to make quick audio or video calls to increase collaboration and efficiency. The Huddle feature lets users screen share and create markups in real time.
• Clips: Slack allows you to record audio and video clips, enabling you to share important information without scheduling a meeting.
• File sharing: Share files within conversations, ensuring employees have the right context when making project-related decisions.
• Lists: Users can create lists for each project or task, eliminating the need for multiple apps.

Toggl

This app focuses on time tracking, allowing employees to sort their to-do items and report how long it takes them to complete each assignment. Managers can also review task progress to better estimate how long it might take employees to finish. This makes setting realistic deadlines easier and ensures every employee has a manageable workload.

Your company may also benefit from these features:

• Automated time tracking: Toggl allows you to turn on background tracking for websites, making it easier for employees to track their time when using third-party resources.
• Integrations: You can integrate Toggl with Salesforce, Jira and other applications, streamlining employee work processes.
• Flexible tracking options: With Toggl, employees can track their time on the web, install a browser application or use a mobile app.