10 Most Effective Tools to Manage Outsourcing Partners

One of the easiest ways to effectively manage an expanding business is to use outsourcing teams. Instead of spending your time managing in-house team members, outsourced projects allow you to focus on other areas of the business and let another group of people take charge.

However, outsourcing partners or software development teams can have disadvantages. It can be challenging to manage outsourcing teams, and you may encounter issues with communication, time tracking, quality control, work ethic differences, and hierarchies. All of these can hinder a project's progress.

The potential friction of working with an outsourcing team is why project management software can be so helpful. It allows you to engage in real-time task management without the stress of having to organize everything yourself. We've created a project management tool guide to allow you to understand the best software out there to manage outsourcing partners.

1. Flow

Flow has an impressive list of users — big brands like Red Bull and Shopify have used the project management software to manage their team members. Keep up to date with the project's progress with timetables and notification, sort and filter task lists, and easy export and duplicate product options. The platform helps to manage to outsource effectively.

2. Worksection

Worksection is an excellent option for busy project managers who want real-time updates on the project. With a vast range of features, including project timelines, reports, and budgets, and a 14-day free trial, it's useful for businesses of all sizes.

3. Freedcamp

Freedcamp is one of the best project management software tools out there if you like creativity and collaboration. It makes it easy for you to create lists and improve task management on internal and outsourced projects. Besides collaborating with other team members on Gantt Charts and Kanban Boards, you can track issues and set objectives for easy time tracking.

4. Yammer

If you're looking for an established project management tool, Yammer is a great option. This Microsoft tool is for software development teams created by experts in software development. You can easily communicate with your outsourcing teams with public or private groups, learn from others as part of their community, and quickly communicate with project managers for real-time updates.

5. Azendoo

One of the things that make this software stand out from the crowd is that it's both available on desktop and mobile apps. With a wide range of languages available and integration with Dropbox and Google Drive, it's an excellent option for international organizations.

6. Zoho Projects

ZohoProejcts is a brilliant option if you want user-friendly software that provides a wide range of features to track your project's progress. You can easily view documents and feedback and sync your software outsourcing teams for real-time collaboration — perfect for a busy team that needs help with time tracking.

7. LiquidPlanner

LiquidPlanner is ideal for project managers who like to stay on top of outsourced projects and make sure team members meet deadlines. It uses a smart schedule to adapt to any issues automatically, saving project managers the hassle of doing it themselves. It's excellent for busy software development teams who want a product to manage the task with minimal need for adjustment.

8. Process Street

Process Street is user-friendly and accessible for anyone with its outstanding customer support services and chat features. It also integrates with over 500 applications, letting you automate tasks and saving you the stress of managing them yourself. They're great for managers who want straightforward, easy-to-use software to help with project management.

9. Redbooth

Tired of strained email communication with outsourcing partners? If the answer is yes, Redbooth could be a great option. It's a collaboration tool to facilitate communication between team members, with HD video calls and threaded conversations. It's perfect if you're in different time zones, and you don't want an important memo to get missed. It also has easy checklists and templates for effective task management.

10. Jira

If you're managing a software development team, Jira is perfect for you. It lets you manage the project efficiently, from the initial planning stage to the release. The intense focus on visual resources helps everyone stay on task, and the software can quickly sort and prioritize tasks, letting you focus on important issues. It is also an excellent option for project managers because of how user-friendly its features are.

Pick the Best Project Management Tool for You

With so many software options available, it can be challenging to know which is best for you. However, the most important thing to do is consider the primary needs of your outsourced projects and how best you can manage them.

Just contact us today for more information on the best way to manage outsourcing, all the best business software advice, and more.