In 2014, Software Advice conducted a study on small businesses seeking web-based project management software, revealing that 100% preferred web-based solutions, with 58% currently using a single method for project management. The study highlighted key features desired by buyers, including time-tracking, task management, and project tracking, with a goal to improve organization and workflow. Most prospective buyers identified as owners or executives, primarily from the technology and professional services sectors, with many companies having 6 to 50 employees and annual revenues of less than $1 million.

1. Software Advice BuyerView: Web-
based Project Management Report
Insight into today’s software buyer

2. In 2014, we talked to thousands of small businesses considering Web-based
project management software. We tapped into a subset of the data to determine:
• What methods prospective buyers are currently using for their project
management needs?
• Why are small businesses looking for Web-based project management
software?
Abstract
In 2014, Software Advice determined that 100 percent of small businesses with a
deployment preference desired a Web-based deployment for their project
management software. We took a closer look specifically at prospective buyers
with a Web-based deployment to determine prevalence in desired features and
patterns in current challenges. Our goal was to provide insight into what the
challenges that small businesses face currently and how they believe Web-based
project management software will address these challenges.

3. The majority of those seeking to purchase Web-based project management
software currently use a single method for their project management needs.
Number of Current Methods Used
58% Single
42% Multiple

4. The vast majority of prospective buyers currently use manual methods and roughly
one-third currently use some form of project management software.
Prospective Buyers' Current Methods
Percent of sample
Manual
PM software
Non-PM software
Microsoft Project/Sharepoint
Nothing
Google Apps
Other
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
10%
5%
6%
13%
20%
32%
70%

5. Most respondents want time-tracking and task management functionality in their
Web-based PM software. A majority also want project tracking/status functionality.
Top-Requested Web-Based PM Software Functionality
Percent of sample
Employee time tracking
Task management
Project tracking/status
Scheduling/deadlines
Reporting/analytics
Resource management
Project scope planning
Document management
Collaboration tools
Portfolio management
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
10%
14%
16%
21%
27%
30%
44%
53%
60%
60%

6. A majority of respondents want to improve workflow/organization through
Web-based PM software. Forty percent want to improve their tracking/reporting.
Top Reasons for Evaluating Web-Based PM Software
Improve organization/workflow
Improve tracking/reporting
Need more functionality
Streamline/integrate
Improve communication/collaboration
Organizational growth
Update/modernize
Need easy-to-use system
Other
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
11%
12%
13%
14%
15%
17%
23%
40%
64%
Percent of sample

7. Project managers' most requested functionality is scheduling/deadlines. Owners'
and CEOs' most requested functionality is time tracking.
Top-Requested Functionality, by Job Role
Time tracking
Task management
Progress tracking/status
Scheduling & deadlines
Resource management
Reporting
Project scope planning
Document management
Collaboration tools
Portfolio management
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%
13%
21%
19%
13%
36%
43%
64%
49%
64%
55%
4%
11%
16%
21%
24%
27%
38%
52%
59%
61%
Owners/executives Project managers

8. Twenty percent of prospective buyers identify themselves as owners, and 17
percent as executives. Twelve percent identify themselves as project managers.
By Role: Prospective Buyers
20% Owners
17% Executives
17% Upper management
14% Other managers
12% Project managers
20% Other

9. Twenty-five percent of prospective buyers identify their industry as technology.
Seventeen percent say they are in professional services.
By Industry: Prospective Buyers
25% Technology
17% Professional services
15% Marketing/advertising
13% Public service
7% Management consulting
5% Housing
5% Industrial
3% Health care/pharma
2% Energy
Other7%

10. Half of prospective buyers identify their company size as six to 50 employees.
Twenty percent are from companies of 51 to 100 employees.
By Number of Employees: Prospective Buyer Size
22% 11 - 20
17% 2 - 5
17% 21 - 50
17% 101 - 500
13% 51 - 100
11% 6 - 10
2% 501 - 1,000
1% More than 1,000
1% 1

11. Nearly a third of prospective buyers have annual revenue of less than $1
million. Half have revenues of $1 to $25 million.
By Annual Revenue: Prospective Buyer Size
32% Less than $1 million
28% $1 million - $5 million
22% $6 million - $25 million
12% $26 million - $50 million
5% $51 million - $100 million

12. Read the full report
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13. Software Advice™ is a trusted resource for software buyers. The company's
website, www.softwareadvice.com, provides detailed reviews, comparisons and
research to help organizations choose the right software. Meanwhile, the company’s
team of software analysts provide free telephone consultations to help each
software buyer identify systems that best fit their needs. In the process, Software
Advice connects software buyers and sellers, generating high-quality opportunities
for software vendors.
@SoftwareAdvice /company/software-advice
@SoftwareAdvice/SoftwareAdvice