On the face of it, the story is simple- you have a project, the project has tasks and the tasks have to run in a certain flow for successful project completion. However, each project could have its own set of requirements and nuances that make it different from others.

Such considerations are extremely important when choosing a project management service that would suit the project. For one workflow management tool may help a certain kind of project more than another. Here, we take a look at Basecamp and Jira, so you can see which of these project management services will work best for you. 

 Basecamp

One of the most striking differences that Basecamp has from Jira- or any other product management services, for that matter- is the manner in which information is presented. For this tool, the information is collected in clusters called camps.

Camps and different tools

Each of these camps comes with a set of six tools. Some of these tools are similar to the ones you get in other platforms that help in workflow management. These are useful, even necessary tools. But the ones which truly make Basecamp stand out from the rest are two in number.

One of these is known as Campfire. The name of the tool itself tells you what it does-  helps you communicate with other team members in real-time, similar to how a group of people sitting around a campfire can. A major advantage of this tool is that it cuts down the need to use a distinct communication platform whenever you need to connect with someone who is working along with you on a project.

Another tool of significance is Automatic check-ins. Once again, the name probably gives you a clue as to its nature. Using it, you can schedule posts that would get automatically shared with various team members periodically. Repetitive status meetings could thus be avoided.

Hill Chart

Aside from such useful tools, Basecamp brings you a unique feature- which is the Hill Chart. It functions on the premise that the to-do lists may not be enough at times to keep abreast of all the tasks that are involved in huge projects. Hill Charts incorporate two facets of task progress. One is the uphill half in which you still need to find a way to perform the task. The second, downhill half is the one in which you have already decided how to do the task, but you are yet to execute the same.

Combining both these elements Hill Chart gives you a holistic view of up to what point a task has progressed in its journey towards completion.

 Jira

Jira also brings a host of features that are essential to good project management. Ranging from the prosaic to the cutting edge, many of these are similar to functions you would find in other project management platforms. However, one feature which is quite special is Sprints.

Sprints

Sprints are more or less ubiquitous in companies across industries. Yes, the idea of sprints is most relevant to software development. But then, an overwhelming number of companies have software development as part of their operations even if they are not necessarily software service providers. For instance, a company that produces cameras may need to develop software that supports the different functionalities in the device.

This means that companies from a wide spectrum of industries would find the sprints feature in Jira useful. It’s not just members of the same team but distinct team members that could fruitfully collaborate using this feature during their sprints.

Interface

Such significant and useful features don’t prevent Jira from one flaw- a less than the intuitive interface. Don’t be surprised if you are going to need a few attempts on the platform before you could find out how to use some of the functions. And that’s possibly time which many don’t have in the fast pace of contemporary work environments.

On the other hand, if you can put in the time to master the use of these features,  Jira will prove a useful ally in your project management journey.

 Should you use Basecamp or Jira?

Basecamp offers certain distinct elements like camps and hill charts which make using it readily different from other services. Such features also make the platform simple and easy to use. Jira, on the other hand, triumphs largely because of its Sprint feature. If your project is straightforward including a lesser number of sprints, you could probably go with Basecamp. Otherwise, Jira could be a viable option.

Do these services lack anything important?

The distinct features aside, the two platforms discussed here lack a tool to measure precisely the time that someone spends on a task. Unless that measurement is accurate, you wouldn’t be able to accurately predict when a project can be delivered. In the project management service, I’m Productive you get a powerful AI that helps you do exactly that. In fact, you can get the prediction with just a click, thereby helping you gain a predictable revenue.

To learn more about how I’m Productive can help with your project management requirements, do check out their website.