Microsoft Project vs Workfront

August 10, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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Microsoft Project
Microsoft Project is a project management software program developed and sold by Microsoft which is designed to assist project managers in developing plans, assigning resources to tasks, tracking progress, managing budgets and analyzing workloads. The application creates critical path schedules, and critical chain and event chain methodology third-party add-ons are also available. Schedules can be resource leveled, and chains are visualized in a Gantt chart.
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Workfront
Manage work in one place with Adobe Workfront, the only online cloud-based project management software to support all work in any methodology.
Microsoft Project and Workfront are both powerful project management tools, but they have key differences. Microsoft Project is a comprehensive project management software that offers features such as task scheduling, resource allocation, Gantt chart visualization, and project reporting. It is known for its extensive project planning and scheduling capabilities, making it ideal for complex projects with intricate dependencies. Microsoft Project integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Office tools, providing a familiar and cohesive project management experience.

Workfront, on the other hand, is a versatile work management platform that goes beyond traditional project management. It offers features such as project planning, task management, collaboration, resource management, and reporting. Workfront focuses on streamlining work processes and improving collaboration across teams and departments. It provides a centralized platform for managing projects, tasks, and resources, offering flexibility and customization to adapt to different work styles and methodologies.

See also: Top 10 Project Management software
Microsoft Project vs Workfront in our news:

2020. Adobe acquires project management startup Workfront for $1.5B



Adobe has recently made an announcement regarding its acquisition of the marketing workflow management startup Workfront for a substantial amount of $1.5 billion. This strategic move by Adobe is aimed at expanding its offerings within the Experience Cloud, enabling the integration of additional online marketing tools. Workfront specializes in assisting companies in effectively managing complex projects, whether within the marketing department or other areas of the organization. Notably, Workfront boasts an impressive customer base that includes renowned companies such as Home Depot, T-Mobile, and Deloitte. Furthermore, there is a significant overlap of 1,000 shared customers between Workfront and Adobe, out of Workfront's total customer base of 3,000. Workfront's APIs provide seamless connectivity to Adobe's Creative Cloud and Experience Cloud, two key components frequently utilized by marketers within Adobe's product family.


2019. Microsoft Project becomes user-friendly


Microsoft Project may be renowned as the most famous and legendary project management software, but it can hardly be described as simple and user-friendly, especially when compared to many of the new cloud services available, such as Asana, Basecamp, Trello, or Wrike. Recognizing this, Microsoft has undertaken a massive redesign of the system. As you can observe in the presentation video, the focus is on simplicity, aiming for a user experience so intuitive that even a child could navigate it. However, the developers have also successfully incorporated several new features, including a kanban board, resource management, budget analysis, and time and expense tracking. Furthermore, Microsoft Project is now available as a subscription service, with a cost of $10 per month per user.


2016. Microsoft unveiles Project Server 2016, inpired by Cloud



Microsoft has made an announcement regarding the general availability of Project Server 2016, a solution that brings significant project and portfolio management (PPM) benefits to our on-premises customers. According to Microsoft, Project Server is engineered to perform and scale just like their cloud service, as it is built using the same underlying code. In terms of functionality, the release of Project Server 2016 shares many similarities with its 2013 predecessor. However, it introduces enhancements in resource management, such as the inclusion of resource engagements with heat map displays, and improves the transparency between project planning and line planning. Additionally, the Resource Plan feature has been removed from the Project Web App interface, as it is now integrated into Microsoft Project 2016. Microsoft has also introduced a content pack for Power BI Dashboards, which seamlessly integrates with their cloud-based Project Online offering.


2015. Project management service Workfront raised $33 million



Project management solution Workfront (formerly known as AtTask) has recently announced securing a significant $33 million in Series E funding. While Workfront primarily targets marketing, IT, and services teams in its marketing efforts, its solution is not limited to these specific teams. The platform offers a comprehensive range of services, including basic project and task management, advanced workflow automation, approval processes, document management, and proofing tools. Prominent organizations such as Cisco, Comcast, Trek, and Cars.com are among Workfront's esteemed clientele. Workfront stands out by providing robust enterprise tools, distinguishing itself from some of its competitors. However, it operates within a highly competitive market that features well-funded emerging players like Asana and established companies like Atlassian. Notably, Atlassian's project management tools have gained significant traction beyond its traditional developer-centric market.


2012. Microsoft Project and SharePoint will join Office 365



Together with SharePoint 2013 (probably in early 2013) Microsoft will release its project management system Microsoft Project 2013. These two systems have become inseparable, because SharePoint is used as a collaboration layer under the administrative component of MS Project. With the new version, this integration will become even tighter. You'll be able to start a new project by creating a simple page with a task list and calendar in SharePoint, and only when you need more close control over the project you'll be able to turn on this project management in the MS Project. But of course, the main news about Project 2013 is appearance of the online version Project Online, that will be available in the Office 365 cloud. And, (like in case with new SharePoint Online), developers will be able to create their own add-ons and even sell them via Office marketplace. ***


2009. Project 2010 to become a part of Sharepoint



Today at the MS Project Conference in Phoenix Microsoft previewed the next generation of its project management system MS Project 2010. And the new version is quite interesting. It's generally known, that the main lack of MS Project is that it's not suitable for collaboration. Common users never understood its interface, and it never provided collaborative tools. Microsoft fixed this problem in its own way. First, MS Project will work only on top of SharePoint 2010 Server and will be integrated in it. So users will be able to create a project site (with Gantt Chart and task list) and easily share it in Sharepoint. Second, Project 2010 will be connected to Exchange Server and all the project tasks will be available in Outlook, Outlook Web Access and Outlook Exchange for Mobile. ***

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com