Kanban software is an innovative project management methodology. It provides you with complete transparency in the task management process. If you are a beginner, you might have no idea how to use the Kanban board. In this post, we will take a closer look at the elements on the Kanban board to help you get started.
The Main Principles of Kanban Software
First of all, let’s understand more about the main principles of using Kanban software.
- You should not change the system. Instead, just continue doing what you have been doing. You should use Kanban along with your current workflow.
- The changes may occur organically when you use the software over time. So, no need to be rushed.
- You will find evolutionary changes to be gradual rather than radical.
- When you decide to use Kanban, you should consider the current roles and responsibilities. Accordingly, you should enable your team members to identify and implement changes together.
Related article 5 most common mistakes project managers make
The Benefits of Using Kanban Project Management Software
If you have a team working on a project, you need to take control. However, don’t get in the way. The Kanban board will provide you with task management transparency. Additionally, you will also get insights into the production cycle. Here, you will see where the task is and reallocate resources as needed to continue working.
All your team members will be able to manage their work items, schedule sprints, collect backlogs, and perform top-priority tasks first. In simple words, everyone will know what to do and when. Yes, all this is possible with Kanban project management software.
With Kanban Software, you will be able to:
- Easily and effectively organize your tasks
- Create a custom workflow for you and your team members
- Sharing a board for effective collaboration
- Track the task production and progress in real-time
Meet Kanban Board!
Kanban board is a perfect way to visually manage tasks and workflows. The board uses an analog or digital board with columns and cards. The cards in this software represent tasks. Meanwhile, the columns will organize these tasks according to their progress or current development status.
Many agile project management teams have mentioned they can work effectively with the best Kanban software. The platform offers its system for ease of use and a visual user interface. With Kanban, you will get the ability to quickly see what everyone is working on. Most importantly, the software also provides insight into the progress of the task. Additionally, it informs you whether a particular task is interfering with the project.
There are many benefits of using Kanban software. As we have mentioned earlier, the software provides a perfect way to visually manage your workflow. The Kanban board displays the entire process on a single page or screen. This way, you can easily see who is working on what, wherein the project cycle. As a result, the team effort will be faster as you can focus on the tasks you currently need.
The system of this software will run constantly without any interruption. You can assign work when you know that any team member is inactive. This process will eventually facilitate workflows. At the same time, it will help you to avoid bottlenecks and team overload with excessive tasks.
Related article How to Create a Map from Excel Data
What Are the Elements in Kanban Board?
The Kanban board is the main part of Kanban project management software. This board helps you visualize your workflow. With this board, you will see only what you need to maximize task management efficiency.
The board represents the entire project. Typically, you will find it divided into three columns which are: to do, in progress, and done.
The Kanban card characterizes all the tasks in the project. Usually, the card is placed in one of the columns. On the board, you can also set Work-in-Process (WIP) limits. This will help you to define the number of work items that can be performed at the same time.
A great thing we should mention about Kanban boards is their simplicity. Most importantly, the board comes with the ability to present projects practically. Each column will be in the project phase. This way, the board gives you and your team members an overview at a glance.
Kanban Card
You may find many Kanban cards on the Kanban board, depending on your tasks. Each card represents a single task that refers to work items. The card will come along with the name, description, and information related to this task. The card will be assigned to team members who are responsible for completing tasks on time. Then, the work item support files can be added to the Project Manager. You can also find a comment field for team collaboration.
Kanban Column
Kanban columns will be placed on the board. These are a way to divide the various stages of your project workflow. The Kanban card will be placed under the column heading. You can also drag it to the next column on the right to indicate whether it is in the production cycle or workflow.
Work-in-Progress (WIP) Limits
To optimize efficiency and avoid capacity overruns, you will need to set WIP limits. This will help you to control the number of work items placed simultaneously in different phases of the board. For example, by limiting the number of tasks collected in the Working column, your team members can focus on important tasks and get things done faster. In addition, these WIP limits will also help optimize the lean manufacturing process.
Kanban Swimlanes
On the board of Kanban software, you will see horizontal lanes which are very useful. They are called swimlanes. These lanes help you to separate different work items, teams, activities, services, and more.
How Much Does Kanban Software Cost?
Now that you have known what’s on the Kanban board, it’s time to talk about the Kanban cost. How much will you have to spend on Kanban software with its advanced board?
For startups, you can get a Basic plan by paying $5.00 per month. For a Team Plan, you will have to pay $5 per user monthly.
If you go for the Enterprise plan, it is available for $9 per user monthly. The best part? You can also get a free plan from Kanban Software with 2 users, 2 boards, and no attachments. To be noted, there will be no additional charge or credit card fee to get this free plan.
