PM3 Software Reviews

“Excellent features

Pros

PM3 is an excellent product suite for small to midtier organizations. It's easily implementable and configurable with a powerful Stage Gates capability. Resource management works well. Adoption of PM3 aligns well with the company's project management methodology and processes.

Cons

Some standard reporting features are cumbersome but workarounds are available. Customized reporting setup can be a bit challenging and the helpsearch facilities could be improved.

“Decent system with potential for improvement

Pros

The system has enabled our team to centralize project recording and standardize reporting. It offers a wide range of reporting features and straightforward portfolio creation. The integrated action log streamlines tracking actions from benefits and risks logs. Accessibility is convenient due to its cloudbased nature and license management is simple.

Cons

Training features and content could be enhanced and the user interface could be more polished. The planning and scheduling functionality needs improvement in terms of userfriendliness. Administrator terminology and functions can be challenging to interpret and the system's performance could be smoother.

“It is a good product in general

Pros

Reporting is effective in saving time and improving accessibility compared to manual processes. However improvements in using data from PM3Time timesheets to update financials automatically are desired.

Cons

Timesheet functionality is excellent but there is room for enhancing its integration with financials.

“It has been very simple and useful

Pros

PM3 is highly configurable and userfriendly. It offers intuitive features and strong support. End users benefit from relevant training modules and it has shown time savings compared to traditional methods. BestOutcome is receptive to best practices and transformational initiatives making it a potential gamechanger for our department.

Cons

The ability to design reports would be a useful addition.

“Efficient project management and streamlined procurement with pm3

Pros

The implementation of this software has standardized data improved visibility of all projects and facilitated pipeline building and planning. Cloud solutions and being on the GCloud framework streamlined procurement. The account manager provided helpful support and knowledge.

Cons

There's no easy way to update multiple projects at once.

“Effective project portfolio management software

Pros

PM3 has been instrumental in managing project portfolios, prioritizing work and standardizing processes. It offers a wide range of reporting options. While task management didn't work for us, it really excels in reporting milestones.

Cons

Task managementteam member access didn't meet our needs so we used Microsoft Project for task scheduling.

“Smooth admin management, but login experience could be clearer

Pros

From an administration perspective the system works great for managing access and training monitoring. However the initial login experience can be confusing but training helps overcome this.

Cons

PM3 can feel confusing initially but training alleviates this issue.

“Excellent support team

Pros

Great support from the team in getting us set up and addressing issues and queries effectively.

Cons

Some of the functionality may not be straightforward or easy to use.

“Easy to use and reliable

Pros

PM3 offers one version of the truth and allows projects to be shown in multiple portfolios facilitating handovers between teams. Different gateways for different project types and centralized information management are advantages.

Cons

The abundance of standard reports can be overwhelming initially but the team is working on improving this aspect.

“Efficient portfolio tracking with PM3

Pros

It has been well received by our team and help to standardize documentation, improve visibility and enhance tracking. Customizable gateways have been a valuable addition too.

Cons

Reporting needs improvement and a dashboard summarizing data across multiple portfolios would be beneficial.

“So simple and powerful

Pros

PM3 is easy to use, highly configurable and offers valuable features like the business priority matrix. The risk value and benefit based filter are very useful. The app is user friendly intuitive and supports collaborative task management.

Cons

No dislikes or issues found integration controls and clarity are all satisfactory.

“Great project management tracking tool

Pros

The product is easy to use and customizable to our needs making it a valuable project management tracking tool. The supplier is excellent to work with offering great support.

Cons

No significant issues encountered the product delivers as promised.

“Simple software for a new PMO

Pros

It really simplifies portfolio management and custom report creation with Datamart on PowerBi. It provides leadership with visibility of the overall portfolio progress.

Cons

Project management functionalities are not as robust as some other tools in the market.

“Forward-thinking supplier with great outcomes

Pros

PM3 provides a userfriendly environment for successful project management offering accurate reporting and comprehensive recordkeeping. Collaboration and visibility are enhanced.

Cons

The program management aspect could benefit from improvements particularly in managing milestones.

“Excellent tool with strong support

Pros

It is an excellent tool providing consistency collaborative reporting and configurable options. It offers a wide range of report options and simplifies dashboard creation. The ongoing support has been exceptional.

Cons

More detailed drilldown options on the dashboard would be beneficial.

“It is a good overall product

Pros

This software has all the essential features needed for managing programs and projects and it's super straightforward to use.

Cons

I believe the Risk aspect could use some improvements. It would be really helpful to have specific options for Risk, Causes, and Effects. This would allow me to create more targeted mitigation strategies. Without clearly defined causes, it's difficult to develop effective solutions.

“Amazing software providing great product

Pros

The product aligns with nationally recognized program and project methodologies, making it user-friendly. It offers comprehensive oversight for executives, covering portfolios, programs, projects and minor works. It also allows you to track and manage risks, issues, actions, decisions and assumptions, complete with RAG ratings. On top of that, it provides project plans featuring milestones and Gantt charts for effective project management.

Cons

It would be excellent to have additional reporting functionality although we have managed to integrate with Power BI.

“Crucial for project reporting and visibility

Pros

The PM3 tool, ISO27001 certified for information security, is both user friendly and easy. It plays a vital role in planning, governance and reporting for portfolios, business change programs and projects. Developed by practitioners for practitioners, it's an award winning tool that ensures consistency and visibility across all organizational levels, acting as a valuable single source of truth.

Cons

While not all parts of the PM3 tool can be customized to local requirements the benefits of a long term partnership with the client and access to forums like the Power User Group mean that future releases can consider suitable changes.

“Effective collaboration and responsive customer support

Pros

Accessing and consolidating information in one place is effortless with multiple reporting options. The software supports collaboration effectively and the customer support is responsive and reliable. The vendor actively seeks to improve the product based on client feedback, regularly introducing new features according to their roadmap.

Cons

Some aspects of usability could be enhanced, such as the Gantt Chart, the flexibility to rearrange columns and the dashboard. However overall, the functionality is good and the issues I pointed out are minor issues.

“Scalable and customizable for PMO development

Pros

The management of multiple portfolios is simplified by the softwares simplicity, ease of use, flexible reporting and innovative approach. It offers scalability and the ability to customize modules based on the maturity and development of our PMO.

Cons

I am happy with all the features we currently use in PM3 and we have plenty of opportunities to discuss developments and improvements with colleagues at PM3.

“A positive and beneficial implementation that has reaped benefits

Pros

The tool is highly intuitive and easy to set up. It brings clarity to our organization and ensures widespread user adoption due to its user-friendly nature. The customer support and account management are excellent.

Cons

PM3 has its quirks however the team is responsive whenever issues arise.

“PM3 in a healthcare setting

Pros

The software is easy to use and quick to implement, surpassing previously deployed competitor software within the organization. The customer support from BestOutcome is exceptional, and they prioritize customer relations and ongoing product development.

Cons

Gateway management can be a bit "clunky" but it is on the development roadmap for improvement in 2022. It would be a great asset to have the ability to create customized reports within the software. Additionally having portfolio dashboards available on an app version for executive use would greatly engage executives with the system and its capabilities.

“Simple to use, yet powerful to report

Pros

The tools simplicity allows for quick user training and rapid deployment of PM3. However simplicity should not be mistaken for inadequacy, as the tool is incredibly powerful for planning and managing complex Portfolios. Its reporting modules extract data in a clear format for Senior Leadership reporting.

Cons

I have used numerous PPM tools and most of them fail due to highly inefficient methods of performing simple tasks. PM3 is not one of those tools.

“Good all round Portfolio, PMO and Project Management tool

Pros

The Portfolio Management features are very effective, with an abundance of reporting capabilities.

Cons

The project management functionality is limited and it lacks the ability to flexibly adjust workflows to align with our company methodology.

“Digital Projects in the NHS

Pros

Staff training on the system is very easy. The softwares strong Risks and Issues management features include alerts for upcoming dates. It eliminates the need to rely on Excel and Word, consolidating all data in one system. The supplier's understanding of the NHS and our requirements is commendable.

Cons

There is nothing to complain about. The development roadmap shows continuous improvement with each release bringing new features and improvements.

“Supporting our virtual PMO

Pros

This is a great product that is easy to use and comprehend. The support team has been amazing, and we will rely on this tool to support our virtual PMO services.

Cons

So far I haven't discovered any flaws. During testing the team did encounter a couple of items but they were more related to our usage and the expert support team guided us through them professionally.

“Great Project management tool, user friendly and has powerful features.

Pros

Although I have only been using PM3 for a short period I must say tha it is the most powerful PM tool I have ever used. It includes all the essential features for project/program/portfolio management, designed comprehensively from a project manager's perspective. The automatic report generation is impressive and saves me significant effort during project implementation. The diverse range of reports is incredibly helpful, providing optimal solutions for various situations.

Cons

The only area I would like to the company to improve is the response speed. As a small company based in Australia while I like this software, we have experienced some lagging issues on our side. The updating of newly input information often takes time to refresh, leading to confusing information due to lagging in the updating process.

“Overall a great product

Pros

This software is undoubtedly crafted by practitioners for practitioners. it offers customizable functions, layouts and contents. Your information is secure within the system. Bestcome's support is friendly and addresses your questions from both a user's and a manager's viewpoint.

Cons

The product offers numerous functions and sometimes it is easy to forget where a specific function is located until I read the supporting document again. But it is not a major issue since the tool is designed for the benefit of project managers.

“Practical and focused Programme Management toolset

Pros

Having experience with both Clarity and HP PPM but I liked PM3's as it focus on the fundamentals and its ease of use. The milestone plan view is particularly useful for sharing understanding and driving progress in multi-disciplinary programs. The quick setup and hosted model allow for swift mobilization and uninterrupted delivery.

Cons

When dealing with complex programs involving a large number of resources and numerous tasks, Microsoft Project or similar tools may still be preferred. However I don't believe PM3 aims to compete in that space.

“Excellent Customer Service and Value for Money

Pros

PM3 offers a wide range of functionality and excellent account management support from the PM3 team and all at a low cost. Its adaptability to varying levels of complexity is beneficial for diverse project portfolios.

Cons

Having more options for bespoke reporting would be helpful as well as improved functionality in the resource module. Nevertheless the value for money provided by PM3 across a wide range of functions outweighs these considerations.

“Right tool for our PPPM Maturity Journey

Pros

We were in need of a PPPM tool that would support our journey towards achieving consistency in project and programme management, focusing on delivering business outcomes rather than just outputs. PM3 provides all the core elements for managing and reporting projects and programs in a single package. It allows for functionality to be activated based on the organization's ability to adopt associated disciplines in decision-making and reporting. The customer support has been responsive.

Cons

Like with most software there is a trade off between having out-of-the-box functionality for easy setup and user training and the flexibility to configure it according to specific organizational needs. While PM3 strikes a good balance in this regard, with many pre-built reports it would be beneficial to have a bit more flexibility in modifying existing reports without requiring additional applications.

“PM3 - a year on

Pros

The value for money provided by PM3 is excellent. It is easy to install and get started with. The core elements are configurable, enabling customization to suit our organization. Frequent updates and improvements ensure ongoing enhancement of the product. The customer service is reliable, with engaged account management and a responsive support team.

Cons

The inability to create new reports ourselves means we have to pay for their creation. The resource management tool is relatively new and still evolving and it tends to slow down when multiple resource types are added.

“Replacement of Tracker with PM3

Pros

The tool is a valuable source of project management capabilities.

Cons

The NHS Terminology and previous governance could be improved within this tool.

“PM3 has been a valuable tool for our business

Pros

The intuitive design allows for easy navigation and quick implementation. It has facilitated the customization and onboarding of project teams for reporting and tracking project and programm progress. The scalability and well thought out management of multiple portfolios, along with useful report templates are noteworthy. Each project plan captures essential information for tracking delivery progress, status, RAID, milestones, and tasks.

Cons

In the beginning there was no plan on the page solution but thanks to Best Outcomes support, it was quickly developed and has proven to be incredibly valuable. The Agile feature still needs further development but I believe the developers are actively working on expanding the Agile plugin.

“Straightforward, comprehensive and clear

Pros

PM3 focuses on providing top-down visibility of core P3 metrics through dashboards that can be shared with senior stakeholders without customization. Updating progresses is intuitive and efficient which ensure consistency among project and program managers. The governance dashboard is also impressive as it offers a clear presentation of change health and compliance.

Cons

PM3 is not a one stop solution and still requires planning tools like MS Project for detailed scheduling. However I haven't found a P3 product that effectively and efficiently combines both functions. This is a minor concern since most project managers are accustomed to using separate planning and reporting toolsets.

“Refinement

Pros

The software offers the convenience of consolidating numerous projects into a Program or Portfolio and extracting reports in various selected views. It efficiently centralizes all essential project governance elements, such as risks, issues, and dependencies. The reporting capabilities are flexible and extensive, covering plans, projects, programmes, and portfolios. Moreover, the user control is easily manageable, and access controls can be configured according to individual preferences.

Cons

The usage of Gantt Charts in the Plans section is not intuitive and can be confusing. Convincing users of Microsoft Project to switch to this tool has been an ongoing challenge. An easier import function could help resolve this issue. Additionally using "X" to exit the plan has caused frustrations in joint PM plans, as many users forget about it. There is inconsistency in areas with auto-save functionality and those that require manual saving.

“MIAA - Review of PM3

Pros

I find the product very user-friendly and easy to navigate. It can be easily customized to meet our specific requirements and has the versatility to cater to a diverse range of clients. The reporting functionality is a huge time-saver, significantly reducing monthly workload. Integrating it with our existing business processes was a seamless experience. Additionally, the system provides access to a wide range of existing reports, and if needed, we can even commission a customized report.

Cons

Sadly for our company, we cannot use the lessons learned functionality as it would breach IG rules since we work on projects for multiple clients and cannot share the details.

“Excellent value for money

Pros

Even with the reasonable priced license fee, the product offers an impressive array of functionalities. Having examined considerably more expensive alternatives over the years, we are delighted with the slightly reduced feature set, which results in substantial cost savings.

Cons

Some features are a bit basic in nature, I must say

“Getting control and visibility

Pros

The products ease of use and wide features align perfectly with our work environment.

Cons

At the beginning we needed to work with Best Outcome to tailor the product to work more intuitively with our data sets, making it nearly foolproof for users.

“PM3

Pros

The software facilitates shared access to all projects and programs, regardless of location. Its accessibility from anywhere is highly convenient, and the reporting process is effortless.

Cons

One issue is the need to refresh regularly as some features freeze or fail to perform as required on the first attempt. For example, adding a milestone or task may not appear until after refreshing and adding it again. Additionally, the character limit doesn't appear when adding milestones, so one has to guess. Furthermore, names of milestone/task owners don't appear in the Gantt Chart report.

“Brilliant experience of PM3 - perfect project management software!

Pros

I am particularly impressed by PM3s methodical and logical approach as it makes everything easy to navigate. It allows for capturing all project aspects and effectively tracks actions, tasks and milestones while providing email reminders to users. PM3 ensures that our projects stay on track and generates a wide range of easily printable or emailable reports. The layout is clear and simple, and when I started my role in PMO, I quickly adapted to the system. The user help guides and videos available are excellent sources of new information.

Cons

I would like to mention the milestone and task pages are not interconnected with the actions page, leading to duplicated information. However, I understand that these are separate pages and cannot be joined together. This is only a minor inconvenience and does not cause any issues. Other than that I have no complaints about the software.

“PM3 Review

Pros

This portfolio management tool is excellent. especially for an Enterprise PMO as it provides a comprehensive top down view of portfolios. Additionally, it serves as an all-around project management tool for day to day project management.

Cons

The strict Business Change Programme (BCP) > Programme > Project structure doesn't perfectly fit all scenarios in my organization but we have found workarounds.

“Great for managing projects, programmes and portfolios...I would definately recommend!

Pros

The milestone plans are clear, user friendly and can be seamlessly rolled up from project to program level. Having visibility of risk and issue management in one place greatly simplifies the process. The portfolio reporting function and prioritization matrix significantly reduce the time spent on collating portfolio-level reports.

Cons

At the project plan level the action log doesn't link to the milestone plan. The risk reports also do not include the inherent risk scores.

“Great PPP Product!

Pros

The automated reports are a game changer. Inputting information only once and linking projects to multiple programs or portfolios automatically pulls all the relevant data for reporting purposes.

Cons

Some pages have automatic saving while others require manual saving. I am unable to understand why there is a difference.

“PM3

Pros

The software is very easy to use and configure straight out of the box. It offers high configurability for project, program, and portfolio membership, allowing for efficient top down portfolio management. It doesn't require intricate project details before adding them, providing value right from the start. The tool offers project visibility without significant changes in workflow, as project managers can perform their tasks within the system instead of relying on scattered files and folders. The customer support during implementation is flexible and responsive, and the software is available through government procurement frameworks.

Cons

The planning function lacks some features compared to Microsoft Project which makes it less useful for project managers with advanced skills. However the supplier is working on enhancements for the next release. Although there are many pre-configured report formats included, none of them fit our needs exactly. It would be great to have a report-builder tool included. Additionally, the inability to bulk-upload pre-existing documents like RAID logs or project registers increases the workload when transitioning existing projects to the tool.

“Why use PM3

Pros

The setup process is effortless and the administration is intuitive. It provides useful reports right from the start. I found it effective from various perspectives, including as a customer, project manager, portfolio manager and program manager.

Cons

PM3time requires further development to ensure better integration.

“PM3 Review - NEL CSU

Pros

Understanding the system is a so simple and the required training was minimal. thanks to the excellent training provided. The system guides you to manage your project methodically, ensuring that all projects meet the minimum requirements.

Cons

So far I have not found anything about the system that I dislike. However if I had to mention something, it would be that reports can take a little while to load at times. This is not a criticism of the system itself and could be due to my network connection.

“Highly configurable and user friendly

Pros

Getting familiar with the system is easy. I really like the ability to select which functions to enable or disable, allowing for a gradual start and gradual expansion as familiarity and maturity with the system grow.

Cons

While you can configure some fields and change them to your liking it would be better to have the ability to create additional fields to capture a wider variety of information in the system.

“Continues to impress and deliver

Pros

The product continuously improves and develops to enhance its capabilities. Its the only product that links benefit plans to delivery plans. It has an intuitive design, clearly created by practitioners who understand our work processes. Unlike other products we've used, it comes with over 200 high quality reports, eliminating the need for designing and building our own. I love the portfolio structure, which allows plans to be included in multiple portfolios, providing great flexibility to showcase different views of project information. The training and configuration were handled by knowledgeable staff who always prioritized the customer's needs. Bestoutcome truly values customer feedback and welcomes suggestions for additional features and functionality. The customer service is excellent, with quick responses and a can-do attitude from the Bestoutcome team.

Cons

Honestly there are no cons to PM3. It has been a great experience overall.

“Fast Effective Relief from other Project Management Toolsets

Pros

PM3s key feature is its simplicity of use. Once the team provided the necessary introduction and overview. the system became very intuitive, effectively capturing and communicating the important aspects of project management.

Cons

Nothing. This system saved my program and ensured timely delivery.