Item: Basecamp
Rating: 8
Author: Verified User

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I am using Basecamp as my project management software to enable our team to track short term and long term projects. The ability to assign tasks, comment on those tasks, and most importantly, assign due dates, is great. The low point of entry too is something that allows you to get this cloud based solution in place quickly. One of the features I most like is the direct integration with Google Drive. You can link files in Google Drive instead of having to upload them. I would rather manage files in Google Drive, so this makes it easier. The newer feature of allowing vendor/clients limited access is a great add on. I would suggest for those that are going to go the Basecamp route to take a look at the great videos that the Basecamp company provides. In addition, there are a ton of other products that directly integrate with Basecamp.

Pros and Cons

Direct integration with Google Apps. Allows you to link files instead of uploading them (why upload a 1GB video files into another system when it is already in Basecamp)
Allows assignment of multiple people for a task in the newest version of Basecamp
Easy on-boarding of additional users, being that it is cloud-based. As long as they have a browser you can send them an invite
Limiting access to client/vendors. This allows you to use the same project without worrying about clients seeing items they should not.

Tasks. If you could assign tasks to multiple people and assign a sub task to each person it would be great. Such as make a logo, then a week later, have a sub task of replace logo on website. Right now you have to create two tasks or fiddle with dates
Improve the calendar or task date view (depends on if you're using 2 or 3.) I had issues with it being hard to navigate.
Their pricing structure is good for what you get, but I wish they offered an education discount.

Return on Investment

Sped up the process of adding a variety of tasks into a timeline (for example, ads for a following year.) You can put them in and know you will get notified of upcoming due dates
I like to use Basecamp to add ideas for the future, with due dates several months out. It allows my team to implement those ideas without them being lost
Google Apps integration has saved so much time, no more guessing on what version is the latest.
One negative: I wish the import from one version to another was better

Alternatives Considered

Microsoft Project

I have found Basecamp to be a much easier to use project management software. The setup is much easier too, you can have a project up and running quicker with Basecamp. It seems more intuitive to uses when they receive a Basecamp invite, on logging in and figuring out what projects they are part of and also what assignments. If you don't need such a granular level of control, Basecamp is the better choice.

Other Software Used

Adobe Acrobat DC, Adobe Illustrator CC, Google Analytics, Google Ads (formerly AdWords), Windows Server

Likelihood to Recommend

If you require project management in the general sense, to better organize your workflow, this is the software for you. A few great uses of Basecamp include: to share with a photographer, so they can upload assets for your projects; to type it into your design work with InDesign; to plan out a schedule of advertisement for a year.

Where Basecamp is not good is if you need more of a flow chart model, where there is step 1, then 2, then 3. Basecamp cannot handle that easily. You end up making a lot of tasks and they are not linked, so you have to manually move dates if one task is not completed in time.

Basecamp, a good tool for project management.

Overall Satisfaction with Basecamp