The workforce has increasingly moved online, a transition further expedited during the pandemic where work-from-home became the new normal. In fact, McKinsey research found that even before the pandemic, 92% of business leaders surveyed reported that their business model would not remain viable at the rates of digitization at that time.
“Business leaders are saying that they’ve accomplished in 10 days what used to take them 10 months,” says Kate Smaje, a senior partner and global co-leader of McKinsey Digital. “That kind of speed is what’s unleashing a wave of innovation unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” she says.
What is Digital Project Management?
What exactly is Digital Project Management? Digital project management (DPM) is the modern approach to managing projects by fully harnessing digital tools and technology. It’s not just about moving tasks online — it’s about transforming the way teams work. DPM streamlines planning, coordination, and tracking digital projects by replacing outdated methods like spreadsheets and sticky notes with smart, connected solutions. This approach enables teams to collaborate seamlessly, automate repetitive tasks, and make data-driven decisions in real time, ensuring projects stay on track and teams stay aligned wherever they are.
Key Skills for a Digital Project Manager
- Time Management – Efficiently plan and allocate time across tasks to keep projects on track.
- Resource Management – Skillfully manage resources to optimize project efficiency and team productivity.
- Project Communication Management – Ensure clear, consistent communication across all project stakeholders.
- Planning, Organizing, and Delegating – Develop and organize plans, then delegate tasks effectively to keep workflow smooth.
- Technical Proficiency with Digital Tools – Leverage digital tools to gain real-time insights and adapt to project demands.
- Conflict Resolution and Negotiation – Resolve issues and negotiate effectively to maintain project harmony and progress.
- Mentoring and Team-Building – Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment.
- Flexibility – Adapt quickly to changes and keep projects agile in a fast-paced environment.
- Continuous Skill Development – Regularly evolve skills to stay competitive in the ever-changing digital landscape.
Reluctance to Change
Many large organizations stick with Excel spreadsheets for project management because it’s familiar, cost-effective, and easily customizable. For decades, Excel has been the go-to tool — teams know it well, and it’s seen as reliable. Shifting to a new system can feel risky, especially for organizations with established workflows. They worry about disruption, the learning curve, and potential costs of implementing and maintaining new software. Additionally, some leaders might believe that “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” overlooking the hidden inefficiencies that spreadsheets can bring to complex, multi-team projects.
However, while spreadsheets have their strengths, they lacks the scalability, automation, and collaborative features that digital project management tools offer, which can hold companies back as they grow. Reluctance often stems from concerns about investment in new technology and the perception that more advanced solutions are unnecessary. In reality, getting stuck in the past can limit a company’s ability to streamline workflows and process, gain real-time insights, and adapt quickly to changes.
Overcoming Common Challenges
Digital project management is essential for ensuring that projects stay within scope, on budget, and on time—all of which directly impact a company’s bottom line. By shifting the narrative from cost center to value-add, digital project managers can demonstrate their role in fostering client relationships, driving efficiency, and creating predictable revenue through retainer-based collaborations with creative teams. The table below outlines common challenges and how digital project management can effectively overcome them.
| Challenge | Solution |
| Seen as an overhead expense, not a value-add | Shift the narrative by demonstrating how DPM improves efficiency, reduces errors, and drives value through faster project delivery. |
| Managing ongoing projects with clients | Use retainer-based collaboration to build strong, ongoing client relationships and create predictable revenue streams. |
| Keeping projects within scope, on budget, and on time | Leverage digital tools to track progress, allocate resources, and monitor budgets in real-time, ensuring project adherence to goals. |
| Understanding client needs | Use DPM tools to capture client feedback, monitor expectations, and improve overall client satisfaction. |
| Predicting revenue through retainer agreements | Implement forecasting and planning tools to better predict revenue from ongoing projects, fostering long-term client partnerships. |
Benefits of Going Digital
Say goodbye to saving spreadsheets in hidden folders and hello to smarter, streamlined solutions for the modern workplace.
Connecting with Real-Time Collaboration
You’ve probably sat through a meeting where everyone just goes around sharing updates — time you’ll never get back. Imagine if, instead, your team could dive straight into problem-solving. With the right digital tools, routine updates are handled automatically, freeing up meetings to focus on real progress and keeping everyone moving forward.
Scalability
As projects grow, so does the complexity — but digital project management tools like OnePlan are built to scale with ease. From small tasks to large portfolios, these tools adapt to any project size without missing a beat. With integrations across essential business systems like Microsoft 365, Teams, and Power BI, OnePlan creates a unified, seamless workflow that keeps all project data connected. This scalability ensures your project team always has a single, cohesive system to rely on, no matter how ambitious the project or how many people are involved.
Data Accuracy & Project Visibility
Automated data input and real-time updates mean fewer human errors and deliver clearer insights when they matter most. With digital project management tools, your team gains instant visibility into project status, resources, and financials—all in one place. This level of transparency not only keeps everyone aligned but also allows teams to spot potential issues early, make data-driven adjustments, and stay confidently on track
What Does it Take?
McKinsey research pulled out key elements for businesses to excel when it comes to going digital:
- Digital Speed
Leading companies review strategies and allocate resources accordingly. Overall, they operate faster than others. - Reinvention
Companies that invest in new technology and innovation perform better. - All In
Successful companies are making bolder decisions in two major categories: Major acquisitions and capitol bets. - Data-Driven Decisions
“High-performing organizations are three times more likely than others to say their data and analytics initiatives have contributed at least 20 percent to EBIT.” - Customer Followers
Companies that consistently prioritize customer needs alongside operational improvements can see cost savings and economic gains of 20% to 50%.
Case Studies
Marcus by Goldman Sachs
Traditional brick-and-mortar banking is going out of style. Goldman Sachs launched their digital consumer business Marcus in 2016, serving as a strong case study for digital project management by demonstrating how a legacy financial institution can strategically expand into consumer banking through digital-first solutions. Since launching, they have grown deposits to $92 billion and $7 billion in lending balances through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, and partnerships with the likes of Apple and Amazon. This digital approach allowed Goldman Sachs to diversify revenue streams, capture a new customer base, and increase its competitiveness in the consumer finance market. Marcus enabled the company to adapt to market shifts quickly and establish a strong foothold in the digital banking space, achieving significant growth and brand recognition in a sector dominated by established consumer banks.
Michelin
Michelin’s EFFIFUEL initiative showcases how digital project management and innovative technology can drive sustainability and operational efficiency in the transportation industry. The global tire manufacturer launched its initiative to reduce fuel consumption in trucks. Recognizing the need to reduce fuel consumption and environmental impact, Michelin equipped commercial fleets with advanced telematics systems that continuously collect, analyze, and report on fuel usage data. This digital system empowered fleet managers to monitor performance in real time, identify inefficiencies, and make data-driven adjustments to driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and route planning.
Through the implementation of this initiative, Michelin not only helped its customers save on fuel costs but also supported broader environmental goals by cutting emissions. The initiative resulted in a 2.5% reduction in fuel consumption for participating fleets. This effort underscores Michelin’s commitment to sustainable innovation and shows how digital project management has the potential to drive measurable success in traditional industries.
Vodafone
Tasked with replacing outdated networks across 42 global sites, Vodafone used Project Management Institute (PMI) standards to ensure a smooth, standardized rollout tailored to each site’s needs. By implementing rigorous resource and project management methodologies, effective communication, and robust risk assessment, Vodafone completed the project on time, with a remarkable 90% of sites successfully migrated on the first attempt and 100% on the second. This approach not only met technical demands but also won Vodafone a perfect Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 10/10 from the customer, demonstrating both operational efficiency and exceptional client satisfaction.
Future-Proof Your Projects with Digital Scalability
Companies need project management tools that grow with them, not hold them back. With a platform like OnePlan, you get the flexibility to handle projects of any size, plus seamless integration with tools you’re already using, like Microsoft 365, Teams, and Power BI. Going digital means no more manual errors or tedious updates — just a smooth, connected workflow that keeps everyone focused on what matters most: driving growth and staying agile in a constantly changing world.
