The New Microsoft Planner and OnePlan: A Unified Experience for Strategic Portfolio Management in the Microsoft Cloud
Microsoft announced the new Planner at Ignite 2023 which will converge To Do, Planner, and Project for the web into a singular and unified experience. This is great news for all customers as they will get more value from existing Microsoft 365 investments as well as a more seamless and integrated way to add more robust work management capabilities for the end users and the enterprise. This following article will bring clarity on the new Planner announcement, what it means for you, and how you can leverage the new Planner and OnePlan together for a robust strategic portfolio management solution.
The New Planner
Microsoft’s announcement to combine Microsoft To Do, Microsoft Planner and Microsoft Project for the web marks a significant shift towards a unified work management tool that can address simple work management for individuals to collaborative work management with your team, and even enterprise work management for your enterprise organization. View the offical annoucement
The new Planner is generally available now and has started rolling out to customer M365 tenants – https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/planner-blog/the-new-microsoft-planner-begins-roll-out-to-general/ba-p/4101056. The new Planner experience will be available first in the context of a Microsoft Teams app. Later in the year, Microsoft will also release a web experience for the new Planner.
Furthermore, Microsoft Copilot capabilities will be coming for the new Planner in 2024. This brings generative AI capabilities focused initially on planning scenarios, project management scenarios, and execution scenarios.
For more information including product demos – https://adoption.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-planner/
OnePlan: The Best Choice to Improve your SPM (Strategic Portfolio Management) Capabilities
OnePlan stands out as the best candidate to fill the advanced project portfolio management gap in this shifting Microsoft landscape. As a seasoned player in the strategic portfolio management space, OnePlan offers a comprehensive solution that aligns with Microsoft’s cloud offerings yet addresses the sophisticated needs of enterprise project management offices (EPMOs).
Key Features and Benefits of OnePlan
- Comprehensive Portfolio Management: OnePlan provides a holistic view of all projects and portfolios, enabling organizations to align their strategies with execution effectively. Its ability to integrate with existing Microsoft tools (Planner, Project, Teams, Viva Goals, Power BI, and more) ensures seamless transition and adoption.
- Enhanced Visibility and Control: The platform offers robust analytics and reporting capabilities (natively and in Power BI), allowing decision-makers to gain insights into project performance, resource allocation, and budget management.
- Flexible and Scalable: OnePlan’s Microsoft Azure cloud-based nature makes it highly secure, scalable, and adaptable to the changing needs of organizations, regardless of size or sector.
- User-Friendly Interface: Designed with user experience in mind, OnePlan offers an intuitive web browser interface that provides easy navigation and quick onboarding for teams.
- Advanced Integration Capabilities: OnePlan’s integration with Microsoft Cloud tools like Teams and SharePoint ensures that communication and collaboration are streamlined across projects.
Strategic Alignment and Execution
The core value proposition of OnePlan lies in its ability to bridge the gap between strategy and execution. By offering a solution that not only aligns with the Microsoft platform but also caters to the nuanced needs of EPMOs, OnePlan enables organizations to:
Align Project Portfolios with Organizational Goals: OnePlan aids in prioritizing projects that align with the strategic objectives of the organization, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently.
Improve Decision-Making: The insights generated from OnePlan’s analytics capabilities empower leaders to make informed decisions, enhancing overall project success rates.
Facilitate Agile and Flexible Project Management: In an era where agile and hybrid methodologies are increasingly prevalent, OnePlan offers the flexibility needed to adapt to various project management approaches.
Addressing the New Microsoft Strategy for Work and Project Management
The investment and emphasis on a Planner-based approach by Microsoft means organizations that require advanced PPM capabilities now would need to build a Power Apps solution or obtain a partner solution. As stated in the Microsoft Ignite Planner presentations, the focus for Microsoft over the next year will be on re–platforming Microsoft Planner and Project for the web to operate as a single product working with Microsoft Copilot. OnePlan’s compatibility with Microsoft’s cloud platform, coupled with its advanced features, positions it as the go-to solution for organizations seeking to maintain and elevate their PPM practices in this new environment. OnePlan already integrates Microsoft Planner, Project for the web, Project Professional, Azure DevOps, and PowerApps. An organization can easily leverage its investment in Microsoft and reach its strategic portfolio management objectives by selecting OnePlan.
OnePlan: A Proven Partner in Strategic Portfolio Management
OnePlan’s track record as a proven partner in the strategic portfolio management space for Microsoft clouds adds to its credibility. Its success stories across various industries show its capability to adapt and deliver results in diverse organizational contexts.
Case Studies and Success Stories
Case studies from various industries where OnePlan has successfully been implemented can provide tangible evidence of its effectiveness. These success stories often highlight improved project delivery times, optimized resource utilization, and enhanced strategic alignment. Customer Stories
Conclusion
The integration of Microsoft Planner and Microsoft Project for the web represents a significant shift in the project management landscape within the Microsoft Cloud platform. For organizations looking to bridge the gap between strategy and execution, OnePlan is the key partner for organizations with advanced PPM needs. Its comprehensive features, strategic alignment capabilities, and proven track record make it an indispensable asset for organizations looking to thrive in this evolving environment.
In conclusion, OnePlan offers a robust, user-friendly, and strategically aligned solution, making it the best candidate for enterprises looking to transform their project management practices and achieve their strategic objectives effectively within the Microsoft Cloud platform.