2019 Project Management Trends

As 2019 takes shape, so do new goals, new phases and the potential for new projects. Each new year also brings with it a new set of priorities, which shapes the way we work.

From embracing project collaboration software to using efficiency as a catalyst for work/life balance, here are the things we see becoming central to project management in 2019:

Better efficiency through digital project management

Here’s an embarrassing statistic, courtesy of McKinsey: the average employee spends up to 20% of their week looking for internal information. Sound wildly inefficient? It is. So, it’s no surprise that businesses are increasingly looking for ways to streamline project information and communication for everybody working on a project.

Project collaboration software is definitely leading this trend, and not only contributes to a higher quality of project results, but makes the entire process more efficient for every member of the project team.

Many project collaboration software programs charge a fee for each user, so for larger teams the price of efficiency can quickly add up. TaskBranch charges per project, which helps digital project management to not just be efficient, but cost effective as well.

Using a project management web app also makes it easier to manage your team when one or more members work freelance or remotely, which brings us to our next point.

The rise of remote workers

Does it seem like everyone, from the leanest of startups to the most established of enterprises, is working with at least a few remote team members? Take a look at the software company Invision, for example – they’re valued at $1.9 billion (at the time of this article) and not one of their employees works from an office.

Earlier this year, Upwork – the world’s largest freelancing platform – released their Future Workforce Report, which showed that almost two thirds of organizations incorporate remote workers into their teams – a figure that continues to grow. Many of the business owners surveyed in this report said a growing skills gap was one of the biggest reasons they reached out to workers outside their immediate geographic location.

In 2019, the global talent market will likely continue to evolve, especially as technology starts playing a bigger part in managing remote workers. Things like project collaboration software or a project management web app are especially driving the trend, as it’s increasingly easier to centralize all your team’s tasks, regardless of where they might be.

Companies are also increasingly willing to embrace flex days and remote working for their in-house team members, likely thanks to trend #3, which we’re about to highlight.

Work/life balance gets its day

#SelfCare is officially more than just a hashtag. In the U.K. – where employees have traditionally worked some of the longest hours in Europe – some companies have been pushing for a four-day workweek, to give their employees a better work/life balance.

Aidan Harper, a U.K. resident and founder of the 4 Day Week campaign explained to The Guardian that for decades, workers observed a six or even seven day workweek. It was only after technological and industrial innovations in the early 20th century that unions had the power to negotiate a formal five-day workweek. Efficiency made this a viable solution. Today, he argues, we’ve seen a similar wave of technological advances, which has the potential to increase our efficiency and make a four-day workweek possible.

While not every company is in a position to chop an entire day off their workweek, companies are definitely embracing the idea that a happy employee is a productive employee. From in-house wellness treatments and fully-stocked fridges, to game rooms and flex days, companies are loosening up and helping their workers live their best life.

Workplace trends are about more than just adopting the latest buzzwords or office perks. They’re about finding ways to obtain quality results, making processes better and helping team members have a meaningful life through taking pride in their work. Digital innovations, diverse teams and a healthy work/life balance all have the potential to make these a reality. In 2019, companies of all sizes will benefit from keeping these key goals in mind as they move forward. It’s really a win-win.