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WillemDavis - PeerSpot reviewer
CEO at a pharma/biotech company with 1-10 employees
Real User
Top 20
Great for project portfolio management but needs to improve its online customer service
Pros and Cons
  • "I found the portfolio management valuable."
  • "Resource management has room for improvement because it uses a lot of resources."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for project consolidation and project portfolio management.

What is most valuable?

I found the portfolio management valuable.

What needs improvement?

Resource management has room for improvement because it uses a lot of resources. We used to use Star BI, and everything else was an additional cost to our business. We also had to pay extra money for reports.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've worked with Microsoft Project Server for ten years.

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Project Server
April 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Project Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2025.
849,686 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the solution's stability a five out of ten because we had major issues with the Sharepoint part. The problem was not with the Project Server.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the solution's scalability a ten out of ten. The solution is meant for medium-sized enterprises.

How are customer service and support?

The online support is useless. It goes into a loop. For example, if you go into "options," it sends you back. You go into this constant loop of trying options. The online support is terrible.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup for Microsoft Project Server is complex.

What about the implementation team?

We implemented the solution in-house.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the pricing a one out of ten because the price is way too high. You need five enterprise server licenses, then an SQL Server in addition to that.

What other advice do I have?

We used some of the functions, but part of the reason we stopped using it was because of the cost. We chose an on-prem deployment because of problems with bandwidth. I wanted to perform software backups, but the connectivity was down, so my whole operation would stop if I went on the cloud.

I rate Microsoft Project Server a seven out of ten. I love the solution and enjoy working with it, but the cost is an issue, and the documentation is terrible.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Andrey Stulenkov - PeerSpot reviewer
General Manager at Projectforce
Real User
Top 10
Uniquely enables users to work within the familiar user interface of the desktop application
Pros and Cons
  • "In the competitive landscape of project management and portfolio management solutions, Microsoft Project Server stands out significantly."
  • "It appears that Microsoft's primary goal is to migrate as much functionality as possible from the legacy on-premises Microsoft Project Server to the new cloud-based Power Apps solution."

What is our primary use case?

I've spent the last five years as the Director of Consultations for a firm that specializes in Microsoft project implementation. Our clients include significant corporations from all throughout Russia. During this time, my daily responsibilities were around project oversight and working as a project manager, particularly for implementation projects. I also served as the architect for these solutions.

We have been using the latest version, both on-premises and cloud which is particularly famous in Russia.

What is most valuable?

In the competitive landscape of project management and portfolio management solutions, Microsoft Project Server stands out significantly. Despite a mature market with numerous competitive products, Microsoft's advantage lies in its seamless integration with the desktop Microsoft Project application. This desktop application has global popularity and is often the initial choice for customers to manage their small projects. As their projects and departments grow, the need for project server applications becomes apparent. Microsoft Project Server fits this need perfectly, allowing users to transition smoothly from the desktop application to the server environment.

Unlike many competitors who offer only web interfaces for their solutions, Microsoft Project Server uniquely enables users to work within the familiar user interface of the desktop application. This feature is particularly appealing to customers as it ensures continuity and ease of use. Microsoft Project Server has this advantage in comparison to its competitors in the field.

What needs improvement?

Microsoft is undergoing a shift in its approach. They're diverting their investments away from Microsoft Project Server's development and are focusing on a new solution based on Microsoft Power Apps. This new solution is exclusively cloud-based and can't be installed on-premises. While Microsoft Power Apps are technologically sophisticated, the cloud functionality is currently less sophisticated compared to the existing Microsoft Project Server solution on-premise. It appears that Microsoft's primary goal is to migrate as much functionality as possible from the legacy on-premises Microsoft Project Server to the new cloud-based Power Apps solution. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Microsoft Project Server for the last five years in Russia.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is highly scalable. I would rate it a ten out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is easily scalable, however, it has some bugs. I can rate it a nine out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

It is difficult to install Microsoft Project Server. I would rate the installation a three out of ten. The deployment takes almost three to four hours.

What about the implementation team?

We needed almost three to four consulting developers.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I would rate the price a six out of ten. 

What other advice do I have?

There should be significant organizational changes that are necessary to implement it. It should be more about the internal organizational interest of your company for the successful implementation of Microsoft Project Server. Overall, I would rate it a nine out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Project Server
April 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Project Server. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: April 2025.
849,686 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Student at Inderprastha Engineering College
Real User
Top 5
An easy-to-use tool that remains stable and can function for an extended period
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is stable to use, especially since I work with Microsoft for an extended period."
  • "There are certain shortcomings in the documentation part where improvements are required."

What is our primary use case?

I use Microsoft Project Server for basic product deployments involving API.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature of the solution is that it is stable to use, especially since I work with Microsoft for an extended period. Microsoft Project Server is pretty convenient for me to use since I don't have to pay for it.

What needs improvement?

There are certain shortcomings in the documentation part where improvements are required. Microsoft should release some basic documentation on use cases to the public so that anyone who wants to learn more about the product can learn about it through the documentation available on Microsoft's websites.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Project Server for a week or two.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution.

Around 100 people use Microsoft Project Server.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup of Microsoft Project Server is easy.

If the codes and everything else related to the deployment process are ready, then the completion of the deployment phase would hardly take 20 to 25 minutes.

The solution is deployed on the cloud.

What about the implementation team?

Microsoft Project Server provides users with all the tools necessary for deployment, so you don't need to seek any external help to install it.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There are some payments related to the licensing cost of Microsoft Project Server.

What other advice do I have?

I recommend the solution to those who plan to use it.

I rate the overall product an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
DominiqueMubanga - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Manager in Enterprise Transformation at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Provides a clear visualization of the action plan but could be more user-friendly
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution has easy integration with Excel."
  • "The user interface looks quite old and needs to be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We mainly use this solution for project management planification. I'm an external consultant and manager in enterprise transformation.

How has it helped my organization?

Project Server allows us to have a clear visualization of the action plan and the milestone to be reached; to know which resources are dedicated to what.

What is most valuable?

One of the good features is the easy integration with Excel. It's easy to use. I don't use all the functionalities, but it suits my needs. 

What needs improvement?

The user interface needs to be improved. It looks quite old and nowhere near as good as the Jira UI. I also think they should allow the delayed monitoring of the task. For now, there's only the planification of the whole program, and it's not possible to do daily monitoring of the task layer which is a natural extension of the planification of the project. The whole solution could be more flexible. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for less than a year. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I believe the solution is stable. All the project managers use it so there would be around 100 users. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is rather complex and not user-friendly.

What other advice do I have?

There are more user-friendly products on the market that I would suggest using in preference to this one. 

I rate this solution six out of 10.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Projects director at a recruiting/HR firm with 11-50 employees
Real User
Top 20
Complex and less user-friendly interface, frequent technical issues, and slower speed compared to other project management tools
Pros and Cons
  • "One notable positive aspect is its effective project-tracking capabilities."
  • "Improvements are needed in the technical support process, aiming for a better user experience."

What is our primary use case?

The main use case was related to task management, involving the assignment of tasks across departments. It provided visibility into individual performance, allowing for team member invitations, and monitored key performance indicators.

How has it helped my organization?

Our experience with Microsoft Project Server wasn't very positive, and due to high demand, over 70% of employees requested to stop using it. They encountered technical difficulties and faced challenges with the customer helpdesk. Getting in touch with a representative for assistance was a prolonged and frustrating process.

What is most valuable?

One notable positive aspect is its effective project-tracking capabilities.

What needs improvement?

Remote usage and tracking pose challenges, requiring navigation through numerous technical details and troubleshooting. This inconvenience sometimes leads to abandoning the task on the device and waiting until the next workday to resume operations. Improvements are needed in the technical support process, aiming for a better user experience. The current process, when encountering difficulties, should be more user-friendly, streamlined, and efficient. Quick and accessible customer support is crucial, especially when seeking assistance during work hours.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with it for eleven years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability was consistently problematic and we experienced frequent ups and downs with the MS Network, encountering issues like lagging and having to restart the system. At times, the problems were more severe, requiring a full computer restart due to the software freezing and affecting the entire computer screen. While these issues didn't occur daily, they were a recurring problem, happening quite often. I would rate it four out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would describe it as moderate for my team. It's manageable, but it doesn't meet our expectations fully. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate it a five. We have approximately three thousand users working with it.

How are customer service and support?

Our experience with its customer support services wasn't satisfactory at all. I would rate it two out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Negative

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Asana and monday.com provide faster customer service responses compared to MS Project. Among them, monday.com stands out for its promptness, while both surpass MS Project in responsiveness. This highlights the need for MS Project to enhance its support system and streamline the user experience in handling technical challenges. MS Project's speed falls below expectations; it's notably slow and often requires reloading. The dashboard is not user-friendly, leading to considerable time spent on training people to use it effectively. In contrast, Asana and monday.com stand out at the top of the league in terms of speed and user-friendliness.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was notably complex, in contrast to Asana and monday.com, which offer more simplicity and user-friendliness.

What other advice do I have?

For those looking to work in real-time and seeking a faster and more accessible project management solution, I strongly recommend considering top project management software. Opting for cloud-based solutions with features for both project and portfolio management is crucial. There are several options available, such as monday.com and Asana, and even tools like Trello and others. Overall, I would rate it four out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises

If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
it_user438309 - PeerSpot reviewer
Project Management Analyst at a manufacturing company with 201-500 employees
Real User
It strikes the fine balance between being a project management tool and a management tool.

What is most valuable?

This product gives the ability to have all project data in one location and look across information while still giving PMs the flexibility to manage their project and have a tool to use with their team (fine balance between project management tool and management tool).

  • Views can be controlled organization role.
  • Custom attributes can be added as trigger levels to include in a management report, view or dashboard
  • The use of SharePoint allows team collaboration and gives the PM the flexibility to add document libraries, lists, etc. to manage their project.

How has it helped my organization?

Dashboarding of information has given the organization insight, so we can move to be more proactive versus reactive.

What needs improvement?

Risk Management: Risk and issues are stored in the project SharePoint but there is no real auto communication of assignments (unless the end user sets it up); there is no mechanism for automatic escalation (much needed).

Issues are visible within the application (My issues area) so individuals can log in and see issues assigned to them.

Project Managers can set up email communications when issues change. (Admin can’t do it across the board but individual PMs can set up.)

We flag issues that need to be escalated and use SSRS reports that are emailed out at regular intervals.

For how long have I used the solution?

I implemented Project Server in November 2014 (and have used MS Project since 2000).

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Nintex workflow integration does give us some performance delays. Workflow response times can take up to 20 minutes to proceed to the stage (this is a work-in-progress for our IT team).

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I did not encounter any scalability issues.

How are customer service and technical support?

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We used Business Engine Network for 12 years. Business Engine Network was bought by Planview and sunsetted. We were geared up to implement Planview’s product when the opportunity arose for us to look at MS Project Server. While Planview is a great portfolio management tool, its project management is weak.

How was the initial setup?

We used a third-party supplier, Pcubed, for initial setup.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Pricing varies according to many variables (on premise, MS hosted, third-party hosted, etc.)

What other advice do I have?

Having a PM business process in place prior to tool implementation to support that project not only makes it easier to configure the tool but makes it easier to grow the tool and become more mature in your business process.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Abdulkadir Ozdemir - PeerSpot reviewer
Cyber ​​Security Engineer at Oyak Cimento
Real User
Top 5
The product is highly scalable, user-friendly, and provides excellent technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is user-friendly."
  • "The price of the product must be improved."

What is our primary use case?

We are using the solution for our security and infrastructure projects.

What is most valuable?

The product is user-friendly.

What needs improvement?

The price of the product must be improved.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the tool’s stability a seven out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The tool has a high scalability. I rate the scalability an eight out of ten. Around ten people, including project managers, portfolio managers, and engineers, use the tool in our organization. We use the solution once a month.

How was the initial setup?

I rate the ease of setup an eight out of ten. The deployment took us months.

What about the implementation team?

We deployed the product with the help of a reseller.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate the pricing a seven out of ten. It is a bit costly.

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I rate the tool an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
DX project manager at PFI
Real User
Reliable and expandable with lots of features
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution scales well."
  • "There need to be more tutorials available to users."

What is our primary use case?

Everyone in the company has projects, and everyone needs approvals from everyone in the company. They need to handle approvals, rejections, cost estimates, project timelines, et cetera. This is an investment company, and all of the projects and related items are handled by Microsoft Projects and Power BI. This solution allows the CEO to see what's happening in subsidiaries in the company. 

What is most valuable?

The solution has lots of features, and they are used by various people. They are all useful and important. 

It's a stable, reliable product.

The solution scales well. 

Technical support has been helpful and responsive.

What needs improvement?

The initial setup is complex. 

There need to be more tutorials available to users. It's very robust software with lots of features. If you don't know the shortcuts or the application, it's more difficult. Having training and tutorials would make learning it and accessing features easier. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's stable and reliable. The performance is good. There are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is a scalable solution. It's not an issue at all. 

How are customer service and support?

We've used Fast Track. The Fast Track in Microsoft is a very good service. Their support is also very good. There are partners here in Egypt, and they are good partners. We have been satisfied with the level of service on offer.

How was the initial setup?

We have a hybrid setup, which makes the implementation a little bit more complex. It took us a while to set everything up.

What other advice do I have?

I'd recommend the solution to others. We've been happy with the solution in general. I'd rate it eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Project Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: April 2025
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Project Server Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.