Using an IT Issue Tracker: Frequently Asked Questions

When IT companies invented the Software as a Service (SaaS) model, they changed the way businesses shared and tracked information.

Instead of using email and non-sharable spreadsheets to disseminate and organize project information, or implementing expensive issue tracking software in-house, businesses could communicate and track information in real time with a multi-user system that required only an affordable monthly fee.
Today, online tracker systems (a.k.
a.
issue tracking systems) are a crucial aspect of efficient project management.

If you have been tasked with implementing an IT issue tracker for your company, but you have questions about implementation issues, the answers below can help: Is a web based tracking system always better than an in-house system? Some industries and companies have standards that recommend all software to be implemented on an in-house model.

In such instances, achieving compliance should take precedence over choosing the model that most benefits the end user, which is usually the SaaS model.

Is downloading a free tracking system a viable option? It depends on your needs. Most free tracking systems offer less tracking flexibility than pay systems.
Consequently, some users attempt to track several types of issues using the same fields, which only convolute the tracking process.

Another downside to free systems is that they don't provide you with customer service options.
How is web-based tracking software priced? Different providers have different pricing arrangements. The standard arrangement is to pay a monthly service fee that is based on an account's specific tracking options and the number of unique system users. Companies that sign a contract for at least six months of service may receive a discount. Must a company sign a contract to receive web-based issue tracking? Yes.
But the contract period can be as short as one month.

Not all providers offer issue tracking on a monthly, pay as you go basis.

But ones that do are an ideal choice for companies that only need tracking temporarily, are still in the process of defining their tracking needs, or simply wish to maintain financial flexibility.
How many unique users can a web-based system accommodate? Some providers offer accounts that accommodate as few as five users, and as many as 2,500.
If you need an account that accommodates a high number of users, choose a provider that will allow you to expand that number as time goes on.

How easy is it to change tracking options with a web-based system? In most cases, changing tracking options is as easy as contacting the provider and requesting the change.

The provider can integrate the new options seamlessly with your existing options.
Conclusion Web-based issue tracking software is an important aspect of project management and information sharing.

Without it, many companies find it difficult to keep projects on schedule - a problem that results from management's inability to monitor task progress in real time.

If your company needs to improve project management and inter-company communication across departments, a web-based IT issue tracker could be the solution.