What is Basecamp Tool and How to Use it?

Basecamp tool is a project management software that helps various companies and organizations to successfully deliver their products. It is necessary to give an effective project to the clients. But now the question arises, how effectively is the project managed?

An effective project is managed by a systematic approach of planning, organizing, executing, and monitoring the resources, tasks, and activities to achieve specific goals within a set budget and time limit. 

The main goal of company organizations to deliver successful projects that achieve goals, satisfy customers, and promote company growth requires good project management. In this article, we will learn and discuss the Basecamp tool and how to use it.

Who launched Basecamp?

In 1999, Jason Fried launched Basecamp, a Chicago-based business that has been slowly turning into a web application development company.

What is the Basecamp Tool?

The project management tool Basecamp enables small teams to work more quickly and achieve greater results than they never might have expected. Basecamp tool is a well-liked platform for team collaboration and project management that helps in work organization, efficient communication, and managing projects. Created by Basecamp LLC, it provides a centralized platform that allows groups to work together on projects, exchange files, talk about ideas, and monitor progress.

Every interaction between team members gets simplified and organized in one place with Basecamp. Within the project, all queries, remarks, tasks, deliverables, and approvals are systematically tracked and arranged.

How to use the Basecamp tool?

In this article, we will learn about the steps of how to use the Basecamp tool.

Step 1: Log in with Basecamp:

• Create an account by going to the Basecamp official website (https://basecamp.com/).
• To complete the login process, provide your email address, choose a password, and follow the instructions.

Step 2:  Build a Project:

• Go to your Basecamp account and click on the "Make a new project" button after logging in.
• Choose the team members you wish to invite to the project using the invite button just next to the make a new project button.
• After that give a project name.
• To begin creating the project, click "Create project".

Step 3: Add Project Details:

• Click on the project, then select the "Details" tab to add project details. 
• You can add information like a description, deadlines, and goals after the project has been created.

Step 4: Set Up Your Tasks:

• To start adding tasks, choose the "To-dos" tab in the project.
• To add a new task, click on the "New list” button.
• Name the task, assign a team member to complete it, indicate the deadline, and include any more information. 
• To save the task, click "Add to-do".

Step 5: Interact with Team Members:

• Use the "Messageboard" option to interact with team members.
•  Click on the "New message" button to start "new message".
• To submit it to the message board, Enter your message, select the recipients, and click  "Send message".

Step 6: Share files with Team Members:

• To exchange files with other members of your team, use the "Files" option.
• Click the "Upload files” button to upload files from your device.
• Click “Open” after selecting the file you wish to upload to the project.

Step 7: Arrange Events:

• Select the "Schedule" option to add events and deadlines to the project calendar.
• Click on the "New event" button to start "new event". 
• Click on "Save" after entering the event's details like- name, date, time, etc. to add it to the calendar.

Step 8: Work Together on Documents:

• To work together on documents, select the "Docs & Files" option. 
• To start a new document, click the "New doc" button. 
• To add material to a document, enter its title and begin typing. Members of the team can work together in real-time on the document.

Step 9: Set up Notifications:

• To stay informed about updates to the project, customize your notification settings.
• Click on the upper right corner, click on the profile symbol, then choose "My settings" from the drop-down menu.
• Select the "Notifications" tab to change notification preferences.

Step 10: Review and monitor projects:

• Review project status regularly, interact with team members, and handle tasks, files, and conversations as required.
• To keep focused and stay on track with project goals, make use of the multiple tabs and features available inside the project.

Features of Basecamp Tool

Here is a list of Basecamp tool features, that help small teams and organizations to work efficiently, help them to achieve the desired goals, and also increase the company growth.

1. Project management

It is possible by the Basecamp tool, which lets users set up tasks and projects. For better organization, tasks can be divided into different categories, given deadlines, and allocated to team members.

2. Team Communication

Team members may interact and work together in real-time with Basecamp's features which include message boards, chat rooms, and direct messaging. This tool helps users to share updates, ask questions, and discuss project-related issues.

3. File sharing

It is possible by the Basecamp tool, which allows users to upload and distribute files within projects, giving team members access to important files, photos, and other resources. Files can be easily accessed by authorized individuals and placed into folders.

4. Calendar

Users may view project objectives, deadlines, and events on Basecamp's public calendar. To improve availability and collaboration, team members can add events, create reminders, and synchronize the calendar with other calendar apps. 

5. To-do Lists

The basecamp tool has a feature that allows users to create lists of things to complete and mark them done as they get completed. Teams may monitor progress, keep organized, and make sure no work is missed by using to-do lists.

6. Notifications and Reminders

To keep team members updated on project status, task assignments, and meeting deadlines, the Basecamp tool offers notifications and reminders. To get notifications via email or within the Basecamp platform, users can personalize their notification settings.

Pros of Basecamp Tool

• Easy to Learn and Use: Users can easily start projects, manage tasks, share files, and participate in discussions with Basecamp's user-friendly layout—all without a long learning process.
• Better task Management: You can keep a good overview of the work thanks to the method of allocating tasks based on projects, lists, and the option to add just those who need to know about the project. It creates a task list automatically, which is quite helpful for everyone, but particularly helpful for project managers.
• Email communication: One of the main benefits of using Basecamp tool for client management is that all conversation from the Message Board reaches the customer by email, which enables the client to reply and have Basecamp immediately accept the reply.
• Efficiently monitor the project's progress: Basecamp gives project managers a complete overview of activities and achievements, which helps them track project progress effectively. Users can assign tasks, set deadlines, and keep track of progress with the To-do tool.

Cons of Basecamp Tool

• No free version: Since Basecamp doesn't provide a free subscription, some individuals and small teams on a tight budget may find its pricing plans to be expensive.
• Limited customization: Basecamp tool could not provide as much flexibility and customization as other project management alternatives.
• Lack of advanced features: Many project management features, such as time trackers and adjustable processes, have been removed from Basecamp. 
• Complexity for Large Projects: Because Basecamp lacks advanced project management tools like Gantt charts and resource allocation tools, it may become less useful for managing large and complicated projects.
• Dependency on Internet Connection: Because Basecamp tool is a cloud-based platform, to use and access it needs an uninterrupted Internet connection. This could be a drawback for those who have to work offline or who live in places with limited internet access.

Official Site Link to visit Basecamp Tool

Link: https://basecamp.com/

Basecamp Tool Pricing

• Free
• Basecamp: Starts at Rs 350/user/per month.
• Basecamp Pro Unlimited: Starts at Rs 4800/ month, billed annually

Conclusion

Basecamp is a really useful tool for managing tasks and projects. It helped our business with projects, communication, and the availability of information. Since no tool is perfect, we must choose the one that creates the least difficulty in our daily tasks. Basecamp's tool is a customizable team collaboration and project management platform that helps companies improve communication, improve process speed, and successfully deliver projects.

It is suitable for all sizes and industries, from small startups to large enterprises. All things considered, Basecamp delivers successful project management by encouraging teamwork, increasing production, and ensuring that tasks are completed on a given deadline and within budget.