Project management software is too often designed lacking one key element; a means for managing the processes that lead to a project's success. Some software developers have come to recognize this problem, resulting in a shift from the development of project management software to what is now considered its own unique entity - project and process management software. The creation of a new sub-category of project management software with a very similar name has inevitably led to some confusion among business professionals. How does one distinguish between project management software and project and process management software?

For most companies, managing projects really means managing the everyday processes that are routine and well-understood within the corporate culture. Successfully following these processes daily often determines the number of sales generated and ensures results are delivered for customers. Bills are paid, paychecks are disbursed and leases are renewed in a unique manner from company to company. The more mature a business, the more standardized, documented and followed business processes become.

Unfortunately, the majority of project management software does not enforce core processes or give visibility to a process's status. These key features ensure all processes will be followed, tracked, improved, and streamlined. The ultimate goal of project management in every organization is cutting costs through increased efficiency. Without the expanded functionality of project and process management software it can not be certain that processes will be properly administered.

With project and process management software each step of each process is tracked. Who is responsible for this step of the process? How long does it typically take to complete? Is the process being completed according to schedule? What steps came previously? What happens next? What if it is late? Who needs to be notified? Is approval from upper-management necessary to continue? Project and process management software quickly answers all of these questions; traditional project management software does not.

In addition, with project and process management software the entire process is modeled and captured step-by-step. Once the processes are captured in the system, reports are easily generated to identify delays, bottlenecks, resource allocations and costs. Therefore, the processes are continuously improved and modified to adapt to the business's changes. The processes become intellectual property, differentiating companies from the competition.

Managing processes like projects is a very powerful discipline. With the right software tools businesses are provided with the chance to obtain a level of efficiency that was previously unfeasible. With this new trend, some software companies are unworthily giving the title of project and process management software to traditional project management systems, regardless of the fact that these systems do not have the ability to effectively manage processes.

The software developer currently leading the way in project and process management is Interneer, Inc. Interneer's sole product, Intellect, is an enterprise platform for managing both projects and processes with workflows, colorful visual guides and an advanced user-configurable platform. With Interneer Intellect business professionals can be certain that that their projects and processes are being managed at the limit of today's most advanced project management technology. No other system facilitates a higher level of efficiency.