Scrum Tools: Top 5 Best, Free and Easy-To-Use for SMEs

Do you intend to use the Scrum Tools for your upcoming project or product development cycle? This article by Viindoo will provide a dependable compilation of the top Scrum software and will detail how each one can be effectively utilized for sprint planning, agile project management, iteration, and other related purposes. 

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Scrum methodology is an agile project management approach used for the development of software and other complex products. It emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement to enable teams to deliver value to their customers in a more efficient and effective way. 

The Scrum methodology is characterized by the use of iterative and incremental development cycles, called sprints, which typically last between 1-4 weeks, and involve a set of predefined ceremonies, roles, and artifacts.

Effective organization is a crucial factor in the success of project development. Therefore, many companies choose to adopt methodologies that act as valuable resources in the creation of programs, applications, or digital tools, ultimately enhancing their work processes. There are 4 main reason why SMEs need to use scrum:

By utilizing SCRUM with a skilled team and a conventional approach, remarkable outcomes can be accomplished. It is an essential tool for time and cost-saving as it enables the management of tasks in a systematic manner and provides the required planning to accomplish them. The daily meetings of 15 minutes ensure that the process is on track, in accordance with the project's initial objectives.

Through efficient division and allocation of roles and tasks, this methodology facilitates the successful execution of a project. The "product owner" and "team" are augmented by the SCRUM Master, who provides assistance and support to the project. The ability to monitor the progress of the work provides assurance that the process is transparent and adheres to the established guidelines.

The SCRUM methodology is flexible and can be adapted to the specific needs of companies that use it. This facilitates the organization of tasks and enables the development of a plan that aligns with the company's project and characteristics.

SCRUM methodology facilitates the successful integration of all parties involved in a project. The participation and management of SCRUM are straightforward and easy to handle for all stages of the project. Moreover, SCRUM provides a record of the work accomplished and monitors progress to ensure efficient execution.

In addition to the aforementioned advantages, SCRUM methodology provides other benefits such as:

• Quick adaptability to changes in project requirements.

• Frequent functional testing during the process to ensure product quality.
• Direct collaboration with the client, which facilitates feedback and promotes customer satisfaction.
• Promotion of motivation and responsibility among team members, leading to increased productivity and better results.
  

Scrum Tools is a project management software that is designed to help teams working in an Agile environment to organize, plan, and track their work. 

It is based on the Scrum framework, which is an Agile methodology that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement. Scrum Tools typically include features such as backlog management, sprint planning, progress tracking, and reporting. 

It provides a platform for cross-functional teams to work together, communicate effectively, and manage their work in an iterative and incremental manner. 

Scrum software is widely used in software development, but it can also be applied to other types of projects that require an Agile approach.

When selecting Scrum software, some of the key criteria to consider include:

• User-friendliness: The tool should be easy to use and navigate, with an intuitive interface that facilitates efficient collaboration and communication.

• Customization options: The tool should provide a high degree of flexibility, enabling users to customize it to meet their specific needs and requirements.
• Collaboration features: The tool should support real-time collaboration and communication among team members, as well as with external stakeholders such as clients, vendors, or partners.
• Reporting and analytics: The tool should provide robust reporting and analytics capabilities, allowing users to monitor progress, track key metrics, and make data-driven decisions.

Viindoo is a project management software for small business that is ideal for teams consisting of five or more members. 

The software is equipped with Scrum tools and functionalities and is designed to be highly adaptable, providing users with the ability to personalize workflows, reports, dashboards, and request forms.

With Viindoo, users have the flexibility to switch between various project management views, including Agile Kanban boards, one-click Gantt charts, and traditional workload views. The software also provides a range of pre-built Agile templates, as well as features such as task lists, subtasks, schedules, shared workflows, file sharing, and real-time collaboration. 

Users can also prioritize their backlog, plan sprints using Gantt charts and Kanban boards, and track sprint success using reports.

Viindoo's user interface is designed to be easy to navigate, with distinct spaces, folders, and tasks. Users can easily switch between the home screen and other key features such as timesheets, dashboards, calendars, reports, and an activity stream. 

In addition, Viindoo offers a dedicated help center with interactive training, videos, a 'Getting Started' guide, and an active community.

Viindoo has a Free - One App option available for individual users, and offers Standard planning at $8 per month. Last but not least, Luxury planning with 10$ and many attractive benefits for businesses 

Hubstaff Tasks is a Scrum-based project management tool that enables users to organize tasks into different project stages through column representation. 

The tool comes with various features, such as color-coded labels for task categorization, custom workflows for automatic task assignment, and a checklist to monitor progress. 

Additionally, files can be attached to task cards, but storage is limited to 100MB per user on the free plan. Users can switch to the sprints view to see their assigned tasks organized by sprint, and they can move tasks to current or future sprints or the backlog using a drag-and-drop mechanism similar to Kanban. 

The tool integrates with various apps, including Slack, Trello, and QuickBooks, and users can access hundreds of other connections with a paid Zapier plan. 

The free version supports up to 5 users and 10 projects, while the premium plan starts at $7/user/month and offers a 14-day trial.

ClickUp is a project management software that boasts of being an all-in-one solution. It offers a wide range of features for basic tasks, document management, team chat, and goal tracking, all housed in an attractive and user-friendly interface. 

Remote teams using Scrum will appreciate the software's screenshot and recording features, which make it easy to conduct long-distance stand-up meetings. The free plan is quite generous, with unlimited tasks and members, as well as 100MB of storage space. 

ClickUp also offers a paid plan for $5 per user per month.

Zoho Sprints is an agile project management tools solution designed to help Scrum teams effectively organize user stories, manage backlogs, and track progress through Scrum Boards. The software has an intuitive drag-and-drop planning builder, allowing users to easily move items from their project backlog to their sprint backlog. The project backlog houses all user stories, tasks, and bugs, and users can refine it with a variety of filters and search parameters.

Zoho Sprints provides a customizable Scrum Board that enables users to track progress, drag-and-drop stories to completion, and create custom statuses with work-in-progress (WIP) limits. Teams can organize work items by swimlanes based on priority, story, or estimation points, and monitor sprint progress via an exclusive sprint dashboard.

Real-time reports and insights are available in Zoho Sprints, with features like the Velocity Chart to calculate work delivered in each sprint and the Burndown and Burnup charts to track progress. The software has built-in chat, virtual meetings, and an interactive project feed to facilitate communication and collaboration within cross-functional teams.

Zoho Sprints integrates with popular code repository management tools like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, and allows DevOps teams to automate their CI/CD pipelines through developer tools like Jenkins and Azure DevOps. The software also offers webhooks and APIs to build custom integrations, and users can browse through a library of apps listed on Zoho's marketplace.

Zoho Sprints has a starting price of $6/user/month (billed annually) and offers a freemium version for up to 3 users for 3 projects. The software also provides a 15-day free trial with no credit card required.

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