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Tickers's avatar
Tickers
Copper Contributor
Mar 11, 2025

Is Planner in Beta testing?

Hi all

I've been using Planner for a few weeks, and the KANBAN style 'Board' is FANTASTIC for a particular part of our work, that involves managing complex work packets through our process.

I've also browsed this forum a few times, and we have access to the premium Planner version, but I've found the basic has features that premium doesn't. 

I'm evaluating Planner for use in our dept and organisation, and I'm not sure how stable it will be if we commit to using it right now.  The posts on this forum show that features come and go, and reliability is not always good.  I'm realistic and dont expect it to be perfect, but there is a minimum level required for us to commit and rely on it.

What should people expect over the next few mths and yrs?  I've read that there is a "Roadmap", but is that also something that could be scrapped/re-written?

What is the level of Microsoft's commitment to Planner, and that "Roadmap"?

We want to use it for full project Gantts, not just the KANBAN style 'Board' I mentioned above.  But it seems that "Project Online" and the desktop MS Project, are the only way right now for a reliable system for managing multiple projects that have fairly substantial Gantts?

Even though Planner is not a new thing, its appears to not have moved far down the development path?

Kind regards

 

 

planner
  • Tickers's avatar
    Tickers
    Copper Contributor
    Mar 12, 2025

    Re: Roadmap

    The term Roadmap strongly implies there is a plan that stretches out into the coming mths and yrs.  The info currently available on that Roadmap shows only a short horizon, 2-3 mths.

    As a organisation that needs to commit fully to a single tool for all our projects i.e. a collection of projects that form a program, we want to see a much longer term Roadmap that shows there is a very strong and clear picture about what Planner will be in the future and when it will be there.

    Without a longer term plan is gives the impression that this is being made up as you go along.  There is talk of the much broader aim to integrate Office 365 Apps, which is great.  But, we need much more clarity on the Project and Program management tools, mainly the replacement for "MS Project".  

    Is there a publicly available decision by MS to end "MS Project" and "Project Online"?

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