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What is Hive software?
Hive Is a project management software based in the cloud that businesses of any size can use to manage teams, collaborate, plan projects, assign tasks, and automate workflow processes.
One of the most recent project management tools on the market, Hive was founded in 2016 by co-founders John Furneaux and Eric Typaldos.
The tool is both a part of project management and a part of AI, bringing together features like automated task management, custom workflows, templates, messaging, and collaboration under one roof.
Hive offers over a dozen native third-party integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, JIRA, and Salesforce; additional connections can be unlocked with a paid plan via Zapier (additional costs).
Businesses can organize entire projects in Kanban boards, track productivity using resource usage charts, and use deadlines to keep tasks on track.
Hive offers a free plan for up to two users, with a few feature limitations.
Features
Here are some of Hive's best features.
1. Integrated messaging system
Hive has a built-in messaging window that works like Slack or Google Hangouts; you can drag and drop chat messages into your task window to turn them into to-do items.
I like to keep the communication in the project management tool. This keeps everything organized and makes it easier to find messages about specific tasks or projects without having to switch between windows.
Hive's messaging panel connects to the messaging panel on the tool's dashboard. Here you can start private or group discussions with the rest of your team, mention @ people to let them know something, and even react to messages using emojis. And if you don't want to be disturbed, simply turn off your notifications or change your status to “busy.”
If you want to add someone to a group, you can invite them by email. In each discussion, you can drag and drop content and attachments to easily share resources.
2. Communications
Hive acts as an instant messaging system, a platform for task collaboration, and an email solution (integration with the service you already use).
Nobody - I mean no one - likes to browse the various communication platforms looking for a message that someone sent several weeks ago.
Hive brings all your communications under one roof. The centralized communication feature means you can add the apps you already use to talk, like Slack, Skype, and Google Hangouts, and use them all from the Hive dashboard. Hive's advanced search function can even help you find communication items by keyword or by recipient.
3. Layout options
Each user can customize how they visualize the calendar of their projects (Kanban, Gantt chart, list, calendar) by switching between them according to their personal preferences.
The flexible visuals of the project management layout From Hive give you multiple ways to visualize and organize your tasks.
You have the usual options such as the Gantt chart and charts. kanban, but also an integrated table, a portfolio view and a calendar view. You can also use the status view to visualize what tasks have been completed and what tasks still need to be completed.
The team view is also a quick way for project managers to see how much work each team member is doing on their schedule. It's similar to a Kanban board, and each team member has their own column and the tasks they're working on below:
Hive takes care of project planning using a Kanban board with tasks based on cards and organized according to status, recipient, or other metrics.
4. Project summary table
The summary view function allows you to visualize each task that you are working on or that has been assigned to you.
Hive's Project Navigator gives users a quick overview of the projects they're part of, who they're working with, and upcoming due dates.
In this view, each task will be displayed with the project name, due date, and status. Project managers can view a summary of the project for their entire team. And if you want to email the update to yourself, the rest of your team, or even your customers to keep them up to date, simply select the email option on the summary screen:
You can email, export, or link to project status summaries and updates to share with external stakeholders.
Rates
The price of Hive has only two levels: professional and business.
1. Solo Plan
Hive Solo is free to use for up to two users. You'll have access to all basic project management and collaboration features, as well as unlimited data storage. Advanced features and add-ons are not included.
2. Professional plan
The professional plan starts at $12/user/month if you pay for an annual subscription and if you want to pay monthly, it will increase to $16/user/month.
Professional level includes most of features that a small business needs to manage projects. Your team will be able to send messages, collaborate in boards, and integrate emails into the Hive dashboard. Project managers can also create workflow automations, store meeting notes, and create action templates to reduce manual tasks.
3. Business plan
Is the business plan good value for money?
I wish I could tell you that. Businesses should contact Hive to get an idea of this price level. Je Can Tell you that the business plan includes all the features of the professional plan and additions like analytics, custom integrations, and deployment support.
Enterprise plan pricing is less flexible: businesses can only be billed on an annual basis.
Workspace add-ons
I mentioned earlier that some (very necessary) features are missing from Hive's professional plan, and that you'll have to pay extra to get them. These workspace additions are:
- Tests and approvals: $4/user/month + base price
- Resourcing: $4/user/month + base price
- Timesheets: $4/user/per month + base price
- Enterprise Hive Security: $4/user/month + base price
- External users: $4/user/per month + base price
- Hive Analytics: $6/user/per month + base price
Remember to consider these extras when deciding if Hive is the right tool for you, as the additional costs can add up.
Integrations
1. Native integrations
Hive offers dozens of native integrations such as Microsoft Teams, Slack Salesforce or Gmail.
Although this may still be limited, over time Hive has continued to expand all of its native integrations to simplify the connection of this project management tool with the technical ecosystem of its customers.
2. Non-native integrations
Non-native integrations require an account Zapier.
Access to the complete list of over 1000 third-party integrations is chargeable. Expect to pay an additional $19.99/month+.
How do I connect Hive to Zapier?
- Log in to your Zapier account or create a new account.
- Navigate to “Connected Accounts” in the top menu bar.
- Now click on “Connect a new account” and search for “Hive.”
- Use your credentials to connect your Hive account to Zapier.
- Once that's done, you can start creating automation! Use a pre-built Zap or create your own with the Zap editor.
- Creating a Zap does not require any development knowledge and you will be guided step-by-step through the configuration.
Security and confidentiality
Hive does a good job of keeping your data safe from unauthorized third parties. The company is SOC 2 certified, which means that an independent evaluator has concluded that Hive's security practices and approach to protecting user data are in line with the expectations of the American Institute of CPAs.
Hive uses SSL encryption to secure its network and repel intruders, and also claims that all of its servers are protected by an enterprise-grade firewall. The term “enterprise-grade” seems like something straight out of the marketing department sipping on a latte; we'd rather know what exactly is the firewall that protects user data.
La privacy policy is long and Hive uses a small font, which may seem pedantic, but it's usually a sign that a company would prefer you not to dive into their policies. However, we never get discouraged and took the time to see exactly what Hive does to keep user data private.
Red flags when it comes to privacy
The first red flag about user information is that Hive states that it (and third party providers) can use your data to “serve you with interest-based advertising.” This is never a good sign, especially for a service that already requires a high subscription.
Hive also states that there are some scenarios where it can share user data without their consent. While we accept that this New York-based company may need to transmit data to law enforcement, there is one section that is far too vague for our liking.
Hive states that it may transfer your data without your consent if “it is necessary to protect the rights, privacy, safety, or property of Hive, or its licensors, affiliates, affiliates, users, or other third parties.”
This is a great example of a privacy policy that says a lot without really saying anything, and we are waiting for examples of why Hive feels it is necessary to “protect its rights” and the rights of others.
Customer Support
When it comes to customer service, we spoke to the Hive team twice via email and had a pretty positive experience. Both of our requests were answered within two hours, and the agent answered our questions clearly and with the information requested.
In the web application, there is a tab for contacting Hive customer support. However, when we clicked on this tab, it was completely unresponsive. In the end, we had to go to the Hive homepage and contact them through a messaging app, which is actually just another way to send an email.
Things improve dramatically when it comes to tutorials, FAQs, and options for knowledgebase.
Hive has created a YouTube channel full of video tutorials that introduce you to the application and all of its functions.
The FAQ is fairly comprehensive and it was easy to find information on a wide range of topics.
We also like the fact that you can book webinars, which are free, and that someone from Hive guides you through the software.
FAQs
Is Hive project management good?
Hive is a good tool for project managers looking for a well-designed and well-functioning project planning service.
Is Hive data secure?
Hive has strong security for user data and is SOC 2 certified. This means that it is highly capable of repelling attacks and unauthorized access to user data.
Final Verdict
Hive is a great tool that at least deserves to be tested if you are considering investing in project management software.
Not only does it have a clear interface, but its collaboration capabilities, project management features, and advanced analytics make it an all-in-one tool. Businesses will be able to use it right out of the box, but keep in mind that this tool has a lot of features and that it will therefore take time to learn for your team to be fully up to speed.
My biggest complaint - the additional additions - is something I urge you to consider when testing Hive. You need to be honest about what features you'll need and then ask yourself if you can afford them within your budget.
