Buzz Meter: Harvest and Harvest Co-op

Do you want to live in a world where companies use micro-blogging as a means of communication? Where projects are managed and client invoices are produced all under one program? Well, we do live in a world where such programs exist – all thanks to the online services called Harvest and their newly launched Harvest Co-op.

Created by a New York City-based web software company called Iridesco, these two services provide companies (especially small business) with an array of features to help with office operations.

Harvest features:

• Powerful reporting: Harvest lets you analyze the distribution of time amongst your clients, projects, people and tasks. You even get to filter which projects are billable and non-billable. You can export your time into Quickbooks or CSV format.
• Faster billing: Through Harvest’s time tracking device, you can create invoices to your clients.
• Estimates: Set your time estimates for each project for time management. You can see estimates for each project as a whole or through individual tasks.
• Timesheets: You can enter your work hours in a weekly timesheet or in a daily timesheet. Harvest also provides a widget to for real-time input on your timesheets. The widget is compatible with Macs and PCs.
• Team Management: You can add an administrator, project manager and employee/contractor on your account. Each type of user has limited accessibility to certain accounts.
• Back-up: Harvest performs daily back-ups for security purposes and does not share your data.

Harvest Co-op ‘keeps everyone on the same page’ with their features:

• Workstream: The workstream works similarly to a micro-blogging tool, but you can type more than 140 characters. You get to converse with your colleagues and provide updates on certain projects. The workstream also acts as a worklog of daily accomplishments and a virtual watercooler allowing team members to stay connected.
• Time Tracker: Efficiency is a common goal companies want to attain. Harvest Co-op’s built in time tracking combined with your regular Harvest account lets you write about your project on the workstream and click on the start timer button next to your entry. Use the stop timer button to figure out how long you spent on that particular project. You can gauge how efficient you were!
• Agenda: Post your to-do list for the day in the free-form text area and be able to view your colleague’s agendas as well. See who else is working on a particular project with you!
• Team Status: An ‘at-a-glance’ view for your team’s last updates on the workstream. Colleagues actively tracking time and those who made recent updates will have a green dot next to their names.

Buzz Meter Ranking: 4 out of 4 Buzz Bees

Positive: Harvest and Harvest Co-op’s features are wonderful tools for companies. The integration of a Twitter-like stream, time tracker, and other various operational services makes working easier. How many of you have a widget for your time sheets? Can you see what is on your colleague’s plate for the day without continuously checking their Outlook calendars? You can also leave work with a sense of security knowing your data is backed up every day. Best of all, you don’t have install anything; you just need your web browser.

Negative: Harvest Co-op is free and regular Harvest is not. Harvest offers various monthly pricing plans for all of their features. You can always sign up for the free package, but it only allows you up to three projects. If you just use Harvest Co-op, you can’t use the built in timer feature without the regular Harvest. Thank goodness Harvest has reasonable price options.

Conclusion: Both Harvest and Harvest Co-op offer companies a great solution to time management, and continued workflow and communication amongst colleagues. Companies should definitely try both Harvest and Harvest Co-op to help make their organization more efficient.