Asana vs Microsoft Planner: An Alternative for Office 365 Companies?

A deep dive into Asana vs Microsoft Planner in terms of features, ease of use, and integrations. Learn about the strategic contributions of Asana in partnership with Omtera.
Asana vs Microsoft Planner: An Alternative for Office 365 Companies?

In today’s business world, project and task management tools play a critical role in the success of teams. Companies using Office 365 often start quickly with Microsoft Planner, while those seeking a more comprehensive and strategic solution find Asana to be a strong alternative.

In this article, we will detail the features, advantages, and limitations of Asana and Microsoft Planner, and highlight Omtera’s strategic contributions for teams that want to make the most out of Asana.

What is Microsoft Planner?

Microsoft Planner is a simple task management tool developed as part of the Office 365 ecosystem. Key features include:

  • Creating Kanban-style task boards.
  • Integration with Office 365 apps (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint).
  • Task assignment, setting deadlines, and using checklists.
  • Basic reporting and progress tracking.

Planner is a quick entry point especially for small teams. However, it may fall short for complex projects, cross-departmental collaboration, and large-scale organizations.

What is Asana?

Asana is a powerful platform developed for modern businesses to achieve more transparent, measurable, and sustainable project management. Unlike Planner, it offers:

  • Multi-layered project and task management (projects, tasks, subtasks, milestones).
  • Gantt charts, timelines, and calendar views.
  • Advanced reporting and dashboard features.
  • Workload management to visualize team capacity.
  • Hundreds of third-party integrations (Slack, Google Drive, Jira, Salesforce).

What sets Asana apart is its ability to scale as teams grow. This is a crucial advantage, especially for project managers, C-level decision-makers, and IT managers.

Omtera, as an Asana Platinum Solutions Partner, provides not only implementation but also strategic workflow design and team training.

Asana vs Microsoft Planner Comparison

The table below shows the key features of both platforms:

Criteria Asana Microsoft Planner
Ease of Use High, flexible interface, multiple view options Simple, tied to Office 365 ecosystem
Project Management Gantt, Kanban, Timeline, Milestones Basic Kanban board
Integrations 200+ apps (Slack, Jira, Salesforce, etc.) Office 365 integrations (Teams, Outlook)
Reporting Advanced dashboards, progress reports Limited, basic visualizations
Scalability Suitable for small to large enterprises Mostly for small/medium teams
Advanced Features Workload management, automation, custom rules Basic task assignment, deadlines

As shown in the table, Planner is sufficient for daily task management, but for strategic project management and coordination of large teams, Asana offers a much more comprehensive solution.

Omtera helps teams using Asana achieve maximum efficiency within the first 90 days with customized templates and integration solutions.

Which Platform is Suitable for Whom?

Microsoft Planner focuses on basic needs and provides a quick, practical solution for small teams strictly tied to the Office 365 ecosystem. If all you need is to list tasks, assign them to team members, and set deadlines, Planner may be enough. However, limitations arise: Planner lacks advanced reporting, resource management, complex workflows, or the flexibility needed for cross-departmental projects.

Asana, on the other hand, is not just a task manager but a comprehensive platform designed for companies aiming to do strategic project management. From small teams to global organizations, Asana provides:

  • Cross-departmental collaboration: Marketing, IT, operations, and finance teams can all work together on one platform.
  • Remote work support: With flexible views (timeline, calendar, board), teams across different locations can work with the same transparency.
  • Control over complex projects: Milestones, dependencies, and Gantt charts make all phases of a project visible.
  • Reporting and measurement: Advanced dashboards and automated reporting help managers make data-driven decisions.
  • Scalability: Start small and expand processes on Asana as the company grows.

This is where Omtera’s expertise comes into play. Omtera doesn’t just technically implement Asana’s features but also adapts them to your company’s culture, goals, and existing workflows. As a result:

  • Employee adoption is faster.
  • Collaboration across teams is strengthened.
  • In the long run, your company gains a more efficient, transparent, and sustainable project management model.

In short, Planner may be sufficient for simple task management; however, for companies that aim to grow, increase efficiency, and build a strong foundation for the future, the combination of Asana + Omtera is the strongest choice.

Omtera and Asana Partnership: Strategic Advantages

Omtera, as an Asana Platinum Solutions Partner, provides companies with:

  • Implementation: Customized project and task templates tailored to your business.
  • Training: Interactive training for project managers, team leaders, and employees.
  • Integrations: Seamless integration with tools such as Asana, Google Calendar, Slack, Gmail.
  • Sustainability: Continuous development of Asana usage for long-term success.

This way, your company doesn’t just use software but also embarks on a strategic transformation journey.

Microsoft Planner offers a simple and integrated task management solution for Office 365 users, while Asana stands out as a more comprehensive, scalable, and strategic project management platform.

For companies that want to unlock the full potential of Asana, Omtera’s expertise is the key advantage that accelerates the process and boosts efficiency.

Do you want to take your project management to the next level? Get in touch with Omtera today and maximize your Asana experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the biggest difference between Microsoft Planner and Asana?
Microsoft Planner is mainly designed for basic task management, while Asana stands out with advanced project and workflow management features. Planner works within the Office 365 ecosystem, while Asana connects with hundreds of different apps.

Which platform is better for large teams?
For large teams and complex, cross-departmental projects, Asana is the stronger solution. Planner may be sufficient for small teams but becomes inadequate as scope grows.

Can Asana integrate with Office 365?
Yes. Asana integrates with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive. This allows Office 365 users to benefit from Asana’s advanced project management features.

What contributions does Omtera provide for Asana usage?
Omtera, as an Asana Platinum Solutions Partner, offers implementation, training, integrations, and long-term sustainability support. This ensures maximum value from Asana from day one.

Is it difficult to migrate from Planner to Asana?
No. With Omtera’s consulting, existing tasks and projects can be easily migrated to Asana. Additionally, custom templates and training accelerate team adoption.

Contact us