What functionality can improve tracking of project progress in Smartsheet?

Using dependencies in Smartsheet significantly enhances tracking of project progress. This functionality allows users to establish relationships between tasks, where the start or finish of one task affects another. By linking tasks with dependencies, project managers can get a clearer picture of the project's timeline, as it dynamically reflects how delays or advancements in one task can impact related tasks.

For instance, if you have a task that cannot begin until another is complete, setting a dependency ensures that any change in the completion date of the first task will automatically update the start date of the second. This visibility helps to identify potential bottlenecks or areas that may require adjustments in the project schedule, making it easier to manage resources effectively and keep the project on track.

In contrast, while the other functionalities, such as change history, conditional formatting, and recurring tasks, provide valuable project management tools, they do not offer the same level of interconnectedness and real-time adjustments that dependencies provide for tracking overall project progress. Change history records past modifications, conditional formatting visually highlights data based on certain criteria, and recurring tasks manage tasks that repeat over time, but none of these directly influence the timing and relationships between tasks as dependencies do.