How Cloud-based Resource Planning Software Plays a Crucial Role in Project Management

Cloud-based technology seems to be the new buzzword. More and more organizations are now storing their data and applications in cloud-based software, thus, making it a global phenomenon. The transition from traditional on-premise software to cloud-based resource planning software has been a popular trend. So, why are an increasing number of businesses doing this? Using a Cloud-based resource planning and scheduling tool is a cost-effective option. It offers more flexibility along with other advantages of cloud computing. The tools that are exclusively installed on-premise, don’t allow any collaboration between employees who operate from the office facility and those who work remotely. Also, from a cost perspective, the up-front costs of implementing a cloud-based project management software are minimal. This is because there is no need for new hardware, an in-house IT team, and software updates. But let’s first see what is a Cloud-based resource management software.

What is a Cloud-based Resource Planning Software?

A resource management software streamlines the process of planning, allocating, scheduling, and managing your resources and multiple projects. After scheduling the best people on various projects, you can also monitor their utilization and performance. A Cloud-based resource planning and scheduling software also enable project managers and their teams to get the work done by using a network of solutions available in the software.It also helps you track the resource availability, overall capacity, and skill set available employee activity monitoring software. If you want reports or dashboards for assessing resource utilization, the tool helps you create comprehensive reports and visual dashboards that help in forecasting.

Benefits of a Cloud-based Resource Planning and Scheduling Software

• Lower Costs and No Maintenance

The primary benefit of Cloud-based resource planning software is the considerably lower cost. Mostly, cloud services are offered on a subscription basis. Hence, the up-front costs are much lower than what the organization might be paying for a software license. Also, if you opt for Cloud-based resource management software, you can save the costs related to buying servers and other such infrastructure. Besides, there is no need to hire an in-house IT team for the maintenance of the hardware and software.

• Easy Access

The global pandemic has highlighted the importance of remote working to a larger extent. A Cloud-based resource planning and scheduling software enables you to access your data and information from anywhere, and at any time. The only condition is that you should have a good internet connection. You can also access information from multiple devices –a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This eliminates any need to be linked to a specific server at your office or any particular platform like Windows, Linux, Mac, etc.

• Highly Configurable

Most Cloud-based resource scheduling software such as eResource Scheduler has highly configurable filters, fields, views, and forms. With this, you can effectively manage the resources available in just a few easy steps. Even complicated tasks like resource planning and scheduling, project planning, resource allocation, and profitability analysis are completed in a few clicks. That’s not all. The custom-defined fields could be altered as per your specific needs. You can also tackle multiple working calendars for different locations while making sure that your resource utilization numbers remain perfect in all scenarios.

• A Centralized Directory for all the Resources and Projects</h3>

Most businesses nowadays have teams operating globally and across various geographies. This makes it tough to operate and get a larger picture of the overall organizational resources. With Cloud-based resource planning software, you will have a centralized directory or a list of all your projects and resources in the organization. Use certain parameters and organize your team members based on their qualifications, competency, experience, availability, etc. This helps you when you need to find out the best person for a particular project, even if they are based in another location.

• A Connected Team

Because of technological advancements and situations like the ongoing pandemic, most of the employees of various organizations are working remotely. Besides, outsourcing is also increasing as businesses are looking for specialized skills. Therefore, with the increase of the virtual workforce, the requirement for communicating effectively has been growing as well. A Cloud-based project management software helps in creating a centralized workspace that can be accessed from any part of the globe. People are working remotely, or from the office, or the outsourced teams – all can be more connected and can collaborate effectively by using this tool.

• Streamlined Projects and Steady Deliveries

Resource planning software enables you to organize various aspects of your projects and effectively plan, execute, and deliver your projects. At the planning stage, the tool helps you to clearly define the scope, and list all the tasks, and their sub-tasks. It also helps you to calculate the time and effort needed for the completion of those tasks. You can easily find out how many people you need and what is skill-set they should have. Besides, Cloud-based resource planning software raises red alerts in advance and highlights if any challenges might crop up. If you opt for the best resource planning and scheduling software, it optimizes your resources, manages process governance, and also process automation. The tool also helps you to eliminate manual processes, resulting in saving time, money, and reducing errors.

• Different Permission Levels

The right resource scheduling software provides multiple permission levels. This Cloud-based resource planning and scheduling software is a great help not only to project managers but also to other employees. The team leads and managers can use this system to streamline various processes and schedule and allocate their resources. Whereas, the team members can see the tasks assigned to them, their work schedule, fill in timesheets, and manage their availability. Even your end-customers can use Cloud-based resource planning software to check dashboards, project plans, various reports, and status, etc.

• Data Safety and security

If you opt for a good Cloud-based resource planning software, it will offer excellent security. How? It uses secure data centers and best-in-class servers that have built-in disaster recovery. So, in case you download a virus, or lose your laptop, even then you can get join work from any other device as all your important data is stored in the cloud. Such as tool is also a safe way to share files and vital information with other team members or with outsourced providers or vendors. You don’t need to fret about remote employees losing flash drives that have sensitive data, or your important files being intercepted while being transferred. Most resource planning and scheduling software make use of high-grade encryption that ensures to keep your data safe and secure.

• Real-Time Tracking and Budget Management

A Cloud-based project management software does all updates in real-time. Because of this feature, you can track the productivity and utilization of your team on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You can also monitor the progress of various projects, see which resource is assigned to which task/project, etc. If you feel the need of reassigning people to other projects, it can be done in a few clicks. Now, talking about project budgets. Any organization will be successful when they deliver their projects in the set budget and timeline. The resource planning software enables you to control the budget on every milestone. You can also evaluate the financial health of all your projects or monitor the key financial metrics in a few simple steps.

• Free monthly trials

The majority of the vendors dealing in Cloud-based resource planning software offer free trials for their solution. This gives you a brilliant opportunity to test its features, benefits, and understand its working without having to spend up-front. You can easily judge if the tool is the best fit for you within the trial period. So, ensure you take advantage of this offer and check out the tool properly before you invest in it.

The Best Resource Planning Software – eResource Scheduler Cloud

Enbraun’s flagship product, eResource Scheduler, helps businesses to derive optimum benefit from their most valuable asset – people. You can opt for the most suitable plan and get personalized support if you want to configure this tool as per your business needs and resources. Additional features like resource requests, unlimited users, unlimited projects and bookings, user access rights, gap reporting, and the timesheet module make this tool the best choice. Use this Cloud-based resource planning software to streamline your business operations and improve your organizational efficiencies. Want to try this award-winning tool? Sign up soon for a free trial and check it out yourself.

Company Bio:

ENBRAUN is a software product and service company. eResource Scheduler is its Flagship software product.

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