Top 10 Resource Planning Tools You Should Know About

Are you spearheading a project? Then you know that workflow tools are necessary to get things done on time. That’s especially true when it comes to resource planning. This crucial step in the project management cycle determines how you should use your people and equipment. Not only are managers going to bring tasks to the right people, but they’re also going to make sure team members can actually execute the task. For one, it makes things go much smoother. Think of these tools as a project manager’s best friend. This article will examine the ten most in-demand resource planning tools and why you need them!

1. HubPlanner

HubPlanner is one of the best resource management tools for big companies. For one, they provide a couple of business functions. They include skill matrices, tags, and GANTT charts, so you can connect and determine sources. HubPlanner also lets you request resources, so you know which ones are available. 

HubPlanner has a plug-and-play mode that starts at $7, but they do have a customizable enterprise plan that’s great for big enterprises. 

2. Mosaic

Are you also super tired of doing repetitive tasks? We get it. As a project manager, there are often many things on your plate. If you’re looking for reliable resource capacity planning software Mosaic is a solid choice. 

It provides analytics for your resources and projects and is a highly efficient collaboration tool. Apart from that, we’ve also heard that Mosaic has incredible customer support. Their entry-level Team plan starts at $9.99 a user per month. 

3. Smartsheet

Meanwhile, Smartsheet is another tool that lets you scale up projects quickly. What makes it an ideal tool for managers is its project forecasting tools. Most resource planning tools only help you plan how to use your resources. Here, they also forecast the resources you need for future projects. 

Apart from that, Smartsheet has custom templates as well as advanced filtering. The tool starts at $7 per user per month. 

4. Forecast

Are your account managers getting tired of keeping up with clients? Regarding work tools, we’ve found Forecast to be the best for service-oriented companies. Along with a visual dashboard, work reports, and timesheets, this tool lets you keep your clients up to date with projects without letting them see your current resources. You can even send them invoices from the platform. Handy!

This tool lets you receive updates and see your team’s availability status. Their entry-level plan starts at $29 per user a month. 

5. nTask

On the other hand, nTask is another reliable tool that helps you with all-around project tracking. Here, you get management software that helps set your team’s milestones, budgets, and to-do lists. It also comes with a built-in time-tracking tool to see the completion metrics of every project stage. 

It’s hard to complete projects on time, so nTask sets a planned and actual due date. Finally, it’s a great option for companies who want to save a penny. Their entry-level plan starts at $3 a month. 

6. Microsoft Planner

You might have a resource planning tool just sitting right under your nose. Microsoft Planner is Microsoft’s management tool. Like other items on the list, it provides a visual way to organize your resources. Apart from that, it also has built-in AI-powered analytics to help you get insights into your resources. 

This is one of the best resource planning tools, free, but only if you already have an existing Microsoft 365 account. 

7. Mavenlink

Next, Mavenlink has comprehensive tools to make your project management life easier. Aside from role-based and scenario planning, it also has resource forecasting, so you can check what resources you might need in the future. 

This tool also works for capacity management. Plus, it integrates with dashboards like Hubspot, Jira, and G-suite. 

8. Ganttic

As you can probably tell already from the name, Ganttic is a software that offers visual Gantt charts. This system will help you check which resources are over-used, which projects lack capacity, and who you can tap for extra work. The tool is also highly customizable and comes with filtered tags—color-code, and group people so you’ll stay on top of your teams. 

Plus, Ganttic integrates with your current work dashboards. Whether it’s Google, Outlook, or a custom integration, they can fit into most work suites. Ganttic starts at $25 a month per user. 

9. Resource Guru 

If you’re looking for a detailed resource analytics tool, make Resource Guru part of your team. This tool offers simple features that allow you to schedule your resources with a drag-and-drop system. But what sets this tool apart is its clash management feature that prevents you from overbooking resources. 

Here, you can monitor your resource data and even pull key metrics like billable time into the mix. This tool starts at $2.50 per person a month. 

10. Teamdeck

Looking for a comprehensive platform for HR managers? Don’t worry; we’ve also got Teamdeck. Along with being one of the best resource management tools, it’s also reliable for HR teams. Here, you get various features like scheduling, time tracking, and timesheets. You can also list down your team’s current and future workload. 

But Teamdeck lets your staff request vacation days and even track their time on the platform. Oh, and did we mention that this tool also integrates with Google Calendar, Slack, Asana, and more? Their entry-level plan starts at $3.60 per user a month. 

Resource management tools and techniques help you analyze your resources to make smart decisions to boost productivity. 

The best way to find the right tool for your team is to look at the tool’s integrations, UI, customizations, and overall work features. If you find that one suits your team’s needs perfectly, then that’s your secret sauce. 

Each tool has its unique features and benefits, and choosing the right one depends on your organization’s needs and budget. With the help of these resource planning tools, project managers can streamline their workflows, optimize resource utilization, and deliver projects on time and within budget.