In today’s fast-paced business environment, effective resource management is crucial for organizations to optimize their operations and achieve their goals efficiently.

Resource management software and planning tools come into play when there are difficulties in effectively allocating resources, including human resources, equipment, and materials, across various projects.

To help businesses overcome these resource management challenges, we created this list of the best resource management software and resource planning tools.

Better collaboration and communication among team members are key to a successful business and these seven tools are here to help.

What are resource management software and planning tools?

Resource management software and planning tools are technological solutions designed to assist organizations in managing and optimizing resources effectively.

This software and tools offer a centralized platform or system where businesses can track, allocate, and plan the utilization of their resources across various projects.

They typically cover features and functionalities that are useful in terms of resource planning, scheduling, allocation, and monitoring.

Benefits of resource planning tools

The main benefits of using resource management software and resource planning tools are:

• improve efficiency
• enhance productivity
• effective resource planning
• reduce costs
• better project outcomes

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The 8 best resource management software and tools

1. Monday.com

Monday.com is one of the most used resource planning tools that streamline collaboration and project management for teams of all sizes. It offers users a visual and intuitive platform with a wide range of features and customization options.

It’s a tool that suits different industries including marketing, software development, construction, creative agencies, event management, and more. It serves well for organizations of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, as it can be tailored to meet specific workflow requirements.

With Monday.com users can create custom boards to fit their specific needs using the drag-and-drop interface that allows easy customization and organization of tasks. It’s a platform that prioritizes collaboration with features such as file sharing, real-time updates, mentions, and notifications.

Users can communicate, provide feedback, and collaborate seamlessly within the platform, which also offers remote employee time tracking, reporting, and analytics tools to monitor project progress.

There is one identified downside because while Monday.com provides various pricing plans, some businesses may find it relatively more expensive compared to other project management tools on the market, especially for larger teams or organizations with complex needs.

Automation and integrations are also limited to certain plans. The pricing starts at 8$ per user, per month, with additional costs for advanced features and customization options. They also offer enterprise-level plans for larger organizations with specific requirements.

TIP: Get to know the best Monday.com time-tracking integration.

2. Wrike

Wrike is a comprehensive project management and collaboration software that presents robust features and a user-friendly interface.

It also caters to a wide range of industries and teams of different sizes seeking efficient project planning and resource management. It’s suitable for marketing teams, creative agencies, IT departments, and project managers, posing as reliable software for remote teams.

The platform allows teams to create tasks, set priorities, and assign responsibilities via an intuitive interface and customizable task views, providing interactive Gantt charts. This feature helps project managers plan resources, identify critical paths, and manage project schedules effectively.

Integrate Wrike with a Timeular to gather insights on your team’s productivity levels

Wrike Time Tracking

Wrike is very useful for remote workers/teams for its real-time document collaboration feature. It has a very data-driven approach, facilitated by reporting and analytical capabilities, and integrates with various third-party tools and platforms including, for example, Slack and Microsoft Teams, two of the best team communication apps in the business world.

It can, however, be somewhat complicated for smaller or more straightforward projects that require less extensive project management features.

There is a limited free plan that can be used as a tryout, and paid plans start at around 10$ per user per month (Team plan) or around 25 dollars per user per month (Business plan). Customizable options are possible by contacting the Wrike team.

3. Runn

Runn is a resource and capacity planning software that helps businesses effectively manage their projects, teams, and resources.

It’s worth highlighting its intuitive interface since Runn is particularly beneficial for companies that rely heavily on project-based work, such as consulting firms, creative agencies, software development teams, and professional services organizations.

Businesses of any size can benefit from Runn’s features, from small startups to large enterprises. This tool allows the complete visualization of the team’s workload, ensuring that resources are appropriately allocated and utilized.

It’s also possible to track employee availability, assign tasks, and balance workloads to avoid overburdening individuals or leaving others idle. As with other tools, Runn also allows the definition of task dependencies, a major pro in project management.

The tool integrates with other popular project management tools such as Asana, Trello, or Jira, allowing you to synchronize data seamlessly and avoid duplication of efforts. It also offers integrations with accounting software such as Xero and QuickBooks, facilitating the smooth transfer of financial information between systems.

Aside from this Runn also includes financial tracking and forecasting features providing valuable insights into project profitability. Its reporting capabilities are robust and detailed, including critical insights into project performance and resource utilization.

On a less positive note, while it provides a wide range of features and functionalities, some businesses may find the level of customization options limited. Certain specific requirements or unique workflows may not be accommodated by the software. Training for using it is advised.

Runn offers different pricing plans to suit the varying needs of businesses. There is a free plan, that allows for five people to be managed. The Pro plan costs 8$ per month, per person managed. There is also an Enterprise option, customizable according to the company’s needs.

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4. Teamdeck

As one of the most versatile and best tools for resource management and planning on the market, Teamdeck helps efficiently manage resources, schedules, and projects.

It offers a comprehensive set of tools and features to streamline workforce management, enabling organizations to optimize resource allocation, track team time and attendance, and enhance collaboration across workers (and teams).

Teamdeck is particularly valuable for businesses that rely on resource management, such as consulting firms, creative agencies, IT services providers, and organizations with distributed teams.

In terms of resource management, the tool provides a visual resource scheduling feature that enables users to view and adjust resource allocations easily.

Teamdeck offers features for time logging, leave management, and availability tracking, providing project managers features to help you plan, track, and collaborate on projects. It’s a very visual tool, allowing the creation of project timelines, assigning tasks to team members, and monitoring project progress in real-time.

This enhances collaboration and ensures that everyone is aligned with project goals. Timedeck’s reports provide valuable insights for better and quick decision-making, helping you optimize resource allocation, identify bottlenecks, and improve overall productivity.

This resource management software also allows integration with project management tools such as Trello, Asana, and Jira, and calendar applications like Google Calendar and Outlook, facilitating efficient scheduling and resource allocation.

Teamdeck may require a learning curve for those who are not familiar with its interface and features. The plan Basic Resource starts at 0.9$ per month, with some limitations, and the Team Member plan starts at 3.60$ per month.

Read also: The different types of employee absence

5. Resource Guru

Resource Guru is a top resource planning tool designed to help businesses effectively allocate and manage their workforce and equipment.

This is a tool that mostly benefits organizations that rely heavily on resource management, such as:

• creative agencies
• consulting firms
• event management companies
• software development teams
• businesses of all sizes: from small startups to large enterprises

Resource Guru stands out for its user-friendly interface that allows users to easily schedule and assign resources to projects, tasks, or specific time slots.

This tool helps to perform one of the main project manager responsibilities: planning. It allows the project manager to view resource availability, book or reschedule appointments, and ensure that resources are utilized optimally.

Adding to this, the software enables seamless collaboration among team members by providing a centralized platform where they can access schedules, make updates, and communicate effectively. This promotes transparency and improves coordination across projects and teams.

Resource Guru also sends automated notifications and reminders to keep team members informed about their upcoming schedules, changes of schedule, etc., to reduce scheduling conflicts.

It’s possible to integrate Resource Guru with project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp, enabling seamless data synchronization and coordination between systems.

While it does provide a solid set of resource management features, some businesses may find the lack of advanced functionalities, such as advanced reporting or customization options as a limitation.

When companies choose to pay yearly, plans start at 4.16$ per person, per month (Grasshopper plan). The Blackbelt and Master plans go for 6.65$ and 10$ per user per month. To each plan, it’s also possible to add non-human resources.

6. GanttPRO

GanttPRO is an online project and resource management software that specializes in creating and managing Gantt charts. It allows businesses to plan, schedule, and track their projects visually and intuitively.

This tool is particularly interesting for businesses involved in project-based industries such as construction, software development, marketing agencies, event planning, and product manufacturing, catering to teams of all sizes.

As the name indicates, GanttPRO enables users to create dynamic Gantt charts that visualize project milestones, timelines, and dependencies. This visual representation helps teams understand project progress and allocate resources according to their necessities.

The software allows the user to create and assign tasks to team members, set deadlines, and track progress. It includes other features such as comments and notifications for team collaboration, as well as the possibility to assign resources to tasks, track resource availability, and balance workloads.

GanttPRO integrates with popular tools such as Jira, Asana, and Trello, allowing teams to synchronize data seamlessly between platforms and with file storage and sharing services like Google Drive and Dropbox, facilitating easy access to project-related documents and files.

This tool offers a rich set of features, which can result in a steep learning curve for new users, taking some precious time to get used to.

The Basic plan at GanttPRO starts at 7.99$ per user per month, with more advanced packages going for 12.99$ (PRO) and 19.99$ (Business), also per user per month.

Summing up, GanttRO is one of the best online project management software you can use.

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7. ClickUp

ClickUp is a reliable team management software and collaboration platform designed to help teams streamline their workflows and manage tasks.

It offers a wide range of tools and functionalities to facilitate not only project management actions and communication among the team and with clients.

It’s suitable for teams and businesses of all sizes and industries, including software development, marketing, creative agencies, remote teams, and any organization that requires effective task and project management.

With ClickUp it’s possible to allow teams to create, assign, and track tasks easily, set due dates, priorities, and assignees, add attachments, and set dependencies to ensure smooth task progression.

It’s also possible to create project hierarchies, set milestones, and track project progress using Gantt charts or Kanban boards.

ClickUp prides itself on its robust collaboration features, including comments, file attachments, and real-time chat. The tool allows the user to automate repetitive tasks and workflows, saving time and increasing company efficiency.

Custom automation can be created based on triggers and actions, such as sending notifications or updating statuses.

ClickUp integrates with numerous tools and platforms, including Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Drive, Trello, and Asana.

On the other side of the spectrum, it’s important to note that ClickUp’s wide range of features and options may be overwhelming for small and simple projects that require minimal management.

It is best suited for complex projects or teams that require advanced functionalities. There is a completely free plan that can be used forever but is limited to 100 MB of storage. Paid plans start at 5$ per user per month (Unlimited), with the Business plan costing 12$ per user per month. For Enterprise solutions, the ClickUp team must be contacted.

Read also: How to track time in ClickUp

8. Smartsheet

Widely used as a project cost management software, Smartsheet is a cloud-based collaboration tool and one of the best project and resource management software.

It provides a flexible and intuitive platform for managing tasks, projects, and workflows, allowing businesses to streamline their operations and drive productivity.

As a tool, Smartsheet is suitable for a wide range of industries and teams, including:

• marketing
• construction
• IT
• operations
• project management

This resource planning tool is a solution that caters to businesses of all sizes, from small teams to large companies.

Smartsheet offers a wide range of project and task management features, allowing teams to create and assign tasks as well as set deadlines, and track their progress. It’s possible to establish dependencies, set priorities, and visualize project timelines using Gantt charts or Kanban boards.

With Smartsheet it’s possible to track resource availability, assign resources to tasks, and balance workloads to avoid major discrepancies between team members.

Some features facilitate seamless collaboration and communication among team members, from sharing files, and adding comments, to requesting updates within tasks or sheets, ensuring everyone stays informed and aligned. Reporting and analytics are also valuable additions.

However, these extensive features may be overwhelming for users who are new to project management software. Adequate training and support may be required to maximize its potential and ensure smooth adoption. It’s also important to note that its customization capabilities are limited.

Smartsheet offers a free plan, limited to only one user. From here, the Pro Plan costs 6$ per user per month (for a maximum of 10 users), and the Business Plan goes 22$ per user per month (minimum of 3 users). For a larger scale plan, there as customized options.

TIP: If you want to maximize your team productivity, start by doing an employee workload analysis.

Resource management software comparison

What should businesses look for in a resource planning tool

When selecting a resource planning tool, businesses should consider apps that align with their specific requirements, enhancing good resource management practices, and enabling them to optimize their operations, improve project outcomes, and achieve their goals efficiently.

These are the key factors to look for. Use it as a checklist when searching for the best resource management software and planning tool for your team:

• Resource allocation and scheduling – the tool should provide robust functionality for allocating resources to tasks, projects, or activities and enable efficient scheduling, allowing businesses to assign resources based on availability, skills, and work priorities.
• Real-time visibility – the chosen tool needs to offer real-time visibility into resource availability and utilization. This includes features such as a centralized dashboard or a comprehensive calendar view that displays resource allocations, bookings, and conflicts. It should also allow for quick adjustments when needed.
• Skills tracking – a good resource planning tool should allow businesses to define and track the skills and qualifications of their resources. This ensures that resources with the right expertise are assigned to appropriate tasks.
• Collaboration and communication – look for tools that facilitate collaboration among team members and stakeholders involved in resource planning. There should be certain features readily available like commenting, notifications, and task-specific discussions that can enhance team coordination.
• Integration with project management tools – consider a resource planning tool that integrates seamlessly with existing project management software used by the organization. This allows for smooth data exchange and synchronization between resource planning and project execution.
• Reporting and analytics – the tool should also provide robust reporting and analytics capabilities to track resource utilization and monitor performance. Having visibility over this data helps with decision-making, identifies bottlenecks, and helps optimize resource allocation and project planning.
• Customization capabilities – consider whether the tool can scale and adapt to the growing needs of the business. It should accommodate different team sizes, project complexities, and industry-specific requirements.
• Training and support available – when choosing the best resource planning tool consider the availability of training resources, documentation, and customer support provided by the vendor. Adequate training and reliable support can assist businesses in onboarding and maximizing the tool’s potential, addressing any issues or questions that may arise.

Conclusion

Effective resource management is crucial for organizations to optimize their operations and achieve their goals efficiently and as we saw, there are many options in the market for all sorts of industries and types of businesses and companies.

The resource management software and tools discussed in this article offer valuable solutions to address the challenges of resource allocation and planning needs across various projects.

They offer a wide range of features and functionalities, including task and project management, resource allocation and scheduling, collaboration and communication tools, reporting and analytics capabilities, and integration options with popular project management and communication tools.

As each tool is different and caters to different industries, team sizes, and project demands, remember to get as acquainted as possible with each before making a final choice.

If you don’t know how to choose the best resource planning tool for your company, have a second look at our list and consider factors such as resource allocation and scheduling capabilities, real-time visibility, skills tracking, etc.

From Monday.com’s visual and customizable platform to Runn’s intuitive interface for project-based work, businesses can find a resource management tool that suits their specific needs.

Whether it’s Wrike’s comprehensive project management features, Teamdeck’s focus on resource and schedule management, or GanttPRO’s specialization in Gantt charts, these tools offer flexibility and versatility.

Resource Guru’s emphasis on efficient resource allocation, ClickUp’s wide range of project management and collaboration tools, and Smartsheet’s cloud-based platform for managing tasks and workflows further contribute to effective resource management.

You might be interested in:

• How to create a schedule for employees
• Project management time tracking
• Strategies to avoid overloading a team
• QuicksBooks time tracking integration
• Unbeatable project management techniques
• How to estimate project hours
• Top project management courses

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