Managing your resources is the most complex task while dabbling in multiple projects. This becomes even tougher while working with distributed teams or working in a remote mode. A workforce management software is a tool that comes in handy in such scenarios. However, choosing the right workforce management software that has features to enable you to manage your employees and monitor their productivity in a dynamic and complicated business environment is a must. So, read on to find the top features that you should look for in such a tool.
Features of a Workforce Management Software
1.A bird’s-eye view of the organization’s resource pool
A workforce management software displays the larger picture of all the employees in the company. If you need to look at the resource database, such a tool offers you a quick snapshot. You can avoid going through multiple long spreadsheets or data files to find the right people for a particular task. You can also log into a resource scheduling software to check the resources who are over-booked or the ones who are all under-utilized in just one view.
2.Drag and drop feature for planning
With workforce management software like eResource Scheduler, you can use the drag and drop feature to restructure the workload and design a balanced plan. You can just drag and drop the available resources who fit the requirement on the needed timeline of your project. You can also look for features in a resource scheduling software such as extend-shorten, precise split, and availability indicator that help to simplify the resource scheduling process. The drag and drop functionality enables efficient resource planning for your projects in lesser time and effort.
3.Customization options
Other than that, you should also look for a workforce management software that offers customization options. Such a feature allows you to add categories, various design custom views, etc. depending on your requirements. A tool like eResource Scheduler provides custom fields, which can be used to enter a description for your resources. You can also make other customizations as needed and as are suitable for the business.
4.Tracking resource utilization in real-time
You may have multiple resources aligned on a project; however, that does not ensure better productivity. So, the key question is, how to utilize your resources optimally for billable work and make sure that they use their time and effort on productive tasks? You may have scenarios where some employees are on the bench or other team members are not fully utilised. Having said that, monitoring all this is quite tough. Hence, look for a tool that helps you to track resource utilization in real-time. If you opt for a tool such as eResource Scheduler, the project managers can keep a tab on the productivity of the employees and also ensure that they are utilised optimally without being under or overbooked.
5.Confidentiality regarding user access rights
This is yet another important feature to look out for. Advanced resource scheduling software such as eResource Scheduler has multiple screens, custom-defined fields, and groupings that provide flexibility regarding user access rights. Because of this, businesses can define the level of access they wish to provide to each employee or user depending on their roles and requirements. Advance access rules permit them to categorize all the data according to their structure and ensure maintaining data confidentiality besides conforming to the requirements.
6.Gantt charts for efficient resource scheduling
The Gantt chart view of a resource management tool shows you the availability of all the staff. This view also displays which projects are assigned to each employee. With this, the project managers are able to easily identify the best people who have availability and expertise for a task or project. Gantt charts also showcase the data and information in a simple and easy to understand manner. This view provides a quick snapshot of project status, what your employees are working on, and if your projects are on schedule.
7.Multiple filters to find the required data
Many advanced cloud-based tools offer a resource scheduling chart that displays a resource, project, and role view. The team leads or managers can easily create their scheduling views in just a few simple steps. They can also use multiple advanced filters to identify the most appropriate and skilled resources for a particular project. If your team is operating across various locations or geographies and using different calendars, then choosing a workforce management software that enables viewing the details of employees such as data on leaves, availability, etc. is very important.
8.Resource overload notification
Cloud-based resource scheduling software like eResource Scheduler flags or highlights if any action of a project manager would lead to over-booking or over-utilising a resource. Thus, if any employee is booked more than the possible capacity, then this software raises a red flag and gives an overload warning. The tool’s scheduling chart also shows the resource overload both in hours and percentage.
9.Possibility to integrate with legacy systems
Finally, one of the most important features is that the resource management software you choose can be seamlessly integrated with legacy systems that your organization is using. Such a tool would ensure configurable Open REST APIs which allows data to be easily imported from your current payroll, HR, or any other systems. Make sure that the tool allows you to select the precise data points that need to be imported and synced. It is also important to check if the tool of your choice can be scaled up or modified depending on your business requirements.
Book a Free Trial of eResource Scheduler Cloud – A Top-Rated Workforce Management Software
If you are looking for a tool that has all these features, just book a free trial of eResource Scheduler and enjoy the advantage of personalized support while configuring it as per the project or business need. Choose the right plan that maps with your business or resource requirement. This top-rated resource scheduling tool has brilliant features such as unlimited projects and bookings, resource request, intuitive interface, gap reporting, timesheet module, and a lot more. So, streamline your workforce management and ensure higher utilization and profitability.
