10 Best Resource Planning Software Tools In 2023

monday.com is a flexible project management and resource management tool designed to help teams communicate and collaborate on any project at scale.

Why I Picked monday: Monday.com provides a bird’s eye view of ongoing projects, timelines, due dates, and available resources and has a simple interface that facilitates proper resource allocation and management. It offers resource planning tools that empower teams to initiate realistic resource planning timelines as well as project ownership assignments and management within minutes.

monday.com provides users with different visualizations to represent important data. This allows individual team members to work on their task assignments according to their preferences. For example, the workload view allows project managers to quickly see who among their staff members has too much or too little on their plate. This enables them to remove or reallocate tasks and resources where necessary.

The platform also allows users to gain valuable insights into their resource capacity so they can plan their resource allocation accordingly and make the necessary adjustments to the project timeline, regardless of where they are. In addition to the resource planning tools, monday.com also provides features like shared documents for real-time collaboration, file management, Gantt charts, multiple dashboards, automation capabilities, and more than five visualization options.

monday Standout Features & Integrations

Features include project management, task scheduling/tracking, resource management, scheduling, budgeting, API, calendar management, Gantt charts, file sharing, time management, email integration, third party plugins, and notifications.

Integrations include project management apps like Slack, Google Drive, Gmail, Google Calendar, Jira, GitHub, Trello, Dropbox, Typeform and many more, accessible through a paid plan with Zapier.

Wrike is a cloud-based project management and resource planning software tool that helps businesses with their project management needs. It provides users with a centralized place to store, share, and collaborate on projects, tasks, and resources. This powerful platform lets users easily plan projects and track their progress in real time. With its intuitive user interface, Wrike helps teams become more productive as they can plan out their tasks more efficiently. Additionally, Wrike’s reporting features offer valuable insights into team performance and the success of different projects.

Why I Picked Wrike: Users can easily manage multiple projects without switching between applications or searching for information in different places. Wrike provides access to real-time analytics that allow teams to monitor the progress of their work by tracking key metrics such as completion rate or due dates. The software allows users to assign tasks and resources based on role or availability so that everyone on the team knows who is responsible for what task ahead of time. Wrike’s interactive calendar interface makes it easy to create, adjust and store events that can be set up as one-time or recurring activities. Its forecasting feature helps companies streamline their project management by predicting what resources will be needed and how they can best be allocated. It allows businesses to analyze resource gaps or conflicts caused by changes in project timelines or team size and identify potential opportunities for future growth.

Wrike offers several collaboration tools that help teams stay organized while working on projects. Its group chat feature allows team members to communicate quickly and easily while staying focused on the task. Its files-sharing feature lets members access documents from any device so they can work together even when they’re not in the same place. Wrike’s discussion boards empower teams by enabling them to provide feedback quickly and effectively without ever leaving the application itself.

Wrike Standout Features & Integrations

Features include project management, task scheduling/tracking, resource management, expense tracking, API, budgeting, Gantt charts, marketing automations, collaboration support, and reporting.

Integrations include 400+ pre-built native integrations, including integrations with the most popular file management software from Microsoft, Google, and Dropbox, along with sales and marketing software from Salesforce and Marketo.

NetSuite ERP is a comprehensive resource planning software solution that empowers organizations to efficiently manage and optimize their critical resources, from financial assets and inventory to human capital and production capacities. This cloud-based platform offers a unified approach to resource planning, seamlessly integrating various business processes, including financial management, supply chain, and workforce management. 

Why I picked NetSuite ERP: NetSuite ERP offers a unique feature that enables businesses to simulate resource allocation scenarios. This 'what-if' modeling allows organizations to test different assumptions and variables, such as changing demand patterns or introducing new products, to assess the feasibility and consequences of various resource allocation strategies. This capability empowers decision-makers to make informed choices that optimize resource capacities while mitigating risks and costs, setting NetSuite apart from competitors that lack this advanced scenario planning tool.

NetSuite ERP distinguishes itself by providing robust capabilities for global resource management. It supports multiple currencies, languages, and tax regulations, making it an excellent choice for businesses with international operations. NetSuite's OneWorld module allows organizations to efficiently manage subsidiaries and divisions in different countries while maintaining consistent processes and data management. This global readiness is a unique aspect of NetSuite that addresses the complex challenges of resource planning on a global scale, setting it apart from many other resource planning software solutions.

NetSuite ERP Standout Features & Integrations

Features include accounts payable and receivable, cash management, billing and invoicing, fixed asset management, tax management, multi-currency accounting, general ledgers, purchase orders, expense tracking, and project accounting.

Integrations include BambooHR, Constant Contact, DealRoom, DocuSign, Domo, Fieldmagic, HubSpot Marketing Hub, Ledgible, Mailchimp, Orange Logic, Project Insight, Recurly, TrueCommerce, Twilio Flex, Zendesk, and other software options.

Parallax is a cloud-based resource planning software tool that gives enterprises visibility into the organization's usage and allocation of their resources. With its intuitive dashboard, users can easily monitor resource utilization in real time and make informed decisions about where they should allocate resources to maximize efficiency. It offers insights into resource trends over time, allowing users to identify areas where resources are being wasted or underutilized.

Why I Picked Parallax: Parallax’s smart algorithms allow users to quickly gain insights into resource utilization by analyzing data from multiple sources, including spreadsheets, databases, and other systems. The data can be visualized on an interactive dashboard which allows users to track performance metrics such as project progress and cost savings.

Parallax’s forecasting feature offers a comprehensive resource planning solution to help businesses increase their efficiency and productivity. This tool leverages advanced forecasting algorithms that analyze historical data and use machine learning techniques to generate accurate forecasts of resource availability. With this feature, businesses can accurately predict the quantity and types of resources they need in the future. They can then use this information to plan for upcoming projects, optimize existing workloads, and develop effective strategies for deploying available resources.

The forecasting capability of Parallax further enables users to anticipate potential risks, allowing for smarter risk management decisions and greater continuity in operations. The resource allocation tools within Parallax include drag-and-drop functionality to make assigning tasks easy and straightforward. Additionally, team members can be selected from pre-defined lists, speeding up the selection process for projects with large teams. With Parallax’s automated tracking capabilities, users can monitor their project’s progress in real time as resources are allocated, and work is completed.

Parallax Standout Features & Integrations

Features include resource management, budgeting, dashboards, notifications, API, data visualizations, external integrations, forecasting, multi-user, and scheduling.

Integrations include Salesforce, Oracle Netsuite, Asana, Slack, Harvest, Hubspot, Microsoft Teams, Jira Software, Tempo, and more.

Productive is a SaaS tool that helps businesses manage their projects, clients, and teams all in one place. It's designed primarily for agencies, consultancies, and other professional service businesses that need a better way to plan resources, track time, and manage their finances.

Why I Picked Productive: I chose Productive as the best resource planning tool for agencies or consultancies because it offers a comprehensive set of features that help you manage team workloads, execute projects, track project time, and invoice your clients. While other resource planning tools typically focus on scheduling, Productive is specifically designed for businesses that need to allocate resources efficiently and keep track of billable hours to make client invoicing easier. Plus, their user interface is clean and easy to navigate, which makes it a pleasure to use.

Productive Standout Features & Integrations

The flexibility of their resource planning module stood out to me since it allows you to allocate team members to projects based on their specific skills, instead of just their availability. You can also see at a glance who's overbooked or underutilized, which helps you make better decisions about workload distribution.

I also appreciate the time-tracking feature, which is integrated into the resource planning module. It helps you track how much time your team is spending on each project so you can make any adjustments as needed.

Lastly, as I mentioned above, their financial features are robust for agency purposes. You can keep track of project budgets, expenses, and invoicing, all in one place, saving you time and making it easier to manage your business's finances. Plus, their integrated budgeting tool helps you monitor your team's activity so you won't go over budget on your projects.

Integrations are available with popular tools like DropBox, Google Workspace, Jira, Outlook, Microsoft Calendar, Slack, QuickBooks, and Xero. And, if you need more integrations, Productive has an API that allows you to connect it with other tools you might be using, or you can hook it up to a paid Zapier account as well.

Kantata is a powerful and versatile resource planning software designed to optimize and streamline various aspects of business operations. By integrating multiple functionalities such as inventory management, production planning, procurement, and customer relationship management, Kantata provides businesses with a comprehensive solution to efficiently manage resources, enhance productivity, and make data-driven decisions. Its user-friendly interface and real-time analytics enable organizations to gain valuable insights, improve collaboration, and achieve operational excellence across the entire supply chain.

Why I Picked Kantata: Kantata sets itself apart from competitors with its advanced predictive analytics capabilities and AI-driven insights. The software utilizes machine learning algorithms to analyze historical data, identify patterns, and predict future trends. This enables businesses to anticipate demand fluctuations, optimize inventory levels, and proactively address potential supply chain disruptions. Kantata's AI-driven insights provide valuable recommendations and actionable suggestions, empowering organizations to make informed decisions that maximize efficiency and minimize risks.

Kantata excels in handling robust, data-rich business intelligence through its sophisticated data management and analysis capabilities. The software seamlessly integrates with various data sources, consolidating diverse datasets from across the organization, including sales, inventory, production, and customer data. Utilizing advanced data warehousing and analytics tools, Kantata efficiently processes and transforms this data into actionable insights. Its intuitive dashboard visualizations provide users with comprehensive views of key performance indicators, trends, and predictive analytics, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions with confidence. With real-time data updates and drill-down capabilities, Kantata empowers users to explore and uncover valuable insights, facilitating agile decision-making and fostering a competitive edge in today's data-driven business landscape.

Kantata Standout Features & Integrations 

Features include task management, resource management, time tracking, communication & collaboration, project dashboards, reporting, file sharing, a mobile app, and third-party integrations.

Integrations include Avalara, Salesforce, NetSuite, Slack, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Quickbooks, Xero, Hubspot, Expensify, Jira Software, Bamboo HR, SAP Concur, and others. 

Meisterplan is a browser-based portfolio-level resource management software with a simple yet intuitive graphic interface. Its primary function is to help users model, view, and manage the work demand for each individual project and measure it against their resource capacity.

Why I picked Meisterplan: It allows you to determine the current and future demands throughout the organization and categorize the demand into appropriate portfolios of work. Additionally, it lets you create what-if portfolio simulations in its drag-and-drop scheduling interface, letting you test the impact of conflict resolutions.

On the resource planning and management side, the software allows you to plan your projects in stages. In the first stage, you can create role-based allocations that act as placeholders and give you a rough estimate of the required resources. The second stage helps you staff those roles with real people in your organization and find them based on their availability, roles, and skills. Finally, you can use the heatmap to view all resource allocations and quickly identify who has more than they can handle.

Meisterplan also offers a scenario planning feature that enables you to model multiple scenarios in real time. This should help provide the data needed to develop more accurate and reliable insights.

Meisterplan Standout Features & Integrations

Features include unlimited users, project portfolio management, role-based allocation, staffing based on skills, import through copy-paste, what-if scenarios, and a team planner.

Integrations include Clarity, Looker, Jira Software, Power BI, ServiceNow, Tableau, Azure, and Excel. You can also connect to thousands of additional apps through Zapier.

Resource Guru simplifies delegating tasks to your team. It has a super-intuitive UI that is easy to use and provides great visibility into project progression and workflow.

Why I Picked Resource Guru: The main benefit of the tool is that it provides full visibility into your team’s capacity so you can plan work and take on only as much as you can complete. With Resource Guru, it’s easy to view your team’s schedules in colorful Gantt charts that provide a clear overview of what everyone’s doing. The software has powerful leave management features, which means you won’t accidentally schedule tasks to unavailable employees.

Resource Guru Standout Features & Integrations

Features include resource scheduling, team management, time tracking, project planning, custom fields, drag and drop interface, real-time reporting, calendar sync, resource utilization reporting, availability scheduling, leave management, email notifications, API integration, and mobile app.

Integrations include Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook Calendar, Apple Calendar, Calendly, and Fantastical. You can use Zapier to connect Resource Guru with 1,500+ apps, though this may incur additional costs.

Hub Planner is a dedicated resource management software with powerful resource planning features. You get access to time tracking via timesheets and the ability to create intuitive reports that show total resource spend.

Why I Picked Hub Planner: Resource managers can schedule work on an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly basis. It’s easy to spot gaps in workload and give people tasks to keep busy. There is also a matching feature that lets you tag employees based on their skill or role, so you can easily find people qualified for the work you have in mind. Another cool feature is the project pipeline. This highlights upcoming work, which is useful for capacity planning. It has a heat map that allows you to identify production gaps quickly.

Hub Planner Standout Features & Integrations

Features include resource management, PTO planning, timesheets, reporting, skills matching, task management, templates, drag and drop scheduler, project budgets, approval flow, smart scheduler, and third-party integrations/add-ons. 

Integrations include DIY options via their Hub Planner API and webhook. Or, open an account with Zapier for more options (may incur an additional cost). 

Birdview PSA is a resource management, planning, and scheduling software with resource management features that will help you with your capacity planning.

Why I picked BirdviewPSA: This tool has everything you need to support your projects through its resource planning center. It allows you to access 3 main views. The first one is planning. This view gives you the option to book resources in advance and ensure your capacity meets the demands. Birdview PSA displays your team's skills and other useful information that will help you make informed decisions.

Then, you have the workflow view. This view shows current projects and resource allocations in real time. The system will automatically color-code for you those resources that are over or under-allocated and allow you to address conflicts with a simple drag-and-drop.

The last view is simulation. In this view you can assess the viability of working on a new project, run scenarios to inform your resource hiring, and create project drafts for a quick start. The simulator also allows you to alter resource allocation percentages and modify team members in case someone becomes over-allocated after you run the sim.

Birdview PSA Standout Features & Integrations

Features include 250+ ready-to-use dashboards and reports for business intelligence, including templates for executive summaries, project scorecards, demand projections, and expected vs actual budgets. It also has many features outside of resource management and can help you with project financials through time tracking and accounting integrations that will help you invoice clients.

Integrations include 2000+ pre-built connectors, including MS Teams, Jira, Adobe, Hubspot, Salesforce, Slack, Zoom, Olark, TimeCamp, Xero, and Invision. Additionally, you can connect to 5000+ apps using Zapier and Workato. Both of these need you to have a paid plan with them.