4 tools of assignment compared (Excel, ERP, internal tool, dedicated tool): which one to choose for your company?

Which assignment software should you choose when starting out in project management? It's very important to choose a software solution that's intuitive, collaborative and adapted to your business. Here, we take a look at 4 of the assignment tools that companies use on a daily basis. 

Excel: looks easy at first, but…

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Excel is part of the Microsoft Office package, bundled with the office tools such as Word, PowerPoint and Outlook. It is a spreadsheet application in which you can create pivot tables, set up calculation formulas, display charts and build databases.  

Benefits

• Extremely flexible tool when mastered
• Unlimited database
• Data can be structured & cross-referenced in dynamic tables

Disadvantages

• Lack of information transparency
• Risk of human error and no change history
• No data security (safeguarding & privacy)
• Non collaborative

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On its own, Excel is a great first tool for any company just starting out: assignment. But as soon as you have more than 30 employees, the tool quickly becomes time-consuming.

ERP: a powerful tool for resource management?  

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ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. It is a software solution that manages all the data within a company. It includes the whole value chain, as well as inventory and transport.  

Benefits

• Structured and unlimited database
• Fast and easy data updates
• All company data is included, from design to production, transport and sales‍

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Disadvantages

• No detailed employee profiles
• Software often outdated, with few updates and little personalised customer service
• Limited collaboration: project team members cannot be notified
• No information on resources and teams’ capacity
• No global access to teams or employees. Can lead to frustration and data discrepancies

An ERP tool includes many parameters, but is not intended to be a tool for assignment. It should only be used by companies with fewer than 5 employees - and even then... 

Proprietary solution: economical and efficient?

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The creation of an internal assignment tool relies on the acquisition of highly competent teams to set up a custom tool. The idea is very attractive, since it is the assurance of a tool in perfect coherence with the prerogatives of the company.

Benefits

• A tailor-made, fully flexible tool
• Teams dedicated to its continuous improvement
• Functionalities perfectly adapted to the company

Disadvantages

• If there is turnover in the development team, employees will leave with their knowledge and expertise
• Setting up and mobilising teams to maintain the solution is very expensive
• The development team is no longer available for billable assignments

Developing your own tool will consume a lot of your time and requires a substantial budget to develop and to maintain.

Resource management software: the reference

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A tool of assignment aims to help you to pilot all your projects, via the mapping of competences of the collaborators - staffers for the intimate ones. It allows you, in a few clicks, to establish the best possible project teams. 

Benefits

• Comprehensive platform: can be updated quickly and the editor can be asked for advice
• User-friendly tool
• Fully collaborative tool
• Easy communication: colleagues and team members can be notified and alerted

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Disadvantages

• It is not a proprietary tool. Make sure you get good customer service
• Some features may be missing at the beginning. Inquire about them on an initial call or ask for a custom quote.  

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A dedicated assignment tool is the best solution for your company.. You get a solution that's ergonomic and in tune with your business. You can concentrate on your core business, using a platform that already has all the expected functionalities.

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Would you like to find out more? We've got plenty of resources to help you go further.

In addition to this topic, read our article article "Choisir son logiciel de assignment : top 7 des critères indispensables en 2023".

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See also our guides, templates and checklists in the Resources tab.

See you soon at Napta!