Resource management: create my own software or use existing software?
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Estelle Barthés
Content manager
November 9, 2023
7 min.
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If there's one category of tasks that's essential to the smooth running of your consulting firm, alongside customer assignments, it's those related to resource management.
That's why using a specific tool to manage your resources is such a good idea. But what's the right choice between existing solutions and designing your own? Find out with Napta !
Creating a tailor-made software solution for your resource management may seem like the Holy Grail. At the same time, it's a tempting option because it offers you a solution that perfectly matches the needs of your IT services companies or consulting firm. Your team can build an entire ecosystem that perfectly matches your workflows and integrates all your tools (ERP, CRM, etc.), going beyond the . assignment.
Does your company have unique reporting processes or irregular project cycles? Design the solution of your dreams, built specifically to accommodate these nuances! This custom software option has obvious advantages when compared to a standardized platform which, by its very nature, cannot be fully aligned with your particularities.
Direct control over functionality and updates offer unprecedented agility. If a company needs to comply with new regulations or adapt its services, it can tailor its software without having to wait for an update from the supplier. This degree of autonomy reduces dependency and offers appreciable flexibility in a fast-changing business environment.
But isn't it always worth it? Does this picture reflect the reality of companies that have chosen to develop their own assignment platform?
Do the benefits of a customized tool justify the heavy initial investment and complexity of integration?
Since you may work in the technology sector yourself, it should come as no surprise that the development of custom software often involves considerable expense and time.
This involves the mobilization of skilled engineers, a meticulous scoping phase, followed by the complete development and testing cycle - a costly and time-consuming process.
A not inconsiderable part ofIT services companies 's initial budget is therefore encumbered, for concrete benefits that may be slow to appear.
At IT services companies, each update or patch involves hours of engineering work, a cost that existing solutions absorb internally. This translates into significant additional costs.
This additional complexity diverts the company's attention and human resources from its strategic objectives.
Although it's common practice for consulting firms to allocate a proportion of their resources to in-house projects, these resources would be just as well-suited to serving your customers, and therefore your sales.
IT services companies and consulting firms rarely use a single tool. Using different platforms can lead to integration problems with custom resource management software. Some applications may not be compatible with your assignment platform, or may synchronize imperfectly with your tool.
So it's up to you to keep abreast of any changes in the third-party tools used by your team and the associated api ( application programming interface).
Resource management software already in use achieves economies of scale, as suppliers offer their solutions to a large number of companies. This makes it possible to benefit from advanced functionalities at a reduced cost.
A IT services companies thus avoids the heavy initial expense of in-house development.
That's what Napta offers. Our resource management solution consists of several stand-alone modules, each delivering distinct yet complementary benefits. Depending on your needs, you simply select the appropriate modules (assignmentproject management, reporting, etc.) and control your budget.
As integration with third-party tools is one of the main values sought by IT services companies and consulting firms, assignment software is generally built to be compatible with the main CRM, ERP and other professional tools essential to your resource management.
This compatibility is reinforced as the solution develops and asnew external software becomes available. Thanks to continuous monitoring and regular updates, the resource management software evolves and becomes compatible with an ever-increasing number of tools, offering new resource management functionalities, reinforced security standards, etc...
... all included in your software subscription.
But since a tool is sometimes not enough, turning to a dedicated resource management platform offers the enormous advantage of access to their technical support teams, who can at least resolve bugs or even help you adapt your usage to your specific use cases .
Opting for an existing resource management solution enables IT services companies and consulting firms to refocus their teams on crucial missions such as prospecting, optimizing processes and customer relations, managing organizational change, etc.
Software for resource management software offers undeniable advantages, notably enabling you to create a company-specific ecosystem designed exclusively to meet your needs.
But developing your own assignment resource management tool is both costly and time-consuming. If an update or bug correction is needed, the developers' reactivity can be more or less optimal. A customized resource management tool may also present conflicts with other systems (CRM, ERP, etc.) during integration.
In contrast, existing resource management software is scalable and affordable. Their prices are more attractive, as development costs are shared between all the companies using the solution. Updates are carried out on a regular basis, at no extra cost, with technical support available when needed.
And in this age of ultra-fast technological advances, existing solutions are sufficiently modular to adapt to the needs of any company, from small teams to the largest consultancies, reducing the need to invest in the development of a bespoke tool.
See you soon at Napta!
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