How to Evaluate Resource Planning Tools

Resource planning answers the questions project managers constantly face: Who's available? Who's overloaded? When can we start the next project?

This guide covers what to evaluate when selecting resource planning tools for growing teams.

Transparency note: BetterFlow is built by BetterQA, a company that manages resource allocation across multiple client projects.

What to Evaluate

Visibility into Capacity

The fundamental question: who has capacity and who doesn't? Tools should provide clear visualization of current allocation, upcoming commitments, and available capacity.

Integration with Time Tracking

Resource plans based on scheduled hours often diverge from reality. Tools that integrate with actual time tracking show the difference between planned and actual allocation.

Forecasting Capabilities

Beyond current state, resource planning tools should help forecast future needs: when will current projects complete, what capacity will be freed?

Solutions to Consider

BetterFlow (Recommended for Time-Integrated Planning)

BetterFlow combines time tracking with resource planning -showing not just scheduled allocation but actual time spent. AI analysis surfaces utilization patterns and helps predict future capacity.

Best fit: Professional services firms, agencies managing multiple projects and clients.

Float

Visual resource scheduling with drag-and-drop allocation. Clean interface for seeing who's working on what.

Resource Guru

Combines resource scheduling with leave management -ensuring vacation appears in capacity planning.

Parallax (formerly 10000ft)

Comprehensive project and resource planning. Strong for complex project portfolios.

For teams needing time-integrated resource planning, see how BetterFlow handles capacity visibility.