The 13 Best Project Scheduling Tools

Do you want to set up effective project management ? Start by choosing high-performance tools that are tailored to the needs of the project. 

Indeed, project planning software establishes an optimal working environment in order to respect the budget, the delivery schedule, and the customer's expectations.

More generally, project management tools help you boost your productivity and ensure the success of your project.

In this article, we provide you with a list of features to consider when choosing your project scheduling  software . In addition, we list the main tools available to meet specific needs.

What features to look for in project scheduling software?

The choice of project scheduling software must be strategic and based on several criteria such as:

• the size of the team; 
• the price; 
• integration with existing tools; 
• learning time;
• the features offered.

We will therefore review the different features necessary to manage a project effectively.

The resource management part

The importance of selecting and allocating resources

Good resource management is essential to the success of a project.

This is because you need to make sure that you have the resources you need to develop the project and that they are distributed efficiently.

This implementation will help you develop your project in the best conditions and will also give you visibility on training and recruitment needs. 

Features to consider

Here are the key features to consider when choosing a project planning tool to enable a Management of the resource planning Optimal :
 

• assistance with resource selection and optimization,
• Workload planning (prevention of overload and underload)
• management of schedules and availability,
• Measurement of time spent on tasks.

The project monitoring component

The chosen project scheduling tool should offer effective reporting features such as:

• the implementation of dashboards,
• Creation of progress reports, 
• Performance analysis and comparison. 

Strategic management and steering

In addition, a project management tool should also give you a global view of the rest of the company's projects.

Indeed, it will help you define your strategy in terms of portfolio management, or even programs. 

This will give you all the information you need to prioritize the different projects within the company.

Other criteria

Inter-team communication and coordination

Project management software should also allow for smooth communication so that teams collaborate easily.

This allows you to be clear about the expected objectives and responsibilities of each person. 

Here are the main communication features to look for in project scheduling software :

• comment management,
• a flow of discussions, 
• instant chats,
• task assignment.

Integration with other tools

Finally, you need to make sure that the project scheduling tool you choose integrates seamlessly with your other tools already in place. 

Indeed, software implementation is costly in terms of time and manpower, so it is essential to check that connections can be made quickly and without incurring too much expense.

Which project scheduling tool should you choose? 

This comparison of project scheduling tools was designed to help you choose the management software best suited to your needs and your business strategy.

Software focused on profitability

Stafiz, an adaptable all-in-one platform to manage the business

Stafiz enables service, consulting and IT Services manage and maximize their business.

Indeed, Stafiz is an all-in-one project planning tool, which integrates the various components necessary for effective project management. 

Profitability is central and this software offers features specially designed for the sale of projects. 

• The implementation of a provisional budget according to the sales method

Do you sell your projects on a fixed price? In the control room? 

The budget allocation in your project schedule will be different depending on the answer.

Stafiz recognizes these subtleties and takes them into account to generate tailored financial forecasts based on your planning choices. 

 

• Visibility on the remaining work to be done and margins

 

Essential for the smooth running of a project, monitoring progress, and in particular the work still to be produced, brings more context to your margin monitoring.

 

You have all the keys in hand to achieve your objectives and remain proactive in your planning.

This solution also includes other features to enable the management of the resource planning and the management of the activity such as:

• profile search,
• Assigning resources to tasks or projects.
• Entering and tracking timesheets
• the management of absences and availability, 
• Performance analytics reports.

🔎 Why choose Stafiz?

For an easy-to-use, all-in-one platform with dedicated features for project, portfolio, and program management. 

Task-based project management software

Monday, a platform to simplify work processes

Monday allows you to establish an action plan based on the company's strategic objectives.

This tool offers features such as:

• task management,
• Goal management,
• Kanban board views, 
• automations.

But also features for managing resources, portfolios or requests and approvals.

🔎 Why choose Monday? 

For its flexibility and ability to customize workflows.

Asana, an AI-powered work management platform

Asana is also a relatively comprehensive platform, which focuses on work management by offering the following features:

• task and project management,
• different project views, 
• Custom fields.
• time tracking, 

• Task automation rules.
• group actions,

• creating templates,
• resource management. 

🔎 Why choose Asana? 

For its many integrations and focus on AI (facilitates the development of workflows, project management, and goals)

ClickUp, the platform that brings together the entire project lifecycle

ClickUp helps structure project teams and optimize processes. 

In addition, this tool allows you to organize all activities around project management: 

• time tracking,
• definition of objectives,
• creating reports with AI, 
• time estimation, 
• Reporting
• Breaking down tasks into checklists. 

🔎 Why Choose ClickUp?

For its flexibility and customization capabilities, automations, templates and integrations. 

Gladys, an activity, project and strategic plan management tool

Gladys allows you to manage the activity through 3 modules, activity, project and strategic plan management. 

Its main features are: 

• Consolidation of data in tabular form, possible in different views,
• the possibility of building a workspace adapted to the project,
• Sharing individual, team and company actions.

🔎 Why choose Gladys? 

For its efficiency as well as its division of tasks and objectives into several levels: individual or in teams.

Specialized HR planning software

The following project planning tools focus on the HR aspect to facilitate the management of leave, payroll, time clocking, and team planning.

In addition to the classic Workday and Payfit, here are more specific tools for different needs.

Staff Planning, the resource management tool

Staff Planning is aimed at VSEs, SMEs and groups in the construction, industry and nuclear sectors.

This project planning tool offers features such as: 

• anticipation of fluctuations in activity by skills, 
• The possibility for each employee to clock in, consult his schedule, and make absence requests.

🔎 Why Choose Staff Planning? 

To facilitate the organization of companies with a lot of employee travel to manage, the management of temporary workers and the need to clock in.

Combo, the scheduling and personnel management software

Combo helps simplify human resources, from planning to payroll.

This tool includes the following features: 

• staff planning,
• payroll preparation,
• distribution of pay slips,
• HR document management,
• management of leave and absences,
• digital time clock,
• electronic signature tool,
• tracking of ratios.

🔎 Why choose Combo? 

To integrate national collective agreements and constraints related to employment contracts and for industries such as hotels or restaurants.

Factorial, the all-in-one human resources platform

Factorial makes it possible to centralize and automate all information related to human resources. 

It includes features such as: 

• time management (absences, time spent tracking, schedule management),
• talent management (performance, recruitment, onboarding & offboarding, training),
• payroll management (electronic signature and organization),
• finance (expense reports).

🔎 Why choose Factorial? 

To automate processes, for its large number of integrations and customization features. 

Software tailored to specific industries

Some industries, such as hotels, restaurants and technical teams, have specific needs. 

• IT & Agile Development: Jira

Ideal for setting up development with the agile methodology, this project planning tool is often used by technical web development teams.

Indeed, it allows you to list and organize tasks in the form of a Kanban board and allows many integrations. 

• Industry: Procore

This software is dedicated to project planning in construction to maximize efficiency, safety, and profitability. It adapts to various profiles in this industry. 

An alternative to Procore is Fieldwire, which also specializes in construction project planning for specialty companies, building owners, and engineering firms. 

There is bound to be a project planning tool that suits your needs. While it may be tempting to choose the software with the most features available, take the time to select the ones that are essential to you and meet your needs. 

Indeed, a project management tool is expensive and its selection must be done in a thoughtful way. Especially since there are dedicated tools depending on the industry. 

Thus, consider the features, price, learning time and integration capabilities before making your choice.