HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT USING PROJECT ONLINE

Previously we briefly identify some dynamic features of Microsoft Project Online which includes the ability to run capacity planning analysis to maximize resource utilization. The latest versions of Project Online which now deliver a PPM system that includes world class top-down portfolio analysis techniques fully integrated with leading execution-orientated schedule management and resource management capabilities. Now we will dig deeper how you could continue to work smarter with MS Project Online to improve your approach to Resource Management. 

Poor resource management still remains one of the biggest challenges for many organizations. Poor resource management prevents department managers from making informed decisions and executing well-planned strategies, creating inefficient and unstable working environment. The good news is that Microsoft Project Online has evolved and now offers more resource management capability. 

Below are some of the many resource management features that are available in Project Online: 

* Centralized database where you can store project information and result related information 

* Manage the costs on your project. 

* Add resources to your project or to a team's project, such as work resources, material resources and generic resources 

* Manage time schedule and nonworking time such as adding vacation, holidays, medical leave, and other nonworking time into your project schedule. 

* Resource leveling which simply means when people in your project are working on too many assignments at the same time, you can adjust their assignments automatically. 

* You can present resource information graphically using resource usage, sheet, graph, and form views. 

* Resource substitution 

* MS Project Online’s feature availability across Office 365 plans, standalone options, and on-premise solutions and a lot more. 

Project Online Content Pack for Power BI through the Resource Center also offers you with variety of Resource Management centered views that provide real-time visibility. This enables you to quickly assess demand vs capability and to examine resource assignments amongst alternative helpful insights while not the necessity to perform any manual updates. This is a quick overview how your Team resources can be assigned to each project task: the resource manager first adds everyone in the organization who’s available for project work to the Microsoft Project Online Resource Center. Project managers then build their project groups by selecting from this resource pool. With the project team all set, the project manager assigns resources to tasks. Team resources complete their tasks and can use MS Project Online to submit time sheets and progress updates. 

Microsoft Project Online made all the more powerful because it’s all built on-top of SharePoint, the world’s most used collaboration platform. Project managers, Resource Managers and team alike also love Skype for Business integration in Project Online. Through this, inter communication within the organization and with other resources become fast and easy. Anyone can start an instant message or video session when questions, problems and challenges around tasks or any other project matter arises. There are lots more reason for you to be excited with MS Project Online because will continue to evolve through performance, added capabilities and security improvements.