Traditional project management tools are great for waterfall and work breakdown structure (WBS) planning methods but lack the ability to combine the detailed project plans with resource availability. Tempus Resource can turn those detailed plans into resource forecasts that looks at project demands, the roles and skills needed, the capacity of the people with those roles and skills, and the availability to allocate specific people to the project. Tempus Resource integrates with all traditional project, Agile, HR, and task management tools. Whether it’s through our open REST API or through a native integration, organizations using Tempus Resource have a full picture into the enterprise’s projects – regardless of who is using what PM tool. Organizations can bring in projects from multiple sources to make sure their resource plan is accurate, complete, and relevant to the entire organization.

Benefits of Integrating Tempus Resource with traditional Project Management (PM) Tools

Tempus can connect to any PM platform where export is available. Common project management integrations with Tempus Resource include Microsoft Project, SmartSheet, Oracle Project Management, SAP Enterprise Resource Planning, and ServiceNow. These platforms excel at detailed task planning, project management, and Gantt chart visualization, while Tempus Resource provides advanced resource management, forecasting, and capacity planning.

Here is how integrating a traditional project management tool with Tempus Resource can enhance resource management and project success:

1. Streamlined Data Synchronization:
   • Sync project schedules and resource allocations between your PM tool and Tempus Resource for real-time updates across both platforms.
   • Use bi-directional integration to ensure changes in one system reflect automatically in the other.
2. Advanced Scenario Planning:
   • Simulate “what-if” scenarios in Tempus Resource using data from your PM tool to analyze the impact of schedule changes, new projects, or resource reassignments.
3. Detailed Resource Insights:
   • Gain visibility into resource utilization, conflicts, and capacity gaps with Tempus Resource’s analytics tools, complementing your PM tool’s task-focused approach.
4. Skill-Based Assignments:
   • Leverage Tempus Resource to match employee skills with project demands in your PM tool, reducing mismatches and inefficiencies.
5. Future Resource Forecasting:
   • Forecast long-term resource needs and capacity constraints in Tempus Resource using project data, allowing you to make educated decisions on future work.
6. Portfolio-Level Resource Management:
   • Centralize resource planning across multiple portfolios with Tempus Resource, ensuring efficient allocation across all departments.
7. Enhanced Visual Reporting:
   • Use Tempus Resource’s dashboards to visualize resource metrics and project health, providing stakeholders with clear insights into challenges and opportunities.
8. Optimized Multi-Methodology Planning:
   • Scenario planning and modeling capabilities allow you to visualize the impact of resource allocation decisions across different project types and timelines, which is key for organizations who are operating with a blend of Agile, waterfall, and hybrid methodologies.
   • Prioritize high-impact projects by redistributing resources based on Tempus Resource’s capacity insights.
9. Data-Driven Time Management:
   • Track actual versus planned time on tasks and refine future schedules using Tempus Resource insights.
10. Data-Driven Workforce Planning
    • With project plans and resource forecasts in Tempus, PM and resource management leaders can work with HR and finance teams to make strategic upskilling and hiring decisions.

Implementation Steps:

1. Configure Integration: Set up seamless data exchanges between your project management tool and Tempus Resource, ensuring accuracy and consistency.
2. Define Key Processes: Establish clear guidelines for managing project data in your PM tool to ensure clean data flows into Tempus Resource.
3. Provide Training: Educate project managers and resource planners on leveraging Tempus Resource for scenario planning, analytics, and forecasting.
4. Monitor and Refine: Regularly review integration performance and optimize workflows for evolving project demands.

By combining your project management tool’s scheduling and task management capabilities with Tempus Resource’s advanced resource management tools, you’ll achieve deeper insights into resource challenges, streamline planning, and drive better project outcomes. This integration ensures that resource constraints are proactively addressed, enabling your team to deliver projects on time and within budget.

Read more about how effective resource management can help your organization achieve its goals and what to look for in a resource management solution with our Buyers’ Guide for Resource Management. To learn more about how Tempus Resource can help with your resource management needs, see Tempus Resource in action with one of our use case-specific demos. If you would like a customized demo for your organization, you can reach out to us.