Multi-project management software in SMEs
Rillsoft Project is a multi-project management software for SMEs that need to control several projects, resource bottlenecks, capacities and priorities together. The software supports medium-sized companies in planning project portfolios, checking available resources and making bottlenecks visible before scheduling decisions are made.
When does an SME need multi-project management instead of simple project planning?
Simple project planning is often enough when individual projects are planned in isolation. Multi-project management becomes necessary when several projects compete for the same employees, machines or budgets at the same time and priorities have to be decided. Rillsoft Project combines multi-project management, resource planning and capacity planning for this purpose.
What distinguishes the SME software landscape?
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often have a different software landscape than large enterprises because they typically have limited resources and simpler business processes. Some characteristics typically distinguish the SME software landscape:
Simple and user-friendly software: SMEs typically do not have the resources to implement and maintain complex software. For this reason they often rely on simpler and more user-friendly software solutions that are easy to use.
Cloud-based software: Since SMEs often do not have their own IT infrastructure, they often rely on cloud-based software solutions that allow them to quickly and easily access the software they need without having to worry about maintaining and updating the systems.
Modular software: SMEs often only need certain functions and features in their daily work. They therefore often rely on modular software solutions that allow them to use only the functions they really need.
Flexible and adaptable software: SMEs often need software that can be quickly adapted to new requirements and business processes. They therefore often rely on flexible and customizable software solutions.
Cost-efficient software: SMEs often have limited budgets for software investments. They therefore often rely on cost-effective software solutions that support their business processes efficiently without breaking the budget.
Mobile software: Since SMEs often work on the move and have to be flexible, they often rely on mobile software solutions that allow them to access their data and work from anywhere.
Integration-capable software: SMEs often rely on software solutions that integrate seamlessly into their existing software landscape, so they can extend and improve existing systems without replacing them.
Rillsoft Project as multi-project management software for SMEs
There are several multi-project management software tools on the market that are specifically suited for SMEs and offer efficient resource planning and project portfolios.
You need to know exactly which resource capacities are available, how much capacity is currently being used and whether there is free capacity. This is necessary to react flexibly to changes in market demand and to use resources more efficiently.
Rillsoft Project offers comprehensive functionality in the multi-project environment for capacity planning and resource management. This includes:
Resource management: Rillsoft Project lets you define and assign resources (e.g. employees with their professional qualifications, material, equipment). The software shows how much time each resource needs for different tasks and which resources may be or are overloaded.
Capacity planning: Rillsoft Project lets you build a capacity plan for each resource and visualize it via a capacity view. You can check whether each resource has enough time to complete its tasks and whether some resources are overloaded.
Resource optimization: Rillsoft Project also offers functions for optimizing resource usage. You can, for example, increase the capacity of available resources or reschedule resources to remove bottlenecks and ensure project deadlines can be kept.
Views and reports: Numerous views and reports help you keep track of resources, schedules, budgets and progress across several projects at once. Rillsoft Project also provides an overview of resource allocation so you can make informed decisions about how to distribute resources across projects.
What is the alternative to task management when resources are scarce?
Task management tools help with task lists and status tracking. When resources are scarce across several parallel projects, an SME additionally needs capacity overviews, project prioritization and cross-project utilization analyses. Rillsoft Project as a multi-project management software is built exactly for this.
Software behind it and related use case
Rillsoft Project is the software behind this multi-project, resource and capacity planning — at an SME level, without enterprise-PPM overhead. A related view from the production perspective: production planning software for medium-sized companies.