4 compared staffing tools (Excel, ERP, internal tool, dedicated tool): which one to choose for your business?

What Staffing software choose, when you start project management? It is very important to opt for a software solution that is intuitive, collaborative and adapted to your business. So, we take stock of 4 staffing tools used by businesses on a daily basis.

Excel: easy at first glance

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Excel belongs to the Microsoft Office Pack, sold with the Word, PowerPoint and Outlook office tools. It is defined as a calculation software, which ensures the creation of dynamic cross-tables, calculations, graphs and the creation of a database.

The advantages

• Flexible tool in its use if you know Excel well
• Unlimited database
• Organization & cross-referencing of data possible in dynamic tables

The disadvantages

• Lack of visibility of information
• Risk of manual errors and lack of history to know who did what
• Lack of data security (conservation & protection)
• Non-collaborative

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In itself, Excel is a first Staffing tool for any business that is just starting out. But as soon as it exceeds 30 employees, the tool is quickly time-consuming.

Choosing an ERP: a powerful tool?

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ERP is defined as an integrated management software (ERP), which is a software solution that manages all information within a company. All stages of the value chain, as well as stocks and transport, are listed.

The advantages

• Unlimited and organized database
• Data can be updated quickly and easily
• All data, from production, to creation, to creation, transport, sale, are included

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The disadvantages

• Lack of detailed employee profiles
• Tools that are often outdated, with rare updates from publishers & poorly personalized customer service
• The tool is collaborative but limited: you cannot notify project collaborators
• The information does not provide information on the resources & availability of the teams
• No access to all teams or staffers. May cause frustration and data inconsistencies

An ERP tool includes many parameters, but does not have the function of being a Staffing tool. Its use should remain for a company with less than 5 employees - and again...

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An internal tool: more economical and efficient?

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The creation of a Staffing tool internal is based on the acquisition of highly competent teams, to set up a tailor-made tool. The idea is appealing, since it is the assurance of a tool in perfect harmony with the company's prerogatives.

The advantages

• A tailor-made, fully flexible tool
• Dedicated teams to improve it continuously
• Features entirely dedicated to the business

The disadvantages

• In case of turnover, the employees dedicated to the project leave with their knowledge and expertise
• The creation and mobilization of teams to hold it is very expensive.
• The teams dedicated to its development are no longer positioned on missions with high added value.

Creating your own tool will take up a lot of your time, and has a significant budget before and after its implementation.

The dedicated staffing tool: the reference solution

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One Staffing tool aims to help you manage all your projects, through the mapping of the skills of employees - staffers for the intimate. It allows you, in a few clicks, to establish the best possible project teams.

The advantages

• Exhaustiveness of the platform: possibility to update it quickly and to ask the publisher for advice
• Intuitiveness of the tool
• A fully collaborative tool
• communicative: you can notify and alert colleagues and collaborators

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The disadvantages

• It's not your business tool. You have to make sure that customer service is present
• Initially, a few features may be missing. Ask about it during a first call, or ask for a personalized quote.

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The dedicated staffing tool is the best solution available to your business. You have an ergonomic solution that is in line with your business. You focus on your core business, using a platform that already has all the expected functionalities.

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Do you want to go deeper into the subject? We have lots of resources at your disposal to help you go further.

In addition to this subject, find our article “Choosing your staffing software: top 7 essential criteria in 2023".

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Also discover our guides, templates and checklists in the Resources tab.

See you soon at Napta!