Harvest Resource Management Guide (Features, Benefits and Limitations)

Even meticulously planned projects can become chaotic with the realization that there are insufficient resources available.

Resource scarcity is a frequent obstacle for teams in various sectors, particularly given the current volatile economic climate. 

However, a survey by the Project Management Institute reveals that only 26% of organizations consistently practice resource management, indicating a significant gap in effective estimation and allocation methods.

So, what makes resource allocation crucial?

In essence, it's what separates a triumphant project from a failed one. Lacking an appropriate strategy, projects are more prone to missed deadlines, incomplete tasks, and escalated expenses.

On the other hand, with efficient resource allocation, teams can enjoy lower costs, enhanced productivity, risk reduction, and more.

Effective resource allocation can be a game-changer, dramatically increasing the likelihood of project success and steering clear of chaos. Let’s explore how this can be achieved.

What is resource management?

Resource management is about figuring out what your team needs and making sure they have it to complete projects successfully. It's really important in project management because planning and assigning resources helps you see what needs to be done to reach your goals.

But it's not just about money. There are different kinds of resources to think about:

• Your team: Everyone has different skills, so a varied team is great.
• Equipment: This could be anything from computers and software to tools for building, or even just a printer.
• Materials: Things like fuel for travel or any items you use up in your projects.
• Facilities: A place where you can do your work.
• Money: How much will your projects cost?
• Time: How long will they take?

When you decide how to allocate resources, remember to consider what you're making, how you're making it, and who you're making it for.

Also Read: Top 10 Resource Management Tools for Web Design Agencies for 2024

How to track resources?

There are six easy ways to allocate resources. Here’s what they are.

1. Figure out what resources you have

Start by figuring out who's on your team and what skills they have. Think about who has the right skills for your project and when they can work on it. Don't forget to check if anyone's going on vacation.

Also, if your project needs things like tools or materials, make sure they're ready to use so you don't have any problems later. Once you know who's on the project and what you need to finish it, you can start assigning the resources.

2. Know what the project is all about

Before you start using your resources, everyone needs to really understand the project. This means you should:

• Set clear goals and important checkpoints
• Decide who does what
• Plan when things should happen
• Make sure everyone knows what to expect
• Figure out any problems, risks, and how to solve them

Going through these steps (and anything else important) will make sure everyone knows exactly what the project is about. This helps avoid confusion and keeps the project on the right path.

3. Match tasks with what they need

After everyone understands the project, split it into smaller tasks and figure out what each task needs to get done. For each one, write down when it should be finished, who will do it, the skills needed, and where it'll happen (if that matters).

Be honest about how long things will take and how much they'll cost. Guessing wrong about time and money can really mess up your project.

4. Use a system to keep track of time

Bad time estimates can often make projects fail. To avoid this, use a good system for tracking time. This helps you:

• Make realistic schedules for projects
• Make sure the project makes money
• Keep an eye on progress and finish tasks on time
• Fix things quickly if there are delays
• Work out hours that can be billed and those that can't

Using a tool like Harvest's easy-to-use time tracking can help you be more accurate with your task planning. It shows reports from past projects, giving you a clear view of how long tasks took and what was needed. This makes it easier to plan for new projects without worry.

• Keep track of resource use

Overusing or not using resources enough both have problems, so it's key to watch how you're using resources as it happens. This lets you get the most out of productivity and check if your planning for using resources is working well.

For keeping track of how much your team is working, it's good to work out the time they spend on tasks. This helps you use their time best, avoid missing anything, and prevent them from getting too tired. You can figure this out by dividing the time an employee is busy by the time they have available, or by dividing the hours they actually work by their available hours.

5. Change things if you need to

Projects change, like budget adjustments or more work added. You might have to shift your resources to fit these changes. It's also smart to check how things are going as your team finishes tasks – was the way you used resources effective?

Did the task take longer than planned? What could you do differently?

Looking over things while the project is still happening makes it easier to change things if needed and helps make sure your project succeeds in the end.

Check this: Top 6 Resource Planning Software You Must Try

What is a Harvest resource management tool?

Harvest is a comprehensive, cloud-based resource management tool designed to accommodate organizations of various sizes. Its functionalities, notably timesheets and billing processes, are particularly beneficial for independent contractors and small businesses.

This software is equipped with powerful reporting features, providing teams with immediate insights into project progress, which aids in efficient cost and resource allocation. Harvest also offers tools for invoicing, timesheet administration, and extensive options for team, project, and expense management.

It includes an array of tools for organizing schedules, billing, as well as tracking time, expenses, and team activities. Team members can conveniently record their weekly hours in one go on a timesheet or log them incrementally as they complete tasks.

Easy to use on smartphones, desktops, or through a web browser, the timer function in Harvest is user-friendly. The software converts these timesheets into straightforward, visual data, presenting crucial information on work distribution across various projects and teams.

Such clarity ensures that every team member is aware of how resources are allocated and what tasks are underway. Furthermore, the project management features of Harvest show the time and resource invested in each project and monitor the remaining budget, empowering teams to stay updated and manage resources with precision.

Harvest Features

Our harvest’s review focuses on its key features. So, here’s a quick look at them:

1. Resource Allocation

Teams have the ability to create visual timelines to strategize for future projects and distribute resources efficiently.

Harvest provides project managers with a clear view of each team member's tasks to prevent overcommitment and burnout. It also helps teams determine the right timing for accepting new projects and which members are free to undertake them.

2. Reporting Integrations

Create tailored time reports, download and export them for external use, and synchronize your information with third-party analytical software.

3. Track budget and costs

Harvest's project management tools enable you to establish budget limits for projects, monitor spending in real-time, and utilize notifications to inform your team when they are approaching predefined cost thresholds.

4. Save and Share Reports

This feature lets you preserve reports with tailored settings on your Saved Reports page, enabling you to access them effortlessly whenever necessary with just a single click. 

When you generate a personalized report, it's now simple to distribute it to other users within your Harvest account. This function improves team cooperation and ensures that all members have the latest information at their fingertips to make informed decisions.

5. Time-tracking

Harvest is crafted to feature user-friendly timesheets, allowing you to effortlessly start and stop timers while navigating through tasks and projects, or opt to compile your hours on a weekly basis.

 Additionally, by monitoring both billable and non-billable hours through Harvest's individualized reports, you gain valuable insight into your team's capacity and workload.

6. Invoice Creation

Convert those billable hours into digital invoices with the capabilities of Harvest's time tracking software to record the duration of tasks and instantly. From your Harvest dashboard, effortlessly oversee client payments, track outstanding invoices, and handle upcoming payment transactions.

7. Payment Integrations

Harvest simplifies the payment process and bookkeeping by seamlessly integrating with various payment gateways and accounting systems.

5 Benefits of using Harvest Resource Management Tool

Using Harvest tool comes with a lot of benefits for those whose supreme priority is resource planning and allocation.

1. Comprehensive Time Tracking

Harvest empowers users to meticulously track time spent on client projects and tasks via web browser, desktop, or mobile app, offering both manual entry and timer functionality.

2. Streamlined Invoicing

With Harvest, users can effortlessly create invoices from tracked time and expenses, automatically bill clients, and set reminders for payments.

3. Insightful Reporting

The platform generates in-depth reports, providing valuable insights into productivity and billable hours, useful for both internal review and client transparency.

4. Enhanced Budgeting

Harvest merges time tracking with project oversight, enabling users to establish budgets, monitor project progress, and receive notifications to avoid budget overruns.

5. Robust Expense Tracking

Harvest includes features to accurately record and manage expenses, which can be conveniently linked to client invoices.

Read More: Top 10 Resource Management Tools for Web Design Agencies for 2024 

Limitations of using Harvest as resource management tool

Here are some reasons Harvest tool might not become your choice.

1. Limited Project Management Features: While Harvest has resource management functionalities, they may not be comprehensive enough for complex project planning.

2. Dependence on Additional Tools: For extensive project planning, teams might need to rely on other tools alongside Harvest.

3. Too much integration for time-tracking: While Harvest offers a range of integrations for various features, do you really think you need a invoicing and time tracking tool not a perfect project management tool which can do all of this and more.

Harvest Pricing

Harvest comes with two pricing plans.

1. Free Plan: It comes at $0 with 2 projects and 1 organizational seat.
2. Pro Plan: It comes at $10.80 per set per plan with unlimited projects.

Why you might need an alternative to Harvest for your resource management needs?

While Harvest offers a suite of features for resource management, time tracking, invoicing, businesses may seek alternatives for various reasons. 

Some organizations might need more advanced tools with comprehensive project management capabilities, or prefer a system with more comprehensive accounting features, particularly for complex financial tracking. 

Others may look for a more budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential functions, or a tool that offers better customization to fit unique workflow requirements. 

Moreover, companies desiring more robust client support or a different user experience or a comprehensive project management tool might also explore alternatives to Harvest.

Also Read: 5 Best Enterprise Resource Planning Tools in 2023 

An alternative to Harvest Worth Trying: Client Venue-A Comprehensive Project Management Tool

ClientVenue isn't just about managing resources; it's about empowering your business to operate at its full potential.

ClientVenue is the go-to platform for businesses of all sizes. It's not just another resource management tool – it's your business's command center.

With features like timelines, project reports, resource scheduling, task management, and timesheets, it ensures that each team member is engaged and well-informed about the project's trajectory.

The platform's user-friendly design facilitates task assignment, client booking, deadline setting, and project tracking with ease.

As a transformative tool for project delivery, ClientVenue excels in simplifying workflows, optimizing client handling, and fostering seamless communication, all of which empower businesses to focus on realizing their objectives with precision and punctuality.

ClientVenue:Features

ClientVenue offers a wide variety of features to suit businesses requirements.

‍1. Streamlined Client Onboarding

ClientVenue designs tailored workflows for swift and effective client integration. It ensures that client requirements are thoroughly met, thereby enhancing the overall client management experience.

‍2. Billing and Invoicing

The platform brings together invoicing, payment schedules, and financial statements, streamlining payment tracking, billing history review, and project financial closure.

3. Scheduling

Scheduling is a breeze with ClientVenue, offering easy task assignments, deadline settings, and progress tracking through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface.

4. Resource Management

With ClientVenue, managing resources is straightforward, giving a panoramic view of all project components — including manpower, tools, and suppliers — in one centralized hub.

5. Project Oversight

As a stellar project management solution, ClientVenue facilitates thorough planning and execution, enabling real-time progress monitoring.

Also read: Top 6 Professional Services Project Tracking Software Solutions to Boost Your Efficiency 

6. Advanced Reporting Functions

The platform boasts superior reporting tools, allowing the creation of tailored reports that track project trajectory and efficiency, ensuring timely and effective completion.

‍7. Integrated Client Interface

The Client Portal consolidates communication between teams and clients, streamlining updates, support queries, and responses within a secure environment.

Benefits of using ClientVenue

ClientVenue is the all-in-one project management tool where you can easily track time, resources, and project process. Here are 5 advantages of ClientVenue:

1. Better team organization

ClientVenue offers task guidelines, project templates, automated tasks, and interactive boards, making task planning and tracking more manageable and providing quick access to project details.

2. Easier communication

ClientVenue centralizes team interactions like approvals, feedback, and updates in one place, promoting the exchange of ideas and keeping everyone informed.

3. Smoother collaboration

With ClientVenue, teams can collaborate effortlessly, assigning tasks and deadlines easily, and sharing projects for better tracking, even when team members are remote.

‍4. Improved time management

ClientVenue helps with time management by tracking time and sending reminders, helping teams stay on track and complete tasks more effectively.

‍5. Tailored dashboard views

ClientVenue lets you personalize your project views with calendar, board, or list layouts, and enhance your dashboard with different widgets and visuals for a clearer view of project metrics.

ClientVenue:Pricing

ClientVenue offers three pricing plans that both come with a full featured 14-day trial.

Starter

The starter plan starts at $47 per month and comes with 2 members accessibility, Unlimited Client Accounts, Unlimited Projects, 5 GB Storage Drive, White Label Client Portal, Onboarding and Proposals, Invoicing and Payments, Integration.

Professional

The Professional plan starting at $97 per month, gives you as many projects as you need, a 10 GB storage space, tools to manage time and resources, a way to bill clients and receive payments, a customized portal with your brand, reports on how your team is doing, more connections with other apps, and fast customer help.

Enterprise

The Enterprise plan starts at $247 per month and it has all that, plus it lets you handle client accounts, gives you a much bigger 100 GB storage space, a special page to sell services, your own account helper, tailored software options, personal setup help and training, and daily team check-in meetings.

Why should you choose ClientVenue Over Harvest?

ClientVenue is a robust project management software renowned for its efficient time tracking and resource management capabilities. Its intuitive interface simplifies the process of monitoring the time spent on tasks, ensuring accurate billing and effective workload distribution among team members.

The platform is tailored to streamline operations, with a task management system that allows for easy task allocation and real-time progress monitoring, enhancing overall productivity.

 Its flexibility as a CRM tool further augments its efficiency with top-notch lead capture forms and digital signatures for contracts.

ClientVenue's invoicing features promote timely payments, and the built-in chat facilitates seamless communication, crucial for teams spread across various locations. 

It simplifies client management by fostering stronger communication channels, while also securing customer data.Moreover, the software offers comprehensive solutions for managing resources, allowing teams to allocate and track the use of assets efficiently. 

With ClientVenue, businesses can maintain control over their projects, ensuring that every resource is utilized to its fullest potential, thus driving successful project completion.

Conclusion

Transform the way you manage projects and collaborate with your team using ClientVenue. ClientVenue stands out as a comprehensive project management tool that enhances team efficiency and ensures seamless operations.

With its exceptional time tracking and resource management tools, you can harness the full potential of your team's productivity.

 Don't let complex project management slow you down. Embrace the simplicity and efficiency of ClientVenue and watch your business thrive. 

Ready to elevate your project management game?

 Sign up for ClientVenue now and start your journey towards streamlined success!