Common Mistakes in Selecting Resource Management Software: A Guide for Regulators
It’s your resources that keep your organization aligned, churning out projects on time, and bringing in the money. Mastering resource planning and ensuring all the employees in your organization have the right amount of work that’s a match for their skill set is challenging, even more so in the regulatory industry. This is a result of the increasing complexity of regulations and rising expectations. Utilizing resource management can make a huge difference in this aspect.
However, the process of selecting the right resource management software for regulators is not straightforward. In this blog, we’ll highlight the common mistakes people make when selecting the right resource management tool.
Requirements of Resource Management System for Regulators
Using generic resource management or project management solutions for regulatory organizations might not be the smartest decision. Those softwares usually don’t have the necessary features and capabilities required for managing inspections.
Resource management software that has the following features is better suited for regulators.
- Ability to create custom forms and checklists
- Visual data and reports
- Powerful search to find an appropriate and available inspector
- Captures time taken per inspection task
- Easily integrates with inspection management system and other HR or payroll management tools
- Visibility of all inspectors, including their skill set, billing rates, and availability
6 Common Mistakes Made While Selecting a Resource Management System
Below we highlight six common mistakes regulators commonly make while selecting a resource management system.
Failing to Identify Software Requirements
One of the fundamental errors committed by regulators while selecting a software is not having a clear understanding of what their requirements are. What is it that they really need the software to do? Which issues should it solve/automate? Without a clear understanding of requirements (features, reports, capabilities), comparing softwares is akin to being a deer in the headlights. There is no clear direction. An app can appear to be a match but might not give you the necessary features you’d need.
To avoid this mistake, spend time identifying and documenting the “must-haves” of a software. Involve crucial stakeholders, like HR, inspectors, and even clients to gain clarity on what pain points the software needs to assist with. Also, consider the long-term requirements of the app.
Not Sticking to Budget
A top mistake made by regulators is not sticking to their budget or failing to identify the true cost of purchasing a resource management software. Many times, regulators pick a software subscription plan that doesn’t provide the features they require or forget to account for the fact that the software charges per number of resources managed.
There could be other add-on costs that aren’t factored in, like — the cost of implementation or customization of software.
Overlooking the Importance of Customization
Every inspection has its specifications and requirements and this might require a certain degree of customization. Therefore, it’s necessary to pick a tool that has adequate customization options available.
Forgetting to Test Usability
The success and adoption of any software depend on the user experience and ease of use. Therefore, while selecting and comparing programs, don’t forget to test their usability. The majority of resource management apps offer a free trial period where you can get first-hand experience with how intuitive and accessible the software is.
Lack of Information on Security and Privacy
Regulation agencies and inspectors are privy to a lot of sensitive data. Breach of data due to poor safety and privacy parameters can jeopardize your company’s reputation. Therefore, it’s best to evaluate a resource management software’s security and privacy standards to understand how well it safeguards information. You want to invest in a tool that will protect employee and project data.
Ignoring Resource Performance Metrics
Efficient resource management occurs when there is continuous performance monitoring. If resource performance metrics aren’t tracked, then how will one improve? When an inspector’s performance goes unnoticed, inefficiencies persist, accountability remains vague, and inspections may continue to be allocated to underperforming individuals or teams. This will affect the overall delivery and success of inspections.
As a regulator, without tracking resource performance, you may not realize that one of your top inspectors is consistently taking too much time across projects. This oversight can lead to client dissatisfaction, delays, and increased costs.
Avoid making this mistake by identifying the key performance indicators (KPIs) and then selecting a software that can measure those metrics.
By avoiding the mistakes, you, as a regulator, will be able to find a software that’s the best fit and offers the most value.
Use eRS to Steer Away from Mistakes
eRS offers all the necessary resource management features and customization options at an affordable price. You will be able to manage and track your inspections without errors or mishaps.
Speak to our team today, or start your 14-day trial.
Check the comment section for additional information, or share what you know or ask a question about this article, by clicking the 'View or Write Comment' button below.
Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.