Always Book the Most Qualified Resources in Microsoft Dynamics Project Service

Posted on: September 11, 2017 | By: Jim Bertler | Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Authored by: John Hinchy

One of the newest offerings through Microsoft Dynamics 365 is the Project Service Module. This tool allows organizations to efficiently manage multiple projects. The whole project lifecycle is taken into account and can be walked through effectively. This includes creating projects from existing quotes and opportunities, setting up the timeline and project dates, allocating resources to project tasks, and tracking time and cost through invoicing and time entry.

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Within Project Service, all activities start from the main project screen. Notice how the project page has the same familiar feel of an account or opportunity and includes the business process flow bar. From here, the user can control the new functionality and features that are included in the Project Service Module.

What’s great about the new features, is that many of them are controlled by the Microsoft Azure Cloud, which allows the module extra computing power to run through some pretty advanced calculations. One of these features is the resource booking calculation and function. Whenever someone sets up a new project they will need resources like developers, consultants, and project managers. Within the system, you add all of the different resources you will need to complete the project and how many hours will be needed for each resource.

Once you have defined your resources requirements, you will need actual people to fill these positions. Within your project service module, you have the ability to build your pool of applicants for positions and bookable resources.

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As long as you are maintaining the data and resources, you will also be able to see who is already assigned to other projects or does not have capacity for a new project. Also, you can assign skill levels to each resource so you know who is most capable for the job. By combining skill and knowledge or work, the user can easily choose the best resource available.

One great feature of the module, is that the system can autogenerate bookings. With the power of the Azure cloud, it runs through computations of availability, skills, requirements, and a few other calculations and can auto book your project for quick set up. From there, the user can assess and rearrange as they see fit.

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Another great feature is the Hard Book functionality. If you want to pull up a list of resources and decide who is the best fit for a particular position you can do just that. In the image, see that you can use the filters on the left to see which resources are available. From there you hover over each resource to see each skill and what level the skill is at, the amount of availability they have, and some of the cost projections like cost rate, bill rate, and revenue generated. This quick view and cost projections will save project managers countless hours in manual work.

If you think that a Dynamics CRM system is the next best step for your business, contact Logan Consulting, your Microsoft Dynamics CRM partner of Chicago.



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