When it comes to managing resources in a project-driven business, choosing between a specialized platform like Mosaic and an ERP's resource planning module can make a significant difference—not just in terms of software functionality, but also in how people experience their day-to-day work.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are powerful, all-encompassing tools designed to handle a broad array of business processes—financials, procurement, HR, and yes, even resource planning. However, while they may seem like an all-in-one solution, ERPs often struggle when it comes to managing resources effectively. That's because they're built with a core focus on operations and accounting, not on planning or optimizing how people spend their time.
Mosaic, on the other hand, was designed specifically for resource management. Unlike ERPs, which try to do hundreds of things, Mosaic focuses solely on resource management. This focus ensures you know exactly who is doing what, when, and where.
Here's why Mosaic, a specialized resource management platform stands apart from an ERP:
- People-Centric Resource Management
ERP systems are built with financial and operational processes at their core, which means that people—often considered "resources" in ERPs—are viewed in abstract terms, typically as hourly cost units. Mosaic takes a fundamentally different approach: it emphasizes people and their contributions, focusing on what they do, what they're good at, and how to utilize their strengths to achieve your business goals. Instead of simply seeing the cost of hours logged, Mosaic helps you visualize workload and skills so you can better assign work to the right people.
- Intuitive and Visual Interface
ERPs are designed for back-office experts—financial and operational specialists who get weeks of training to navigate the complex software and dashboards filled with numbers. Mosaic, however, prioritizes a more intuitive, visual experience that's easy for anyone to use, even on their first day without formal training. Employees at all levels can quickly understand what's happening without having to dive into intricate tables and reports. This makes it more accessible for everyone—even the busiest managers and leaders—to plan capacity effectively.
- Resource Planning for Capacity Optimization
Most ERPs approach resource planning as a compliance or administrative task—something that provides visibility into where the business stands financially. Mosaic focuses on capacity planning, making it easy to see whether your team has the bandwidth for incoming projects, which resources are in high demand, and how your overall resource pool aligns with future project needs. It's about ensuring your people are being used in the most impactful ways possible, not just accounting for time spent.
- Speed, Flexibility, and Customization
Setting up and managing the resource module of an ERP can be time-consuming and rigid—you need specialized knowledge to configure it and adapt it to changes. Mosaic is built to be agile, meaning your resource plans can change as quickly as your projects do. Drag-and-drop scheduling, quick reassignment of work plans, and flexible project views make it simple for you to manage your work without hassle. Mosaic is significantly more customizable than an ERP, allowing you to tailor workflows, views, and reports specifically to the needs of your business. Unlike rigid ERP systems, Mosaic enables you to add custom fields, create templates, and configure dashboards, ensuring the software works precisely the way your team needs it to—without spending tens of thousands of dollars.
- Real-Time Insights vs. Static Data
ERP modules often provide static or after-the-fact reports on resource utilization. By the time you see that your people are overbooked or underutilized, the opportunity to adjust may have passed. Mosaic delivers real-time insights, empowering you to adapt your resourcing strategy on the fly. You can see how your team's workload looks today, tomorrow, or weeks down the line, enabling you to balance workloads proactively.
- Innovation, Automation, and AI
ERP systems, given their complexity and broad array of functions, often struggle to innovate quickly. Their extensive codebases and multitude of interconnected features make it difficult to introduce new capabilities without significant risk and delay. Mosaic, as a specialized resource management platform, can innovate rapidly. We continuously improve and adapt our features to meet the evolving needs of our users, ensuring that you always have access to the most modern, efficient tools for resource planning. This includes leveraging the latest advancements in AI and automation to help automate resource allocation, predict future capacity needs, and provide intelligent recommendations. Mosaic also offers shortcuts, automation, cloning, merging, and templating to make your planning processes even smarter, faster, and more effective.
- Built for Collaboration with Specific Permission Control
ERPs often silo information, keeping key resource data away from those who need it most—the employees actually doing the work. Mosaic is built to promote transparency and collaboration. Employees can see what their teammates are working on, adjust their schedules accordingly, and even contribute insights into their own availability. This collaborative environment helps break down silos and aligns everyone towards the same goal—successful project delivery. Additionally, Mosaic allows for more granular permission controls, ensuring that the right people have access to the right information without unnecessary complexity. Unlike ERPs, which often have limited and rigid permission settings that are intended to cover their hundreds of features, Mosaic's permissions can be customized to match the unique needs of each team and project, offering a higher level of control.
- Comprehensive Reporting
While most ERPs have Business Intelligence functionality, they don't provide the depth of resource management reporting and analytics needed for effective people management. Mosaic provides all the reports you need. And with the right insights into workload and role demand, it's easier to identify trends and understand your resource management needs. With Mosaic, you can dive deeper into how resources are being used, anticipate upcoming demands, and make informed decisions that keep your projects and people on track.
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