Resource Scheduling for Construction
All major construction companies face the same problem: How do we schedule skilled workers across projects? And how can the crew access the constantly updated plan?
A recurring challenge for nearly all contractors is how to schedule their skilled workers and manage projects. Despite the significant need for better solutions, most still rely on one or more extensive Excel sheets that are updated irregularly.
In this article, we explore the different solutions available on the market and how they can contribute to a more structured and efficient resource planning process.
Byggplanen: A Streamlined Alternative to Power Project
Screenshot from Byggplanen, construction scheduling.
Byggplanen was created as an alternative to Power Project. Its founder, Johnny Wulcan, worked as a construction manager and faced the same challenge as most project owners in the industry—getting up-to-date schedules ready for construction meetings.
The idea for Byggplanen was born when Johnny sat next to a site manager at the nordic contractor giant Peab and updated the schedule together.
“I quickly realized that the problem was that Powerproject is designed for users who can spend an entire workday refining the schedule,” says Johnny.
Byggplanen was developed as a simpler alternative to Powerproject, focusing only on the most essential features while eliminating unnecessary complexity. The tool was designed to be lightning-fast, cloud-based, and offered through an affordable subscription model.
Its success was immediate, with a rapidly growing user base. In 2021, the company was acquired by Next One Technology, and Byggplanen was rebranded as Next Planning.
Next Planning for Resource Scheduling?
Screenshot from Next Planning scheduling tool.
When Next One Technology acquired Byggplanen, it was quickly integrated into Next Project, and the name was changed to Next Planning.
The addition was well received by Next users, who had been missing a seamless integrated scheduling tool.
Can I use Next Planning for Resource Scheduling?
Resource planning in Next Planning is based on the project schedule, meaning it is directly linked to the activities in the timeline.
Users can allocate hours per resource and activity, even on a daily basis.
A broader overview can be achieved with some workarounds using overview projects, where a master schedule links multiple underlying schedules.
While this approach offers a certain level of advanced functionality, it does not provide the quick and seamless overview that many users desire. The reason is that Byggplanen—now known as Next Planning—was originally designed for project scheduling, and resource management features were added later rather than being a core focus from the start.
If the main goal is to keep track of your workforce you probably should look for a dedicated resource scheduling tool.
Can I use Asta Powerproject for resource scheduling?
Screen from Asta Powerproject with the resource histogram at the bottom view.
Power Project is a digital scheduling tool developed by Elecosoft, a Swedish company with extensive experience in IT solutions for the construction and infrastructure industry.
From the very beginning, Elecosoft aimed to simplify and streamline the often complex process of project planning, as many project managers and site supervisors relied on manual systems and endless spreadsheets. With the launch of Power Project, they set out to provide a modern, user-friendly solution capable of managing detailed schedules and resource allocation in real time.
Power Project is installed locally on a computer, following the traditional software model. It is a highly powerful tool that has been refined over decades of development. However, this long history is reflected in its user experience—while robust, the interface feels quite retro, and the learning curve is steep for new users.
Asta Powerproject for planning resources?
In Powerproject, users can view a resource histogram in the bottom panel, displaying both resource demand and allocated resources. The software is particularly powerful for capacity planning within individual construction projects rather than for managing workforce scheduling across multiple projects.
While schedules can be exported as PDFs, there is no built-in option for online sharing— which isn’t surprising, given that the software is installed locally on your computer rather than being cloud-based.
Can I use Excel for resource scheduling?
Screenshot from Excel Resource Scheduling Template for Construction.
We’ve talked to at least a hundred construction companies about resource planning over the years. Almost every single one that had any form of resource planning relied on Excel.
Using Excel for project and resource planning requires a lot of manual work, which not only consumes time but also increases the risk of errors.
One of Excel’s advantages is that users often feel they have full control. Even though manually extending timelines and rearranging projects and resources is extremely tedious, many still prefer it because they can see exactly what’s happening. This highlights an important insight: systems shouldn’t be made “too smart.” Users need to understand what happens when they click a button—otherwise, they lose track and feel uncertain.
Another major drawback of Excel is its lack of scalability. As a company grows and more projects and employees need to be managed, the administrative burden increases significantly, making Excel an impractical long-term solution.
Contact us
Need help? Contact us at info@bygglabbet.com or by phone at +46 10-641 42 26.
Bygglabbet
Bygglabbet assists companies in the construction and civil engineering sector in developing tailored IT systems.