The right resource management software empowers teams to forecast, allocate resources, and track progress seamlessly. But with all the options out there, how do you choose the best tool?
Enter Retain and ProFinda—two reputable solutions that promise to take the headache out of resource planning.
To help you decide, in this comprehensive comparison, we'll delve into usability, key features, integrations, pricing, and customer service. Our aim? To give you a 360-degree view so you can make an informed choice. It's not a matter of which tool to use, but rather, which tool works best for you.
Disclaimer: While we strive to provide an accurate and fair comparison between Retain and ProFinda based on publicly available information, there may be additional features or context not reflected here. This post should not be considered exhaustive or definitive.
The big picture: Retain vs ProFinda
When it comes to resource management software, the spotlight often lands on Retain and ProFinda. But which one truly meets the needs of resource managers, project managers, and operations managers? Let’s quickly review both solutions to find out.
Retain: A snapshot overview
Retain Cloud sets itself apart by offering a unified, enterprise-grade resource planning platform specifically tailored for professional services. It combines AI-driven skills matching, advanced behavioural profiling, and comprehensive integration capabilities, eliminating departmental silos.
Backed by over two decades of experience, it focuses exclusively on providing specialised solutions for resource management. Retain Cloud gives organisations clear, real-time visibility into skills, capacity, and demand across Audit, Tax, and Advisory teams.
Quick facts
- Focus: Unified resource planning platform for professional services
- Strengths: Advanced AI skills matching, unified visibility, skills + taxonomies, deep integrations
- USP: Skills-first approach powered by Skills+ taxonomy and behavioural insights
- User-friendly: Customisable dashboards, intuitive wallchart interface
- Support: Phone, email, knowledge base, and live training
Retain Cloud’s skills-centric methodology and behavioural insights empower organisations to build stronger, balanced teams, enhancing overall efficiency and client satisfaction.
ProFinda: A snapshot overview
ProFinda is not just resource management software; it also ventures into other areas with products like 'Opportunity Marketplace' and 'Skills as a Service'.
Quick facts
- Focus: Resource skills matching
- Additional offerings: Opportunity Marketplace, Skills as a Service
- Strengths: Optimisation and integrations
- USP: Data-driven resource optimisation
The platform can be helpful for enterprises looking to match labour supply with work demand. However, ProFinda's broader focus could dilute its specialisation in resource management.
➡️The takeaway
Retain’s undivided focus on resource management, combined with its comprehensive toolset, gives it a unique edge. If you want a tailored solution for resource management, it's hard to beat the focus, depth, and experience that Retain offers. (If you’re keen to see more, why not take a look at Retain.)
Ready for a quick rundown? Next up, we've prepared a 'Key Features at a Glance' comparison table to help you cut through the noise.
Retain vs ProFinda: Key features at a glance
Below, you'll find a head-to-head analysis of Retain and ProFinda, focusing on usability, features, integrations, and much more. This snapshot will give you the essentials, enabling you to weigh up the two platforms efficiently.
If you've scanned our comparison table, you'll have noticed some standout features. Retain excels in specialised resource management software with its user-friendly design, wallchart interface providing at-a-glance resource visibility, and AI-powered skills-matching tools. Whereas ProFinda has a strong focus on optimising supply and demand matching together with robust integrations.
If we’ve piqued your interest, let’s explore these key differences further with a deep-dive into each tool, starting with Retain.
Comprehensive overview of Retain
Retain Cloud transforms resource planning by integrating skills intelligence, behavioural insights, and advanced AI-driven capabilities into one unified platform specifically tailored for professional services firms.
For over 30 years, Retain has set the standard for resource management solutions, trusted by leading firms globally. Retain Cloud continues this legacy, offering a comprehensive resource planning ecosystem that provides real-time visibility across your organisation’s entire skill set, availability, and capacity. This powerful combination ensures you always deploy the right people to the right projects.
If you're looking for a tool that's committed to helping you optimise resources with precision and reliability, Retain is a solid choice.
Full suite of tools
Resource management:
- AI-powered skills matching: Retain’s advanced AI engine recommends optimal resources based on skills, past project performance, behavioural insights, and availability, ensuring the highest team performance.
- Unified cross-department visibility: Gain real-time insights into resource availability and utilisation across Audit, Tax, and Advisory, breaking down traditional silos.
- Real-time performance dashboards: Access instant analytics on utilisation rates, billable hours, project metrics, and forecasting, enhancing proactive decision-making.
- Integrated capacity and project tracking: Not only can you manage your project's capacity in real-time, but you can also keep tabs on its progression effortlessly.
- Reports, dashboard, and resource allocation: Customise your dashboards for a snapshot of resource allocation, and delve into in-depth reporting to make well-informed decisions.
- Resource scheduling with AI skills alignment: Quickly schedule resources while ensuring that the right skills are dynamically matched to the right projects.
- Timesheets and utilisation reporting: Seamlessly manage timesheets while gaining insights from utilisation reports for maximising resource efficiency.
- Third-party integrations: Extend your capabilities with numerous third-party integrations, from HR software to bespoke solutions.
Talent management:
- Skills+ taxonomy by Lightcast: Leverage a detailed, crowd-sourced skills taxonomy with over 30,000 skills, ensuring accurate and consistent skill categorisation throughout your organisation.
- Behavioural insights: Colour-coded behavioural profiling provides deep insights into team dynamics, improving collaboration and overall team effectiveness.
- Career development: Support employee growth with dynamic, AI-generated skill recommendations, ensuring ongoing professional development aligned with organisational needs.
- Employee database: An all-in-one database, portal, and profile system ensures you have all the information you need about your team.
- Advanced reporting and statistics: Get a clearer picture of your workforce's talent landscape with detailed analytics.
Workflow management:
- Audit trail with easy data handling: Maintain full accountability with an audit trail while benefiting from data import/export capabilities.
- Document storage and real-time data: Keep your key files handy and up-to-date with real-time data updates.
- Reporting, Analytics, and role-based permissions: Tailor your workflow analytics to roles within your organisation for enhanced control and insights.
- Financial management: Comprehensive management of budgets, project costs, and financial tracking, all synchronised seamlessly within the resource planning framework.
Support & Training:
- Round-the-clock support: Whether it's via your rep, email, or phone, we're always here to help.
- Knowledge base and live online training: Easily access resources to solve issues on the fly or dive deeper with our live online training.
Key industries:
- Accounting, auditing, and tax
- Professional services
- Financial services
- Engineering
- Software and technology
Retain is trusted by the world’s biggest companies, including Capgemini, KPMG, Deloitte, EY, Bank of America, and Mazars. You can read more about these customer stories here.
Comprehensive overview of ProFinda
ProFinda shifts the focus from resource management to resource optimisation with its ‘Resource Optimization’ solution. It uses AI-driven technology to model the workforce supply in real-time, considering multiple data facets such as skills, experience, cost, and more. It also ensures the workforce operates at optimum levels, aligning perfectly with work demands.
Features and functionalities
- Work quality: Targets team skills to deliver successful projects.
- Work economics: Considers variables like employment type, location, and costs to ensure profitability.
- Employee experience: Aligns career goals with roles, creating job satisfaction.
- Intelligent ranking: Identifies the best fit for projects in seconds through AI.
- Transparent process: The entire staffing process is data-informed and streamlined in a single platform.
- Data-driven decision making: Comprehensive data for smart resourcing, including skills, capacity, and costs.
- Supply-demand matching: Real-time supply and demand matching to produce optimal teams for any business needs.
- End-to-end solution: One platform captures the entire staffing process, enhancing transparency and quality.
Key industries:
- Professional services
- Government
As an interesting side note, ProFinda also goes beyond resource management with additional offerings like 'Opportunity Marketplace' and 'Skills as a Service'.
- Opportunity Marketplace: Aimed at employee development, this allows employees to explore various internal career options.
- Skills as a Service: Allows organisations and ISVs to tap into ProFinda’s Skills’ Intelligence Framework for their own applications.
While these modules broaden its application, they might dilute the focus on resource management. Retain, on the other hand, offers an end-to-end solution exclusively focused on resource management. This focus could offer a more specialised, in-depth solution for resource managers.
Next up, before diving into the final verdict, let's pause to hear the voice of the users.
Customer reviews and testimonials
Customer reviews offer invaluable insights into how software performs in real-life, and they can be a deciding factor for many buyers. Below, we've rounded up feedback for both Retain and ProFinda to help you get a feel for each platform's strengths and areas for improvement.
Retain
Average Capterra Score: 4.4
- Ease of use: 4.3
- Customer service: 4.2
- Features: 4.1
- Value for money: 4.4
Highlights from Retain reviews:
- Users commend Retain for its intuitive interface, available across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.
- Accurate and timely reporting features have enabled businesses to make data-backed staffing decisions.
- Customisability stands out, especially with support for multiple currencies and tailored features.
What users say:
"Retain is the resource management tool I needed to be proactive in planning and forecasting staffing solutions."
"The planning and calendar functionality helps us to predict potential bottlenecks and allows us to flex resourcing."
ProFinda
Reviews on G2:
- Generally talked about as a robust workforce management software.
- Praised for managing employee data effectively.
What users say:
"ProFinda helps me manage the employee data and their information."
"It should be a little more easy to navigate."
?In essence, Retain is appreciated for its seasoned approach to resource management, backed by robust features and a user-friendly interface. ProFinda, though not as widely reviewed, gets the nod for specific workforce management capabilities and employee data handling.
Retain vs ProFinda: The final verdict
At this point, you're armed with a wealth of information to make an informed choice between Retain and ProFinda. Each has its unique strengths.
Retain distinguishes itself with a highly specialised, skills-first approach tailored explicitly to professional services firms. Its advanced AI-driven skills matching, behavioural insights, and deep integration capabilities provide a comprehensive, unified solution. This robust platform streamlines resource allocation and proactively addresses regulatory compliance, client expectations, and talent development.
Retain’s deep focus on skills and cross-departmental visibility ensures precise resource matching, optimising efficiency and productivity. It’s particularly beneficial for firms prioritising targeted, real-time insights, effective talent utilisation, and organisational agility.
While ProFinda shines in the area of integrations and offers additional products like 'Opportunity Marketplace' and 'Skills as a Service.'
Ultimately, your choice will depend on your specific needs.
If you prioritise a robust, tried-and-tested system that goes beyond traditional resource management and leverages AI, Retain could be the one for you. For those looking for a platform that places a high emphasis on employee development, ProFinda is worth considering.
Both companies offer strong solutions, and the right choice will hinge on what fits your organisation's objectives best.
If we’ve convinced you to put Retain on your shortlist, why not book a personalised demo now?
Or you can check out our guide on how to choose the best resource management software here.
