AI-powered planning board: AI-assisted resource planning with Visual Planning®
The AI planning board complements Visual Planning® including functions for analysing and processing planning data. It helps planning managers to identify capacity utilisation, bottlenecks, availability and possible planning alternatives more quickly.
The analyses and recommendations that are possible depend on the available data, the defined planning rules, the version in use and the specific system configuration. Decisions and approvals remain the responsibility of the relevant users.
Depending on the specific application, staff, qualifications, projects, machines, vehicles, orders, appointments and available capacity can be taken into account.
The AI planning board at a glance
- Target audience: Companies with complex personnel, project, machinery, production or resource planning
- Possible data source: Availability, working hours, qualifications, appointments, orders, projects, machines, capacities and defined planning rules
- Supported tasks: Analyse capacity utilisation, identify bottlenecks, check data and compare planning alternatives
- Integrations: Data transfer via import, export, database access, APIs, web services or custom-designed interfaces
- Project interfaces implemented: including Abacus, SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, baubit and m-soft
- Responsibility: Proposals and analysis results are reviewed and approved by the relevant planning managers
Further information on features, operating modes and integrations can be found on the page Visual Planning® resource planning software .
What is an AI planning board?
An AI-powered planning board combines digital resource planning with functions for data-driven analysis and decision support.
Existing planning information can be analysed, linked together and evaluated on the basis of defined parameters. This makes it possible to present potential conflicts, bottlenecks or alternative allocations more clearly .
AI does not replace the professional judgement of planning managers. It provides additional information and possible courses of action. The responsible users decide which plan is actually implemented.
Particularly in the case of extensive Project planning , Staff deployment planning , Production planning and complex resource structures, structured data analysis can support day-to-day planning.
Why AI-powered planning?
As the number of employees, projects, orders, machines and sites increases, so does the effort required to coordinate and evaluate planning data. AI-powered analysis can help to examine larger volumes of data more quickly and highlight notable trends.
Analysing capacity utilisation
Available and allocated capacities can be compared side by side. This makes it easier to spot obvious instances of over- or under-utilisation.
Identify bottlenecks
Scheduling conflicts, resource shortages and critical capacity situations can be identified using the available planning data .
Compare planning alternatives
Different resource allocations or planning scenarios can be compared to aid decision-making.
Take qualifications into account
If the relevant data has been maintained, skills, qualifications and experience can be included in the analysis of potential resource allocations.
Assess the impact of changes
Sick leave, rescheduled appointments or new orders can be analysed in terms of their potential impact on existing schedules.
Check data quality
Incomplete, contradictory or conspicuous planning information is easier to spot. The significance of the results depends largely on the quality and timeliness of the data used.
Typical planning scenarios
Staff are overworked or not assigned to the right tasks
Once qualifications, availability, working hours and current workloads have been entered, potential overloads and unsuitable assignments can be identified.
Projects do not have sufficient capacity
Shortages of staff, machines or time slots can be identified and compared with possible alternative allocations.
Resources are utilised unevenly
Available, allocated and overloaded resources can be compared with one another. This gives planning managers a better overview of available capacities.
Production bottlenecks become apparent too late
When orders, machines, staff and production steps are linked together, critical capacity utilisation and potential bottlenecks can be presented more clearly.
AI-powered planning board or manual spreadsheet planning?
| Manual table-based planning | AI-powered planning board |
|---|---|
| Planning data must be checked manually | Selected data can be analysed using rule-based methods |
| Multiple file versions are possible | Planning data is provided centrally |
| Bottlenecks must be identified manually | Notable utilisation levels can be highlighted |
| Alternatives are compiled individually | Possible scenarios can be compared |
| As complexity increases, dependencies become difficult to keep track of | Resources, dates and dependencies are displayed in a linked format |
The AI-powered analysis serves as additional support. The quality of the results depends on the completeness, timeliness and structure of the underlying data.
AI for resource planning
Availability, qualifications, utilisation rates and defined planning rules can be analysed together. On this basis, possible resource allocations can be examined and presented as a decision-making aid.
Find out more about resource planning with Visual Planning®
AI for project planning
During project planning, available resources, deadlines, priorities and dependencies can be viewed together. This makes it easier to identify deadline risks and capacity shortfalls. The final assessment remains the responsibility of the project management.
Find out more about project planning with Visual Planning®
AI for staff deployment planning
Once qualifications, working hours, shifts, absences and availability have been recorded, this information can be incorporated into the analysis of possible staff deployments.
The system can help to identify suitable staff and highlight potential overloading or staff shortages. Whether automatic allocation can be used must be assessed for the specific configuration and the particular use case.
Find out more about staff scheduling with Visual Planning®
AI for production planning
Production orders, machines, staff and available time slots can be analysed together. This allows potential capacity conflicts, critical machine bookings and staff shortages to be presented more clearly.
Find out more about production planning with Visual Planning®
AI for capacity planning
Current and future capacity utilisation can be analysed using the available planning data. This allows spare capacity, potential overloads and bottlenecks to be clearly visualised and taken into account in further planning.
Find out more about resource and capacity planning
Which features can be used?
| Function | Classification |
|---|---|
| Capacity analysis | Based on existing capacity, appointment and calendar data possible |
| Bottleneck detection | Possible on the basis of defined rules and up-to-date planning data |
| Taking qualifications into account | Possible provided that the necessary qualification data has been maintained |
| Comparison of planning alternatives | Depending on the use case, the database and the system configuration |
| Automatic resource allocation | Not guaranteed across the board; to be assessed on a case-by-case basis for the specific project |
| Forecasting project delays | Depending on the available data and the functions used |
| Generative Assistance | Not guaranteed as a standard feature of every installation |
Using data from ERP and third-party systems
Visual Planning® can import planning data from existing systems or transfer it to other applications. Depending on the project, import and export functions, database access, APIs, web services or custom-designed interfaces are available for this purpose.
In projects already completed, interfaces to the following systems, amongst others, have been implemented:
- Abacus
- SAP
- Microsoft Dynamics
- baubit
- m-soft
- Other bespoke ERP and industry-specific systems
Depending on the project, data such as customer, employee, order, production, service, resource and operational data can be imported. Planning results, reservations, status information, confirmations or time data can be returned to the leading system as required.
The systems mentioned are project interfaces that have already been implemented . This does not automatically mean that a generally available standard connector exists for every installation. The technical implementation is assessed on the basis of the versions used, available interfaces, required data fields, data directions, synchronisation intervals and security requirements.
Further information on interfaces and ERP integrations
Limitations and prerequisites of AI-supported planning
AI-powered analyses require complete, up-to-date and sufficiently structured planning data. Missing qualifications, out-of-date availability data or incomplete order information can limit the significance of the results.
- Planning rules must be defined in technical terms and configured correctly.
- The necessary master data and transaction data must be available.
- Proposals must be reviewed by the relevant users.
- User rights and data protection requirements must be taken into account.
- Available functions may vary depending on the version, licence, module and project configuration.
- Automatic decisions or approvals are not automatically assumed.
Frequently asked questions about the AI planning board
What is an AI planning board?
An AI-powered planning board combines digital resource planning with functions for analysing planning data. It can help to highlight capacity utilisation, bottlenecks, dependencies and possible planning alternatives. It can help to highlight capacity utilisation,
Does the AI automatically schedule staff?
Automatic staff allocation is not automatically included in every installation. Whether and to what extent allocations can be automated or provided as suggestions depends on the data set, the planning rules, the version used and the system configuration.
What data does AI-powered planning require?
Depending on the specific use case, the following may be required, amongst other things: availability, working hours, qualifications, appointments, projects, orders, priorities, machines, capacities and defined planning rules.
Can the AI take qualifications into account?
Qualifications, certifications and experience may be taken into account if this information is maintained in a structured manner and has been approved for the relevant planning process.
Can AI predict project delays?
Whether forecasts regarding potential project delays can be produced depends on the available historical and current data, as well as the functions used. Such a forecast is not guaranteed across the board for every installation .
Can AI identify production bottlenecks?
When machine bookings, orders, staff, dates and available capacity are linked together, critical bookings and potential bottlenecks can be identified.
Can Visual Planning® use data from SAP or other ERP systems?
Yes, data from ERP and third-party systems can be imported as part of an integration project. Project interfaces that have been implemented include those with SAP, Abacus, Microsoft Dynamics, baubit and m-soft. The specific technical implementation must be assessed for the respective system .
Does the AI make binding decisions independently?
AI is used for analysis and decision support. Technical decisions, approvals and responsibility for the implemented planning remain with the relevant users.
Is the AI planning board suitable for SMEs?
The solution may also be suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. The key factors are the complexity of the planning, the existing database and the specific requirements. The scope, modules and configuration are determined according to the specific use case.
Discover AI-powered planning with Visual Planning®
Would you like to find out how Visual Planning® can be used to manage your personnel, project, production or resource planning? During a no-obligation consultation, we will clarify your requirements, the available data sources, possible interfaces and the appropriate range of functions.
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Further information: Visual Planning® Software | Modules | Planning and Industry Solutions | FAQ on Visual Planning®