Managing resources efficiently is a challenge for any organization, but for a nonprofit like the Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM), it’s crucial. As a leading nonprofit promoting civic engagement and democracy, INM manages numerous projects simultaneously with limited resources. When the need for a more systematic approach to optimize time tracking and project management became pressing, Nutcache became their go-to solution. Let’s explore this use case in depth.
Scenario – What INM Needed?
As INM grew over the years, they faced an escalating challenge: managing multiple projects with a homemade system that could no longer keep up. Their most pressing need was tracking employee hours across various projects. The existing Excel-based timesheet system was limiting, both in its functionality and the administrative burden it created.
After testing various project management tools, INM chose Nutcache, primarily for its time tracking capabilities. This functionality provided an automated and robust solution that helped optimize time tracking of project hours and simplified administrative tasks like payroll and project budget allocation.
Solution – How Nutcache Helped INM Thrive
Running multiple projects with limited resources was never easy for INM. With a growing team and a need for a more structured system, Nutcache stepped in to solve many of their organizational challenges:
- Time Tracking Revolutionized: Nutcache’s time tracking feature became an instant game-changer. Employees could now track their hours efficiently, removing the need for manual timesheet collation and allowing project managers to easily monitor time spent on different projects. Payroll allocation and follow-up on administrative tasks became much more streamlined, helping the organization optimize time tracking and reduce administrative overhead.
- Project Centralization: Nutcache allowed INM to begin centralizing all project information, eliminating the need for homemade tools. This centralization provided a clearer view of team assignments, workloads, and project budgets, creating a more transparent and efficient working environment.
- Streamlined Approval Process: Nutcache simplified the approval process for time tracking and project updates, speeding up administrative workflows and reducing the risk of errors, further enabling INM to optimize time tracking across their various projects.
Benefits and Outcomes of Using Nutcache
Since adopting Nutcache, INM has seen significant improvements in their daily operations. Some of the key benefits include:
- Improved Billing and Time Management: With Nutcache, INM can systematically track hours spent on projects, ensuring that billing is more accurate and time banks are used more rigorously. This newfound transparency in time tracking has also helped the team make more informed decisions, allowing them to optimize time tracking processes to increase productivity.
- Structured Organizational Functions: Nutcache has helped INM structure their internal processes, providing better insights into operational hours and improving the overall efficiency of project management.
- Long-term Plans for Project Management: Although still in the early stages, INM has started using Nutcache’s project management features to reduce reliance on in-house tools. They plan to eventually manage all project work plans, team assignments, and budgets through Nutcache for a more comprehensive view of project progress.
Favorite Features of Nutcache
For INM, the standout feature is undoubtedly the time tracking tool. This feature has addressed long-standing challenges, allowing them to streamline processes and improve the rigor of their project management and administrative follow-ups.
Additionally, INM has started using Nutcache’s workload management feature. Though still in its infancy, the organization sees immense potential in this feature to help distribute workloads more evenly and anticipate recruitment needs more accurately.
The Importance of a Tool Like Nutcache
For INM, a project management tool like Nutcache is essential for making better decisions. With time tracking and workload management fully integrated, Nutcache provides invaluable insights into how the team’s time is spent, enabling INM to optimize time tracking and manage resources efficiently, maximizing their impact.
About INM
The Institut du Nouveau Monde (INM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing citizen participation in democratic life. INM’s initiatives foster civic engagement and strengthen social bonds, contributing to the appreciation of democratic institutions. Since its founding in 2004, INM has been recognized for its efforts, including receiving the Claire-Bonenfant Prize for democratic values and civic education in 2005.
