Mosaic vs. MS Project

3
min read

High-Level Comparison

MS Project is renowned for its planning capabilities in project management and is often likened to a Swiss Army knife in its versatility.  However, due to its vast range of capabilities, it can sometimes be cumbersome and challenging to navigate. Notably, critiques of MS Project include it not being visually intuitive and difficult to adopt. Specifically for a resource planning focus, having such a larger number of menus and features might seem superfluous, making it cumbersome and more difficult to create resource planning schedules.

In contrast, Mosaic is a speciality-purpose tool, tailored for resource planning, management, and forecasting. It was designed for managing projects around people's capacity which materially impacts every part of the user interface, showcasing the difference between a generalized tool like MS Project and one that's built with a specific purpose. Mosaic feature set brings built-in best practices for resource planning and management, drawing from decades of spreadsheets and internal tools 

Implementation, Adoption, and UI

When it comes to the implementation and training of project management software, Microsoft Project also often falls short. Unlike Mosaic, which offers comprehensive in-house packages for training and implementation, Microsoft Project relies heavily on third-party solutions for implementation, driving up costs and introducing potential compatibility issues. Mosaic's approach ensures that your team is equipped with the necessary skills right from the start, streamlining the onboarding process and minimizing disruptions. 

This in-house training model sets Mosaic apart, allowing organizations to seamlessly transition to efficient resource management without the need for external expertise. We help your organization stay focused on why you’re rolling out Mosaic in the first place, providing a structured roll-out plan, including detailed checklists customized to your organization. The plan helps you build new habits and provides the focus you need to make meaningful changes quickly. Your dedicated CSM will conduct personalized training sessions tailored to your team's specific roles and needs, ensuring everyone is equipped with the knowledge to hit the ground running. This along with Mosaic’s training videos, clickthroughs, written help docs, a ChatGPT-powered chatbot, and help desk provide ongoing support for all your resource management needs. 

Moving beyond implementation, the user interface (UI) of Microsoft Project can be a significant hurdle. Its complex formatting and multi-level menu navigation make it challenging to work with and difficult to understand for both new and experienced users. Without the hundreds of superfluous features for dozens of other use cases that MS Project has, Mosaic’s interface becomes streamlined, so even those new to the platform can understand the functionality and engage effortlessly. Mosaic is thoughtfully designed to be intuitive and user-friendly. Its UI focuses on clarity and simplicity, making it easier for team members to plan and manage schedules without a steep learning curve. Mosaic's interface not only simplifies project and resource management, but also facilitates effective communication and coordination within the organization by seamlessly connecting all relevant resource planning information.

Feature Comparison

Feature

MS Project

Mosaic

Planning

Available

Available

Budget Tracking

Available

Available

Budget Variance

Available, limited only on cost variance.

Available

Workload Management

Available, Limited

Available

Plan Projects around capacity

Available

Available

Difficulty of Adoption

12+ months w/ external partner.

60-120 days with an internal dedicated CSM

Forecasts

Available, limited

Available

Earned Value

Available

Available

Custom Integrations with 3rd Party Software

Available, through 3rd party integrator.

Available, internally

Gantt Charts

Available

End of 2023 release

Dependencies

Available, all dependency types

Offered, streamlined
for resource planning 

Integrations

Open API, only native is O365

Open API, native with most ERP and PM tools, managed by Mosaic

AI Project Finder

x

Available

AI Team Builder

x

Available

AI Insights

x

Available

Role Demand

x

Available, AI powered in 2024

Automatic Dependencies

x

Available Jan 2024 Release

John Meyer

Founder & CEO
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