Custom planning & scheduling software
Planning software that fits your processes. We build custom planning and scheduling solutions that deploy your production, staff and resources optimally. From Gantt charts and drag-and-drop rosters to automated work order allocation, built to your rules and connected to your systems.
Why custom planning and scheduling software?
Many organisations plan using spreadsheets, separate tools or an off-the-shelf package that doesn't quite fit their processes. The result: duplicated work, scheduling conflicts and limited insight into occupancy and capacity. Standard planning software forces you into a fixed framework, so your processes are adapted to the tool rather than the other way round.
Custom planning and scheduling software is built around your planning rules, resources and business logic. Whether it's production planning, staff rosters or work order allocation, the software does exactly what you need, integrates with your existing systems and grows with your organisation. You own the source code and decide the roadmap.
We help organisations make the move from spreadsheets and off-the-shelf tools to a custom planning solution that truly fits the way you work.
Modules we build
Every organisation plans differently. We build the modules that suit your situation, from production planning to staff rostering and from work order management to route optimisation. Combine what you need now and expand later.
Production planning & capacity
Schedule production orders, assign machines and lines, and optimise utilisation. With real-time insight into capacity and lead times.
- Gantt view with drag-and-drop
- Capacity calculation per resource
- Automatic conflict detection
- Integrations with MES and ERP
Staff rostering & availability
Build rosters based on availability, skills and employment conditions. Staff see their roster in an app and can swap shifts with colleagues.
- Automatic roster generation
- Availability and leave management
- Skill-based allocation
- Time registration and export
Project planning & resource allocation
Plan projects, assign team members, and keep track of deadlines and budgets. With an overview of all ongoing projects and their status.
- Kanban and timeline views
- Resource allocation across projects
- Milestone tracking and dependencies
- Reports per project and team
Work order scheduling & dispatching
Distribute work orders across teams and engineers based on location, priority and availability. Ideal for service and maintenance companies.
- Automatic work order distribution
- Prioritisation and escalation rules
- Real-time status updates
- Integration with CRM and invoicing
Route planning & field service
Optimise routes for field staff, couriers or service engineers. With smart algorithms that minimise travel time and respect appointments.
- Route optimisation with time windows
- Map view and GPS tracking
- Dynamic rescheduling when changes occur
- Integration with navigation apps
Reports & dashboards
Get real-time insight into utilisation, productivity and planning efficiency. With dashboards that help you make data-driven decisions.
- Utilisation per team and resource
- Lead time analysis and bottlenecks
- Export functions to Excel and PDF
- Automated reports per period
Each module can be built as a standalone component or as part of an integrated whole. See also how we build custom web applications that form the foundation of your planning platform.
Custom planning software vs standard tools
Standard planning tools are a good starting point for simple situations. But once your planning rules become more complex, integrations are needed or your organisation grows, off-the-shelf packages reach their limits.
Standard planning tools
Packages such as Monday.com, MS Project or Planday offer generic planning functionality that suits many organisations. You pay per user per month and get a broad set of features.
- Quick to implement
- Broad basic functionality
- Fixed framework for planning logic
- Limited flexibility of rules
- Licence costs rise as you grow
- Dependent on the supplier
Custom planning software
Custom planning software is built around your specific planning rules, resource types and business processes. You decide which features are included and how the software works.
- Built on your planning logic
- Fully adaptable and extendable
- Integration with all your systems
- Predictable costs, no per-user licences
- Full ownership of the source code
- No vendor lock-in
Not sure whether custom development is the right step? Our IT consultants can help you make the right choice based on your situation, growth ambitions and budget.
Technologies we use
We build planning software using proven technologies that guarantee reliability, speed and scalability. Our choices are based on years of experience with complex planning applications.
Backend & databases
Robust back-end systems that perform complex planning calculations quickly and reliably, even with large data sets.
For carpentry firms scheduling crews on projects where production and construction each run at their own pace, there is our installation planning software for carpentry firms.
- Node.js and Python
- PostgreSQL and Redis
- GraphQL and REST APIs
- WebSockets for real-time updates
Frontend & interfaces
Intuitive interfaces with drag-and-drop, Gantt charts and Kanban boards that let your planners work quickly and efficiently.
- React and TypeScript
- Next.js for performance
- Drag-and-drop planning interfaces
- Responsive for desktop and tablet
Cloud & infrastructure
Scalable cloud infrastructure that grows with your organisation and guarantees high availability.
- AWS and Google Cloud
- Docker and Kubernetes
- CI/CD pipelines
- Monitoring and alerting
Integrations with your existing systems
Planning software doesn't work in isolation. We build integrations with your ERP, HR systems, accounting and other business software so data flows automatically and duplicate entry disappears.
ERP & accounting
Synchronise planning data with your financial administration and business processes for a complete overview.
- Exact Online
- AFAS
- SAP Business One
- Twinfield
- Microsoft Dynamics
HR & staff systems
Link staff data, availability and contract information directly to your planning module.
- AFAS HRM
- Nmbrs
- Visma Raet
- Loket.nl
- Personio
Custom & legacy
We also build custom integrations with legacy systems, in-house databases or industry-specific software.
- REST and GraphQL APIs
- Middleware solutions
- Legacy database integrations
- Webhook integrations
- Batch import and export
Read more about our approach to API integrations, or discover how we build custom middleware to connect complex system landscapes. For the integration with your ERP system, we carefully align the data flows.
Why choose Appfront for your planning software?
Our approach
We start every planning project with a thorough analysis of your current processes, bottlenecks and requirements. Together with your planners and managers, we map out the planning rules and translate them into a technical design. We then build in short sprints, so you can test and steer the project along the way.
- Discovery phase with your team
- Iterative building in sprints
- Interim demos and feedback
- Migration of existing planning data
- Training and user onboarding
See our services for a complete overview of what we can offer.
What you can expect from us
At Appfront, you get an experienced team that understands planning and scheduling challenges. We think along about the optimal set-up, build robust software and remain available for further development and support after go-live.
- Direct communication with the development team
- Transparent about progress and decisions
- Full ownership of the source code
- Documented code and architecture
- Support and further development after handover
See our cases to discover what we have built for other organisations.
Security and compliance
Planning software contains sensitive business data: staff records, production orders, customer information and capacity data. We build security in from the very first design, not as an afterthought.
- GDPR-compliant: privacy by design when processing personal data
- Role-based access control: every user sees only what is relevant to them
- Audit trails: all planning changes are logged and traceable
- Encrypted data: data at rest and data in transit are encrypted
- Automated backups: continuous backups with point-in-time recovery
- SSO integration: single sign-on with your existing identity provider
You can read more about our approach to security in our information security policy and vulnerability disclosure policy.
Frequently asked questions about custom planning & scheduling software
Ready to digitise your planning?
We are happy to think along with you about the optimal planning solution for your organisation. Get in touch for a no-obligation conversation, explore our services, or find out more about us.