What are Some of the Best PSA Software in Salesforce?

What are Some of the Best PSA Software in Salesforce?

What are Some of the Best PSA Software in Salesforce?

Professional Services Automation (PSA) is an indispensable tool for any organization that provides such services, and it can take care of a wide range of tasks such as resource planning, time & expense tracking, billing and reporting.

Are you looking for the best PSA software in Salesforce to ensure your business runs like a well-oiled machine? Look no further than this comprehensive guide to the top applications on the market.

By the end of this article, you’ll be armed with all the knowledge you need to find the ideal PSA solution for your company.

 

Comparison Criteria for the Best PSA Software in Salesforce

Finding the ideal PSA software for your business is essential to success. To make it easier, we’ve combed through G2’s criteria of comparison:

  • Requirements
  • Ease of Use
  • Ease of Setup
  • Ease of Admin
  • Quality of Support
  • Product Direction
  • Features/Pricing
  • Has the PSA product been a good partner in doing business

Additionally, when considering the business partnership of the PSA product, the vendor’s overall reliability, trustworthiness, and customer service track record should be taken into account. The product roadmap and future plans of the vendor must be aligned with your business needs and goals. It is also important to evaluate the pricing structure and value for money of each PSA software option, as well as the range and quality of features offered.

Make sure to compare key functionalities offered by each PSA software option, such as resource management, project management, time tracking and invoicing. Moreover, factors like user interface design and overall user experience are necessary to consider when making your decision. Finally, it is essential to analyze the experience and expertise of the development team behind each PSA software option, as well as the level of trust and reputation held by the vendor.

We will use these comparison criteria to provide a comprehensive breakdown of the top PSA software options available in Salesforce, allowing you to make an educated decision about which one is the perfect choice for your business. With our analysis, you can be sure that you are making the optimal choice and investing in the right PSA software for your needs.

 

The Best PSA Software in Salesforce

The Salesforce marketplace has plenty of options when it comes to PSA software, so it can be difficult to determine which one is the ideal choice for your business. But don’t worry; we’re here to help you navigate through the vast selection and find the perfect fit. We’ve narrowed down the top PSA software options based on a set of criteria, so let’s take a look!

 

PSA Software in Salesforce #1: Klient

Klient is a powerful cloud-based Professional Services Automation (PSA) solution that allows businesses to manage their projects, resources, and finances in one centralized platform. Developed natively on the Salesforce platform, it’s effortless to integrate with other Salesforce applications. The reviews for Klient have been overwhelmingly positive from users of popular software review websites such as G2 Crowd, Capterra, and TrustRadius. The user-friendly interface, flexibility, and customization options of the software have earned it rave reviews from its users.

Salesforce Technical Information

Built natively on the Salesforce platform, Klient has been designed to work seamlessly with other Salesforce products and is highly customizable, so businesses can easily tailor it to their unique needs.

Language

First Release Date Last Release Date
Klient PSA is primarily available in English, but also supports other languages supported by Salesforce, making it ideal for businesses that operate in multiple countries. Klient was released in 2015, so it’s relatively new in the PSA software market.  Klient has been regularly updated since its launch, with the most recent version released in early 2023.

 

Package Information

Klient is a customizable software with a moderate complexity level. This means users may need some training if they are not familiar with PSA software.

Klient performs well in terms of user satisfaction, ease of use, and customer support when compared to other similar software on the market.

It is mostly used in North America, but is available to businesses worldwide.

 

PSA Software in Salesforce #2: Mission Control

Mission Control is a professional services automation (PSA) software built on the Salesforce platform. It helps service-based businesses manage resources, projects, finances and customer relationships in one system. Features include project management, resource management, time tracking, invoicing and reporting. The user interface is customizable and intuitive.

Reviews of Mission Control are positive, with users praising its flexibility, scalability, and ease of use. They also appreciate the support team’s responsiveness to help with any issues that arise.

Salesforce Technical Information

Mission Control is another native Salesforce application that leverages the platform’s capabilities for a seamless experience. It is built on the Lightning framework which provides a modern and responsive user interface that can be customized to fit each business’s needs.

Language

First Release Date Last Release Date
Mission Control is designed to bridge any language barrier, providing multilingual support in English. Launched in 2016, Mission Control has been a trusted companion for project teams throughout the years. The most recent release of Mission Control was in December 2021, and it only keeps getting better with time!

Package Information

Whether you’re looking for basic project management or comprehensive resource management and invoicing features, Mission Control has you covered with its wide range of packages. With its moderate complexity, this software provides an enjoyable user experience without compromising on performance.

Mission Control has earned a stellar reputation in the world of Professional Services Automation (PSA) software, especially for its intuitive user interface and seamless integration with Salesforce applications.

Companies across North America, Europe, and Australia have adopted Mission Control for a hassle-free experience – however, some customers may miss out on the advanced customization that other PSA solutions offer.

 

PSA Software in Salesforce #3: Replicon

Replicon PSA is a cloud-based software that helps businesses streamline their operations, manage resources efficiently, and increase profitability. It provides project management tools, resource management capabilities, time and expense tracking features, invoicing options and reporting functions. With Replicon PSA, businesses can easily manage projects and resources, track expenses and revenues and generate accurate invoices for their clients.

Reviews for Replicon PSA have been positive for its user-friendly interface, customizable dashboards and robust reporting capabilities. Users also find its task management, time tracking and project cost tracking features helpful. However some users have reported the software can be slow at times and customer support could be more responsive.

Salesforce Technical Information

Replicon PSA is available as a Salesforce app that can be installed from the AppExchange. It is built on the Salesforce platform and integrates with other

Language

First Release Date Last Release Date
No matter where you are in the world, Replicon PSA is equipped to join you on your journey with its wide range of language support. From English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese – Replicon PSA has got you covered! Replicon PSA has been an integral part of workflows since 1996 – a milestone that marked the beginning of highly efficient project management. Keeping up with the times, the latest version of Replicon PSA was released in January 2022 – proudly ushering in a new era of productivity and success.

 

Package Information

Replicon PSA is a comprehensive cloud-based PSA software that offers advanced features for project management, resource management, time and expense tracking, and invoicing. It is easy to deploy and configure with customizable dashboards and reports.

Compared to other PSA software, Replicon PSA has a competitive pricing model with flexible plans suitable for businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features and integrations, making it a comprehensive solution for professional services firms. However, some users have noted the software may be complex to set up and use, and customer support responsiveness could be improved.

Replicon PSA is used by businesses in North America and around the world. It has offices in the United States, Canada, India, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and supports multiple currencies and tax systems.

 

PSA Software in Salesforce #4: FinancialForce

FinancialForce is a cloud-based software to manage projects, resources & financials from one platform. Built on Salesforce, it integrates with other Salesforce products & provides real-time visibility of project progress, resource utilization & financial metrics to optimize operations.

FinancialForce has earned praise for its comprehensive features, ease of use, and integration with Salesforce and other systems. Resource management and project planning capabilities are also highly rated, enabling teams to collaborate effectively and manage workloads efficiently. Though complex to set up, the software provides a powerful solution for project and resource management.

Salesforce Technical Information

FinancialForce is built on the Salesforce platform, with full integration with Salesforce Sales and Service Cloud. It uses Salesforce security and compliance features such as user authentication, data encryption, and access controls, as well as supporting Salesforce Lightning for a modern user experience.

Language

First Release Date Last Release Date
FinancialForce supports multiple languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, and Portuguese, suitable for companies operating globally. FinancialForce was released in 2010 continued to receive constant updates, including improved project templates and resource management. FinancialForce’s latest update came out in February 2022 with improved project templates and resource management.

 

Package Information

FinancialForce is a customizable, feature-rich PSA software with Essentials, Professional, and Enterprise editions that vary in features and pricing. The Enterprise edition includes advanced features such as revenue forecasting, project profitability analysis, and resource forecasting.

It stands out for its comprehensive features and Salesforce integration, and is highly rated for resource management and project planning. However, setup and configuration can be complex and require extra training/support, plus it’s typically more expensive than other PSA software, making it less accessible to smaller businesses.

This app is popular globally, particularly in North America where businesses use Salesforce as their main CRM and project management platform.

 

PSA Software in Salesforce #5:Kantata

Kantata is a PSA software native to Salesforce that facilitates project management, resource management, time tracking, invoicing and reporting. It enables real-time tracking of projects and resources, end-to-end visibility of projects and informed decisions on project status and resource allocation.

Kantata has been well-received by its users. They comment on how easy it is to use, and how well it integrates with Salesforce. Its customization and configuration capabilities allow users to tailor the software to their specific business needs. People also praise Kantata’s customer support, saying how quickly and effectively the team responds to inquiries.

Salesforce Technical Information

Kantata as well is a native Salesforce app. It is built using Apex and Visualforce, which are the development languages used within the Salesforce platform.

Language

First Release Date Last Release Date Package Information

Kantata is available in English.

2016 December 2021 Kantata’s package information on the Salesforce AppExchange lists it as having a complexity level of moderate.

 

Kantata is rated highly by users and offers great customer support compared to other PSA software on the Salesforce AppExchange. It has features that are similar to competitors, but its customizable and configurable options make it ideal for businesses with special requirements.

Kantata is available all over the world, but its headquarters are based in North America.

Conclusion – Get the Best PSA Software in Salesforce for Your Business

Navigating the world of PSA software solutions is an essential task for any SME operating in North America. To make this process easier, we’ve identified and reviewed the top five options available in Salesforce.

Among them is Klient PSA, a powerful choice that can revolutionize your business. Its intuitive user interface and seamless Salesforce integration make it easy to manage projects and resources quickly and effectively. Plus, its comprehensive feature set ensures you can use every tool available to take your business to the next level.

Schedule a Klient demo for an overview of the Klient platform and its amazing features.

From Finance to Resource Management: ERP for the Full Spectrum of Professional Services

From Finance to Resource Management: ERP for the Full Spectrum of Professional Services

The professional services industry is undergoing a major transformation driven by digital technologies and changing customer expectations. To remain competitive and profitable in this rapidly changing landscape, professional services firms must find ways to streamline their operations, improve their efficiency, and provide higher-quality services to their clients. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have emerged as a critical tool for professional services firms looking to achieve these goals.

By providing a comprehensive, integrated platform for managing all aspects of their operations, ERP systems enable firms to optimize their finance, resource, project, talent, and marketing and sales functions and make informed decisions about their business performance. In this long-form blog, we will explore the key benefits of ERP systems for professional services firms, the different types of ERP systems available, and the best practices for choosing and implementing an ERP system.

We will also provide real-world examples of how professional services firms have used ERP systems to improve their operations, increase efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction.

ERP vs. PSA Software: Understanding the Differences for Professional Services Firms

ERP systems and PSA (Professional Services Automation) software can complement professional services firms, providing different but complementary functionalities.

ERP systems are designed to provide a solution for the accounting department of a professional services firms. ERP systems typically have a strong focus on financial management, including functions such as billing and invoicing, accounts receivable and payable, and financial reporting and analysis. It will lack

On the other hand, PSA software is designed specifically for professional services firms and focuses on the specific needs of these firms, such as resource planning, project management, time tracking, and billing. PSA software typically has a strong focus on project management and resource management, helping firms to optimize their utilization of resources, track project progress, and manage budgets and invoicing.

When used together, ERP systems and PSA software can provide a more comprehensive solution for professional services firms. ERP systems can provide a central platform for managing the financial aspect of the business while PSA software can provide specialized functionality for managing the specific needs of professional services firms, such as resource planning, sales, forecasting, resources management, project management, and time tracking.

For example, a consulting firm might use an ERP system to manage its finance, HR, and sales functions, while using PSA software to manage its project management, resource planning, and time tracking functions. The integration of these two systems can provide the firm with real-time visibility into its operations and performance, enabling it to make informed decisions about its business.

In summary, while ERP systems and PSA software can provide different functionalities, they can be complementary for professional services firms, providing a more comprehensive solution for managing all aspects of the business.

Key Functions and Sub-Functions of ERP Systems for Professional Services: A Comprehensive Overview

An ERP system for professional services typically includes a variety of functions and sub-functions to manage different aspects of the business. Here are some of the key functions and sub-functions for an ERP system for professional services:

The financial management functions of an ERP system for professional services firms can include:

  1. Billing and Invoicing: Allows firms to generate and manage invoices for their services. Invoicing can be automated and customized based on the specific needs of the firm and its clients.
  2. Accounts Receivable: Tracks the payments due from clients for services rendered. Firms can use this function to manage client accounts, track payments, and follow up on outstanding balances.
  3. Accounts Payable: Tracks the payments due to vendors and suppliers for goods and services purchased by the firm. Firms can use this function to manage vendor accounts, track payments, and ensure timely payment of invoices.
  4. General Ledger: Provides a comprehensive view of the firm’s financial transactions, including income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Firms can use this function to manage their financial records and ensure compliance with accounting standards.
  5. Expense Management: Allows firms to manage their expenses, including travel expenses, office expenses, and other operational expenses. Firms can use this function to track expenses, manage budgets, and improve expense management processes.
  6. Budgeting and Forecasting: Provides tools for creating and managing budgets and forecasts. Firms can use this function to create and manage budgets, forecast revenue and expenses, and track actual vs. budgeted results.
  7. Financial Reporting and Analysis: Provides tools for generating financial reports and analyzing financial data. Firms can use this function to generate reports on revenue, costs, profitability, and other financial metrics, and to analyze trends and make data-driven decisions.

Overall, the financial management functions of an ERP system for professional services firms help firms manage their finances more effectively, improve their financial reporting and analysis capabilities, and make data-driven decisions about their business performance.

These functions and sub-functions are typically integrated with each other in an ERP system, providing a comprehensive platform for managing all aspects of a professional services business. This integration allows firms to gain real-time visibility into their operations, make informed decisions, and improve their overall performance.

Key Functions and Sub-Functions of PSA Software for Professional Services Firms: A Comprehensive Overview

The key functions and sub-functions of a PSA (Professional Services Automation) software for professional services firms can include:

  1. Resource Management
  • Resource Planning and Scheduling: Allows firms to optimize resource utilization and allocate resources effectively to projects.
  • Time and Expense Tracking: Enables firms to track billable and non-billable hours and expenses for individual employees and projects.
  • Project and Portfolio Management: Provides tools for managing projects and portfolios, including planning, scheduling, and tracking.
  1. Project Management
  • Project Planning and Tracking: Provides tools for planning and tracking project timelines, milestones, and deliverables.
  • Resource Allocation and Management: Enables firms to allocate resources effectively to projects and manage resource utilization.
  • Risk Management: Provides tools for identifying, tracking, and managing project risks.
  • Budgeting and Cost Management: Allows firms to manage project budgets and track project costs.
  1. Talent Management
  • Employee Information Management: Provides tools for managing employee information, including profiles, roles, and responsibilities.
  • Performance Management: Enables firms to track employee performance and provide feedback and coaching to improve performance.
  • Goal and Objective Management: Allows firms to set and track employee goals and objectives.
  • Succession Planning: Provides tools for identifying potential successors for key roles in the firm.
  • Learning and Development: Enables firms to manage employee training and development programs.
  • Compensation and Benefits Management: Provides tools for managing employee compensation and benefits.
  1. Time and Billing Management
  • Time and Expense Tracking: Enables firms to track billable and non-billable hours and expenses for individual employees and projects.
  • Invoicing and Billing: Provides tools for generating invoices and managing the billing process.
  1. Analytics and Reporting
  • Dashboards and Scorecards: Provides a real-time overview of key performance indicators and metrics.
  • Business Intelligence and Analytics: Provides tools for analyzing data and generating reports on performance and trends.
  • Custom Reporting and Analysis: Allows firms to create customized reports and analysis based on their specific needs.

Overall, PSA software helps professional services firms optimize their resource utilization, manage projects and portfolios effectively, track time and billing, manage talent and performance, and generate analytics and reports to improve their operations and performance.

Top ERP Systems for Professional Services Firms: A Guide for Small Businesses

There are several ERP systems that are well-suited for small professional services firms. Here are some of the top ERP systems for professional services firms for small businesses:

  1. NetSuite: A cloud-based ERP system that offers a comprehensive suite of modules for managing financials, projects, resources, and customer relationships. NetSuite is particularly well-suited for small businesses that require a flexible, scalable, and integrated ERP system.
  2. SAP Business One: A comprehensive ERP system designed specifically for small and midsize businesses. SAP Business One offers a range of modules for managing finance, inventory, production, sales, and customer relationships.
  3. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: A cloud-based ERP system that offers a range of modules for managing financials, supply chain, project management, and customer relationships. Business Central is particularly well-suited for small businesses that use other Microsoft products, such as Office 365.
  4. Sage Intacct: A cloud-based ERP system that offers a range of modules for managing financials, projects, revenue recognition, and subscription billing. Sage Intacct is particularly well-suited for small businesses that require robust financial management functionality.
  5. Acumatica: A cloud-based ERP system that offers a range of modules for managing financials, projects, distribution, and customer relationships. Acumatica is particularly well-suited for small businesses that require a flexible and scalable ERP system that can be customized to their specific needs.

These ERP systems offer a range of features and functionalities that are well-suited for small professional services firms, including finance management, project management, resource planning, and customer relationship management. When selecting an ERP system, it’s important for small businesses to consider their specific needs and requirements, as well as the scalability and affordability of the system.

Top PSA Software for Professional Services Firms: A Guide for Small Businesses

CRM for Professional Services Dashboard

Here are some of the top PSA (Professional Services Automation) software for small professional services firms, including Klient PSA as the first in the list:

  1. Klient PSA: A cloud-based PSA software that offers a comprehensive suite of modules for managing resource planning, project management, time tracking, and invoicing. Klient PSA is particularly well-suited for small businesses that require a user-friendly and affordable PSA software.
  2. Mavenlink: A cloud-based PSA software that offers a range of modules for managing project management, resource planning, time tracking, and financial management. Mavenlink is particularly well-suited for small businesses that require a PSA software with strong project management functionality.
  3. BigTime: A cloud-based PSA software that offers a range of modules for managing time tracking, project management, and billing. BigTime is particularly well-suited for small businesses that require a PSA software with strong time tracking and billing functionality.
  4. ConnectWise Manage: A cloud-based PSA software that offers a range of modules for managing project management, time tracking, invoicing, and customer relationship management. ConnectWise Manage is particularly well-suited for small businesses that require a PSA software with strong customer relationship management functionality.
  5. OpenAir: A cloud-based PSA software that offers a range of modules for managing resource planning, project management, time tracking, and invoicing. OpenAir is particularly well-suited for small businesses that require a PSA software with strong resource planning functionality.

These PSA software offer a range of features and functionalities that are well-suited for small professional services firms, including project management, resource planning, time tracking, and invoicing. When selecting a PSA software, it’s important for small businesses to consider their specific needs and requirements, as well as the affordability and scalability of the software.

The Benefits of PSA Software for Professional Services Firms: Improving Resource Planning, Project Management, Time and Billing Management, Collaboration, Performance Monitoring, and Productivity.

PSA (Professional Services Automation) software can provide a range of benefits to professional services firms. Here are some of the key benefits of using a PSA software:

  1. Improved Resource Planning: PSA software can help firms optimize their resource utilization by providing real-time visibility into resource availability, skills, and capacity. This can help firms ensure that the right resources are allocated to the right projects at the right time.
  2. Enhanced Project Management: PSA software can help firms manage their projects more effectively by providing tools for planning, scheduling, tracking, and analyzing project performance. This can help firms deliver projects on time and within budget, while improving project profitability.
  3. Accurate Time and Billing Management: PSA software can help firms track billable and non-billable hours accurately and generate invoices quickly and accurately. This can help firms improve their cash flow and reduce the risk of revenue leakage.
  4. Improved Collaboration and Communication: PSA software can help firms improve collaboration and communication among team members, clients, and stakeholders. This can help firms ensure that everyone is on the same page, and that projects are completed efficiently and effectively.
  5. Real-Time Performance Monitoring: PSA software can help firms monitor their performance in real-time, by providing dashboards, reports, and analytics on key performance indicators (KPIs). This can help firms make data-driven decisions and continuously improve their operations and performance.
  6. Increased Efficiency and Productivity: PSA software can help firms automate and streamline their processes, reducing manual work and improving productivity. This can help firms increase their efficiency, reduce their costs, and improve their profitability.

Overall, PSA software can help professional services firms improve their resource utilization, project management, time and billing management, collaboration and communication, performance monitoring, and efficiency and productivity. This can help firms deliver better outcomes for their clients and improve their own profitability and competitiveness.

Choosing the Right ERP and PSA Software for Your Professional Services Firm: Key Considerations and Best Practices.

Choosing the right ERP and PSA software for your professional services firm is a critical decision that can impact your business performance and profitability. Here are some key considerations and best practices to help you make an informed decision:

  1. Identify Your Business Needs: Before selecting an ERP or PSA software, it’s important to identify your business needs and requirements. This includes understanding your current and future business processes, the size and complexity of your business, your budget, and your growth objectives. This will help you select a software that aligns with your business needs and provides the functionality and scalability you require.
  2. Evaluate Software Features and Functionality: When selecting an ERP or PSA software, it’s important to evaluate the features and functionality that the software offers. This includes considering the financial management features, project management features, resource management features, reporting and analytics features, and integration capabilities. You should also consider the user interface and ease of use, as well as the level of customization and configurability the software offers.
  3. Consider Cloud-Based vs. On-Premises Software: Another important consideration when selecting an ERP or PSA software is whether to choose a cloud-based or on-premises software. Cloud-based software offers the advantage of accessibility, scalability, and lower upfront costs, while on-premises software offers greater control and customization. You should weigh the pros and cons of each option based on your business needs and budget.
  4. Check Vendor Reputation and Customer Support: When selecting an ERP or PSA software, it’s important to choose a reputable vendor with a track record of delivering quality software and excellent customer support. You should check the vendor’s reputation, customer reviews, and references to ensure that they have a strong track record of delivering quality software and supporting their customers.
  5. Plan for Implementation and Training: Implementing and training your team on a new ERP or PSA software can be a complex and time-consuming process. It’s important to plan for the implementation and training process, including setting realistic timelines and milestones, identifying key stakeholders and users, and allocating resources and budget for the process. You should also consider working with a vendor or consultant who can provide guidance and support throughout the implementation and training process.

Overall, selecting the right ERP and PSA software for your professional services firm requires careful consideration and planning. By identifying your business needs, evaluating software features, considering cloud-based vs. on-premises software, checking vendor reputation, and planning for implementation and training, you can select a software that aligns with your business needs and helps you achieve your business objectives more effectively.

The Impact of PSA Software on Professional Services Firms: A Comparative Analysis of Key Performance Indicators Based on the 2022 Professional Services Maturity™ Benchmark.

According to the 2022 Professional Services Maturity™ Benchmark by Service Performance Insight, LLC, using a PSA software can have a significant impact on the performance of professional services firms, as measured by key performance indicators (KPIs). The benchmark report analyzed the performance of over 500 professional services firms across a range of KPIs, and compared the performance of firms using a PSA software to those not using a PSA software, as well as those using a PSA-integrated system versus those using a PSA-only system.

Impact of - Professional Services Project Management Software

The report found that firms using a PSA software experienced significant improvements in a range of KPIs, including YoY change in PS revenue (11.8% increase), deal pipeline/quarterly bookings forecast (192% increase), employee billable utilization (75.3% increase), annual revenue per billable consultant ($208,000 increase), annual revenue per employee ($168,000 increase), project margin (37.6% increase), and profit (EBITDA) (16.5% increase).

Furthermore, the report found that firms using a PSA-integrated system experienced even greater improvements in KPIs compared to those using a PSA-only system. These improvements included win-to-bid ratio (5.55 increase), revenue growth (12.8% increase), headcount growth (12.1% increase), new clients acquisition (27.1% increase), billable utilization (76.4% increase), and project margin (39% increase).

The report also found that good performing firms (defined as those with a maturity score of 85 or above) were more likely to use a PSA software, and experienced significant improvements in KPIs compared to other firms. These improvements included deal pipeline relative to qtr. bookings forecast (228% increase), win-to-bid-ratio (62.9% increase), percentage of referenceable clients (80.2% increase), and annual services sales revenue quota/person ($1,920,000 increase).

In terms of operational KPIs, the report found that firms using a PSA software experienced improvements in average project staffing time (9.37 days increase), average revenue per project ($260,000 increase), average project staff (4.22 resources increase), average project duration (6.36 months increase), projects delivered on-time (86.9% increase), average project overrun (6.3% decrease), use of a standardized delivery methodology (75% increase), project margin for time & materials projects (46.3% increase), project margin for fixed price projects (47.4% increase), annual revenue per billable consultant (k) ($246,000 increase), quarterly revenue target in backlog (56.89% increase), and percent of annual revenue target achieved (101.8% increase).

Overall, the benchmark report highlights the significant impact that PSA software can have on the performance of professional services firms, as measured by a range of KPIs. These improvements can help firms deliver better outcomes for their clients, improve their profitability and competitiveness, and achieve their business objectives more effectively.

5 Problems Teams Have With To-Do Lists (And How Project Management Software Can Help)

5 Problems Teams Have With To-Do Lists (And How Project Management Software Can Help)

Ever find yourself without the right tool for a job?

Maybe the screw fell out of your glasses, but you don’t have one of those tiny screwdrivers you need to replace it. You try the edge of your credit card, a thumb tack from the wall, a paper-clip you bent into a point.

Maybe you find a solution, or maybe you don’t. Either way, it’s annoying. Plus, it takes far more time, energy, and effort to fix than it would if you had the right tool.

What To-Do Lists Are (And Are Not) Good For

The difference between project management and basic to-do lists is huge, yet it is a difference that’s often misunderstood. Post-it notes. Moleskine notebooks. Day-planners. Google docs. Any of the hundreds of organizational apps you can download to your phone. These are all versions of to-do lists. They can be very good at organizing individual projects, and there’s nothing wrong with keeping a running list of personal to-do items. However, basic to-do lists are not good for team projects because they fail to provide the one thing every team needs to keep a project moving forward: Visibility.

If you’re managing a team, it’s vital that you understand what everyone is working on. But if everyone on your team is working from his or her own personal to-do list, you’ll have little visibility into what’s actually happening on your team most of the time.

5 Problems Faced By Teams Using Basic To-Do Lists

1. Inability to Plan

When everyone is working off their own lists, you have zero visibility of what’s getting done, what’s not getting done, who’s going to do what next, or what resources might be available to meet an unexpected need if one arises.

2. Inability to Adjust to Changing Demands

Projects rarely go from start to finish without a few changes to the overall requirements. If you’re not working from a team-based project management system, you’ll have to pull everyone together, see where everyone is on their tasks, then figure out what work needs to continue, what needs to change, and what can be stopped completely.

3. Anxiety About Deadlines

Project managers are in charge of getting projects done. But when you don’t know exactly when different parts of a project are going to be complete, it’s difficult to be confident that your project will get done on time. Will the different team members get their part of the project done? Will you have to bug them about it as their individual deadlines come due? That uncertainty can easily lead to feelings of anxiety for project managers.

4. Frustration Between Project Managers and Team Members

It’s no fun to be a project manager who has to constantly bug team members about tasks, deadlines, or overdue deliverables. Likewise, if you’re a team member struggling to complete your part of a project, the last thing you need is an email from your project manager with the subject line “Status?” This kind of “project management by status update” process can quickly become a source of tension between employees and managers.

5. Fire Drills

Your team is working on a project. But your boss just came in with something urgent. Does your team have the bandwidth to complete the task? How long will it take? Will it require overtime? What will be the impact on the other projects your team is working on? Without a clear view of your team’s activities, these questions won’t be easy to answer.

Here’s How a Project Management Software Can Help…

In teams with a good project management system, the status of everyone’s work is easy to see. The project manager will have reliable, easy-to-use project management software and will be able to see everything that’s happening with your projects. If you sell consulting as a service, you’ll also be able to use professional services automation (PSA) to see and schedule the resources your company has available to deliver your services. It’s no fun to work on a team where everyone feels like there’s too much to do and not enough time to do it. If you know the frustration of trying to keep your team on track without a good project management system, there are tools that can help.

Project management software will help your team work smarter, together. We hope you’ll consider trying ours, which can help any team get more work done in less time with less stress for everyone.

5 Reasons the Best Resource Management Software Lives Within Professional Services Automation (PSA)

5 Reasons the Best Resource Management Software Lives Within Professional Services Automation (PSA)

In the service-based business world, there are countless software solutions that can greatly improve your organization’s ability to get work done for clients.

Many options seem all-encompassing. Others appear to be so niche that they only manage one specific area of your business. It can be hard to focus on what your organization needs and even harder to make a decision.

In an earlier article about the differences between professional services automation (PSA) and project management (PM) software, we explained that a PSA system encompasses PM software and changes the focus from the project to the customer.

Here, we’ll explain the differences between PSA and resource management software — and why the best resource management software lives inside larger PSA systems.

1. Resource Management Software Is Just About Resources

Resource management software — or resource planning software — helps managers schedule their people for optimal utilization and workload distribution. This includes both at-a-glance scheduling and the ability to make changes to schedules on the fly.

However, that’s all resource management software does. Standalone systems aren’t tied into the larger strategy of your services business.

2. Professional Services Automation Includes Many Functions Across Your Business

While resource management software focuses specifically on resources, PSA systems include resource management as one of their many functions. This allows leaders to have greater visibility across the customer journey. It also gives employees easier access to the info they need to produce projects or work your clients will love.

Besides resource management, PSA should also include:

  • Accounting
  • Calendar management
  • Collaboration
  • Document management
  • Expense tracking
  • Invoicing
  • Project management
  • Proposals.

And that’s not all. Your PSA solution can also come with the familiarity and mobile-readiness of Salesforce.

3. A PSA System Within Salesforce Delivers Even Greater Service

A particularly strong PSA system will be built right within Salesforce, allowing your organization to easily access information across the entire customer journey, from the prospect stage all the way to billing and accounting. That includes seeing how resources fit into that mix, both for planning and for analytics after a project. Any employees already familiar with Salesforce will have an easier time picking up use of a PSA system built within a software solution they already know how to use. And that includes resource management software. Additionally, mobile access is also included with Salesforce for ease of use and accessibility.

4. Give More Visibility to More Employees (or Restrict It)

Having PSA set up within Salesforce gives leadership and employees the ability to see more customer information across the customer lifecycle. Sales teams, implementation specialists, project delivery teams, and even the back office can access more customer information right when they need it, reducing the slow-downs that come from interdepartmental inquiries via messenger, email, or intranet. However, for greater data security, customer information can also be restricted to only those employees who need to see it by using access restrictions. If sensitive customer information needs to stay hidden from certain departments or certain employees, it can.

5. Resource Management Within PSA Moves the Focus From Resources to Customers

In the same way that selecting project management software within a PSA system shifts the focus from projects to customers, choosing resource management software that lives inside PSA will do the same. Instead of only focusing on resources, a PSA system will incorporate your planning work into a central system — one where customers are the center of everything.

Conclusion

Selecting the right resource management solution for your business can seem complicated at first. But if you make that decision as part of your PSA selection process, you can quickly narrow down your choices.

You can have better internal visibility, stronger planning capabilities, more data security options, and a customer-centric focus by choosing a resource management tool within the right PSA system.

Salesforce Economy Will Create 9.3 Million Jobs by 2026!

Salesforce Economy Will Create 9.3 Million Jobs by 2026!

For those who have followed Salesforce through the years, they know the #1 CRM in the world always set ambitious goals in terms of growth.

Here’s some highlights:

  • Produce $1.6 trillion in new revenues for customers by 2026.
  • They Expect to grow partner revenues to 3.5 times what they were in 2020
  • IDC predicted the Salesforce Economy will generate 9.3 million new jobs by 2026

Salesforce realease their new research from IDC detailing how they will drive nearly 9.6 million new jobs (yes, you read that right) and more than $1.6 trillion in new revenues for customers by 2026. Following the pandemic, their focus is not only about the jobs and revenue growth, but also to provide support their partners.

The ecosystem of companies supporting Salesforce customersʼ implementations is five times as big as Salesforce itself today and will be more than six times as big
in 2026. With 2026 ecosystem revenue forecast to be 3.5 times that in 2020, the challenge will be finding talent.

The growth of cloud software2 suffered little from the pandemic, growing 22% worldwide
in 2020, while on-premises software growth fell to zero. This year, cloud-delivered
software will be 43% of the software market, and by 2026, it will be 61%.

Read the full article here.

Download a full copy of the IDC: Salesforce Economy 2021

5 Ways to Reach 30-35 Billable Hours Every Week

5 Ways to Reach 30-35 Billable Hours Every Week

Billable hours are the lifeblood of any professional services organization.

The more billable hours your consultants log, the more successful you’ll be!

But It’s easier said than done… For a variety of reasons, consulting and professional services firms often don’t record as many billable hours every week as they should.

If your consultants aren’t billing 30-35 hours every week, here are some things you can do to improve the numbers:

1. Clearly Communicate What’s Billable and What’s Not Billable

What’s billable and what’s not? Getting this right is one of the fastest ways to increase the number of billable hours your consultants deliver every week. Do you bill for communication time? Emails? Phone calls ahead of a consulting gig? What about the time spent preparing materials for an on-site visit? Often these activities are not billed to a client. Some of them could be billed. But only if you clearly set expectations with your clients during the sales process.

2. Use Communication Checklists

It’s easy to tell your sales staff to “clearly communicate” with prospects. It’s not easy to get them to actually follow through. The easiest way to ensure communication happens is to give your sales team a checklist of items to cover with new clients. Require that they use the checklist with every new customer, check off the boxes, and turn it in with all purchase orders. That way clients aren’t surprised (or upset) when they see the items their invoice later.

3. Take Administrative Duties Away from Consultants

Consultants are often burdened by countless administrative duties. Emails, phone calls, planning sessions, internal conference calls, quarterly check-in calls, appointment confirmation calls, and on and on.Some of these things are necessary. But some could be delegated to administrative staff. The more “non-billable” activities you can take away from your consultants, the more money they can make for you.

4. Assign Team Members Based on Skills and Availability (Not Just Assigned Accounts or Territories)

Out of convenience, leadership in many service delivery firms assign work based on territories, size-of-company, or pre-existing relationships. While common, these approaches can easily lead to major workload imbalances a your consulting or professional services team. One team members might be booked for months. Another might be sitting around watching training videos. There’s nothing wrong with training of course. But with a bit of planning, most consulting teams could do much better at allocating their resources. This is one way using a professional services automation (PSA) tool can lead to major improvements in revenue.  In Klient Software’s PSA solution, resource planners can see everything they need to know to assign resources—all at a glance. Each consultant is tagged with his or her specific skill set. And a visual, drag-and-drop calendar makes it easy to make assignments—in a way that maximizes the resources you have available.

5. Enforce the Use of CRM and PSA Tools

The tools you provide your team can provide significant increases in efficiency (and revenue) if utilized. The easiest way to enforce the use of the tools you provide your team is to say: “If it’s not logged in the system, it didn’t happen. “That’s usually motivation enough to get your team to use their CRM or PSA tool—especially if they’re paid on commission or eligible for bonus pay for performance.

So… What can you Do ?

  1. Take some time today to evaluate the number of hours each of your consultants are billing.
  2. Even better, set up a regular report that tells you the average hours your consultants bill every week.
  3. If the average isn’t 30-35 hours per consultant, it’s likely you’re leaving money on the table. Use the tips in this article as a starting place to improve your numbers—and your revenue.

… and if you want the ultimate shorcut, why not scheduling a  Klient Demo?
You’ll will see all the amazing features klient has to offer, including the one to “Make your billing easier”.

Stay sharp! – Klient team