Professional services automation, also known as PSA software, is a modern solution that allows MSPs to optimize project accounting, resource scheduling and project management. A comprehensive PSA tool will also provide support desk software, CRM and advanced reporting capabilities.
Improved efficiency means cost savings
Project Management
In a time of tight client budgets, inflation and staffing challenges, efficient project planning is critical. PSA features include tools like resource optimization and management, end-to-end task tracking and management, real-time expense intel, unified client communication and reporting, and project forecasting capabilities.
PSA software helps to drive significant operational performance advantages, which in turn lead to increased revenue and profit for professional services organizations. Typically, these benefits are achieved through reduced administrative burdens, improved project delivery efficiency and effectiveness, increased billable hours and greater customer satisfaction.
Resource Management
Professional services automation solutions provide a single, up-to-the-minute view of an entire project pipeline. This visibility lets decision makers know exactly what projects are running behind schedule and how taking on new work might impact existing project timelines.
The ability to track and report on progress from start to finish helps teams meet client expectations and maintain a consistent level of service. When projects are on-track, deliver as expected and don’t suffer from budget blowouts, customer satisfaction improves.
Effective resource management starts with assembling the right team to tackle a project. Managing the schedules of that team requires minimizing context switching while balancing workloads to avoid overload. It also means recognizing when team members are reaching their bandwidth and making adjustments to keep them productive.
Time & Expense Management
Time and expense management is a key feature of professional services automation. It automates the collection of hourly and salaried employee time data, allowing managers to generate invoices more quickly and easily.
It also reduces errors, duplicate entries and administrative overhead. By streamlining processes, it helps to lower days sales outstanding (DSO), while boosting billable utilization and project profitability.
Automated workflows and configurable rules ensure compliance with time and expense submissions, approvals, and reporting policies. Employees can access the system from anywhere and on any device, so they can submit and review expenses on their own. In addition, market leading tools offer multilingual support so that employees working with international clients can report in their own language. The result is greater accuracy and efficiency across the entire organization.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Unlike ERP software, PSA tools are designed with services businesses and their specific business needs in mind. They deliver the visibility and insights needed to streamline project management, increase revenue, optimize resource utilization, and support scalable growth.
PSA software can also help reduce overall project costs and overhead expenses through effective resource utilization, which is a key function that impacts an MSPs operating profit. This includes capacity planning, scheduling and allocating human and material resources to projects, optimizing resource utilization, as well as capturing time and incurred expenses for invoicing purposes.
The benefits of PSA tools are not limited to these areas and can include a full suite of solutions like help desk/service desk, CRM, analytics and reporting. This enables an MSP to spend less time juggling different tools and more time growing their business.
Analytics & Reporting
Professional services firms have the most complex billing and financials of any industry. Clients expect accountability for hours and expenses billed – and many want breakdowns (specialized consultancy versus admin work, for instance).
PSA software offers a solution that’s easy to use and keeps financial records accurate in real time. Moreover, it enables leaders to track and manage key performance indicators and metrics across the entire end-to-end engagement lifecycle. This functionality can lead to increased billable utilization and overall project profitability. It can also improve the quote-to-cash process, helping to reduce inefficiencies and boost revenues. This is where PSA software really shines. It gives business leaders the visibility and control they need to make informed decisions that support growth.