In the previous post, we discussed some tools that professional service firms should consider to stay competitive, including Google Apps, NetSuite, and OpenAir. Each of these tools brings different capabilities that can be exploited by service firms to deliver projects on time and under budget. At Bi101, we thought it would be helpful to explain what makes these the best online project management software tools at delivering great service to customers and even better margins to the bottom line.

Google Apps Product Offering

Google Apps: This is a suite of cloud based software programs including email, calendar, and office tools such as word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software. It also includes access to online storage systems which allows documents to be easily shared amongst users. The collaboration functionality is what makes this the best online project management software for service firms. Imagine that you have a programmer in Spain, a project manager in Canada, and you are with the client in California. The collaboration tools provided by Google Apps allow the entire team to edit and give opinions on a single document at the same time. In terms of cloud project management software, Google Apps is a must own.

NetSuite Models for Service Firms

Courtesy of bcgsystems.com

NetSuite: In professional service firm, people are the product. To track their activities, you need a system that provides insight into their utilization, billings, and time. The best online project management tool to do this is NetSuite. First, the software centralizes all back office operations including accounting, billing, time and expense tracking. Second, it gives firms more control over financial management and reporting by providing real time and role based dashboards. Last, it helps to streamline human resource management processes such as time tracking, managing incentive compensation, and payroll tools. NetSuite is a professional services software solution that successful firms use.

Hodgepodge of systems eliminated with OpenAir

Courtesy of zdnet.com

OpenAir: Typically, service firms use multiple systems from different vendors to track all of the necessary tasks in a project. The value of OpenAir is that it integrates client management, time and expense, project management, resource management, and project accounting all under one roof. With an integrated solution, firms can track where their resources are deployed, what percentage of a project has been completed, and what amount of billings have achieved revenue recognition. As an example of the benefits of OpenAir, Michael Krigisman on his blog Beyond IT Failure notes “time entries instantly show up on a project plan illustrating worked hours vs. planned hours, route to the right project manager for review and approval, automatically flow to an invoice with no re-keying of data, and so on.” If firms want to eliminate the cost of supporting multiple project tools and achieve better customer results, the best online project management software to use is OpenAir.

Times are changing and professional service firms need to learn to leverage the technology available to them. By incorporating Google Apps, Netsuite and OpenAir, professional service firms will gain an advantage over their completion. If you need help learning about any of these products, please contact us.

[subscribe2]