Managing Consultancy Projects & Resources
Being able to deal with change is a continuous challenge faced by consultancy firms. Client extensions, change requests, project ‘peaks and troughs’ are regular occurrences that make managing resources across multiple bids and projects a complex task.
Asta Teamplan’s intuitive project and resource management solution provides enterprise-wide visibility over all projects, resources, cost/income and ongoing work. Having a complete and realistic understanding on the impact of impending projects means priorities can be assessed and realistic achievable project plans can be created. Thus aiding sustained productivity.
Asta Teamplan facilitates real-time project collaboration which is enhanced through the fully integrated web-based time and expense tracking solution. Fee-earners can accurately record and submit their timesheets from anywhere in the world. Once approved, the data is automatically fed into the main project plan ensuring your project data is always up to date.
Having a project and resource management system in place for measuring and comparing productivity, means you can set realistic targets and meet resource demand as the business sees fit. Accessing and analysing information on the actual cost and resource requirements of past projects ensures future bids are accurate and achievable.
The outcome is better project delivery, improved customer satisfaction, higher number of successful bids and increased profitability.
Benefits of Asta Teamplan for Consultancy firms
Effective resource utilisation
Graphical histograms clearly show who is doing what, where and when making resource allocation and planning simple and effective. Consultants can be accurately assigned to tasks based on their skills, charge out rates or availability for optimum productivity and profitability. Resource capacity histograms ensure you are never left short or over allocated on current and future projects.
Meet target utilisation rates
Key performance indicators such as utilisation rates can quickly measure individual Consultants performance and overall company performance. Resource utilisation rates can then be optimised accordingly and pro-actively managed. From a cost perspective, you can ensure that all in-house consultants are fully utilised, thus avoiding wastage and unnecessary employment of expensive associates.
Increased profits
Asta Timesheet aids accurate recording of all billable and non-billable time. Once approved, this data is automatically fed into the main project plan in Asta Teamplan. Payment milestones can trigger your billing system to raise an invoice, thus reducing your invoice to payment cycle. Keeping track of any associates time and expenses enables managers to ensure a projects budget is adhered to for maximum profit gains.
Complete visibility
Built around a central database, using live project data, Consultants are able to regularly check their actual vs. planned reports to make sure their targets will be met. Asta Teamplan connects organisations with regional or global offices and departments’ using remote users, ensuring no one is left out of the loop.
Enhanced communication
With nothing being done in isolation, Consultants can be rapidly informed of any change requests thus minimising any delays or disruption to the projects successful outcome. Having access to clear, accurate and specific project information helps Consultants assess whether they will deliver on time. If not, they are able to alert others and take appropriate action as soon as possible.
Improved efficiency
Web-based timesheets enable remote users to accurately record their time and expenses from any location. Once approved, projects are automatically updated within the central database ensuring accurate, up to date project data. Consultants can be given clear priorities on tasks via online timesheets as well as being informed of any project changes via Microsoft Outlook.
Business integration
Asta Teamplan’s project management and resource management system can integrate with current line of business systems. Automating core processes can improve efficiencies, reduce administration tasks and free up staff to concentrate on more business critical tasks.
Better customer service
Through greater visibility, improved communication and access to accurate live data, customers can be kept up to date at every stage of the project. Valuable information can be included in projects to support progress when reporting to clients. Asta Teamplan will flag up early warning signs or problems in meeting milestones, meaning you can tackle any issues before they start.
Tighter controls
Asta Teamplan provides a methodology to the way projects are planned, managed and executed as well as providing the tools to manage resource utilisation more effectively. Lessons can be learned and improvements easily implemented in any future projects. Multi-user environments work far better when there is a central point of control over all project and non-project data.
Win more bids
Asta Teamplan’s integrated system collates historical data from previous successful projects enabling accurate bidding in terms of cost and resource requirements. By having a holistic view of all your resource allocations across the business, you can clearly see who is available for new projects and the impact caused on current projects. Workloads can be pro-actively managed for both individuals and the business as a whole.
To see how Asta Teamplan can benefit service-based firms like yours why not preview the software or take out our FREE 30-day trial here.
