by gfcpartners | Apr 4, 2023 | Business, Construction, Project Accounting
Managing a professional services business without proper project management is like trying to navigate a boat through choppy waters without a rudder. It’s essential to balance customer satisfaction, profitability, and flawless project execution to keep your business afloat. But fear not! The answer to your woes lies in Acumatica ERP, a cloud-based software that’s your personal captain, steering you towards calm waters of success. With Acumatica ERP, you’ll get real-time visibility and control over every facet of your projects. You’ll be able to adjust your sails according to your specific business requirements, leaving your competitors in the wake of your success.
This blog post is your treasure map to the transformative features and benefits of Acumatica ERP for professional services firms. So, hoist your sails and let’s explore the vast ocean of possibilities together!
Tailor-Made for Professional Services
Galeforce Consulting Partners brings Acumatica ERP to the table, which is uniquely designed to cater to the complexities of project management in professional services industries. Cast your eyes on this Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software that is the perfect anchor for businesses seeking robust and industry-specific solutions. It offers a broad suite of functionalities that will allow smooth sailing, including project accounting and billing, time and expense tracking, resource scheduling, and insightful reporting. With its user-friendly interface and customizable workflows, Acumatica offers the necessary flexibility to navigate the ever-changing tides of business practices. It’s like having a captain who knows every nook and cranny of the sea, able to chart the perfect course to your destination.
Efficient Project Accounting and Billing
Correctly calculating project costs, revenue, and billing is central to a services
firm’s success. Acumatica ERP simplifies these processes with seamless integration between project accounting and other critical financial modules.
Key features include:
- Flexible billing options such as fixed-price, time and materials, or hybrid billing
- Real-time tracking of budgets and project profitability
- Automated allocation of costs and revenue recognition based on project progress
- Integration with accounts receivable and accounts payable modules for efficient cash management
- Accurate tracking of change orders, improving client communication and reducing disputes
Comprehensive Time and Expense Management
Ensuring that accurate records of team members’ working hours and expenses are kept is essential for effective project management. Acumatica ERP offers a streamlined time and expense tracking system that simplifies this process.
Key capabilities include:
- Intuitive timecard and expense receipt entry via mobile devices
- Automated approval workflows, reducing manual intervention and saving time
- Seamless integration with project accounting for accurate labor and expense costing
- Customizable reporting to better understand project resource utilization and trends
Resource Scheduling and Project Optimization
Optimizing resource allocation is vital for maximizing project profitability and customer satisfaction. Acumatica ERP’s robust resource scheduling functionality enables businesses to easily assign tasks, allocate resources, and balance workloads, equipping project managers to make informed resourcing decisions. Key features include:
- Intelligent resource allocation suggestions based on availability, skills, and project requirements
- Real-time visibility into resource utilization and capacity for proactive project monitoring
- Centralized skill database, simplifying the process of searching for and assigning capable resources
Actionable Business Intelligence and Reporting
Maintaining a clear picture of performance and profitability is key to making informed decisions that propel your business forward. Acumatica ERP’s powerful reporting and business intelligence tools deliver actionable insights to help streamline your project management processes. Key benefits include:
- Real-time project dashboards that provide an overview of project performance metrics, including costs, revenues, and margins
- Customizable reports that enable analysis of project data from multiple dimensions
- Collaboration tools and document management functionality for enhanced team communication
Ah, the life of a Project Manager can be quite the adventure, especially when navigating the treacherous waters of legacy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions. Imagine being stranded on an island with no way to communicate with the outside world – that’s what it can feel like when facing difficulties integrating new modules and technologies, slow response times, lack of customer support, and outdated user interfaces. It’s like being lost at sea with no compass or map. On top of that, these systems often come with a hefty price tag, long implementation cycles, and limited scalability, making it feel like you’re carrying an anchor that’s dragging you down. And let’s not forget about the pirates lurking in the waters, ready to board your ship and steal your precious cargo – data breaches and weak authentication protocols are common concerns for project managers using legacy ERP solutions. To avoid these challenges, it’s crucial for project managers to stay up to date with the latest ERP trends and seek out modern solutions that can navigate through any storm. It’s time to hoist the anchor and set a course for success with the latest ERP solutions!
Acumatica ERP provides a centralized, cloud-based platform that addresses the unique project management demands inherent in professional services firms. By combining advanced functionalities with an intuitive user experience, Acumatica ERP empowers organizations to drive profitability, optimize resource allocation, and streamline operations. The benefits of Acumatica are vast, offering substantial capabilities that enable businesses to thrive in an ever-changing world. If you’re looking for a robust, scalable solution to your project management and accounting needs, Acumatica ERP is well worth considering.
CONTACT US TODAY and learn more about smooth sailing with Acumatica, the modern ERP Solution for professional services firms like yours.
by gfcpartners | Feb 7, 2023 | Business, Construction, Project Accounting, Software Customization
Microsoft Dynamics SL allows you to create templates for reports, which can help streamline the report creation process saving you time, making reporting easier, and ensures consistency and accuracy in your report formats. Businesses that use templates for financial reports in Microsoft Dynamics SL improve their financial reporting processes.
Some examples of report templates that can be created in Microsoft Dynamics SL include:
Financial statements:
- Balance sheet: A report that summarizes a company’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a specific point in time.
- Income statement: A report that summarizes a company’s revenue and expenses over a specified period of time, typically a month or a year.
- Cash flow statement: A report that tracks the movement of cash into and out of a company, providing information on cash inflows from operations, investments, and financing, and cash outflows for operations, investments, and financing.
- Sales by customer: A report that displays sales data broken down by customer, providing insights into the performance of individual customers.
- Sales by product: A report that displays sales data broken down by product, providing insights into the performance of individual products.
- Sales by region: A report that displays sales data broken down by geographical region, providing insights into regional sales trends.
Purchasing reports:
- Purchases by vendor: A report that displays purchasing data broken down by vendor, providing insights into the performance of individual vendors.
- Purchase order history: A report that tracks all purchase orders for a specified time period, including information on the vendor, items ordered, and amounts paid.
Inventory reports:
- Inventory valuation: A report that displays the value of a company’s inventory, including information on the quantity, cost, and value of each item in stock.
- Inventory by location: A report that displays inventory data broken down by location, providing insights into the distribution of inventory across different sites.
Project reports:
- Project cost analysis: A report that displays the costs associated with a project, including information on labor, materials, and overhead expenses.
- Project billing: A report that displays project billing information, including the total amount billed, the amount paid, and the amount outstanding.
- Project profitability: A report that displays the profitability of a project, including information on revenue, costs, and profits.
Payroll reports:
- Employee earnings history: A report that displays a summary of an employee’s earnings history, including information on salary, bonuses, and benefits.
- Employee tax liabilities: A report that displays the amount of taxes withheld from an employee’s paychecks, including information on federal, state, and local taxes.
Job cost reports:
- Job cost analysis: A report that displays the costs associated with a job, including information on labor, materials, and overhead expenses.
- Job cost to complete: A report that displays the estimated cost to complete a job, based on current expenses and projected expenses for remaining tasks.
How to Create a Report Template in Dynamics SL
No matter your industry or department, using templates will help you look good and save you time. Here are the general steps, using the report writer tool, to create a template in Dynamics SL:
- Open the Report Writer tool in Microsoft Dynamics SL.
- Select the report that you want to use as a template.
- Make any necessary modifications to the report, such as changing the format, adding custom fields, or modifying the layout.
- Click on the Save Template button. The Save Template (98.600.01) screen should appear, and you will see the existing template id and description.
- Enter a new Template ID, type out a Description, and then click OK.
- Save the report as a template.
- The new template is now saved and ready to be used.
- To use the template for future reports, select the template when creating a new report.
Note: The specific steps for creating and using a template may vary based on the version of Microsoft Dynamics SL you are using.
Do you have questions or need assistance with Microsoft Dynamics SL? From upgrades, development, report writing, licenses, or training, we have the experts on hand to help you.
by gfcpartners | Dec 8, 2022 | Business, Construction, Project Accounting
Now more than ever, technology advancements in the construction management software area have given us lots of choices for systems. But that makes it even more difficult to choose which one is best for your business. If you’re in the market for a new construction ERP solution, you need to be strategic and pick a solution that provides you the greatest return on investment (ROI).
Here are 5 key features to look for when evaluating different systems.
1. Productivity. You want the new system to be easy to learn and use, with the ability to work from anywhere and anytime. Make sure your construction ERP solution has an easy to use, intuitive interface. Solutions requiring extensive training to learn how to use them cause frustration, even for high-end users. Your teams will be relying on this software, often on the go, so accessing important information must be simple and fast. Look for software that makes it easy for data entry, updates, and exchange of project-critical information.
Modern construction solutions should also provide a platform for collaboration regardless of physical proximity, which is why most are now cloud-based systems with centralized data. Firms that have adopted cloud-based construction software reap the benefits of streamlined workflows, greater productivity, and higher visibility into their projects.
Why do construction businesses choose cloud-based solutions? Cloud-based software works from anywhere, reflecting the way people work today. Teams can work collaboratively in real time, or even offline when in remote locations. Using cloud services isn’t only about data storage; it’s about embracing a new way of working—one where accessibility, automation, and collaboration come first.
Additionally, automation has become more advanced, freeing up resources, reducing errors, and making sure your processes are not being forgotten.
Success relies on not only getting the right data into the system, but the ability to report and interpret the data you gathered. Reporting and other visual tools like dashboards give you a competitive advantage in your business. Because construction is primarily project based, make sure solutions offer enhanced financial reporting including the following elements:
- Maximized resource utilization analysis
- Multi-company
- Multi-location
- Profit & Loss management by unit, location, product mix or project manager
- Granular asset tracking
- Liability and equity management by project/corporate entity
- Balance sheet management by project/corporate entity
2. Specialized Functionality. There are numerous things to evaluate in terms of software functionality. Compliance management, multi-entity, integrated business intelligence, field service, CRM, sales order, and purchase order management, to name a few. The biggest area to evaluate is the financial management features. Aside from typical GL, AR, AP, and Inventory functions, construction ERP also requires more sophisticated tools to include the following:
- Contracts management
- Contractor indexing
- Materials management
- Equipment management
- Time and billing
- Taxes and state/federal policy management
- Vendor indexing
- Purchase and change order management
- Operational inventory management
3. Future-proof Technology. The technology platform of your ERP solution should embrace your growth needs and give you full access to everything you need. Besides remote access, there are numerous other benefits of a true cloud solution, like Acumatica. Acumatica offers flexible licensing and hosting options, upgrades on your schedule, and a full relational database with access and export options for reporting, backups, and transferring of data. Additionally, being built on a true cloud platform, Acumatica has a highly responsive design, meaning you can view and interact with every page of the application on any device with a minimum of resizing, panning, or scrolling.
Acumatica has also been ranked as one of the most user-friendly ERP solutions on the market. Its user interface is modern and intuitive, allowing users to access tasks with minimal clicks.
4. Value. This is a no-brainer. We all want to get the highest value from our investment possible. Make sure the solutions you are considering maximize features and functions for your business and weigh those against the cost for the usable lifetime of the product. Look at your total cost of ownership (TCO) for the new system. It the TCO reduced over the lifespan of the product? Most people look 3-5 years ahead and factor in things such as hosting, licensing, support, upgrades, hardware, and other add-ons if needed.
5. Risk. Security is at the forefront in every business. It’s a big factor to consider when choosing a new system to house all your critical data. Your first question should be, how does the ERP system minimize risk for your business while facilitating network and financial security. Ask for customer references, is there a solid backup and disaster recovery plan, how often are updates and upgrades…it’s these and more that will make you feel confident the solution you choose is securing your business.
A Solid Partnership is Key
You need more than ‘just a software solution’ to stay competitive and get the most value out of your data. You need to partner with a team who is invested in your long-term success. GFC has the experts for you. We are here as a guide and educator, to get you where you need to be, quickly and competently. Not sure where to start? Download our free ERP Construction Checklist and then contact us to discuss your business needs.
Free Download: ERP Construction Checklist
by gfcpartners | Nov 14, 2022 | Business, Construction, Project Accounting
Acumatica, the cloud ERP solution helps to keep projects on track and drive business growth. Not only is Acumatica a powerful business platform but they are committed to consistent user enhancements and improvements with each version. The two releases in 2022 did not disappoint. We’ve gathered our favorites all in one place below.
“Acumatica Construction Edition had everything we were looking for. We are different from a regular construction contractor and liked that we could add our own specialty fields and customize it to the way we do business.”
Sean Barnett, Chief Financial Officer, Spohn Associates
Acumatica 2022 R1
Support of Multiple Base Currencies in Projects – Acumatica’s powerful multiple base currencies feature is now compatible with projects. Businesses with different base currencies can be configured withing the same tenant and the system verifies that the base currency specified in the project documents corresponds to the base currency of the branch.
Enhancements in Tracking Changes to Commitments – now users can track changes to project commitments that have been created based on purchase orders for the project drop-ship orders.
Project Quote Improvements – enhancements have been made to the quoting process making it faster and easier for users to create project quotes for multiple customers related to the same opportunity. You can now change the business account, location, and contact in any project quote in draft status.
Additionally, you can link the project quotes to the same opportunity as shown here.
Progress Billing Based on Quantity – Acumatica added in some needed billing flexibility for projects. In Acumatica 2022 R1, invoices can now be prepared based on pending quantities from budget lines rather than only the billed amount.
Project-Specific Taxes – calculating taxes for project sites just became a lot easier. Many times, the tax zone of the vendor or customer differs from the project site location. Now, Acumatica can be configured to use project-specific tax zones for calculating taxes and defining the ship-to addresses for projects.
Acumatica 2022 R2
Tracking Project Progress by Unit – Acumatica 2022 R2 now includes a new form, Progress Worksheet, for employees on a site to capture project activities by units and track the installation or project progress. Additionally, if specified, users can add cost budget lines. This information satisfies needed quantity billing and carries over into recalculations of the project budgets and shows on the daily field reports.
Enhancements in Change Management – Acumatica has simplified the workflow when change requests are rejected or need to be revised and resubmitted by adding the ability to cancel a change order but keeping the full history. For example, if we did not get paid for something, we can go in and cancel the change order and any change requests tide to it will get updated and removed from that change order when we release it. We keep the history of the change request but can now revise and resubmit the change order and can always go back and look at the full audit trail of a change order.
Mobile App Improvements – much needed project features are now accessible via the mobile app giving project managers and field workers the information and flexibility they need. Now included, users can view, create, and update drawing logs and submittals on their mobile device. Additionally, in a managed release version, you can also annotate blueprints.
Integrations for Construction Financial Management Association – Acumatica 2022 R2 now includes automation for submitting information to the CFMA bench marker. Not only can you easily submit data, but Acumatica has a pre-built dashboard with the results of the annual surveys so you can compare how you are doing to your peers.
If you’re a construction or project-related business and need a full-feature ERP solution, or you’re thinking about upgrading your Acumatica ERP solution, now is the time. Talk to our experts about your options. Let’s grow your business!
by gfcpartners | Sep 27, 2022 | Business, Construction
Selecting a Construction ERP solution to run your business is not a quick decision. The platform you choose will power your business for years to come. Many ERP solutions offer the same or similar accounting type features, but it’s the other features you need to look at closely. For example, are project accounting features fully integrated into the accounting area? It can be confusing to sort out what’s important to your construction business and what’s not.
Comparing features and benefits is one thing to consider, but also aligning your growth strategies for the future. Many ERP publishers offer construction systems, and you might even find smaller, specialized vendors focus their systems on niche industries and respective functionalities. When you’re looking at options, don’t limit yourself to the specialized systems. General ERP systems, like Acumatica Construction Edition, provide full cross-functional processes that integrate financials seamlessly with project management, billing, job costing and more.
With Acumatica, I’m giving employees an ultra-effective tool they need to do their jobs correctly and allowing them to do things easier. I’m handing them a smartphone versus a rotary phone. They are more well-equipped to do their jobs, which produces good outcomes for customers and helps us build the business. ~Matthew Shamp, Executive Director, Carlson-LaVine, Inc.
Let’s look at some of the top ERP features construction firms need. Download this checklist to make sure you’ve compared specific features and benefits across your critical categories.
Top Construction ERP Features You Need
Having all these pieces and parts of a business together in one, single-source of truth system gives you a complete view of your business. You eliminate data silos and disparate systems and start a culture of transparency. Team members have visibility into the actions of everyone that touches the customer, at any point in their journey.
Here are the top features to look for:
CAD interface - Accounting
- Service fleet asset management
- Financial management
- Payroll
- Management of contractors
- Sub-contractor management
- Logistics and transport
- Scheduling
- Complex workforce management
- Inventory
- Workflow processes
Next, you need to think beyond specific functionality. For example, are there features and benefits beyond construction? Does the system include things to make your office staff as well as job site staff more productive? How about technology? Does the ERP solution use modern technology and have high ratings for usability, customizability, and maintainability? Is it a true cloud-based solution, giving your staff, contractors, and vendors access no matter when, where, or which device?
How much are you going to pay for everything you need? Will you have to purchase third-party add-on products to get the functionality you need? How long will you be able to use this solution and/or will you outgrow it quickly? What about the licensing and hosting fees? Do you need additional hardware and IT staff? All these questions, and more, come into play when comparing and choosing a new ERP solution for your construction business. Talk to a partner about your options; technology is changing at a rapid pace.
With more than 500 successful system implementations and dozens of clients working with us for more than two decades, we’re proud to be one of the most trusted names in construction business technology. Give us a call at (833) 432-7278 and let’s talk construction management ERP.
by gfcpartners | Sep 7, 2022 | Business, Construction, Project Accounting
The landscape for construction businesses has drastically changed over the past couple years. It has become increasingly competitive with rising costs, labor shortages, stricter regulations, and the need for innovative ideas. Construction firms can no longer stay competitive by relying on paper-based processes, manual workflows, and an endless barrage of emails.
Smart, forward-thinking firms are moving their businesses to the cloud. With cloud-based solutions, they’re finding the powerful communication tools and automated workflows they need to maximize the profitability of every project. No matter your size or space in the industry, you need a system to help you win projects, control costs, and increase your profit margins.
Many firms are choosing a new ERP system in the cloud. These systems easily handle GAAP-based accounting, field service and asset management, job costing, and project management. Most importantly, cloud ERP solutions, like the Acumatica, Construction Edition, give you modern tools like mobile access to give you a competitive advantage at a price point you’ll love.
5 Cloud ERP Benefits for Your Construction Business
Learn more about what features you need in an ERP solution. Download our free eBook “5 Undeniable Benefits of Cloud Construction Management Software“
- Real-time project tracking
Acumatica gives you an all-in-one system to handle everything from accounting, to payroll, to inventory and project management. Connecting accounting and project management teams in the cloud gives you huge benefits.
- Eliminate delays, head off issues
Immediately accessible data helps eliminate costly delays. All team members, whether in the office or in the field, can access the same information and provide updates, so that issues can be addressed immediately before causing costly delays. Imagine what your business can do with a “single-source of truth”.
Automation to increase efficiency and collaboration
With the use of workflows, you can replace multiple steps and duplicate data entry ensuring action items will be addressed quickly and that your project data remains current. With everyone using the same system, there’s no room for errors. - Better & easier communication
Reduce emails and wasted time answering the same questions over and over. With a smart, cloud ERP solution like Acumatica, you gain project control and eliminate downtime. Learn how you can have a system that acts as your communication vehicle, with everything for everyone in one, central location. Even create a Wiki for “FAQs from the field”!
- Anywhere, anytime, from any device accessibility
Get the same, current, accurate information whether you are in the office, at home, or in the field. SPend less time chasing down information and more time keeping your projects moving forward.
“I am really glad we made the decision to go to Acumatica’s cloud-based construction and accounting software because our teams are doing purchase orders, change orders, and everything remotely. Project Managers can get into the system to see what is going on with their projects. Cloud software is the way to go because it is so easy. You just log in and it’s nothing different than if you were just sitting in your office.”
John Dawne Meijer, Controller, Pin Oak Corpus Christi
Why Choose Acumatica Construction Edition
Acumatica cloud construction and accounting software empowers contractors to keep projects running smoothly and profitably by helping them connect their teams, manage cash more carefully, and keep their customers and employees happy.
It is a complete, native, and cloud-based construction and accounting software solution, including powerful financials, job cost accounting, project management, payroll, inventory, order management, service management, CRM, and mobile tools for your business.
Built on the world’s best cloud and mobile technology with a unique all-inclusive user licensing model, it enables a complete, real-time view of your business anytime, anywhere. You’ll increase collaboration, streamline time- intensive processes, and increase project visibility and profitability.
Don’t get left behind! For construction businesses that use the latest technology, communication has never been easier. Just as your field teams need the right tools to complete their construction projects, you need the right software for managing your projects effectively.
Download our free eBook “5 Undeniable Benefits of Cloud Construction Management Software“
Our team at Galeforce Consulting Partners will help you create the perfect process for your people and support it with modern tech and toolsets. Contact us today at 1-833-432-7278 and let’s talk construction.
