This showcase shares best practices on the ways consultants are using SmartSuite to estimate & manage projects as well as evaluate utilization of employees + maximize profits.
This Video's Chapters:
0:00 - Intro to Showcase
0:43- Engagement Management Goals
1:40- Solution Overview
4:30-Creating an Example Project
5:00- Creating an Estimate
7:00- Starting the Actual Project Work
7:48-Staff Time Tracking
8:30- Measurement Charts and Views
9:10- Staff Utilization
9:55- Why SmartSuite for Client Engagements?
Engagement Management Goals
SmartSuite provides a comprehensive solution for managing engagement and project goals, focusing on meeting project price points while maintaining profit margins, optimizing staff utilization, and ensuring budget hours are met. This approach helps businesses streamline their processes and achieve their objectives efficiently.
Solution Overview
The solution comprises six key apps:
- CRM for Clients: Manages client relationships and interactions.
- Project Management: Oversees project timelines, tasks, and deliverables.
- Estimates: Helps in breaking down time allocation and calculating costs.
- Time Tracking: Tracks time spent on tasks to ensure efficiency.
- Staff Management: Allocates resources and monitors staff utilization.
- Attachments: Stores relevant documents and files for easy access.
Each app serves a distinct purpose, contributing to a cohesive project management experience.
Creating an Example Project
To illustrate the process, let's create a showcase project for a new client. Start by setting the budget and moving to the estimating phase, where you can break down time allocation for each project phase and role. This helps in calculating estimated costs and adjusting them to meet the budget.
Creating an Estimate
During the estimating phase, SmartSuite's Formulas feature can be used to calculate costs accurately. By breaking down time allocation for each phase and role, you can ensure that your estimates align with budget constraints.
Starting the Actual Project Work
Once estimates are finalized, assign team members to the project and change the status to "In Progress." Create tasks for each phase of the project using SmartSuite's Workflow Automations, ensuring that all necessary steps are outlined and assigned appropriately.
Staff Time Tracking
Utilize SmartSuite's Time Tracking app to monitor time spent on tasks. This feature allows you to summarize time spent by each role and compare it with estimates, providing insights into staff utilization and efficiency.
Project Progress and Monitoring
Regularly analyze time and cost breakdowns using SmartSuite's reporting capabilities. Monitor utilization rates to make informed organizational decisions, ensuring that projects remain on track and within budget.By leveraging these tools, SmartSuite enables businesses to manage projects effectively, optimize resource allocation, and achieve their engagement management goals with precision.
