Prouct Used:
Company Overview
PCS Structural Solutions is a single-discipline structural engineering firm offering active solutions, balancing the owner's specific priorities and desires, while coordinating seamlessly with the other building systems and participants. Our deep and varied resume demonstrates our expertise for a broad range of projects, the result of working with almost every conceivable architectural, mechanical, and electrical system. We’re standouts in the education and health care markets, with strong experience in commercial, civic and residential projects.
A time-consuming monthly invoice process led PCS Finance Director Gareth Floyd to seek a more automated solution for reviewing client invoices before they went out.
“We use Deltek Vision® ERP system. While it streamlines many processes, our project managers requested a tool that would make it easier to review client invoices,” Floyd explained. “Essentially, project managers wanted all the documentation they needed to approve client invoices on one screen, so they could review and make notations electronically. Our younger project managers were especially eager to find an electronic option, because they expect everything to be electronic and straightforward,” he said.
Then Floyd heard about EleVia Electronic Invoicing, an add-on product for Deltek Vision.
PCS was happy when they saw a demo of EleVia Electronic Invoicing and realized it had even more benefits than they expected. “Not only does the product combine all the documentation and mark-up capabilities we need to review invoices online,” Floyd said, “it also gives us additional business insight.”
Why EleVia Software
Improved business insight
“With the dashboard, PMs can look at all their projects for the month and within seconds see how they’re doing.”
EleVia Electronic Invoicing includes a dashboard that provides a snapshot of each project manager’s jobs, which at PCS can be up to 60 in any given month. Reviewers can see job-to-date billed fees, fixed fees remaining and variances. “Our two most important metrics for project managers are variance and utilization,” Floyd said. “With the dashboard, they can look at all their projects for the month and within seconds see how they’re doing across all their projects.”
Greater efficiency and financial benefits
PCS also realized the primary benefits of EleVia Electronic Invoicing: increased efficiency that leads to cost savings and faster billings.
Reduced review time resulted in three-month ROI
With EleVia Electronic Invoicing, reviewers get an email notice that their draft invoices are ready to review. “They simply go into the system, click a button and can see the invoice along with billing backup,” Floyd said. “Then they use intuitive annotation tools to make mark ups online. Plus, they can review from anywhere — at home or on the road.”
PCS’ biggest payback has come from reduced staff review time, according to Floyd. “Project managers have more time to do billable work. That alone paid for the product within three months,” he said.
Billing cycle reduced from four days to one
Processing 200 to 300 client invoices per month the old-fashioned way took PCS four days. With the automated system, invoices are turned around in one day, Floyd said, resulting in better customer service and more focus on collections.
“With the automated invoicing system, we turn invoices around in one day vs. four.”
“We’re typically a subconsultant. Our architect clients appreciate us being timely in giving them invoices. Several have told me we’re the first subconsultant invoice they receive on projects,” he said. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t always mean we get paid on time. But now that our process is more efficient, I have time to track down unpaid bills and get them in the door faster.”