In Minutes, Margin Reports for Managers

Watson evaluated a number of different solutions. She chose to run a trial of Replicon Web TimeSheet Project & Billing using real data. 

With Web TimeSheet, employees and contractors record time on all projects with a straightforward, web-based interface. The program keeps track of bill rates for different employees and tasks, giving Communicopia a view of costs on projects at all times. 

Replicon stood out for its ease of use, making it a smoother sell to employees and contractors. Additionally, Replicon support during the trial gave Watson confidence in the vendor – dedication that didn’t end with the trial. “It’s so much about getting the support you need.” Watson said. “We got excellent support and someone who knew our situation walked me through it.” 

During implementation, Replicon representatives helped configure Web TimeSheet for the firm’s specific requirements and trained Watson on creating new projects and approval workflows in the software. 

Initially, Communicopia hosted Web TimeSheet internally but switched to the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. Replicon made the change in just a few hours, with no glitches, minimizing downtime for employees. “We discovered that Replicon is unexpectedly faster, so we’re glad we made the decision.” Watson said.

Employee-Friendly Project Tracking
Employees and contractors use Web TimeSheet Project & Billing Edition to record project time daily. Because it’s simpler to use than the homegrown application, Watson finds external contractors more open to inputting their time. 

Likewise, Watson notes that it’s easier to enforce internal policies. For example, the friendlier interface enables employees to enter their data quickly, encouraging them to do it daily. They also add comments for every single activity, giving the firm a detailed record for internal analysis and clients. 

From there, Watson has what she needs for reporting and billing, since Communicopia bills clients based on actual time spent. 

Reliable, Current Project Reporting
With Web TimeSheet, Watson uses built-in reports and customized several reports that give her the exact information she needs with a couple of key strokes – data she couldn’t readily produce before. Those include project status, client actuals, project margins and employee productivity. 

“I do really love the ability to create my own reports. It’s a very robust feature. I love the variety and templates.” she said. “I feel more confident now that the data I give managers is reliable.” 

Communicopia managers also have access to key reports on their own, allowing them to understand project loads, performance and profitability – and make decisions accordingly. If one employee has too much of a load, they can shift work to another team member. 

Transparent Client Relationships
An accurate, up-to-date record of project work contributes to the firm’s profitability and nurtures client relationships. Clients, focused on dedicating dollars to their missions, appreciate insight into how Communicopia contributes to projects. 

An accurate, up-to-date record of project work contributes to the firm’s profitability and nurtures client relationships. Clients, focused on dedicating dollars to their missions, appreciate insight into how Communicopia contributes to projects. 

On request, or with each invoice, Communicopia provides current status reports to clients. If clients want the additional detail behind the hours, the firm can send it in five minutes, reinforcing the firm’s role as a trusted partner. 

“If I talk to a client, I have all the information at my fingertips.” Watson added. “Replicon really helps us have transparency with clients. It helps with that constant collaboration.”