Chapter 8
Eleven Ways Deltek Can
Help Your Business
In This Chapter
▶ Highlighting the Deltek solutions for project-based ERP
▶ Putting the pieces in place
The earlier chapters in this book spell out at length the dif- ferences between ERP built for everyone and ERP created specifically for project-based businesses. This chapter will explore the solutions that Deltek has created with project- based ERP in mind. Deltek’s solutions can help you manage your business in four key areas :
✓ Win: This involves understanding the market and identi- fying, tracking, and capturing opportunities from before RFP through the project award.
✓ Manage: High-quality tools move you from project award to execution through schedule, cost, resource, and risk management, to attain fully integrated program management.
✓ Deliver: Execute and deliver on your projects and corporate objectives through a robust and compliant project-based ERP suite of solutions. Manage your key back-office processes by the project, not just the account or organization.
✓ Measure: Examine your business in real time to make criti- cal decisions about the present and the future through a set of analytic and ad hoc reporting tools.
Deltek’s solutions are built for project-based businesses, but you may have your own specific needs based on the types of projects you do, the clients you serve, and the areas you want to manage as part of your projects — such as business develop- ment, resources, billing, or all of the above. What specific tools might you need for the kinds of projects you do?
Projects for the Government
If you perform work for the government, you know just how complex those projects can be. Chapter 7 discusses many of the rules and regulations with which you must comply. Deltek has solutions built specifically for businesses conducting proj- ects that fall under federal regulations and has an extensive offering for government contracting companies.
For more on the importance of these regulations and the intricacies of doing business with the government, please see Government Contracting For Dummies, Deltek Special Edition at www.deltek.com/dummies.
Providing Professional Services
If you’re not doing business with the government, then some of the requirements and regulations won’t apply to you. Deltek offers solutions designed for those project-based busi- nesses not subject to as tight a regimen of regulations and tracking. These include architects, engineers, consulting busi- nesses, accounting firms, agencies, and legal businesses.
Develop Business through CRM What’s the difference between standard customer relation- ship management and CRM geared specifically for project-based businesses? Chapter 4 provides the answer in full detail. But the short answer is that project-based CRM helps manage, track, and forecast opportunities in ways especially helpful for project-focused businesses. Deltek offers project- based CRM for both professional service organizations and government subcontractors.
Handle the Financials
As Chapter 2 outlines, the financials include everything from accounting and billing to revenue tracking — everything you need to track the revenue and costs on your projects and bill your clients. Depending on the types of projects you do and for whom you do those projects, Deltek has a number of options. For example, if you’re a small government contractor, your needs are quite different from those of a large account- ing business. Deltek offers options for both.
Track Time and Expense
For most businesses, time and expense tracking is part of the overall ERP solution, but some businesses just need stand- alone project time and expense tracking that may be tied to another billing solution. The ability to capture time via mobile devices can be quite helpful as well.
Master Project Management
For businesses that need to plan out the project, the phases, or tasks, and budget for the project at any of those levels, Deltek offers project planning and budgeting tools that can help give your project managers visibility into the project and help them stay on task and on budget all the way through.
Get a Handle on Resource Planning
Chapter 5 provides full details on creating the project plan and lining up the necessary resources. For those businesses that need to schedule and manage their resources and teams, Deltek offers planning tools to help get the right people on the right job at the right time.
Materials Management Made Simple
Manage the purchasing and tracking of materials throughout the procurement process. You can track customer orders completely from planning to approval, purchase, shipment, and receiving. Deltek’s solutions include purchasing, receiv- ing, and procurement planning applications.
Social Collaboration
Need to collaborate with a team around your project? Perhaps share status updates with your client? Perhaps you need to bring together the project team to come up with ideas for dealing with a tough situation while making sure the project is delivered on time. Just as other social tools are connecting people, Deltek’s Social Collaboration tools link people around the project to share conversations, tasks, events, and files.
Analysis and Portfolio Management
If you manage many projects, you’ll need to be able to view and measure the entire portfolio. You can answer some incredibly important questions. Which clients are most profitable (and how can you get more business from them)? On what industries should you focus, and which should you avoid? Are all of your projects on track and profitable for the business?
Project Manufacturing
If your company builds or manufactures deliverables, Deltek offers a full set of project-based manufacturing tools. The software links shop floor activities with financial management, accounting, and project management at the most-detailed levels possible. It provides instructions for complex product assembly or maintenance, repair, and overhaul. It also col- lects important information, including start and stop times for each operation as well as quality inspection results. All the project status and cost information is automatically fed from the shop floor into the ERP environment.
Deltek’s project manufacturing solutions assist in the build- to-order, engineer-to-order, and MRO fields. Businesses that develop and maintain complex product offerings will benefit from improved compliance, efficiency, quality, and visibility.