Two FinancialForce PSA Customization Features Every Services Business Should Be Using

FinancialForce PSA users have access to a wide range of customization features. However, not all of these automation options are immediately apparent. If your business has not fully utilized the customizable automation features FinancialForce PSA offers, you could be missing out on areas where you can improve the efficiency of your business processes.

Use FinancialForce PSA’s Output Builder

Output Builder lets your business generate and send custom reports using data gathered through automated processes. This part of the system architecture is built on standard HTML, providing the capability to create powerful custom reports that not only look great but can also be easily shared.

Output Builder lets your business generate and send custom reports using data gathered through automated processes. This part of the system architecture is built on standard HTML, providing the capability to create powerful custom reports that not only look great but can also be easily shared.For example, using Output Builder, you can pull data from project records and compile that data with information from related records within the same project. This automatically generates a report that you can then schedule for release to specific contacts or send to an ad hoc list of email addresses.

For example, using Output Builder, you can pull data from project records and compile that data with information from related records within the same project. This automatically generates a report that you can then schedule for release to specific contacts or send to an ad hoc list of email addresses.

Here’s a common use case: every Monday morning you need to send a status report to a specific client. Output Builder can be used to automate that process. Every Monday, a configured Output Builder process can pull up the data your client wants to see and send it directly to their email. The client receives a professional, data-filled report. This will ensure your customer receives their status report consistently, keeping them informed, and you are saving your Project Manager’s administrative time!

Use Custom Objects and Triggers

Custom objects and triggers are also powerful features of FinancialForce PSA for automating processes. For example, a complex process that FinancialForce can readily simplify is client prepayments. When a client prepays for delivery hours, you need to have a way to track the delivery of those hours against the prepaid balance for work associated to designated milestones.

Here’s one way to manage this using FinancialForce custom objects and triggers:

• First, build a custom object related to the project
• Next, fill the object with the necessary milestones as stipulated in the contract
• Then, use triggers to associate pre-payment amounts with the milestones
• These triggers will draw down the prepayment amounts as time is entered against your project

Using this formula, PSA would essentially set aside the prepaid amount and associate it with the milestones your client stipulates. Once you enter hours into your time cards that fulfill those milestones the system releases the triggers associated with that particular milestone payment.

From that point, comparing your actual billable statement with the amount of prepaid funding is simple. Additionally, data does not get passed along when you create billing events – it is independently associated with the milestones as you set them.

To gain optimal cost savings, your services business should make full use of FinancialForce customization features to streamline and improve processes. TOP Step Consulting provides the expert knowledge to set up efficiency workflows that address your business needs through customized automation.

Are you taking advantage of the customization features of FinancialForce PSA? Schedule a 30-minute free best-practice session with one of our experts.