SCS's projects

The challenge

Like many specialist subcontractors, SCS was using manual processes for managing project costs. Time and resource pressures meant that important documents, such as orders, were being handwritten which made it time-consuming and onerous for the accounts team to reconcile deliveries and invoices.

Craig Scott, Commercial Director at SCS, says, "The business lacked standardised processes for managing costs and it was hard to share up-to-date information because data was stored in multiple locations off and onsite. As a management team, we had little real-time visibility of whether a project would be delivered on time and on budget."

Project teams relied on multiple, unconnected spreadsheets which only the author understood, resulting in wasted time spent rekeying and duplicating information. And because the spreadsheets were so complex, it was easy to make mistakes. When a formula error led to a significant loss on a project, the management team was prompted to find a better cost management solution.

The solution

Chalkstring has provided SCS with one platform from which all financial aspects of a project can be managed centrally. This means the project team uses the same system to manage cost information and has the latest information at their fingertips, increasing efficiency and reducing the risk of errors.

Scott says, "We rolled out Chalkstring gradually, using it on new projects initially. It quickly became apparent that those Commercial Managers using Chalkstring worked faster and more efficiently. This meant we could give them more projects to run simultaneously - essentially taking on more projects using the same resource."

The management team now has a 360° view of how each project is performing, meaning they can identify issues early on and take corrective action. This up-to-date information also means it is easier to control costs, plan cash flow accurately and ensure each project delivers the targeted profit.

The benefits