professional services automation

{{Short description|Software to assist with billing for time}}

Professional services automation (PSA) is software designed to assist professionals, such as lawyers, auditors, and IT consultants, with project management and resource management for client projects and utilization rate management for billable staff.

Typical PSA functions include project management and documentation, time recording, billing, reporting,{{cite journal| author = Rudolf Melik| title = PSA: Professional Services Automation: Optimizing Project and Service Oriented Organizations| publisher = Wiley; New York, NY| date = April 2002}} and resource utilization.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} These features are often integrated with accounting, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, and payroll systems in order to improve efficiency of overall operations. As a result, in addition to better managing client projects, independent contractors can prevent lost revenue and slow billing cycles.

Ultimately PSA software suites allow users to integrate industry-appropriate metrics in order to better understand operations and, in turn, improve efficiency and profitability.{{cite web| author = R. David Hofferberth| title = Professional Services Automation - Pointing the Way To Higher Profitability| url = http://www.crn.com/it-channel/18813746;jsessionid=5AVBBB0Q2R1XHQE1GHOSKHWATMY32JVN| publisher = ChannelWeb| date = April 2, 2001| access-date = November 4, 2009}} As businesses grow, the size and complexity of their projects tend to increase as well. PSA software is used to provide visibility into mid-project profitability.{{Citation needed|date=April 2012}}