Commercial Logic, Inc. – PowerPM

To manage tasks and due dates, firms
would use TrakDate. User-defined
task templates let users define
workflow. Tasks can be checked off
on the project task or incomplete
tasks screens. Task completion is
stamped with a user ID and date.
TrakDate calculates due dates and
extensions. Also available is PowerForeCast
for staff scheduling, staff budgeting
and revenue forecasting. In addition
to personal staff calendar and copy/move
functionality, managers can drill
down to client/project and work
code detail. Budget versus actual
hours and dollars display on-screen.
Comparison reports include a variety
of budget, schedule and actual formats.

Billing functionality includes many
formatting and printing options.
Invoices can be previewed on-screen.
A monthly billing cycle checklist
(included with the manual) is available.
The billing screen allows users
to select standard or progress bill,
clear all WIP or none, select the
invoice format, review retainer,
WIP summary information, edit invoice
text, edit the bill form, and more.

INTEGRATION – 4 Stars

Commercial Logic provides powerful
tools for integrating with other
applications (and more) with PowerView
and PowerImport. PowerView is a
robust export query tool. Users
can choose client, project or contact
fields, filter data to view, rearrange
and sort the view table, search
the table, then export the data
to common file formats for further
manipulation, reporting or merging
with labels, letters and e-mails.
Users can save queries for frequently
used reports and merges. PowerView
can also be used for mass update
in PowerPM. PowerImport imports
client, project, contact and transaction
data in Excel, tab or comma-delimited
formats into PowerPM. A detailed
activity log is maintained.

REPORTING – 5 Stars
The PowerPM family delivers over
100 customizable reports, including
realization, utilization, productivity
and profitability reports. One that
stands out is Client Exposure, which
keeps tabs on the firm’s investment
in each client.

EASE OF USE & LEARNING CURVE – 3 Stars

As robust as PowerPM and its modules
are, the software disappoints when
it comes to user interaction efficiency
and intuitiveness. Each function
(Client Update, PowerDex, Staff
Update, Bill Entry and so on) acts
like a separate program, which is
contrary to multi-window applications
commonly available today. Differing
from the norm (without delivering
value with innovative user interface
features) increases PowerPM’s
learning curve. In addition, I found
that various screens are not optimized
for efficiency. Help efficiency
also seemed low, requiring more
work than necessary to find information
to advance the task being performed.

TrakTime provides a quick Entry
Line or a weekly view for adding
hours to existing cells. For write-up/downs,
you can enter the amount you want
to bill on the Bill Entry screen,
overwriting the WIP value that displays
as the bill amount upon entry. Write-up/down
will then be calculated for the
bill. As well, right-click menus
have been more effectively implemented
throughout the system over the last
few years. PowerPM is primarily
designed for larger firms, though
firms as small as 10 employees use
it. The package utilizes the Titanium
database from MDBS, delivering excellent
speed and stability.

RELATIVE VALUE – 4 Stars
PowerPM’s long heritage is
evident from its robust capabilities,
which should make any partner or
manager pay attention. But such
capabilities must be considered
in light of the user interaction
issues and the impact on the firm’s
learning curve, total investment
and ROI.

2004 OVERALL RATING: 4 Stars

This review examined the following
key areas:

Features – Does the product offer remote processing capability? Is it

designed for online use? Does it have features that
can help your firm become more productive
and/or more profitable? Does it
give you better control over scheduling
or perhaps provide reports on profitability
in a variety of formats? Is the
calendar/scheduling functionality
flexible? Does it offer color coding
by employee or activity? Can group
calendars be displayed? Can e-mail,
notes, phone calls and time tracking
all be attached to a project? What
about document management and document
tracking? Can you use predefined
documents and attach them to each
client’s project?

Integration – If you rely on other products, can the time and billing

product provide or accept data to streamline operations, such as integration with Outlook?

If your firm relies heavily on Outlook for contact management, having the contact

information shared between Outlook and your time and billing product can be valuable. If you

use other products by the same vendor, can information be shared between them?

Reporting – Does the program offer extensive and flexible analytic

reporting that provides information about
productivity and profitability of
staff, clients and services to facilitate
management decision making. Does
it offer customized reports?

Ease of Use & Learning Curve – Does the program offer intuitive, on-screen

entry of time as well as on-screen, on-demand billing? Can the product be tailored and/or

customized to meet your firm’s needs and the way you like to manage your firm? Can the

program conform to your practice? Does it offer real-time updating of data? Does it provide

an easy-to-enter timesheet? Is information readily accessible? Does the program provide

unlimited number of clients, staff and engagements?

Relative Value – What is the cost of the program? What are the renewal

costs? This is a subjective opinion of whether the program and its range
of features, etc., is worth the
cost. It also examines the size
firm that would find the most value
from the product.