Have you checked your billing manager’s workbench lately?
Posted by Sarah Templeton on Fri, Sep 16, 2011
Your firm’s billers shouldn’t be spending their time doing paperwork.
And if they are, you may want to take another look at their system. Go ahead, look. Most likely, if your firm isn’t using CRM, their process is spread out over multiple programs, their time is spent looking for expense reports, trying to find people for review – and all of it slows down their day. Which, ultimately slows down money coming to you.
Your billers need to serve their client rather than shuffle paperwork. Period. Yet another reason to consider a CRM system – efficiency and productivity is enhanced because there is no need for multiple software systems. No more separate log-ins and passwords – just one centralized depository for client information that helps you manage your practice in a variety of ways.
With a CRM system such as TC Practice Management, one of those ways allows time and expenses to be entered with project work-in-progress (WIP) details. Without leaving the billing screen, invoices and expenses can be reviewed, unbilled time can be realized, and notes and comments can be read. Client invoices can be easily created and a user can choose from multiple billing handling options – meaning clients are billed faster and the firm’s cash flow improves. It’s the biller’s workbench – and with CRM you can get a bird’s eye view.
An integrated system also allows the impact of a billing decision to be seen right upon realization – giving you a sense of the decisions you are making in terms of profitability.
There’s a perk for marketers as well - as the billing manager is usually the person to turn to for the most up to date client information. Instead of running around and begging people for data, CRM creates a common system for the firm’s contacts to be found. And during a big campaign when time and efficiencies are precious commodities, nothing could be more valuable.
For many firms billing is an arduous task. The process can be very manual-oriented; as many people need to take part sometimes across multiple offices and getting approval in a timely manner can be cumbersome. Investing in a common online tool to collaborate that is “point-and-click” – not only may end up saving you money but also frees uptime for your billers to do their number one job, serve clients.