INDUSTRIES · PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Time, cost, and billing should be one number. Not three that argue with each other.

Dynamics 365 connects project costing, resource planning, and billing in one system, so utilisation and margin are visible while the project is still running, not after invoicing.

FIT CHECK

A good fit if, and where the line is.

A good fit if

  • ✓
    Time tracking lives apart from billingReconciling the two is a manual, recurring task every billing cycle, and errors are found after the invoice goes out, not before.
  • ✓
    Resource planning happens in a separate spreadsheetStaffing decisions aren't connected to actual project financials, so utilisation targets and margin are two different conversations.
  • ✓
    You bill a mix of fixed-fee, time-and-materials, and retainer workDifferent billing models need to coexist in the same system without separate manual processes for each.
  • ✓
    Project margin is only visible after the project closesYou need utilisation and profitability visible while the engagement is still running, so you can course-correct.

Look elsewhere if

  • 1
    You run a very small practice with a handful of simple retainer clientsA lighter time-and-billing tool may cover your needs without the overhead of a full ERP.
  • 2
    Nearly all revenue is a single flat subscription with no project-level costingThe project accounting depth here is built for firms that need to track cost and margin per engagement.
WHAT ACTUALLY MOVES THE TIMELINE

What actually moves the timeline.

Number of distinct billing models in use
Firms mixing fixed-fee, T&M, and retainer work take longer to configure than single-model shops.
Existing time-tracking discipline
How consistently staff already log time affects both data migration and adoption after go-live.
Integration with a CRM or proposal tool
Whether the deal-to-project handoff needs to be automated changes scope meaningfully.
WHAT'S COVERED

The functional areas this touches.

01

Project costing

Actual cost, budget, and margin tracked per project, per phase, or per resource, updated as time is logged.

02

Resource planning

Staffing and utilisation planning connected directly to project financials, not a separate spreadsheet.

03

Time & billing

Time entry flows straight into invoicing, across fixed-fee, time-and-materials, and retainer billing models.

04

Reporting

Utilisation, realization, and margin visible while engagements are running, not just at close.

See the CRM side for pipeline-to-project handoff →
Still tracking projects in Excel? See the Outgrown cluster →
FAQ

Common questions before committing.

Q.Can it handle fixed-fee, time-and-materials, and retainer billing at once?

Yes, these can coexist in the same system, even across different clients or different phases of the same engagement.

Q.Does time entry connect directly to invoicing?

Yes. Logged time flows into billing without a separate reconciliation step.

Q.Can we see margin while a project is still running?

Yes, that's one of the core reasons firms move off spreadsheet-based project tracking.

Q.Do we need a separate CRM for the sales side?

Dynamics 365's CRM side can connect deal pipeline to project setup, though some firms keep a specialized proposal tool and integrate it.

Considering Dynamics 365 for Professional Services

Get a straight read on fit for your industry.

Tell us about your operation. We'll tell you honestly what fits.

Book a 30-minute call

With someone who has worked in your industry before.

→

Run the situation diagnostic

Four minutes, no email required.

→