BigTime - Detailed Review
Business Tools
BigTime - Product Overview
BigTime Overview
BigTime is a leading Professional Services Automation (PSA) software that plays a crucial role in helping businesses, particularly small and medium-sized professional service firms, manage their operations more efficiently.
Primary Function
BigTime’s primary function is to provide a comprehensive platform for managing time, expenses, billing, and projects. It enables businesses to track operational metrics, manage multiple projects simultaneously, and identify areas of opportunity through advanced features like resource allocation and custom reporting.
Target Audience
The target audience for BigTime Software includes professionals in various service-based industries such as accounting, engineering, and consulting. Specifically, it caters to small and medium-sized professional service firms, including consulting firms, law offices, accounting firms, and marketing agencies.
Key Features
Time and Expense Tracking
BigTime allows teams to log time and expenses easily with personalized data entry options, ensuring accurate and efficient tracking.
Billing and Invoicing
The software enables the creation of professional-looking custom invoices and facilitates quick payment processing through features like BigTime Wallet and a client portal.
Project Management
BigTime offers tools for managing projects day-to-day, including custom workflows, resource allocation, and project budget tracking.
Reporting and Analytics
The platform provides dashboards, analytics, and reporting capabilities to help businesses analyze progress and make informed decisions.
AI-Powered Tools
BigTime is integrating AI to enhance user experience, such as the Build AI report assistant, which helps users create insightful reports quickly, and Scribe AI, which improves invoicing processes for faster payments.
Additional Benefits
Integration
BigTime integrates seamlessly with popular accounting, CRM, and project management tools, allowing businesses to streamline their workflows and improve efficiency.
Scalability
The software is designed to scale with the business, providing the flexibility to add new users, projects, and clients as needed.
Support and Training
BigTime offers comprehensive support and training resources to help customers get the most out of the platform.
Conclusion
Overall, BigTime is a versatile and user-friendly solution that helps professional service firms streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth.
BigTime - User Interface and Experience
User Interface of BigTime
The user interface of BigTime, a business tool in the AI-driven product category, is crafted with a strong focus on ease of use and a seamless user experience.
Intuitive Design
BigTime boasts a clean and intuitive design, making it easy for users to find and access key tools without hassle. The layout is user-friendly, ensuring that accountants, consultants, and other professionals can quickly locate essential features such as project management, time tracking, and invoicing.
Mobile Experience
The new BigTime Mobile app mirrors the desktop functionality, allowing users to track time, manage tasks, and review projects on the go. The mobile interface is simple and intuitive, with features like one-tap timers for time entry, easy expense tracking through photo and PDF uploads, and automatic syncing with the web account. This ensures a consistent and hassle-free experience across all devices.
Project Management
The project management module is highly accessible, enabling users to create, track, and manage projects effortlessly. Users can assign team members, set deadlines, and monitor progress, all within a straightforward and easy-to-use interface.
Time Tracking and Invoicing
Time tracking is seamless with an easy-to-use timer feature that syncs automatically with projects. The invoicing tools are also straightforward, allowing users to create customizable invoices that account for billable hours and expenses. Automated recurring invoices further streamline the process.
Customization and Integration
BigTime offers significant customization options, allowing users to tailor workflows, reports, and user permissions to their specific needs. The platform integrates seamlessly with tools like QuickBooks, enhancing the overall workflow and accounting processes.
User Feedback and Improvements
BigTime places a strong emphasis on customer feedback. The company has a dedicated mobile Product and Engineering team that continuously updates and improves the platform based on user insights. This commitment is evident in the regular release of new features and enhancements, such as the recent overhaul of the mobile app which was influenced by extensive customer feedback.
Support and Responsiveness
The support team at BigTime is highly responsive and helpful, adding significant value to the overall user experience. While there may be occasional slow response times during busy periods, the support team is generally praised for their assistance and willingness to address user needs.
Minor Areas for Improvement
While the platform is highly praised, there are some minor areas where improvements are suggested. Some users have noted that the user interface could benefit from a refresh, and there are instances where manual intervention is required to ensure accuracy. However, these minor inconveniences are outweighed by the overall time savings and reduction in errors provided by BigTime.
Conclusion
In summary, BigTime’s user interface is designed to be intuitive, easy to use, and highly functional, making it an excellent tool for professionals looking to streamline their operations and enhance their productivity.
BigTime - Key Features and Functionality
BigTime Overview
BigTime is a comprehensive business management tool that offers a wide range of features, particularly beneficial for professional services firms. Here are the main features and how they work, including the integration of AI.Time and Expense Tracking
BigTime allows users to track both billable and non-billable hours, as well as expenses. This feature enables custom rates to be set according to the task, providing a detailed view of how time and resources are being utilized.Project Management
The project management feature streamlines project budgeting, time, and expenses along with invoicing. It includes tools like Gantt charts to visualize project timelines and milestones, and it automates notifications for timesheets, expense reports, and invoices. This helps in keeping projects on track and within budget, and it also allows for the comparison of actual hours worked against the projected budget.Review and Approval
BigTime automates the review and approval process for timesheets, expense reports, and invoices. This ensures that all submissions are promptly reviewed and approved, reducing delays and increasing efficiency.Resource Management
The resource management feature helps in planning and allocating resources effectively. It integrates employee time-off data and allows for accurate resource planning, ensuring that projects are staffed appropriately and that resource utilization is optimized.Billing and Invoicing
BigTime’s billing and invoicing feature is intuitive and allows firms to get paid faster. Users can send customized invoices with ease, and the system integrates with accounting software like QuickBooks and Sage Intacct to enhance accounts receivable workflows. It also provides a live view of unbilled expenses and time, enabling better income forecasting.Payment Processing
BigTime facilitates payment processing, making it easier for businesses to manage their financial transactions efficiently.Reporting and Analytics
The reporting and analytics feature provides real-time insights into project profitability, billable hours, unpaid invoices, and staff utilization. Reports can be customized and exported in various formats like Excel, PDF, and MS Word. This feature empowers teams to make faster and better decisions, improving profit margins and performance.Integration
BigTime offers seamless integrations with a variety of applications, including QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Sage Intacct, Jira, HubSpot, Salesforce, Slack, and many others. This integration allows businesses to connect their existing software systems, creating a unified workflow and increasing visibility across the business.Mobile App
BigTime has a mobile app that allows users to manage their tasks, track time, and access other features on the go, enhancing flexibility and productivity.DCAA Compliance
For businesses that need to comply with the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) regulations, BigTime provides the necessary tools, including timesheet restrictions and audit trail protections.AI Integration
BigTime is incorporating AI to enhance its functionality:Build AI
This AI-powered feature acts as a report assistant, allowing users to create insightful reports quickly. It guides users to their desired outcomes, brings together the right information, and enhances the experience with intelligent suggestions for report names, folder locations, and descriptions. Build AI can also recommend relevant data visualizations to ensure reports are accurate and visually impactful.Scribe AI
This feature is aimed at improving invoicing processes for faster payments. While specific details on its current functionality are limited, it is part of BigTime’s effort to use AI to recognize patterns, distill information, and keep summaries relevant, thus enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.BigTime AI Assistant
This is a 24-7 chat experience that helps customers onboard onto BigTime faster with instant in-product help and contextual expert tips. It provides immediate support and guidance, making the onboarding process smoother and more efficient. These AI integrations are designed to make the user experience more efficient, streamline workflows, and provide valuable insights quickly, all while maintaining data security and user control. BigTime - Performance and Accuracy
Evaluating BigTime’s Performance and Accuracy
Evaluating the performance and accuracy of BigTime in the business tools and AI-driven product category reveals several key strengths and areas for improvement.
Performance
BigTime is highly regarded for its ability to streamline workflows and enhance productivity. Here are some of its performance highlights:
Time and Expense Tracking
BigTime efficiently tracks billable and non-billable hours, and it allows for custom rates to be set according to the task. This feature helps in accurate billing and reduces the likelihood of overlooked work hours, which can lead to lost revenue.
Project Management
The software offers real-time project profitability reporting, enabling teams to make faster and better decisions. It provides a single dashboard for real-time insights, reducing the time spent on data collection and analysis.
Resource Management
BigTime allows for optimized resource allocation, enabling businesses to make informed decisions about staff capacity. The utilization dashboard provides insights into operations and staff metrics, facilitating resource adjustments and projections.
Billing and Invoicing
The software streamlines the invoicing process, ensuring accuracy and efficiency. It minimizes manual errors and helps in compiling hours, monitoring project budgets, and creating well-constructed invoices.
Accuracy
BigTime’s accuracy is bolstered by several features:
Reporting and Analytics
The software provides detailed reports on various tasks, including billable hours, unpaid invoices, and staff utilization. Reports can be exported and shared in multiple formats like Excel, PDF, and MS Word, ensuring that teams have clear visibility of the data.
AI-Powered Tools
BigTime is integrating AI to enhance its capabilities. For example, the “Build AI” feature helps in creating insightful reports quickly, guiding users to the right information and enhancing the reporting experience with intelligent suggestions.
Integration
BigTime seamlessly integrates with other tools like QuickBooks, ensuring that financial data is kept in sync without extra effort. This integration improves the accuracy and efficiency of managing client work.
Limitations and Areas for Improvement
Despite its strengths, BigTime has some areas that need improvement:
Notification System
The notification system can be overwhelming, leading to notification fatigue among team members. There is a need for more detailed settings to highlight only the most important notifications.
Mobile App
The mobile app is somewhat basic compared to the desktop version, which can be an issue for team members who need to log time or check project status on the go.
Reporting Flexibility
There is a lack of flexibility in the reporting options, which can make it time-consuming to prepare reports and search for relevant data. This can slow down decision-making when assessing project performance.
Installation and Customization
The installation process and customization of the system can be intricate and time-consuming, affecting efficiency and making it difficult to train new employees.
AI Integration
BigTime’s integration of AI, such as the “Build AI” and “Scribe AI” features, aims to address some of these limitations. For instance, “Build AI” simplifies the report creation process, while “Scribe AI” streamlines invoicing by ensuring clarity and professionalism in invoice summaries, which can lead to faster payments and improved cash flow.
In summary, BigTime performs well in streamlining workflows, tracking time and expenses, and managing projects, but it has areas for improvement, particularly in its notification system, mobile app functionality, reporting flexibility, and installation process. The integration of AI is a promising step towards addressing some of these limitations and enhancing overall performance and accuracy.
BigTime - Pricing and Plans
Pricing Plans
BigTime has three main pricing tiers: Express, Pro, and Premier.Express Plan
- Cost: $10 per user per month
- Features:
- Time tracking
- Mobile access
- QuickBooks integration (Online and Desktop)
- Dashboard for overview
- Daily or weekly timesheet views
- Unlimited timers
- Custom Report Wizard
- Unlimited clients and transactions
- Chat and email support
- Cloud-based, no installation required.
Pro Plan
- Cost: $30 per user per month
- Features:
- All features from the Express plan
- Budget tracking
- Expense tracking
- Gantt Charts
- Review and approvals for time and expenses
- Fixed fee and time & materials invoice types
- Unlimited sub-tasks with budget roll-up
- Invoice template editor
- Project management dashboard
- WIP management
- Workflow management
- Tasks by type, stage, due date, and assignment
- Deep integration with QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online, Zapier, Lacerte, and more
- Unlimited cost centers & status codes
- Assign access rights by user or group
- Live phone support
- API access
- Unlimited user-defined invoice types
- DCAA compatibility (additional $5 per user per month).
Premier Plan
- Cost: $40 per user per month
- Features:
- All features from the Pro plan
- Resource Allocation
- Revenue Projections
- Variable Cost Rates
- Multi-level Approval Workflow
- Salesforce & Slack Integration
- Unlimited API access
- Extended support hours
- Priority support queue
- Uptime Guarantees (SLA)
- DCAA compatibility included.
Additional Options
Enterprise Solution
For larger firms, BigTime offers an Enterprise solution that starts at $15 per user and can drop as low as $2 per user for large-scale implementations. This plan includes features like Enterprise Workflow, Multi-Tier Budgeting, and more. It is also available as an on-premises solution. Contacting the vendor is necessary for detailed pricing.
Free Trial
BigTime provides a 30-day free trial for all plans, which includes full access to features and live support options. This trial allows users to test the software before committing to a purchase.
Onboarding and Support
The onboarding process is supported with a dedicated account rep, three hours of personalized demos and support, and ongoing customer service. This ensures a smooth transition from the trial period to a full subscription.
By choosing the plan that best fits your business needs, you can leverage BigTime’s comprehensive set of tools to manage time, expenses, projects, and billing efficiently.
BigTime - Integration and Compatibility
BigTime Overview
BigTime, a project management and accounting software, is notable for its extensive integration capabilities and cross-platform compatibility, making it a versatile tool for various business needs.Integrations
BigTime integrates with a wide range of tools and software systems, enhancing its functionality and streamlining business workflows. Here are some key integrations:Accounting Systems
BigTime seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks and Sage Intacct, allowing for smooth data migration and communication. You can create invoices in BigTime that automatically appear in Sage Intacct, and manage settings for posting, importing data, and using default accounts, items, and locations.Project Management Tools
It works with Jira, allowing for better project tracking and management.CRM Systems
Integrations with Salesforce and HubSpot help in managing client relationships and sales pipelines effectively.Communication Tools
BigTime connects with Slack, facilitating team communication and collaboration.Time and Resource Management
It integrates with BambooHR to incorporate employee time off data into BigTime Foresight for more accurate resource planning.Automation Tools
Zapier integration enables the automation of complex business workflows, connecting BigTime with numerous other applications.Compatibility Across Platforms and Devices
BigTime is designed to be highly accessible and compatible across various devices and platforms:Mobile Accessibility
The software is mobile-accessible, allowing users to manage tasks, track expenses, and process payments from anywhere with an internet connection.Cross-Platform Compatibility
BigTime can be used on different devices, including computers, tablets, and smartphones, ensuring that teams can work efficiently regardless of their preferred device.AI-Driven Enhancements
BigTime is also incorporating AI to enhance user experience and efficiency. For example:Build AI
This feature helps users create insightful reports quickly by guiding them through the process and suggesting report names, folder locations, and descriptions.Scribe AI
This tool streamlines invoicing by writing time and expense notes in a consistent, professional voice, facilitating faster payments and boosting productivity.Overall Ecosystem
BigTime’s integration ecosystem is built to increase visibility across all areas of the business, automate tasks, and simplify workflows. This makes it easier for teams to adopt the technology they already use, reducing the time spent on learning new workflows and focusing more on critical work. BigTime - Customer Support and Resources
Customer Support Options
BigTime offers a comprehensive array of customer support options and additional resources to ensure users can effectively utilize their software.Phone and Live Support
For immediate assistance, users can contact BigTime’s support team via phone at (1) 866 BIGTIME. If the support team is busy, they will call you back promptly. Additionally, BigTime provides live support, where a support team member can conduct a virtual visit to your desktop to resolve issues step-by-step.Email Support
Email is another efficient way to get help from BigTime’s Chicago-based technology staff. Users can send their questions tosupport@bigtime.net, which is highlighted as the fastest way to get assistance.
Knowledge Base
BigTime has an extensive Knowledge Base that serves as a repository for answers to common questions and problems. This resource includes helpful articles, videos, and how-tos on various subjects, ranging from basic time tracking to more advanced tasks. There is also a more advanced knowledge base available for BigTime Plus and Premium users.Training and Webinars
To help users get up and running quickly, BigTime offers training videos, recorded demos, and live webinars. These resources introduce key features and demonstrate techniques through 45-minute online courses led by top training consultants. Users can watch these at their own pace, anytime and anywhere.Online Documentation and Community
Within the BigTime Projector platform, users can access online documentation by selecting the ? icon or pressing F1 in the Management Portal. Additionally, all BigTime Projector customers have access to the e3 Community, where they can explore new topics, share best practices, and find resources such as tutorials, webinars, best practices, and templates.Mobile App and Integrations
BigTime also provides a user-friendly mobile app for iOS and Android, allowing professionals to log time and expenses on the go. The software integrates with tools like QuickBooks, Slack, G-suite, and Zapier, ensuring seamless workflow management. These support options and resources are designed to ensure that BigTime users have all the tools they need to efficiently manage their time, expenses, projects, and reporting processes. BigTime - Pros and Cons
Advantages of BigTime
BigTime offers several significant advantages that make it a valuable tool for businesses, particularly those in the professional services sector.Time and Expense Tracking
BigTime allows employees to easily record their time and expenses, which can be reviewed by managers before being sent to clients for billing. This feature is accessible from any device, making it highly convenient.Project Management
The software streamlines project budgeting, time, and expenses, along with invoicing. It includes interactive Gantt charts to improve project efficiency and provides a dedicated space to view key project data through easy-to-read charts and diagrams.Integration
BigTime integrates seamlessly with other software such as QuickBooks, Slack, G-suite, and Zapier, ensuring a smooth workflow and keeping all systems updated throughout the day.Reporting and Analytics
The software provides real-time project profitability reporting, comprehensive financial overviews, and customizable reports. This helps teams make faster and better decisions, improving profit margins and team performance.Billing and Invoicing
BigTime automates invoicing and payment collections, making billing processes efficient. It also allows for various billing options and easy tracking of unpaid invoices and staff utilization.Customer Service
Users have praised BigTime’s customer service, noting that the implementation specialists are knowledgeable and easy to work with. The live chat support is also highly responsive.Resource Management
BigTime helps in allocating resources better by showing team availability, skills, and workload, ensuring the right people are assigned to the right projects.Disadvantages of BigTime
While BigTime offers many benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider:Learning Curve
Despite being user-friendly, BigTime has a learning curve, especially for those who are not tech-savvy. This can lead to initial difficulties in usage.Customization Challenges
Customizing reports can be challenging and often requires support assistance, which can slow down the process. Some users have noted limitations in report formatting and customization.Inconsistent Features
Some features are not consistent across the software, leading to discrepancies in data. For example, one budget report may include submitted time while another does not.Invoice Filtering
The approval screen does not allow for invoice filtering by Team Lead, which means all Team Leads have access to all invoices, potentially causing confusion or miscommunication.Slow Feature Updates
BigTime is slow to incorporate some new features, such as imposing client service fees for ACH and credit card payments, or allowing modifications to payment posts if entered incorrectly.Sync Issues
There have been issues with the QuickBooks sync not functioning properly, although it is sometimes difficult to determine whether this is a BigTime or QuickBooks issue. Overall, BigTime is a powerful tool for managing time, expenses, projects, and billing, but it does come with some limitations and areas for improvement. BigTime - Comparison with Competitors
When Comparing BigTime to Other Products
When comparing BigTime to other products in the Professional Services Automation (PSA) and business tools category, several key aspects and alternatives come into focus.
Unique Features of BigTime
BigTime stands out for its comprehensive set of features aimed at streamlining operations for professional services firms. Here are some of its unique strengths:
- Intuitive Time and Expense Tracking: BigTime offers smart lookup fields, auto-fill for repetitive data, and user-specific presets to speed up the entry process. It also allows for flexible submission times and optional lockout periods for approvals.
- Project Management and Scheduling: The software includes real-time scheduling, job dispatching, and project budgeting, along with resource allocation and project scheduling features.
- Invoicing and Reporting: BigTime’s powerful invoicing automation, integrated with QuickBooks, accelerates billing and payment collections. It also provides comprehensive financial overviews and customizable reports, although some users note limitations in report formatting.
- Mobile Access and Integration: BigTime has a user-friendly mobile app for iOS and Android, allowing professionals to log time and expenses on the go. It also integrates with tools like Slack, G-suite, and Zapier.
Alternatives and Competitors
Here are some notable alternatives to BigTime, each with their own strengths:
Wrike
- Ease of Use and Customization: Wrike is often praised for being easier to use and customize compared to BigTime. It combines project management with a real-time workspace for collaboration, discussion, and document sharing.
- Reliability and Support: Wrike is also noted for its better support and reliability.
SAP Professional Services Software
- Comprehensive Business Process Coverage: SAP’s solution covers the entire business process, from lead generation and opportunity management to project management and follow-up processes like invoice creation and analysis. However, it is less reliable and less innovative compared to BigTime.
Kantata
- Project Resource Planning: Kantata is strong in project resource planning and engagement management. It helps professional services companies manage their business requirements and achieve profitable growth by improving operational efficiency and customer relationships.
Avaza
- All-in-One Solution: Avaza offers an all-in-one solution that includes project management, time tracking, expense reporting, and invoicing. It is known for its ease of use and comprehensive feature set.
Scoro
- End-to-End Work Management: Scoro provides end-to-end work management, including project management, time tracking, billing, and reporting. It is particularly useful for businesses that need to manage multiple projects and clients simultaneously.
Key Differences
- Integration: While BigTime integrates well with QuickBooks, Slack, and G-suite, other tools like Wrike and SAP Professional Services Software have their own set of integrations. For example, Wrike integrates well with various project management tools, and SAP integrates deeply with other SAP solutions.
- User Interface and Support: BigTime is praised for its supportive user interface and strong company culture, but Wrike is often considered easier to use and more reliable in terms of support.
- Scalability: BigTime is scalable and supports large volumes of data and users, similar to SAP Professional Services Software. However, tools like Avaza and Scoro are also scalable but may be more suited to smaller to mid-sized businesses.
In summary, while BigTime offers a robust set of features for professional services firms, alternatives like Wrike, SAP Professional Services Software, Kantata, Avaza, and Scoro provide different strengths that might better fit specific business needs. The choice ultimately depends on the specific requirements of the firm, such as ease of use, integration needs, and the scale of operations.
BigTime - Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about BigTime
What is BigTime and what does it do?
BigTime is a Professional Services Automation (PSA) software that helps businesses scale by tracking and managing operational metrics. It allows users to manage time, expenses, and billing for multiple projects, and provides features like resource allocation, custom reporting, and project management.What are the pricing plans for BigTime?
BigTime offers several pricing plans:- Express: $10 per user per month, which includes time tracking, mobile access, QuickBooks integration, and a custom report wizard.
- Pro: $30 per user per month, adding features like budget tracking, expense tracking, Gantt Charts, and project management dashboards.
- Premier: $40 per user per month, which includes all Pro features plus resource allocation, revenue projections, variable cost rates, and multi-level approval workflows.
Does BigTime offer a free trial?
Yes, BigTime provides a free trial for users to test its features before committing to a plan.How does BigTime integrate with other software?
BigTime integrates with various software tools, including QuickBooks (both online and desktop versions), Zapier, Lacerte, Salesforce, and Slack. These integrations help streamline processes such as invoicing, expense tracking, and project management.What AI features does BigTime offer?
BigTime is integrating General AI (GenAI) into its platform to enhance user experience. Key AI features include:- Build AI: Helps users create insightful reports quickly by guiding them through the reporting process and suggesting report names, folder locations, and descriptions.
- Scribe AI: Streamlines invoicing by transforming project team work into coherent, professional invoice summaries, facilitating faster payments.
How does BigTime help with project management?
BigTime helps with project management by allowing teams to track time and expenses, manage budgets, use Gantt Charts, and handle workflow management. It also provides dashboards and analytics to see project progress at a glance and ensures smooth handoffs between teams.What kind of support does BigTime offer?
BigTime offers various support options depending on the plan. These include chat and email support for the Express plan, live phone support for the Pro plan, and extended support hours with priority support queues for the Premier plan.Can BigTime handle large-scale operations?
Yes, BigTime is scalable and can handle operations for businesses of various sizes, from small startups to large corporations. It offers an Enterprise Solution with customized pricing for larger firms, which can include on-premises solutions and multi-tier budgeting.How secure is BigTime?
BigTime ensures data security by storing all data on internal servers and not sharing it with third parties. The platform follows rigorous standards to protect user data, whether AI is involved or not.What is the onboarding process like for BigTime?
BigTime’s onboarding process is designed to be easy and supportive. It includes a dedicated account representative, three hours of personalized demos and support, and ongoing customer service. Users can also opt for an annual commitment to receive nearly two months of service free.Can I customize the features and plans according to my business needs?
Yes, BigTime allows you to customize your plan based on your business needs. You can add or remove users, switch between plans, and even opt for an Enterprise Solution if you have more complex requirements. Your dedicated account representative can help you make these changes.