In this video and blog, we’ll explore how a project manager can use Dynamics 365 Business Central to increase productivity, spend less time on data entry, and, ultimately, make better decisions that allow for more successful projects.
We’ll walk through how to create a new job, enter time for a job, approve the time sheet, create a job journal, and create a sales invoice.
Project management means managing data well. Here’s how to do that using the powerful capabilities of Dynamics 365 Business Central.
Create a New Job
Let’s start at the beginning, with the creation of a new job that the project manager is responsible for overseeing.
From the dashboard, project managers have the option to create a new job from scratch, or to create a new job based on an existing job. Duplicating an existing job is an effective way to streamline the job creation process – especially if new jobs are similar to previous jobs.
To do this, click “Create New Job.” From there, project managers will be taken through a creation wizard that will enable them to select the job to duplicate, as well as additional data like customer number and a job description.
Click through the wizard to bring in or exclude specific tasks from the previous job into the new job, adjust dates, and ensure that the new job is properly assigned.
Finish the wizard, and the job is created.
Manage Time for a Job
Submitting Time Sheets
Resources can also use Dynamics 365 Business Central to bill and track their time throughout the course of a job.
To do this from the project dashboard, open up the associated time sheet and select the appropriate job. Next, select the appropriate task, enter in the amount of time to bill, and click “Submit”.
Approving Time Sheets
Project managers can view submitted time sheets and approve them, which will trigger accounting departments to bill for the work.
Open up the timesheet, and click “Approve” to do this.
Create the Job Journal
Job journals enable more detailed tracking of activity over the course of a job. To create the job journal, project managers can create a post from scratch. In our case, though, we’ll use the option to “Suggest Lines from Time Sheets” in order to streamline the process.
To do this, click “Suggest Lines from Time Sheets”. The relevant details will be added to a line; next, click post, and the job journal will be updated.
Create an Invoice
Invoices can be created easily from the jobs dashboard.
To do this, go to jobs and select the job to be invoiced. Click on “Process” in the sub menu, and from the accompanying dropdown, click “Create Job Sales Invoice”. In the wizard, select “OK”, and the invoice will be created.
To post the invoice, go back to “Process” and select “Sales Invoices”. You’ll see your created invoice appear. Click “Post” and then “Send”. You’ll be able to preview the formatted invoice as it will appear to the customer.
Make Project Management Easy.
Dynamics 365 Business Central can streamline the role of project manager. With its powerful capabilities, project managers will be able to avoid cumbersome data entry, more accurately track projects, and make decisions that boost efficiency.
Want to learn more about how Dynamics 365 Business Central can be tailored toward ideal use in your project-based business? Get in touch with us today.
