Why Environmental Consulting and Engineering Firms need specialized Project Management

Publishing date:

April 12, 2024

A practical look at why specialized project software helps environmental and engineering firms stay organized, informed, and on track.

Managing projects in environmental consulting and engineering is complex. Field teams gather data, conduct assessments, and perform critical tasks while office teams handle analysis, reporting, and client interactions. Traditional project management tools fail to capture this dynamic, forcing teams to work around limitations instead of working efficiently.

EVX Software is built specifically for environmental and engineering firms, addressing the real challenges they face. From task tracking to document management and billing, it provides an integrated system that brings everything together, ensuring teams stay connected and projects stay on track.

The challenges of generic Project Management tools

Many firms rely on standard project management software or a mix of disconnected tools like spreadsheets, email, and chat apps. These approaches come with significant drawbacks:

  • Lack of industry-specific workflows: Generic tools do not account for fieldwork, compliance needs, or environmental reporting.
  • Fragmented communication: Teams use multiple apps for discussions, making it hard to track progress.
  • Complicated billing and cost tracking: Time entries, expenses, and invoicing often require separate systems, leading to errors and inefficiencies.

A specialized solution like EVX Software is designed to meet these specific needs, offering a seamless experience from fieldwork to billing.

Report Type What It Tracks Example Use Case
Task ReportsTime, cost, resource allocation by taskTrack fieldwork hours on soil sampling tasks
People Reports Staff workload, productivity, utilization Reassign work if one team member is overbooked
Project ReportsBudget status, milestone progress, risk flagsMonitor a wetlands restoration project’s key deliverables
Company-Wide Reports Gross margins, resource distribution, billing efficiency Compare efficiency across multiple remediation projects

How EVX Software Solves These Challenges

1- Centralized Communication for Better Collaboration

Environmental and engineering projects require clear communication between field teams, project managers, and clients. While messaging apps like WhatsApp or Teams allow quick exchanges, they lack structured task management.

EVX Software provides a centralized platform where discussions are tied to specific projects and tasks. This ensures all information is organized and easily accessible, reducing confusion and missed updates.

2- Task Management Designed for Field and Office Teams

Traditional task managers may help with general workflows, but they do not address the complexities of environmental projects. EVX Software offers:

  • Task assignment with clear deadlines and priorities
  • Fieldwork tracking with status updates and dependencies
  • Resource allocation to ensure workloads are balanced

With these features, teams can coordinate effectively, keeping projects moving without unnecessary delays.

3- Document Management that Links Directly to Tasks

Environmental reports, lab results, compliance documents, and site assessments need to be organized and easy to find. Instead of relying on separate storage systems, EVX Software links documents directly to tasks, time entries, and expenses.

This allows teams to access critical information when they need it, ensuring consistency and reducing time spent searching for files.

4- Integrated Billing for Accurate and Efficient Invoicing

Billing errors can lead to project delays and revenue loss. EVX Software simplifies invoicing by:

  • Tracking time entries and expenses within project tasks
  • Generating accurate invoices based on logged work
  • Ensuring clear and transparent cost tracking

This approach reduces administrative burden and helps firms get paid faster while maintaining clear financial records.

Feature/SoftwareEVX SoftwareRepliconBQE (BillQuick Desktop)Deltek (Vantagepoint)ClickUpMonday.comUnanetBQE CoreBST GlobalClickTimeKahua
Industry FocusEngineering, Environmental, Scientific ConsultingGeneralEngineering & Professional ServicesProfessional ServicesGeneralGeneralGovernment & AECGeneralProfessional ServicesGeneralAEC
Project templatesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesNoYes
Templates for project expensesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Automated invoicingYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Time & Materials InvoicingYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Fixed Fee InvoicingYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Customizable timesheet approval workflowsYesYesNoYesNoNoYesYesYesYesYes
Flexible timesheet managementYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Tracking of non-billable timeYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Accounting software integrationsYesYesYesYesLimitedNoYesYesYesYesYes
Different rate schedules and price listsYesYesYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Flexible project numberingYesNoNoYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Invoice templatesYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Engineering & Geotechnical FocusYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Environmental & CRM Consulting FocusYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Scientific Technical Consulting FocusYesNoYesYesNoNoYesYesYesNoYes
Resource managementYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesLimitedYes
Document and file managementYesNoYesYesYesLimitedYesYesYesLimitedYes
Team collaboration toolsYesNoYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Quickbooks online integrationYesYesYesYesYesYesWith ZapierYesNoYesYes
Quickbooks desktop integrationYesYesNoYesWith ZapierYesWith ZapierYesNoYesYes
Sage integrationYesYesNoYesWith ZapierYesWith ZapierYesNoNoLimited
Pricing$6 to $35$6 to $29$7,95 to $22,95$ 100$7 - $12$9 - $19$ 495$14,95 - $19,95N/A$12 - $27from $690/yr

Conclusion

Managing environmental and engineering projects requires a tool that understands your work. EVX Software brings together task management, communication, document control, and billing in one system, eliminating the need for workarounds and disconnected tools.

With a solution built for your industry, you can focus on delivering results instead of struggling with inefficient systems.

Book a demo today to see how EVX Software can transform your project management.

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