Your ESN needs an ERP too! Discover the 11 market champions

Digital Service Companies, like any other business, need to structure and digitalise their activities to meet today's challenges and compete effectively. That's why the need for the power of a dedicated business ERP quickly becomes apparent.

But beware: when it comes to choosing this miracle tool, you need to choose a solution that is suited to NSEs, since they operate in the form of assignments to which they assign consultants. And not all management software on the market guarantees such alignment!

Fortunately, there are a number of ERP solutions for ESNs. As we're friendly people here at Appvizer, we've put together a selection of the 11 best.

See all software Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Definition and benefits of an ERP for ESN

First of all, what exactly is an ERP?

An acronym for Enterprise Resources Planning, it is defined as software that integrates various functions designed to manage all the company's processes.

It centralises all the data in a single space and enables them to communicate with each other, so as to :

• provide the various business lines with an overview of their activities ;
• support them in managing their missions.

To achieve this, ERP systems are made up of a multitude of modules. Although they differ from one solution to another, they generally include :

• CRM
• accounting and financial management
• stock management
• HR management
• production management
• project management, etc.

Of course, these ERPs are modular, so that each organisation can build a solution in line with its own reality.

👍 The automation and coordination of workflows enabled by these solutions means real productivity gains. At the same time, the automation and unification of information reduces the risk of errors. Ultimately, companies save money.

How do you choose an ERP for your ESN?

Comparative table of ERPs for ESNs presented in this article

Take account of your specific business needs

But are all the modules in a traditional ERP system beneficial to ESNs? For example, does stock management make sense?

We recommend that you opt for a real business solution, one that can accommodate your specific needs by offering dedicated functionalities such as :

• staffing
• consultant management
• business management and tracking
• declaration and monitoring of working hours,
• management of different types of invoicing (by time spent, for example),
• monitoring KPIs and profitability, etc.

Study the functionality required

However, even if you narrow down your choice to specialist software, each also has its own functional coverage. So it's a good idea to draw up an exhaustive list of your requirements beforehand. For example, will a CRM be useful if you want to keep yours?

In addition to this, you should evaluate the following parameters before making your choice:

• ergonomics and ease/quickness of deployment,
• cost and potential return on investment,
• integration with your current tools,
• modularity and scalability,
• the hosting mode (on-premise or SaaS?),
• the degree of support provided by the publisher and the quality of its customer service,
• data security.

💡 Make sure you make the right choice and discover the 9 criteria you absolutely need to know when choosing your ERP, by downloading our free White Paper co-written with Karanext, ERP experts for ESNs/service companies.

Comparison of the 10 best ERP for ESN

Akuiteo

Akuiteo is a complete ERP for service companies managed by business or by project. It is therefore perfectly suited to ESNs.

The solution is available in SaaS mode with premium, secure hosting (Microsoft Azure) or on-premise.

Akuiteo is appreciated for its rich functionality: it includes all the features expected of an ERP for ESNs, and goes even further by offering native accounting and cash management tools, EDM and electronic signatures.

So it's designed to improve productivity for everyone in the company. Even those on the move, thanks to a handy mobile application!

🛠️ Examples of functions:

• employee portal,
• CRM,
• team planning
• management of contracts and recurring invoicing,
• reporting,
• accounting and treasury, etc.

👍 What we like:

• The Employee Portal module. It centralises all the data and history relating to your employees, so you can control assignments by skill, costs and user rights.
  
  
• Time planning and monitoring. Easily plan your services (schedule in days or fractions of days, time-stamped schedule, etc.) and manage workloads. Assigned staff can then declare their hours independently for validation.
  
  
• CRM. Benefit from a CRM directly integrated into your ERP so you never miss a business opportunity. The module even includes a web portal for sales staff and tools for your marketing campaigns.
  
  
• Accounting and cash management. The accounting functions offered are perfectly suited to the specific needs of NSEs. You can also manage your cash flow (entering receipts and disbursements, monitoring debt collection, etc.) and ensure your profitability by monitoring a wide range of indicators.

Akuiteo

18 reviews

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Comprehensive ERP Solutions for Service Industries

Learn more about Akuiteo

Altik

Altik is a customisable online ERP dedicated to operational and financial business management.

It is resolutely focused on efficiency and, above all, project profitability, as demonstrated by the integrated analytical tools and interfacing with business intelligence solutions.

What's more, despite its power, Altik is user-friendly and quick to deploy.

🛠️ Examples of features :

• employee management
• proposal, customer and business management,
• detailed analysis of project costs,
• visual dashboards, etc.

👍 What we like:

• Consultant management. Automate all processes using features such as time, entry or exit entry. All the data collected is then used to generate invoices automatically.
  
  
• Project and business tracking. Keep a close eye on the progress of your various projects (outstanding work, deliveries, milestones, etc.) to keep your costs under control and your customers satisfied.
  
  
• Business profitability. Make the best business decisions by monitoring various KPIs: invoicing forecasts, costs and margins per organisational unit, turnover, etc.
  
  
• Customer and business management. Manage your business effectively thanks to fluid administration of your customer contacts and all the associated processes: drawing up contracts, orders, invoicing, etc.

atimeüs

Available in SaaS mode, atimeüs has been developed to manage all the activities of your ESN or IT services company.

Designed to save time and boost performance, it automates time-consuming tasks and provides greater visibility over all your company's activities. What's more, with its APIs, it integrates seamlessly with your existing business tools.

But atimeüs is also defined as a solution that encourages employee commitment, as it relieves them of administrative chores and optimises the circulation of information around projects.

🛠️ Examples of functions:

• tracking time and leave requests,
• management of the portfolio of services and contracts (fixed price, time and materials and trading),
• reporting,
• employee monitoring,
• invoicing,
• opportunity management,
• purchasing control, etc.

👍 What we like:

• Staffing functionalities. Manage forecast staffing, workload plans and calculate staff availability so you can plan services with precision.
  
  
• Billing management. Streamline your invoicing process, whatever the type of activity (time-based or based on a dated schedule) and calculate your FAE/PCA accounting provisions.
  
  
• Reporting. Interactive dashboards provide a range of useful indicators for managing your activities: activity and TACE rates, turnover, margins, headcount, etc.
  
  
• The API system. atimeüs has a robust API system that enables it to be integrated into your working environment, including your accounting, payroll and expense management tools, as well as your CRM.

BoondManager

BoondManager is a complete, full web ERP solution for companies providing services on a contract or fixed-price basis.

Its promise? To offer ESNs a turnkey solution that can be supplemented as required by a wide range of applications.

At the same time, BoodManager stands out for its intuitiveness, ease of use and modern, elegant interface.

🛠️ Examples of functionalities:

• recruitment and monitoring of employees
• project and business management
• invoicing (fixed-price, flat-rate, product sales, subscriptions, etc.),
• time and expense management
• prospecting and customer follow-up,
• commercial, HR and administrative dashboards, etc.

👍 What we like:

• Recruitment management. Create a CV library (connected to LinkedIn), manage all stages of recruitment and then accurately qualify candidates according to your needs.
  
  
• Project and business management. The software allows you to manage projects and deals in great detail. Classify them by type (fee-based, fixed price, subscription, etc.) before tracking their progress, profitability or invoicing.
  
  
• Dashboards. Use powerful, visual dashboards to analyse your sales, HR and administrative actions, as well as employee workload plans.
  
  
• Numerous integrations. The MarketPlace module brings together a host of applications designed to complement and personalise your ERP (collaborative tools, business intelligence, etc.). BoondManager also connects with LinkedIn, Zapier, Cegid, Sage and Signaturit.

BoondManager

96 reviews

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ERP for IT services company, consulting & engineering firms

Learn more about BoondManager

Chronos

Chronos is a business management ERP designed for service companies.

This software is appreciated for its rich functionality. It includes tools for accounting and document management. However, it does not include a recruitment module.

At the same time, the publisher is putting the emphasis on support. Take advantage of expert support during the deployment phase... and even beyond!

🛠️ Examples of functions :

• time tracking,
• planning and availability tracking,
• business tracking,
• time-based invoicing
• reporting, etc.

👍 What we like:

• Production management. Assign your staff to the right projects, then track their progress in real time, as well as the profitability of ongoing assignments. Set up rules to ensure that only the right people have access to project data.
  
  
• Human resources management. With the Human Resources portal, you can see at a glance all the data relating to your employees: skills, schedules, leave, etc.
  
  
• Collaboration. Chronos GA includes features designed to improve internal communication (such as the newsletter area), as well as document management tools to make it easier to exchange information.
  
  
• Accounting. Manage your accounting (purchases, fixed assets, sales) and interactions with your bank. If required, the ERP can be integrated with the main accounting solutions on the market, such as Ciel, Cegid or Sage.

Everwin

French software available in SaaS mode or under licence, Everwin is designed for all professionals (VSEs, SMEs and MSEs) who work on a business management basis. More generalist than some of the platforms in this comparison, it targets a wide range of business sectors, but includes features that are perfectly aligned with the needs of ESNs.

In terms of features, it focuses mainly on managing assignments, resources and skills and tracking costs.

On the other hand, if you wish to benefit from a CRM module, you will need to interface Everwin ERP with Everwin CXM software.

🛠️ Examples of functionalities :

• Availability management,
• generation of quotes and order forms,
• purchasing and sub-contracting management,
• mission tracking,
• cost management,
• candidate and skills management.

👍 What we like:

• The high degree of customisation. Build the solution that really suits you: Everwin includes customisation tools, such as adding data fields or creating workflows.
  
  
• Recruitment management. Find the right people for each job. The software manages the candidate pool, skills, recruitment cycles and the assignment of profiles to specific projects.
  
  
• Analytical tools. Take advantage of business intelligence and customisable reports to monitor the profitability of your assignments. In particular, you can compare the budget VS actuals.
  
  
• Integration. ERP integrates with a host of partner solutions (Universign, Praxedo, Webmecanik, Mailchimp etc.) to extend its capabilities.

Karanext

Karanext, a complete suite in SaaS mode, includes ERP, CRM and HR modules. Each module is integrated with the other solutions, but can be selected individually. Karanext is aimed at SMEs and SMBs in a range of business sectors, in particular ESNs, service companies, consultancies, design offices and financial activities (CGP).

The software's promise? To save you precious time in your day-to-day tasks, thanks to the high level of automation it offers and the digitisation of your processes. But it's still very accessible and easy to use.

Finally, this solution is fully configurable, so it can be tailored to the specific needs of your business.

🛠️ Examples of functions :

• sales administration
• contract management
• accounting and tax,
• CRM,
• partner management
• employee files,
• time tracking,
• recruitment management.

👍 What we like:

• The reporting tools. With Karanext, create different types of reporting (P&L, staffing, overheads, etc.) and get real-time visibility so you can make the best strategic decisions.
  
  
• HR functionalities. The solution has a number of HR functionalities that take into account the characteristics of NSEs, such as working time monitoring and staffing.
  
  
• CRM. Thanks to its integrated CRM, you can identify your business opportunities at a glance. All the information about your contacts and your interactions with them is centralised within the platform.
  
  
• The employee portal. ERP includes an employee portal. This gives your teams access to a corporate social network and various documents, as well as enabling them to manage their absences, holidays and working hours.

Perisoft Athena

Perisoft Athena is an ERP in SaaS mode entirely dedicated to service and outsourcing companies, in particular ESNs and SSIIs. It is designed for both SMEs and large organisations.

Data centralisation and availability, automation of time-consuming tasks, reduced risk of errors... these are the promises that will appeal to managers.

But ERP will also satisfy accountants, with the optimisation of invoicing operations and a number of interesting features such as automatic reminders.

🛠️ Examples of functions :

• employee management
• customer management
• project management (multi-project, multi-collaborator) on a fixed-price and fixed-rate basis,
• automatic invoicing,
• travel management
• reporting, etc.

👍 What we like:

• Employee management. Save precious time by automating many processes: filling in timesheets, processing holidays, reimbursing expense claims, etc.
  
  
• Travel management. Validate travel in just a few clicks using authorisation workflows, then manage the reimbursement of expenses and re-invoicing to customers.
  
  
• Alert and reminder systems. Streamline your operations and make sure you don't miss any information by setting up a system of alerts and automatic email reminders: validating requests for advances, timesheets, monitoring unpaid invoices, etc.
  
  
• Multi-agency and multi-company management. Simply rebill between different agencies and companies.

SAP S/4HANA

SAP S/4HANA is a cloud or on-premise ERP designed for ambitious businesses... including those that sell brains on a fee basis! Designed to run on SAP HANA, it offers real-time processing power and total visibility of your business. It is particularly well-suited to medium-sized and large ESNs looking to centralise their data, industrialise their processes and achieve greater scalability.

What does it promise? An intelligent ERP capable of automating, analysing and simplifying the management of your projects, staff and finances. And all with a fluid, modern interface.

🛠️ Features include

• management of fixed-price, time and materials management projects,
• resource planning and allocation
• time and job sheet tracking,
• multi-model invoicing (fixed-price, fixed-price, subscription, etc.),
• advanced financial and analytical management,
• automation of recurring processes,
• integration with SAP SuccessFactors, Concur, Salesforce, etc,
• real-time dashboards with personalised KPIs.

👍 What we like:

• The analytical power. Thanks to in-memory technology, access ultra-fast reports, even on large volumes of data. Ideal for CFOs who like to click fast and see clearly.
  
  
• Functional coverage. From resource management to management control to complex invoicing, it's all there. No need to stack tools.
  
  
• SAP integrations (and more). If you're already in the SAP ecosystem (or plan to be), you'll love the seamless integration of HR, finance and CRM modules.
  
  
• Extensibility. SAP S/4HANA has an App Store (SAP Store) to complement the software with business add-ons. And with its open API, it can be integrated with your in-house or preferred tools.

SAP S/4HANA

+200 reviews

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Intelligent ERP Combining Automation, Analytics, and AI

Learn more about SAP S/4HANA

Unatrix

Unatrix is a solution developed to optimise the recruitment and sales processes of ESNs and recruitment agencies. It brings together ATS and CRM functionalities in a single interface.

This easy-to-use software has been developed to speed up the day-to-day tasks of recruitment and business managers as much as possible.

In other words, in an increasingly competitive environment, Unatrix is the tool you need if you want to build customer loyalty, close more sales and find the best profiles. All with a focus on team collaboration and communication.

🛠️ Examples of functionalities :

• candidate sourcing,
• application management,
• customer relations,
• customer needs,
• search and matching,
• collaboration,
• reporting and analysis.

👍 What we like:

• Skills matching. Quickly identify profiles that match your customers' needs using a comprehensive filter system, optimising the recruitment process.
  
  
• Customer relations. Establish a relationship of trust with your customers and manage all your commercial activities from within Unatrix. You can also use customisable templates to propose CVs to your customers.
  
  
• Performance monitoring. Objectively assess the performance of your actions in real time by generating comprehensive, customisable reports with your own KPIs.
  
  
• Solution configurability. Take advantage of software that can be adapted to your varied needs, whatever the nature of your business.

Unatrix

3 reviews

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Innovative Recruitment & Hiring Platform

Learn more about Unatrix

VS Activity

VS Activity is an ERP in SaaS mode designed for service companies and consultancies. It has a strong reputation for its rich functionality.

We also like the fact that it's quick to get to grips with, thanks in part to the quality of service offered by the publisher. It provides you with a dedicated account manager, as well as coaching services and webinars. So you're ready to exploit the full potential of the tool.

🛠️ Examples of features :

• business management
• activity management
• invoicing,
• CRM,
• human resources
• subcontractor management,
• wage portage, etc.

👍 What we like:

• Validation workflows. Gain productivity, efficiency and transparency while respecting company processes.
  
  
• The company portal. Easily transmit and exchange key information to facilitate collaboration: press releases and procedures, tasks to be carried out, staff absences, etc.
  
  
• Business management. Take advantage of a global, cross-functional view of your projects to better monitor the status of your different assignments: progress and work remaining to be done, production and workloads, deliverables, etc.
  
  
• Time and activity tracking. Two modes of activity reporting are available. ERP also lets you report on-call duty, non-working hours and tickets processed.

VSActivity (vsa)

11 reviews

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Streamline Project Management with Versatile Tools

Learn more about VSActivity (vsa)

Frequently asked questions: ERP & ESN, what we ask you all the time

Is an ERP really useful for a small ESN?

Yes. Even with a small team, the challenges of project management, invoicing and resource management are already very real.

Without a structuring tool, you run the risk of spending more time picking up the pieces than developing your business. And spoiler: it doesn't scale.

At what turnover or number of employees does it become essential?

As soon as you have more than 10 employees or your projects are moving at a good pace, the need becomes obvious.

In terms of turnover, at around €1 million, a business ERP for ESNs starts to become much more profitable than a mix of Excel and in-house tools. And your nights will be quieter 😴.

Is it possible to track fixed-price, project management and TMA projects in a single tool?

Yes, the best ERP for ESNs are designed for this. They allow you to :

• manage a variety of contracting methods;

• monitor margins by assignment

• anticipate future workloads for each scope.

A good ERP speaks the language of your project managers and your management controllers.

Can ERP simplify my monthly and multi-client invoicing?

That's one of its greatest assets. There's no need to juggle emails, spreadsheets and notepads: ERP automates reminders, invoices on account, down payments and even pro-rated invoicing.

Will my consultants have to change their habits?

A little, but don't panic.

Good ERP systems focus on a simple user experience, with interfaces designed for non-accountants. You don't need to be a CFO to enter your time or validate an assignment.

What's more, they won't have to deal with the eternal "I sent you my CRA, didn't you get it? 😅

How do you get teams to buy into a new system?

There are two keys: get them involved early on and show them the tangible benefits.

A well-deployed ERP reduces their mental workload: fewer manual tasks, greater clarity, fewer endless emails. And if, in addition, you appoint one or two internal champions, it can quickly become a collective reflex.

See all software Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

In conclusion

You now know the best ERP ESNs on the market. All that remains is to find the one that will boost your company's performance tenfold.

We also recommend that you take advantage of the free trials offered by most publishers. They'll give you a chance to immerse yourself in the software before you take the plunge for good!