Article

Tenrox PSA Scales To Oracle, SQL Server & DB2 Databases
Time And Expense Entry Can Be Done In Various Ways To Accommodate The Situations Of Users
By Michael Roselius, CPA Magazine, September 2000

Tenrox PSA is published by Tenrox and is a set of modules designed to provide a flexible and scalable time and billing solution to the professional firm that needs and can support a complex application. Tenrox PSA is designed for either standalone or client/server technology and is scalable to use an engine of the appropriate strength, with support for Microsoft Access, SQL Server, Oracle, DB2 and MSDE databases. Installation is simple for a single user desktop, but a client/server installation will require some technical planning and trained guidance. Server hardware requirements vary depending on the number of users, but client side hardware can be a Pentium 120 with 110MB of disk space and 32MB of RAM. Sizing the server in a dynamic client/server environment will be critical, but with hardware prices low, it should not be an issue.

The interface presentation is impressive and totally professional looking and will vary depending upon the user type. There are seven defined user types, with varying rights of access to the extensive and detailed database tables, and custom user types can also be created by the administrator. The main screen organization and appearance is somewhat like an Outlook screen, with drop down menus and a toolbar down the left side. An optional Explorer view of the database will enable users to comprehend the overall organization of Tenrox PSA and drill down into the elements. This is no small feat, since there is a lot of detail and a great deal of flexibility in the overall design. Just defining and customizing the database for a new installation will be a major task, but it will be one that will enable Tenrox PSA to be fine tuned to the organizations needs and preferences.

Time and expense entry can be done in various ways to accommodate the situations of users. One means is through a browser interface over the local intranet; another is the familiar data-entry screen. A very powerful method is to use the e-mail interface, which supports both MS Outlook and Lotus Notes e-mail clients. Besides the obvious task of entering time and expense transactions into the database, the user or manager can be configured to receive automatic e-mail messages if a timesheet is late or has errors or if a project is over budget. There is an Audit Trail function that can be turned off and on at will that tracks and displays transaction detail by user.

Billing and invoicing are totally flexible and under the control of the system administrator and managers. Customized formats for reports and client billing documents are available using the Crystal Reports module. Exports to other accounting suites are very good, with named support for major packages such as SAP, ACCPAC and others. Data from MS Project can be directly imported into Tenrox PSA.

Support is available under a paid subscription plan that offers access to the vendor’s trained specialists. However, even users not on a support plan can access the FAQs and online knowledge base provided from the company’s web site. For installation, configuration and training, there are service partners who can provide on-site consultants. For training the new user, the online help system is very detailed and complete, with hyperlinks to related subjects. A workflow diagram for administrators and managers will help in setting up a new database or elements within.

Prices were not disclosed, but the product can be licensed for a single-user with a desktop database, in a Small Business Edition of 5 users, and as an Enterprise Edition of 10 or more users. A price quote can be requested from the company’s web site with a promise of a 24-hour response.

Tenrox PSA is a very impressive state-of-the-art offering. It takes advantage of the best of today’s technology: web access, scalable solutions, flexible configuration and open database access for reporting. There is much more functionality in this product than a brief review can begin to cover adequately. Anyone considering a forward-looking, powerful time and billing package must look into Tenrox PSA in depth. A professional organization that has or is planning to acquire an intranet, or one that has billable staff away from the office much of the time can benefit greatly from the excellent features of this powerful package.