What is professional services software?

Professional services software or apps are digital tools that help business owners running service based consultancies, practices or agencies better manage their operations and clients. A professional services system works with your accounting platform to bring together project and staff management, invoicing and billing, time tracking and client communications for a smooth customer and business experience from brief to delivery.

What are the benefits of professional services apps?

• Reduced administration costs: Save money and cut down on admin time by using automation tools and technology instead of manual processes. Use professional services software to transfer data between projects, set schedules, and reduce human error. 

• Easier project management: Streamline your project management and standardise your practices for client interactions. Improve communication with clear task lists and timelines for deliverables while managing multiple projects at once. 

• Customisable client reports: Deliver customised reports to clients with real-time insights and results. Share key metrics and track progress with automated reporting tools geared towards your clients’ strategic goals.

• Time tracking and accurate billing: Avoid client confusion and deliver accurate invoices to your customers to get paid faster with tools that seamlessly sync with Xero. Track time down to the minute across multiple employees and projects and generate automatic invoices for client accounts.

What are the typical features I can use with professional services software apps?

• Contract management: Track contract details and document agreements with clients without any issues that could lead to legal troubles. Create contract templates and build strong foundations with clients. 

• Project management: Manage every aspect of your projects within your professional services system. Assign tasks to team members, track time, verify project completion, and expedite delivery while staying on budget. 

• Billing and invoicing tools: Create invoices and track revenue in real time with a professional services app. Automate payment reminders and take control of billing while improving accounting practices within your business. 

• Flexible client communications: Keep in constant contact with clients and improve communication styles. Use accessible schedules to book meetings and calls, easily update ongoing and completed tasks and automate invoices with multiple payment options.

How professional services apps work with Xero

Drive efficiency at every point in your agency or consulting business without the admin work when you integrate professional services apps with your Xero account.

Manage multiple clients, service offerings and locations and streamline all of your financial activity into one place. Connecting a professional services app with Xero can allow you to: 

• Receive automatically created invoices in your Xero account as soon as a client accepts a quote

• Consolidate your supplier, customers, chart of accounts and sales data from multiple entities into one easy sync into Xero 

• Keep customers updated on overdue invoices with automatic detection of late payments and notice sends with the flexibility to add automated interest or late fees

Find your fit

Every professional services app's integration with Xero can be different. To learn more, browse through the professional services apps in this category. Click on an app to find detailed information on how it works and integrates with your Xero account, and see ratings and reviews by other Xero users. Want to try an app? You can then get started directly from the app listing page in just a few clicks.