Move from “data we hope is right” to “data we trust”, and organisations can make decisions that directly impact profitability.
From timesheets to trust: how ERP accuracy impacts profitability
In service and project-based businesses, the accuracy of timesheets is more than just a payroll or billing issue: it’s the foundation of your profitability model. If the data going into your enterprise resource planning (ERP) system doesn’t reflect reality then decisions made from that data are on shaky ground. Here’s why accuracy matters, how modern ERP systems help and how Arribatec, together with our partner Unit4, brings specific value.
Why accurate timesheets and ERP data matter
Accurate timesheets are essential because they impact billing and revenue recognition. If timesheets are late, incorrect or incomplete, you risk under-billing and losing revenue or over-billing and causing client disputes. Having accurate data in your ERP means revenue is recognised correctly and promptly.
Reliable time and cost data also improve cost control and margin visibility. When labour costs, project spend and other overheads are recorded accurately, you can see real project margins instead of estimates. Without this insight, decisions about staffing, project bidding and resource allocation are based on guesswork, not facts.
Another benefit of accurate timesheets is better resource utilisation and forecasting. Knowing how team capacity is being used allows managers to plan staffing, pricing models and project capacity. Plus, accurate data builds trust within the organisation. If financial or operational data in your ERP is unreliable, stakeholders lose confidence in the system, and more manual checks and slower decision-making ensue.
Finally, timesheet accuracy means compliance and audit readiness; for organisations working under contracts or regulations, time and cost data must be auditable and defensible. A well-implemented ERP becomes the single source of truth for these requirements.
How modern ERP supports accuracy
Modern ERP systems are meant to bring together time capture, project costing, financials, resource management and reporting in a single platform – the idea being that you can get everything you need to manage your organisation in one go. Features that help make sure timesheet and financial data are accurate include:
- Having a single truth: By linking time, cost, projects and finance, you can avoid having bits of information stuck in silos, and you don’t have to re-enter everything manually.
- Real-time data and visibility: Your accurate time entries will feed into dashboards and reports quickly; not just at month-end.
- Standard timesheet processes: Having uniform rules, approvals and workflows for entering time will lead to consistent data that’s easy to verify.
- Automation and alerts: Missing timesheets or exceptions can trigger alerts to get you to take action quickly.
- A scalable architecture: The ERP can grow with your organisation, whether you’re taking on more projects, changing billing models or expanding into new locations, your data integrity won’t be compromised.
The role of Unit4 ERP
Unit4 positions its ERP as a flexible platform which really focuses on people and combines finance, HR, projects and operational modules. It gives you a single view of finance, HR and projects, giving you real-time insight and supporting connected workflows across the organisation. Made for service-led organisations such as professional services, education or non-profits, it ensures time, cost and project data are captured and processed accurately. Using Unit4, your timesheet data flows directly into project costing, margin reports and finance dashboards so you can avoid surprises, unbilled time, and margin leaks.
How Arribatec adds expertise
Arribatec is a global consultancy who have real depth of experience when it comes to implementing and supporting Unit4 ERP. They are one of the biggest providers of Unit4 services worldwide and have worked across a variety of industries providing implementations, integrations, customisations, training and ongoing support. They take a practical approach to complexity and help you get the most from your ERP by reducing manual overhead and allowing you to work more efficiently. Organisations that want to improve timesheet accuracy, integrate billing, get better margin visibility and reduce reconciliation issues will benefit from Arribatec’s proven experience in setting up and optimising Unit4 ERP systems.
Putting it all together: From timesheets to profitability
It’s simple in principle to turn timesheet accuracy into profitability. Employees submit time entries on time and accurately, data flows into the ERP (Unit4) with minimal manual intervention and finance and project teams use the data for billing, costing and resource planning. Managers trust the dashboards and reports because they are real, so that they can make informed decisions about pricing, staffing and projects. This means higher profitability through reduced unbilled time, better cost management and improved utilisation.
When any link in this chain is weak (late time entries, poorly configured ERP or untrusted reports) organisations have blind spots: projects that bleed margin, resources underutilised or overcommitted, billing delays and low confidence in data. Partnering with Arribatec and using Unit4 removes these weak links by providing the technology and process expertise to make the timesheet-to-profitability chain strong.
Practical tips to get started
Companies looking to improve accuracy and trust via ERP can do the following. Review the time capture process, assess ERP configuration, measure data quality, simplify workflows, train users, set up dashboards and alerts and monitor continuously. Arribatec supports organisations in all of these areas to ensure Unit4 ERP delivers value and accurate timesheet data turns into profitability.
Timesheets may seem like a small administrative task, but they are the foundation of trust in your systems and processes. Get it right from the ground up and combine a robust ERP like Unit4 with Arribatec’s expertise, and timesheets become a strategic asset. Move from “data we hope is right” to “data we trust”, and organisations can make decisions that directly impact profitability.
