Shactee Engineering Improves Invoicing and Reporting with Deltek Vantagepoint

Shactee Engineering is an engineering design firm specializing in natural gas pipeline design and inspection for local utility distribution companies. At the helm is Tiffany Hopkins, CEO, and co-founder and COO, Linda Aouf. Tiffany’s passion for innovation has steered Shactee through its journey and recent implementation of Deltek Vantagepoint.

Shactee Engineering's Drive for Excellence

Tiffany and Linda's journey began when they crossed paths at their previous employer. United by a shared vision, a drive for excellence and a mission to allow all employees the option to work from anywhere, they embarked on a new adventure in July 2018, launching Shactee Engineering. Their primary clientele comprises natural gas local distribution companies – the very organizations responsible for ensuring that your home's gas supply is seamless. With a team of 60 employees in 16 states, Shactee Engineering's has a large regional presence.

Tiffany lives and works in Illinois, but the company is dedicated to a remote work culture. “We're a work-from-anywhere company and founded that way even before COVID. It's worked very well for us so we can engage top talent regardless of where they're located, which has been great for business,” said Tiffany.

Deltek Vantagepoint Helps Manage Complex Projects

Before adopting Deltek Vantagepoint, Shactee Engineering initially used BQE Core. However, as the company grew, Shactee struggled to manage its more complex projects in BQE. With a project portfolio of 5,000 to 7,000 projects annually, often structured as programs with multiple projects of a similar nature, BQE Core's limitations became evident.

“Invoicing proved to be a cumbersome task, often requiring workarounds due to system limitations. Reporting was another challenge, with BQE Core offering only off-the-shelf reports,” remarked Tiffany. The team recognized the need for a more scalable, flexible, and robust solution that could keep up with their rapid growth. Tiffany and Linda’s previous experience using Deltek solutions at another company informed the decision to implement Deltek Vantagepoint. “We were familiar with the Deltek platform’s robust reporting and knew it would be a fit for our firm,” added Tiffany.

Deltek Vantagepoint Provides Enhanced Data Control and Powerful Reporting

The adoption of Deltek Vantagepoint has brought about transformative change for Shactee Engineering. The platform's permissions and role-based access allow for granular control over data visibility. This means that leaders within the firm can access the data they need without being inundated with irrelevant information. Vantagepoint's reporting capabilities have empowered the team to configure specific reports to meet their unique needs.

Future Plans with Deltek Vantagepoint

Shactee Engineering's commitment to innovation doesn't stop at adopting Vantagepoint. Their near-term plans include developing a user-defined hub to track contract expiration dates. They're also working on integrating files and links into project records for enhanced accessibility for project managers.

The team at Shactee is excited about exploring the potential of APIs for payroll and data exchange. They are also investigating closer integration with Microsoft and other tools to improve their decision-making across the firm.

Advice for Firms Considering Deltek Vantagepoint

Tiffany offers advice to firms moving to Deltek Vantagepoint. In addition to the benefits of a cloud-based solution that enables employees to access the system from anywhere, she adds, “Vantagepoint is flexible for configuration while providing a structured foundation for core accounting, reporting and project management needs, which is a winning combination.”

Shactee Engineering's journey from its founding to a growing regional firm, offering services in 16 states, is a testament to the power of innovation and the right technology. Deltek Vantagepoint has helped the firm’s transformation and the future holds even more promise as they continue to push the boundaries of what's possible.