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Custom software for professional services

We build bespoke systems for professional services organisations: client portals, resource planning, time and billing tools and workflow automation. Each one is shaped around how your team works and connected to the software you already rely on.

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Systems we build

Typical professional services projects. Each is scoped to your process, not a template.

  • Professional Services Automation Platform

    A comprehensive PSA system handling the entire engagement lifecycle from opportunity management and proposal creation through project planning, time recording, expense management, invoicing, and revenue recognition. Provides real-time visibility of utilisation, profitability, and pipeline across the firm.

  • Intelligent Resource Management System

    An AI-powered resource planning tool that visualises team capacity across all projects, recommends optimal staffing based on skills and utilisation targets, identifies bench time and over-allocation risks, and enables scenario planning for new business opportunities.

  • Client Collaboration and Delivery Portal

    A secure, branded client portal where project deliverables are shared, feedback is captured, approvals are managed, and project progress is tracked through milestone dashboards. Integrates with internal project management tools while presenting a client-friendly interface.

  • Knowledge Management and Expertise Finder

    A firm-wide knowledge platform that captures project case studies, methodology templates, and lessons learned. An AI-powered expertise finder maps staff skills, experience, and qualifications to help teams identify the right internal experts for new engagements.

Problems we hear about

The issues that usually prompt the first conversation.
  • Professional services firms often lose billable utilisation to non-billable time consumed by business development, internal meetings, administration, and inefficient project management processes
  • Accurate project profitability analysis is difficult when time recording is retrospective, expenses are not captured in real time, and work-in-progress valuations rely on manual calculations
  • Resource planning across multiple concurrent projects with different skill requirements, deadlines, and client priorities requires sophisticated scheduling tools that most firms manage with spreadsheets
  • Scope creep on fixed-price engagements erodes margins when project managers lack real-time visibility of hours burned against budget and cannot identify overruns until invoicing
  • Professional indemnity insurance requirements and professional body regulations (ICAEW, RIBA, ICE, CIMA) impose quality management, CPD tracking, and record-keeping obligations

Off-the-shelf or custom?

There are good off-the-shelf products for most of professional services. If one fits your process, use it; we will tell you if we think so. Custom software makes sense when your process is distinctive, when you are joining several tools together by hand, or when a product forces your team into workarounds every day.

Rules we design around

Legislation and standards that commonly shape systems in this sector. We design with them in mind; your compliance advisers have the final word.
  • Sector-specific professional body regulations (ICAEW, RIBA, ICE, etc.)
  • Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax Self Assessment
  • Companies Act 2006 for statutory accounts
  • UK GDPR for client data
  • Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (for accountants and tax advisers)
  • Professional Indemnity Insurance requirements
  • Equality Act 2010
  • Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998

Relevant services

Common questions

Can Elsio build software that integrates with Xero or QuickBooks?
Yes. Elsio builds integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and other accounting platforms via their APIs. Time and billing data flows automatically from project management tools into the accounting system, eliminating double entry and ensuring accurate invoicing.
How does Elsio improve utilisation rates for professional services firms?
Elsio builds systems that improve utilisation through automatic time capture from calendars and applications, better resource planning that reduces bench time, faster project scheduling, and real-time visibility that helps managers identify and redeploy underutilised staff.
Does Elsio build solutions for specific professional disciplines?
Yes. Elsio builds tailored solutions for accounting firms (practice management with MTD compliance), architecture practices (project management with RIBA stage gate tracking), engineering consultancies (resource planning with competency management), and marketing agencies (campaign management with client reporting).
Can Elsio build a custom CRM for professional services?
Yes. Elsio builds CRM systems specifically designed for professional services including opportunity pipeline management, proposal tracking, relationship mapping across client organisations, cross-selling identification, and client satisfaction monitoring.
Does Elsio handle multi-currency billing for international consultancies?
Yes. Elsio builds billing systems that support multi-currency invoicing, exchange rate management, intercompany transfers, and consolidated reporting for professional services firms with international operations. Systems handle the VAT implications of cross-border services.

Related sectors

Tell us about your professional services project

Send a short brief and we will come back with questions, a rough approach and whether we are the right fit. No sales sequence.

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Prefer email? info@elslabs.co.uk

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