ConnectWise Manage vs BigTime

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Our analysts compared ConnectWise Manage vs BigTime based on data from our 400+ point analysis of PSA Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

ConnectWise Manage is a PSA tool for businesses in the IT sector that are seeking to develop consistency across the organization. It also enables users to manage accounts and other service-oriented tasks efficiently. The program contains centralized data as well as account information to increase internal visibility and to reduce duplicate work.

It aims to streamline elements such as billing, client communications, procurement and project management. It’s available to IT businesses of all sizes and can be deployed either on-premise or cloud-based.
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BigTime is a cloud-based professional services management software suite built to manage projects, billing and tracking. It is designed for accounting firms, government contracting, advertising agencies, legal, construction companies, engineering, government contracting and IT services. It provides functions teams need to deliver billable work within budget and on time. It gives users a 360-degree view of employee schedules, clients and engagements, and helps them track, bill and budget their time. It is suitable for companies of all sizes and supports invoicing, expense tracking, DCAA compliance and workflows. It also supports iOS and Android devices for on-the-go entries.

BigTime offers comprehensive project management modules that lets managers track statuses, define activities and tasks and assign tasks. Core features offered include time tracking, mobile timesheet application, task and engagement tracking, advanced reporting, built-in billing and invoicing tool, expense tracking, costing, budgeting, workflow management capabilities and seamless integration with QuickBooks and Lacerte Tax.
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$25/User, Monthly
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$19/User, Monthly
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Product Insights

  • Automation: ConnectWise Manage can streamline operations through its centralization of various workflows and its automation of tasks such as client contract management and notification of sales events like completed opportunities. 
  • Consistency: The program can ensure consistency by recording customer information from the time someone becomes a lead until the time an order is completed. Standardized onboarding can also be implemented to guarantee that customers receive the same level of service every time they engage with a certain business. 
  • Improved Customer Relationships: This solution can tailor sales materials to user groups based on data collected through ConnectWise Manage’s sales and marketing functionality. Also, by increasing the visibility of customer information across the company, customers can receive more individualized service that’s on track with historical requests and purchases. 
  • Boost Productivity: ConnectWise Manage can increase employee and operational productivity through the automation of tasks and the centralization of information. By freeing up staff workflows, time can be spent on other important tasks that don’t receive as much attention due to different needs being prioritized. Easy visualization of data can also increase productivity. With this, users don’t need to spend as much time searching for information and can spend more time using insights to inform action. 
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  • Customizable Timesheets: Its timesheets contain all necessary field types and can be organized in the way users prefer. Users can create daily and weekly timesheet views, add, rename or remove columns, round time entries automatically and lock completed timesheet periods.  
  • Settings Security and Required Fields: Users can limit timesheet data access to control sensitive data, reduce errors and speed up time entry. They can also set required fields that employees must fill before saving. Managers can also set custom user rights.  
  • Smart Tracking: Time tracking tool has smart lookups, user-driven defaults, customizable views and support for intuitive timesheets.  
  • Faster Billing: Its central hub for tracking drafts, billing rates, WIP, cost rates, billing rules and PDF formats helps users create invoices faster and realize higher revenues.  
  • Crafting Better Teams: It gives users a real-time view of resource allocations. They can also avoid under and over scheduling, thereby ensuring the happiness of consulting teams.  
  • Flexible Billing Rates: Users can manage bill rates and override them as needed. Users can set bill rates of project tasks, staff and work codes. They can also create base rates and an unlimited number of custom rates.  
  • Customizable Invoice Templates: Users can use invoice templates to customize invoices according to their client’s needs. They can also personalize templates, edit them and choose the details they wish to include.  
  • Approve Expense Reports: Managers can approve expenses for specific projects. Reviews can be automated, and notifications and alerts can be sent to managers when an expense report is available.  
  • Accelerate Project Progress: Standardized review features help increase overall team accuracy. With the help of reviews, users can avoid and eliminate time-consuming billing errors.  
  • Standardized Workflows: Managers can view the exact status of a project based on its due date and status. They can also assign employees to projects and define due dates. Multiple projects can be tracked using custom statuses and task types.  
  • Mobile Access: Simplifies on-site time entry with time-tracking apps for Android and iOS. Users can enter time manually or use timers. They can also submit reports and assign expenses to projects.  
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  • Help Desk: ConnectWise Manage can track all ticket requests as they enter the system through different avenues, such as live chat, phone and email. ConnectWise Chat allows clients to enable instant online chat functionality and logs the information learned through these communications. The help desk feature also includes a customizable ticketing dashboard where users can view factors such as time-to-resolution history, team resources and total billable hours. 
  • Agreements: This tool automates the management of client contracts along with recurring billing parameters. Agreement templates are included in the system and can be customized to adjust factors such as support coverage and billing rates. The program can also help prioritize tickets based on client expectations. 
  • Account Management: ConnectWise Manage contains a centralized system where all customer interaction is stored, including purchases, communications, tickets and products so that reiterative information isn’t entered and the sales process can be streamlined. The program also develops standardized workflows for tasks such as client onboarding and ticket resolution to ensure a consistent customer experience. KPI and financial reporting are included to see where a customer stands financially with a company. 
  • Sales and Marketing: This program enables users to create and track sales opportunities. Campaign metrics such as links clicked and emails opened can also be monitored to assist with lead scoring. Customizable HTML email templates are available to help target specific groups. Automatic notifications of deals to close, opportunities that were won and agreements to renew keep sales teams up-to-date and ensure that nothing slips through the cracks. 
  • Procurement: ConnectWise Manage can sync up with QuickBooks easily to facilitate operations between accounting and inventory management. The program allows users to visualize materials and products that need to be ordered per set minimum stock levels. The solution can also adjust inventory count and manage inventory quantities. Information can be shared between sales and procurement to provide more visibility into the work of other departments. 
  • Time Tracking and Billing: The system tracks billable and non-billable hours and can allocate them to specific agreements and SLAs. Accountability tools are included in the program to make the process of obtaining approvals less of a hassle. Time on-site can also be tracked through the solution so that users can ensure that they are getting paid for all of the time that they spend working on a project. 
  • Project Management: Sales opportunities can be quickly converted into projects so that nothing slips through the cracks between workflows and so that project-related tasks can begin immediately. ConnectWise Manage also gives users visibility over different project aspects such as resources, roadblocks, timelines and statuses. Project templates can be customized and used to streamline project workflows and ensure consistency. 
  • Reporting: ConnectWise Manage’s reporting functionality includes the ability to see how many assets an organization has on-hand along with inventory levels. Inventory management costs can be calculated based on this information. Tickets can also be reviewed, assigned and closed through this tool. 
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  • Expense Tracking: Expenses are tied to billable client projects or internal project records. Users can record billable or internal project expenses, equipment use and mileage. Users can also categorize expenses as billable, non-billable, reimbursable, non-reimbursable or as service fees.  
  • Invoicing: It has flexible invoicing options that improve income by billing a project’s in-progress work. Submitted bills can be reviewed immediately for approval and payment. Users can also show entry details or group them as needed. They can also mark-up expenses like recurring service fees and equipment use.  
  • Time and Materials Invoices: BigTime simplifies expense calculation with automation tools. Users can send their clients a detailed bill and recalculate invoices when entries are deleted. They can also provide more detailed invoices with options that display staff, tasks, departments, project roles or labor codes.  
  • Lookup Fields: It has smart lookup fields to reduce clicks and get rid of scrolling for quick timesheet recording. It only shows required fields and can auto-complete fields as users type.  
  • Credit Card Charge Capture: Users can assign and record credit card charges to specific projects for billing in QuickBooks. Charges can be billed to clients, and QuickBooks can help reconcile bank statements.  
  • Work-In-Progress Management: This suite helps users manage unbilled expenses and time to improve cash flow. It provides complete visibility, and WIP is selectable by date range.  
  • Task and Budget Tracking: Users can keep track of all their tasks and set them up for every project while assigning expense budgets. Users can control secure information by giving custom access rights to managers.  
  • Gantt Charts: Gantt charts facilitate visual task management. Users can put their projects on a timeline and see how components fit together, highlighting critical paths and dependencies.  
  • Workflow Management: Managers can assign employees to tasks and define due dates. They can track schedules and use custom tasks and statuses. They can also sort, group and filter to view project details.  
  • Resource Allocation: Its dashboard shows which employees are available and how much time can be allocated to them. Users can reduce time spent on planning and make decisions about when more staff is required.  
  • Utilization Dashboard: Gives insights into operations and helps users manage resources more efficiently. They can also lower staff bench time by identifying areas to increase productivity.  
  • Custom Reports: Helps users create custom reports in real time. They can pull utilization metrics and sort them by role, department and employee. Line graphs can be generated to compare budgets to actual expenses, and efficiency can be analyzed on a monthly basis.  
  • Integrations: Supports deep integrations and combines them with users’ existing ecosystems. It can be integrated with QuickBooks, Lacerte, Salesforce, Slack, Google Apps and Zapier. It also integrates with existing IDs and codes, eliminating double entry between systems.  
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Product Ranking

#3

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PSA Software

#12

among all
PSA Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

ConnectWise Manage
BigTime
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Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Dashboard And Reporting Mobile Capabilities Platform Capabilities Project Collaboration Project Financials Project Management Resource Management Time And Expense Management 96 100 67 93 80 86 82 73 100 0 25 50 75 100
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User Sentiment Summary

Good User Sentiment 811 reviews
Excellent User Sentiment 2302 reviews
79%
of users recommend this product

ConnectWise Manage has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 79% when considering 811 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

91%
of users recommend this product

BigTime has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 91% when considering 2302 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

2.8 (2)
4.9 (47)
3.9 (375)
4.5 (1081)
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4.59 (573)
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4.6 (561)
4.1 (181)
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4.4 (16)
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3.9 (237)
4.3 (40)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated ConnectWise Manage and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Time and Expense Management.

Time and Expense Management Award

BigTime stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite.

User Favorite Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Abundant Features: ConnectWise Manage is equipped with a variety of features such as client communication, time tracking, ticketing, lead tracking, reporting, delivering purchase orders, quoting and more, according to 62% of users.
Integratable: Approximately 69% of users reported that ConnectWise Manage integrates with a vast amount of products including other ConnectWise solutions, Automate, Auvik, and LogicMonitor as well as certain sales and accounting solutions.
Arrange Client Information: Users remain organized by sorting client contact information, crucial documents, tickets and more, as reported by nearly 100% of users.
Highly Configurable: Roughly 57% of users reported that ConnectWise Manage is modifiable to align with their business needs.
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Intuitive Interface: BigTime's user-friendly design makes it easy to navigate and find the information you need quickly, streamlining your workflow.
Robust Time Tracking: Accurately track time spent on projects, tasks, and clients with BigTime's comprehensive timekeeping features, ensuring precise billing and project management.
Seamless Project Management: Manage projects efficiently with BigTime's project management tools, including task assignments, progress tracking, and collaboration features, enhancing team coordination.
Detailed Reporting: Generate customizable reports that provide valuable insights into project performance, resource utilization, and financial data, empowering you to make informed decisions.
Mobile Accessibility: Access BigTime on the go with its mobile app, allowing you to stay connected to your projects and tasks from anywhere, ensuring uninterrupted productivity.
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Overwhelming Setup: When conveying how they felt about implementation, 42% of users stated that the setup tables are not user-friendly and there's an overwhelming number of customization choices.
Dated Interface: Approximately 71% of users conveyed that the interface is ugly, old and clunky compared to Zoho and Bullhorn. Users also report that there's a tough learning curve.
Inconsistent Customer Support: ConnectWise Manage's customer support is on a hit-or-miss basis, according to 90% of users. Some customer support agents allocate the best solutions and some don't. There's also a slow response time in offering the ideal troubleshooting resources.
Lagging Mobile Capabilities: Roughly 100% of users stated that ConnectWise Manage's mobile app does not match with its desktop or cloud counterparts.
High Price Tag: The overall cost of the system combined with its varying levels of support comes with a high price tag according to approximately 100% of users.
Slow as Molasses: Precisely 100% of users say ConnectWise Manage has a slow loading time when performing various tasks, including opening the right help tickets.
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High cost: BigTime is more expensive than comparable PSA software, making it a less attractive option for small businesses and startups with limited budgets.
Steep learning curve: BigTime's complex interface and feature-rich environment can be overwhelming for new users, requiring significant training and onboarding time.
Limited customization: While BigTime offers a range of features, its customization options are somewhat limited compared to other PSA software, making it challenging to tailor the software to specific business needs.
Reporting limitations: Some users have reported difficulties generating customized reports and extracting data from BigTime, hindering their ability to gain insights and make informed decisions.
Integration challenges: Integrating BigTime with other business applications can be complex and time-consuming, requiring additional resources and expertise.
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ConnectWise Manage is an effective PSA tool capable of executing job costing, time tracking, ticketing, project management, sending purchase orders, connecting to machinery and more. It integrates with accounting, sales, other ConnectWise software and more in addition to keeping users organized by sorting client information, tickets and more. Although ConnectWise Manage occasionally lags in performance, has a high pricing plan, a scattered customer support base and a clunky interface, most users believe it's worth every penny.

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BigTime is PSA software with robust features for time tracking, billing, project management, and reporting. It has a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and find the information they need quickly. One of its key strengths is its customizable dashboards that allow users to tailor the software to their specific needs. BigTime also offers a mobile app that provides access to key features on the go. In comparison to similar products, BigTime stands out with its robust reporting capabilities. Users praise its ability to generate detailed reports on a variety of metrics, including project profitability, resource utilization, and time spent on tasks. Additionally, BigTime's customer support is highly responsive and helpful, which is important for ensuring a smooth implementation and ongoing use of the software. Overall, BigTime is a well-rounded PSA software solution that is suitable for businesses of all sizes. Its customizable dashboards, robust reporting capabilities, and excellent customer support make it a top choice for businesses looking to improve their project management and billing processes.

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