Factor Blog for Architecture & Engineering Firms

With an increasing number of architecture and engineering (A/E) firms having some or all of their employees working from home in the wake of COVID-19, there’s never been a more challenging or more important time to conduct accurate employee performance reviews—especially assessments that address the financial aspect of a person’s performance.

When the coronavirus pandemic forced architecture and engineering (A/E) firms to shift to remote working, it shed light on some critical failings in how companies view the technology they rely on. And while COVID-19 brought pain and suffering to businesses and families alike, there will be some lasting benefits from the lessons that A/E firms learned.

Historically, architecture and engineering (A/E) firms have been led to believe that in order to be successful, they have to choose between being practice-focused or business-focused. However, we now know that it is perfectly okay and often times, better, for firms to fall into the gray area

The math for deriving utilization rate is easy. However, the real-world application of this simple formula to people—in particular those who work for architecture and engineering (A/E) firms—and their productivity isn’t nearly so clear cut.

Financial management systems for architecture and engineering (A/E) firms understandably focus on profitability and budgets. However, in some instances like the sharp decline in revenue that firms are grappling with as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, cash flow is temporarily the top priority.

Effective project planning has always been important for architecture and engineering (A/E) firms. The stresses put on them by the COVID-19 pandemic have made it even more critical that they can schedule the time of their team members, keep the plan accurate, and use that information to make smart business decisions.

We can’t tell you how many times through the years a financial management role has been deemed “non-essential” to the success of the firms we’ve worked for or with. That is, until the time that the effectiveness of a firm’s financial management can make the difference between the business surviving and folding. Now, as the world struggles with a pandemic and the aftermath, is one of those times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has the U.S. and global economies staring into a significant recession. How will it affect your architecture and engineering (A/E) firm? That’ll be determined by how you respond to this challenge. One of the best ways to develop and implement a strategy for surviving a recession is to look back at the last serious economic downturn and review what worked and what didn’t for firms that were in business at the time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has the U.S. and global economies staring into a significant recession. How will it affect your architecture and engineering (A/E) firm? That’ll be determined by how you respond to this challenge. One of the best ways to develop and implement a strategy for surviving a recession is to look back at the last serious economic downturn and review what worked and what didn’t for firms that were in business at the time.

“Accountability”… it’s a word that people either love or hate, depending on whether they are expecting it or it’s expected of them. For architecture and engineering (A/E) firms — and really any type of professional services firm — it’s a concept that everyone should embrace, as it can drive significantly better business results.