Crystal Brooks is proud to serve some of the best and brightest agencies nationwide. We've also had the privilege of working with marketing communications departments of several Fortune 500 companies. Of course, because we deal with finances and internal processes, our work is highly sensitive. So we can't post our entire client list online. However, you can peruse our case studies for a quick look at what we've accomplished for some of our valued clients. Plus, we'll be happy to provide references upon request.
No More Monday Marathons
Employees at Rockett, Burkead and Winslow were constantly on the run
tracking down job status and time sheets. Crystal Brook changed all that.
While it wasn't stated in the dress code, employees at Rockett , Burkhead and Winslow always knew to wear a comfy pair of shoes. After all, manual time sheets meant department heads were constantly chasing down who worked on what. And with e-mail as the only tool for job communications, people who "didn't get copied" were always on their feet tracking down status and next steps.
"Employees were literally running around the halls looking for the information they needed to do their jobs," explains Mike Pratt, CFO of the Raleigh-based agency. "Things were getting lost in the shuffle, and we were losing a lot of billable hours in the process."
To find a solution, Mike did his homework on several agency management software packages. He eventually decided that Clients & Profits offered the best mix of features for his budget. And after initial phone calls to agency consultants within his geographic area, Mike's choice was made.
"I felt extremely comfortable with Crystal Brook," explains Mike. "From our very first discussion, it was obvious Crystal Brook was there to help-not just make another sale."
That help began with Crystal Brook's unique Foundation Exercise. Working closely with Mike, Crystal Brook formed a pilot team within the company-a group of people across departments who understood the value of change and could champion improvements throughout the agency. Crystal Brook then spent several days working with the team to outline the agency's current processes and procedures. At each step, Crystal Brook made suggestions on how to enhance operations and make the best use of the Clients & Profits solution.
The end result: The RBW Way, a manual authored by Crystal Brook, detailing the methods and processes the agency would use moving forward. From entering POs to entering daily time sheets, everything was there in black and white, providing a complete operational guide for present and future employees.
Once the guide was in place, the software installation and training began. Under Crystal Brook supervision, each department spent more than six hours training before the new software went live. "We wanted to flip the switch and never look back," says Mike. "Crystal Brook was there to ensure everything went off as smoothly as possible."
Today, things are different at Rockett, Burkhead and Winslow. Time is entered daily via the computer, allowing the agency to capture more billable hours. Financial automation has saved on overhead, reducing accounting staff by 50%. And with centralized job folders, everyone has access to the information they need right from their desktop.
"It's been an ideal transition, thanks to Crystal Brook," says Mike. "Now we see a lot more productivity and a lot less running around." Hey, is that somebody actually wearing six-inch heels?
-Mike Pratt, CFO
Rockett, Burkead and Winslow