Every two months, we meet to discuss a key topic related to IT Services Companies (ESNs).
This time, let’s focus on the CRA: the Activity Report, a cornerstone in managing your company.
This document, often seen as just a formality, can actually cost you thousands of euros if poorly managed. A poorly tracked CRA directly impacts your cash flow. Let’s revisit its purpose and see how it can help engage your teams around mission objectives, management… and profitability!
What is a CRA in an ESN? More Than Just an Administrative Tool
A strategic tracking document
In an ESN, the Activity Report (CRA) is far from being a simple monthly routine. It’s a structuring tool at the crossroads of operations, HR, and client relations.
For each period – week, month, or project end – the consultant records hours worked, tasks completed, objectives achieved, along with any issues encountered and solutions provided.
This document allows you to:
- Track employees’ activity in real time
- Manage assignments effectively
- Maintain full transparency with the client
Whether managed in a dedicated platform or an Excel file, consistency and accuracy are crucial to avoid misunderstandings or operational bottlenecks.
A management tool serving multiple purposes
A well-prepared CRA fulfills several key functions for an ESN:
- It ensures alignment between reported hours and defined objectives.
- It highlights schedule or workload deviations, helping you anticipate adjustments.
- It factors in non-billable activities (vacations, training, absences, prospecting) for a complete view of the mission.
- It provides clear project progress visibility for both internal teams and clients.
The CRA: Strengthening Human and Client Relations
The CRA is not just a box to tick at the end of the month. It’s a tool that showcases what consultants contribute daily, giving visibility to their work and recognition for their efforts.
For the client, a clear and accurate CRA reinforces trust, demonstrates professionalism, and simplifies communication. It helps assess progress, objectify efforts, and ground discussions in facts.
But there’s more: CRAs can also reveal warning signs.
- Overload?
- Vague feedback?
- Early signs of demotivation?
By analyzing logged hours, comments, or unusual discrepancies, managers can detect issues early—acting before they turn into burnout, disengagement, or turnover.
In short, the CRA is also a dialogue tool between consultant, manager, and sometimes even the client. An ESN that properly manages CRAs maintains strong ties with teams and clients alike—and makes better decisions.
The Consequences of a Neglected CRA
It might seem harmless to forget a CRA or fill it out hastily, but the consequences are real—and often invisible at first.
A poorly managed Activity Report leads to:
- Poorly tracked projects, with reduced visibility for managers and clients
- Decisions made blindly, due to lack of reliable data
- Misallocation of resources, reducing team performance
- Strained dialogue with consultants, who may feel monitored instead of supported
- Friction with clients if the CRA doesn’t reflect expectations or on-the-ground realities
- A snowball effect: unclear reporting, project delays, and ultimately a loss of credibility
👉 A neglected CRA disrupts the entire operational machine.
Using CRAs Effectively in an ESN: Best Practices
Implementing an activity report is one thing. Using it effectively every day is another. Here are best practices to make the CRA a true management and collaboration tool.
1. Clarify the rules from the start
Explain to consultants why they complete a CRA, what it’s used for, and how it benefits both internal teams and clients. The clearer the purpose, the stronger the buy-in.
2. Standardize the required information
Avoid inconsistencies by defining a clear format, including:
- Covered period
- Hours or days worked
- Tasks performed
- Objectives met / unmet
- Any blockers
3. Use a simple, accessible management tool (like Alibeez)
At Alibeez, we designed our tool for real-life field use. Filling out a CRA should never feel like a chore—for consultants or managers.
With Alibeez, you get:
- Quick, intuitive entry: Log hours, tasks, and comments from any device in just a few clicks.
- Automatic data centralization: No more scattered Excel sheets—everything is in one place.
- Real-time visibility for managers: Spot delays, discrepancies, or issues as they arise, without waiting for end-of-month reports.
- One-click validation: Approve or comment on CRAs easily, without chasing people down.
- Integration with other processes: CRAs connect seamlessly with projects, HR, and billing.
In Summary
The Activity Report is far from being just another tracking sheet. It’s a real management tool.
Neglected, it creates financial loss, tensions, and lack of visibility.
Well managed—and especially well tooled—it becomes a natural business reflex that strengthens performance.
With Alibeez, the CRA shifts from constraint to growth lever:
- Easier to fill out
- Fully integrated into your processes
- Readily actionable by managers and teams
A small shift in method for a big operational gain.
👉 Ready to test it? Contact us to discover how Alibeez can transform your CRA management.
Key Takeaways: 4 Good Practices for Managing CRAs
- Educate consultants: Show them that the CRA is not a burden but a tool for management, recognition, and dialogue.
- Keep reporting regular: Weekly or monthly updates ensure smooth tracking and fewer omissions.
- Leverage collected data: Use insights to make better decisions, adjust missions, and showcase team contributions.
- Adopt the right ERP: With Alibeez, centralize data, automate reminders, and simplify both project management and billing.