When initiating a new project for a client, one of the first steps is to add it to the Keka Professional Services Automation (Keka PSA) tool. This essential action enables you to allocate resources effectively, create tasks, establish billing arrangements, and monitor the project's progress and overall health throughout its lifecycle.
Projects can be added directly from the Projects section of Keka PSA. Alternatively, you can add a project by navigating to the client section and selecting the specific client for whom the project is being created. In this article, we will discuss both methods for adding a new project to Keka PSA.
### Prerequisites
Before you can add a project to Keka PSA, it's important to gather some essential information. Here are the prerequisites you need to have in place:
- Ensure that the client is already added to Keka PSA, especially if this is a new client.
- Identify the project manager who will oversee the project.
- Decide on the billing type that will be applied to the project.
To initiate the process of adding a new project, first, navigate to the Projects section by selecting Project (1) from the left navigation pane. Once there, click on the Projects tab (2) and ensure you are viewing the Project List tab (3) to see all the projects currently set up in the system. To create a new project, simply click on the +Create Project (4) button located at the top of the page.
Enter the necessary details for the project on this page. The following information is required:
- Project Name and Description: Provide a name that will help identify the project within Keka PSA. You may also include an optional description, which can offer additional context and details that will assist team members working on the project. This is particularly useful for distinguishing between similar projects in the system.
- Client: Indicate the client for whom this project is being executed. Ensure that the client has already been added to Keka PSA before attempting to create a project.
- Project Code: Assign a unique project code to facilitate easy identification and reference of the project in all related communications.
- Project Manager: Choose the employee who will act as the project manager. You can search for the appropriate employee by utilizing the search bar and entering their name.
- Start Date and End Date: You can specify both the start and end dates for the project. While setting an end date is not mandatory, especially in the early stages of the project, you have the option to leave it blank if preferred.
- Status: Define the project's current status by selecting from the options available: In Progress, Completed, Not Started Yet, or Cancelled.
To enable billing for this project, toggle the billing option on. Once billing is enabled, you can select the preferred billing type. Choose "Bill Time" if you wish to bill based on the actual hours worked by resources on this project. Alternatively, select "Bill Milestones/Fixed Fee" if you prefer to establish billing based on predefined milestones rather than the time spent.
You also have the option to permit linking expenses to this project. To do this, check the box labeled "Allow expenses to be linked to this project." This feature allows team members to submit any expenses incurred while working on the project for reimbursement.
You can also attach relevant files that provide important information about the project, which will assist team members working on it. To attach a file, simply click on the "Attach Files" option.
After entering all the necessary details, click the "Create" button to finalize and add the new project to Keka PSA.
For further guidance on how to configure your new project effectively, please refer to this additional resource. Configuring your new project