How format h gained real-time budget visibility

Situation

As projects scaled in complexity, format h struggled with fragmented systems and manual workarounds. Hours were logged in Jira but had to be manually linked to projects. Budget control relied on multiple Excel sheets feeding into each other—what Managing Director Jennifer Matern described as “Excel from Excel from Excel.” Capacity planning was also done in Excel, requiring constant updates and limiting transparency into employee availability and project hours. These inefficiencies created delays, errors, and limited visibility.

Challenge

The main pain points were:

• No real-time budget visibility: decisions were based on outdated or incomplete spreadsheets.

• Manual capacity planning: constant updates in Excel made resourcing unreliable and non-transparent.

• Disconnected tools: Jira, Excel, and other systems required error-prone manual handovers.

As Jennifer explained, “This process was not only cumbersome but also prone to errors and delays.”

Impact

Implementing Aerion transformed project management, resource planning, and time tracking at format h. By consolidating workflows into a single platform, manual handovers disappeared, and billing became 2–3 days faster each month.

Project managers and employees now see real-time schedules, allocations, and vacation data directly in Aerion—enabling better resource planning and proactive decision-making. Transparency also improved dramatically: budgets, billable hours, and project revenue are visible to everyone at any time. As Jennifer put it, “One of the greatest benefits is the reduction in questions directed at me. Everyone can now see real-time data without needing to ask or clarify.”

“The move to Aerion has been a significant step forward for us. It’s made everything more reliable, accessible, and efficient—ultimately boosting productivity and success.”

— Jennifer Matern, Managing Director