How ATS Aircon Gained Control Over Profitability and Reduced Project Losses with ProjectBase

Company Snapshot

Company: ATS Aircon Private Limited
Industry: HVAC Contracting & Project Execution
Team Size: 51–100 employees
Annual Turnover: ₹25–50 Crore (Approx.)
Business Type: Distributor & Project-Based Contractor

Key Outcomes at a Glance

• Clear visibility into project-wise profitability
  
  
• Strong control over material and manpower losses
  
  
• Reduced dependency on individuals for business control
  
  
• Weekly reviews replacing month-end guesswork
  
  
• Confidence to scale without fear of hidden leakages
  
  

About ATS Aircon

ATS Aircon Private Limited is a growing HVAC contracting company executing multiple projects across locations. As the business scaled, so did the complexity—more projects, more materials, more people, and higher financial risk.

Like many contractors in the ₹25–50 Cr range, ATS Aircon was doing good turnover but lacked clear, real-time visibility into profitability. Decisions were largely based on experience, trust, and periodic reviews, rather than live project data.

The leadership knew that to grow sustainably, they needed stronger control over costs, losses, and margins—not just sales numbers.

Before ProjectBase: When Turnover Was Visible, but Profit Was Not

Before implementing ProjectBase, ATS Aircon faced challenges that are very common among mid-sized HVAC contractors:

• Project reviews happened monthly, often too late to correct issues
  
  
• Material losses and excess purchases were difficult to track
  
  
• Manpower costs were rising, but their exact impact on profitability was unclear
  
  
• Purchasing decisions were sometimes made without full visibility or approval control
  
  
• Business knowledge was dependent on people, not systems
  
  
• Management worried about what would happen if key staff left
  
  

Even though the business was growing, there was always uncertainty:

“Are we really making money on this project, or just billing more?”

The Turning Point: Focusing on Profit, Not Just Turnover

The leadership at ATS Aircon reached a critical realisation.

Turnover alone was no longer a reliable indicator of success. What mattered was:

• How much profit each project was generating
  
  
• Where losses were happening
  
  
• Whether the business could stay in control even as it scaled
  
  

They needed a system that could:

• Track profitability project by project
  
  
• Control purchases and permissions
  
  
• Reduce dependency on individuals
  
  
• Enable regular, structured reviews
  
  

That’s when ProjectBase was introduced—not as just software, but as a business control system built for contractors.

How ProjectBase Was Implemented at ATS Aircon

ProjectBase was adopted as a core operational and financial backbone, focusing on the areas that mattered most to the management.

Profitability Tracking at Project Level

• Management could now see actual project margins, not assumptions
  
  
• Losses in material and manpower became visible early
  
  

Controlled Purchasing & Permissions

• Purchase approvals were structured
  
  
• Unplanned or unnecessary buying was reduced
  
  
• Leakages that earlier went unnoticed were now flagged
  
  

Weekly Review Discipline

• Instead of waiting for month-end results, reviews moved to a weekly cycle
  
  
• Problems were identified early, while corrective action was still possible
  
  

System Over People Dependency

• Business data, processes, and controls now lived in the system
  
  
• Even if people left, project knowledge stayed protected
  
  

What Changed After Implementing ProjectBase - the ERP for Contractors

1. Real Control Over Losses

ATS Aircon achieved significant control over:

• Material losses
  
  
• Excess manpower costs
  
  
• Unplanned expenses
  
  

Losses that earlier felt “normal” were now clearly measurable and controllable.

2. Profit Became the Primary Metric

Sales discussions changed in tone.

Instead of asking:

“How much business did we do?”

The focus shifted to:

“At what margin did we execute this project?”

This single shift dramatically improved decision quality.

3. Confidence Even When People Leave

Earlier, the departure of key staff created anxiety.

With ProjectBase:

• Data remained intact
  
  
• Processes continued smoothly
  
  
• Management no longer feared loss of control
  
  

4. Stronger Foundation for Growth

With better control and visibility, ATS Aircon gained confidence to:

• Take on more projects
  
  
• Expand operations
  
  
• Scale without silent financial leakages
  

Leadership Perspective

For the leadership team, ProjectBase delivered something more valuable than reports.

It delivered clarity and confidence.

They could now:

• Trust the numbers
  
  
• Question margins intelligently
  
  
• Review the business weekly
  
  
• Sleep better knowing losses were under control
  
  

As shared during the interaction:

Earlier, we only knew turnover. Now, we know exactly where we are making money and where we are losing it.

This Case Study Is Especially Relevant For

• HVAC and project-based contractors in the ₹20–50 Cr range
  
  
• Businesses doing good turnover but struggling with profitability clarity
  
  
• Owners worried about material and manpower losses
  
  
• Companies dependent on individuals for control and reporting
  
  
• Contractors planning to scale but fearing hidden financial leakages
  
  

Conclusion: From Turnover to Profit-Led Growth

ATS Aircon’s journey with ProjectBase highlights a critical truth for growing contractors.

Growth without control is risky.

By implementing ProjectBase, ATS Aircon moved from turnover-driven decisions to profit-led management. What was earlier based on assumptions and monthly reviews is now driven by real-time data, structured permissions, and weekly discipline.

ProjectBase has helped ATS Aircon reduce losses, protect business knowledge, and build a scalable foundation for future growth.

For HVAC contractors serious about profitability and control, this case study shows how the right system can turn visibility into confidence—and confidence into sustainable growth.