Market Guide for Professional Services Automation Platforms
15 October 2025 - ID G00824098 - 25 min read
By Don Ribar, Danny Ryan
PSA platforms support the needs of services businesses, from opportunity and planning to execution and delivery, through resource management, reporting and billing/invoicing. Tech CEOs can use this Market Guide to learn about primary considerations, major market segments and representative solutions.
Overview
Key Findings
- Organizations are abandoning limited and costly homegrown professional services automation (PSA) tools for purpose-built platforms, which are now cost-effective for even the smallest companies.
- As buyers’ needs (consultancies, professional tech services, managed service providers [MSPs] and digital agencies) grow more complex and divergent, they seek PSA providers specializing in their specific market segments.
- The market is divided between stand-alone “all-in-one” platforms for smaller companies and modular platforms designed as extensions to enterprise software for larger organizations.
Recommendations
- Quantify the hidden operational costs of your homegrown tools, comparing development and maintenance against the licensing and support benefits of purpose-built, feature-rich PSA platforms.
- Map your long-term service delivery roadmap to determine whether you require a specialized platform (e.g., for MSPs) or a general solution that can accommodate diversification into new service types, such as managed or asset-based services.
- Prioritize PSA vendors that demonstrate measurable business impact through automation and AI, focusing on key areas that improve service planning and delivery such as operational workflow efficiency, intelligent resource identification and scheduling, and financial forecasting, not just generic AI attributes.
Market Definition
Professional services automation (PSA) platforms help services organizations manage and streamline their business operations by automating tasks and optimizing processes. They provide a centralized location for service planning and execution, enabling improved efficiency and business performance through better visibility into delivery costs and profitability. PSA platforms focused on supporting managed services providers also include integration capabilities for orchestrating and capturing additional service activity delivered through customer accounts via third-party systems and/or service providers.
PSA platforms provide a centralized location for collaboration, project planning and tracking, resource allocation, contract management, service management, cost tracking, customer invoicing, and reporting and analytics. Multitenancy is a foundational aspect of PSA platforms as users support multiple customer accounts concurrently. With a focus on services delivery activity and cost capture, PSA platforms provide organizations insight into profitability overall, as well as at the account and service-line level.
The common use-case scenarios addressed by PSA platforms are:
- Tracking customer contracts and service commitments — PSA platforms support the creation of electronic agreements that identify contracting methods (such as time and materials [T&M], fixed price and managed services), exact services to be delivered, billing rates and contract terms.
- Capturing service delivery costs — All activities in terms of human resources, software, expenses and third-party services are captured, along with their associated costs.
- Creating a record of customer support requests and incidents — PSA platforms offer a service management or “ticketing” component to track billable and nonbillable staff activities over time.
- Planning, staffing and managing projects — Project modules within PSA platforms allow for creating project plans, including work tasks, budgets, schedules and resource assignments.
- Supporting the creation of complete and accurate invoices/billing — PSA platforms support the creation of complete and accurate invoicing for services (including labor, expenses and materials as appropriate) with expected levels of detail.
- Tracking profitability measures and other reporting — As contract, cost and services data is captured within the PSA platform, it becomes a central source for financial reporting, staff utilization and other performance data.
- Supporting managed services providers — Certain PSA platforms focus specifically on supporting the needs of the managed services provider (MSP) market. Accordingly, there is an emphasis on integration with third-party tools that MSPs use for service delivery (such as tools for monitoring, security and data backup) so they can be captured in contracting, service management activity and billing.
Mandatory Features
At a minimum, PSA platforms include features to support:
- Contract management that allows tracking of active and historical customer agreements.
- Resource management to track staff costs, work types and billing rates.
- Project management for project planning and management.
- Service management for task/ticketing to capture all service delivery activities.
- Time and expense tracking for recording staff availability and activity, as well as expenses.
- Billing and invoicing for creating complete and accurate customer invoices.
- Reporting and analytics to track staff activity and measure performance and profitability.
- Integration (with select external applications via API) to include, at a minimum, financial systems, but potentially others such as project management tools, CRM and ERP.
Common Features
Additional features commonly found in PSA platforms include:
- Integration with various MSP tools (such as endpoint and network monitoring, data backup/protection, security platforms, and outside service providers). These are required for PSA platforms focused on supporting managed services providers.
- Customer portal that allows direct customer access to submit and check the status of requests.
- Service/item catalog that defines standard services/service bundles as well as resold hardware, software and third-party services.
- SLA management that defines SLAs by service and also by customer.
- Quoting/estimating with the ability to create and issue sales quotations.
- Workflow management that enables the creation of rule-based automation, such as routing certain requests to specific teams and assigning priorities.
- CRM with additional features, such as opportunity management and email communications. While basic contact management for services is essential, some PSA platforms include a more functional CRM.
Market Description
PSA platforms first emerged to help consultancies and IT companies better track and manage projects, resources and billing by replacing homegrown applications. The services market represents the most significant component of IT spending and, correspondingly, the diversity and complexity of services and the organizations delivering them have also grown.1
Tech CEOs face a critical strategic choice between comprehensive, stand-alone PSA platforms that are ideal for smaller or emerging businesses, and modular add-ons that extend existing enterprise applications for larger, more mature organizations.
This Market Guide will help you navigate that decision by analyzing market segmentation, the growing importance of AI-driven automation, and key integration requirements.
Spanning all aspects of service operations, PSA platforms support the entire life cycle of client engagements (see Figure 1). While the figure shows a comprehensive, all-in-one example, mature organizations often integrate a PSA platform with their existing enterprise systems.
Market Direction
The worldwide services market is forecast to grow by 8.7% in U.S. dollars in 2026 (7.0% in constant currency) and will reach $2.38 trillion in 2029.1 The implications for PSA are that this growth will drive expansion of companies offering traditional IT projects and managed services, expanded professional services offerings from product companies, and using PSA platforms outside of IT altogether.
A key driver for PSA platform adoption remains moving from costly internal tools to more capable, purpose-built solutions. Beyond this, however, even small service companies are becoming increasingly complex with distinct operations involving assets, traditional software and AI components, and a variety of commercial contracting arrangements from traditional T&M projects to outcome-based engagements.
So, the modern PSA market is now defined by a vendor’s ability to serve an increasingly specialized customer base, which demands a particular and robust integration strategy.
Products Supporting Different Customer Types
The nature of companies using PSA platforms and their business requirements are broadening, yet they have varying needs in how they structure and conduct their business. Examples of these variances include:
- Frequency, duration, size and complexity of projects
- Use of primarily internal labor resources versus significant external contract labor
- Need for sophisticated tracking of activity that drives the financial performance of the delivery of work beyond labor-based time and expense
Consequently, PSA platforms are adjusting to narrow focus on more specific service company types, including:
- Consultancies — Organizations that typically provide rate-based services on an hourly or project basis. These may or may not be technology-centric companies.
- Professional tech services — Technical organizations provide rate-based hourly/project services, including system integration and asset-based services. They also include the services arms of software and hardware companies.
- MSPs — Organizations that provide external technology services to their customers, ranging from outsourced or co-managed IT, security and data protection services to other “as a service” offerings.
- Digital agencies — Organizations that offer ongoing support under contract, including advertising, marketing, engineering and physical infrastructure installation services.
Continued Focus on Integration
Integration remains a key component for all PSA platforms — but these requirements also vary. For example:
- MSPs seek platforms that can integrate their services into a combined platform that provides insights to them and their customers.
- Companies utilizing purpose-built enterprise applications need and expect tight integration for those functions. Applications could include CRM, IT services management (ITSM), project management, human capital management (HCM), ERP, finance and collaboration.
- Upper midsize, large and global organizations evaluating PSA capabilities may consider a services-centric ERP, which is not included in this Market Guide, for fully integrated PSA functionality.
Market Analysis
First established decades ago, the overall PSA market is mature, with numerous well-established vendors. However, new entrants are still trying to capitalize on opportunities within market subsegments. Examples include MSPs and those focusing on extensions to enterprise platforms/vendors.
Key Dimensions for Evaluating PSA Platforms
There are five key dimensions across which PSA market offerings are evaluated, including:
- Stand-alone application versus add-on to existing platforms
- AI considerations
- Integration support
- Adaptability
- Deployment, licensing and internal sponsorship
Stand-Alone Application Versus Add-On to an Existing Platform
PSA platforms frequently support comprehensive business operations, as noted in Figure 1. Numerous vendors provide stand-alone PSA platforms, particularly relevant for smaller companies that need a straightforward, relatively low-cost and expeditious way to begin and expand operations. These platforms effectively support a company’s customers and service delivery “out of the box” with a standard implementation approach. According to their vendors, customers use these platforms at larger organizations with hundreds of employees and PSA users.
Other PSA vendors provide purpose-built PSA add-on modules to existing enterprise applications, such as Oracle NetSuite, Salesforce and Workday, etc. These vendors build on and leverage existing functionality and data sources, and integration with the underlying platform is typically strong.
Buyers of PSA platforms must assess their maturity and sophistication with the same rigor as they assess fit and utility. It is impractical for a small organization to obtain an enterprise application solely to access the associated PSA platform. Likewise, an organization with existing enterprise applications expanding into professional services would be well-advised to consider the potential benefits of extending existing platforms and the potential shortcomings of those platforms relative to their major requirements.
AI Considerations
As artificial intelligence continues transforming the professional services landscape, organizations increasingly seek PSA platforms that leverage intelligent automation to drive efficiency, agility and value. Selecting the right platform requires carefully evaluating how AI capabilities are integrated, how they contribute to business goals, and how emerging data and change management challenges are addressed.
Key considerations for evaluating AI-enabled PSA platforms are:
- Measurable business impact: Focus on how AI features directly support business objectives. Look for platforms that provide clear metrics around operational efficiency, financial performance and client satisfaction, rather than just listing generic AI attributes.
- Native vs. third-party AI integration: Buyers should closely examine whether AI tools are embedded natively within the PSA platform or depend on integrations with external providers (such as Microsoft 365 Copilot). Native integration may better align with platform workflows, while third-party solutions might provide broader capabilities but require additional configuration.
- Operational workflow automation: Evaluate how AI automates complex, multistep processes. This includes resource allocation and risk management, project creation, financial reporting and compliance checks. Effective automation should minimize manual intervention and enable staff to focus on strategic and client-facing tasks.
- Data quality and connectivity: Assess the platform’s ability to integrate, cleanse and use data from various sources. Poor data quality can undermine the accuracy and effectiveness of AI predictions, so robust data management capabilities are essential.
- Security, trust and governance: Confirm that vendors provide transparent data usage policies and strong governance frameworks to safeguard sensitive information. This should include audit trails, access controls and compliance with relevant regulations.
- Change management and AI literacy: Successful adoption relies on organizational readiness. Vendors should offer resources and training to help staff understand AI’s role and benefits, reducing resistance and bridging skill gaps. Ongoing support and clear communication drive user engagement and maximize value.
Integration Support
Integration and touchpoints with other major systems are essential components of PSA platforms’ offerings, as shown in Figure 1, but again, there is variance between what different types of organizations value.
For example, MSP-oriented PSAs emphasize integration with the many third-party products used to deliver their managed services. These include endpoint and network management tools, various security tools, and data protection and backup tools, among many others. MSPs may use as many as 20 to 40 different tools and expect their PSA solution to support the data collection and aggregation from them. Consequently, some vendors provide lengthy lists of integrations supported.
Organizations employing dedicated software for one or more PSA business functions will require integrations with other platforms. These could include CRM, ITSM, project management, ERP and HCM. Depending on the capabilities of the customer’s internal IT team and specific integration requirements, vendors and third parties typically offer integration guidelines for their products.
Buyers should note that while all PSA platforms provide at least some support for integration with finance platforms, they generally do not serve as the financial “system of record,” even if invoices are sent from the PSA. The scope of these can vary widely.
Adaptability
Larger organizations must consider the eventual need to graduate to a platform more suitable for meeting the needs of more complex business operations. Smaller and emerging companies may find the complete out-of-the-box PSA a functional and cost-effective approach; some vendors address that specific market.
Although there is no single inflection point, all-in-one platforms may become less appealing after organizations have 250 to 500 users, as demand in other business areas for more capable adjacent vertical enterprise software grows.
Deployment, Licensing and Internal Sponsorship
PSA platforms are typically deployed as SaaS applications. Some vendors offer on-premises solutions, although we have not seen that these are commonly in demand.
Licensing for PSA platforms is usually offered under one or a combination of the following models:
- Per user seat — A specific price per individual user logon (e.g., per consultant, per technician)
- Module- or feature-based — A variation of the above based on access to certain features (e.g., a project management or finance module)
- “View only” licensing — Intended for users who may be only reviewing dashboards or reports, and not entering or manipulating data.
- Enterprise licensing — A per-organization recurring fee without respect to the number of users
Per-seat and module, or feature-based pricing is more common for situations with fewer users. Seat prices typically range from $50 to $150 per user per month, with the variability due to feature sets associated with different product tiers. Enterprise licensing is especially common for add-on modules for enterprise apps, but is also available for larger-headcount implementations.
Buyers should note that the organization must consider executive sponsorship and budget allocation due to the cross-functional nature of PSA platforms. For example, will adding direct service delivery support to a CRM platform change or expand the corporate budgetholder(s) and sponsor(s)?
By addressing these considerations, buyers can ensure they select a PSA platform that aligns with strategic goals and delivers measurable improvements in service delivery and business outcomes.
Representative Vendors
The vendors listed in this Market Guide do not imply an exhaustive list. This section is intended to provide more understanding of the market and its offerings.
Vendor Selection
Several dozen providers are active in the PSA tool market. The 13 vendors listed in Table 1 represent a broad range of PSA platforms as discussed in the Market Definition and Market Analysis sections. The vendors represented here demonstrate different combinations of market segment focus, ability to operate on a stand-alone basis or as an add-on to an enterprise platform, available pricing models, and ability to support customers of different sizes and maturity.
Table 1 also indicates:
- Implementation model — Whether the product is stand-alone or an add-on to an existing enterprise application, and what platform it is. Note: This list is representative, and there are platforms not shown here that can be add-ons to other applications.
- Customer type focus — Whether the vendor typically focuses on a broad set of professional services (including consultancies, tech services or digital agencies), shown as “Pro Services” or MSPs. Note: Products do cross these categories.
Alternatives suitable for a given client situation, including industry-specific solutions, may not be listed here. Information comes from surveys, vendor briefings, analyst experience and publicly available information.
Representative Vendors in Professional Services Automation Platforms
| Vendor | Product name and product URL (if different from vendor URL) | Implementation Model | Customer Type Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
Accelo | Stand-alone | Pro service | |
Certinia | Add-on (Salesforce) | Pro service | |
ConnectWise | Stand-alone | MSP | |
Datto | Stand-alone | MSP | |
Halo | Stand-alone | MSP | |
Infraon | Stand-alone | MSP | |
Kantata | (two products) | Add-on (Salesforce) and stand-alone | Pro service |
Oracle | Add-on (NetSuite) | Pro service | |
Planview | Stand-alone | Pro service | |
Rocketlane | Stand-alone | Pro service | |
Scoro | Stand-alone | Pro service | |
Teamwork.com | Stand-alone | Pro service | |
Workday | Add-on (Workday) | Pro service | |
Source: Gartner (October 2025)
Vendor Profiles
Accelo
Accelo is a professional services automation platform first launched as AffinityLive in 2011 and rebranded to Accelo in 2015. The SaaS-based solution integrates client, project, resource and financial management into a unified platform designed to support timely project delivery, centralized client interactions and optimized financial processes. Accelo primarily serves IT and software firms, consulting organizations and digital agencies, with additional adoption in engineering and accounting sectors. The platform is designed for small and midsize businesses (SMBs) and supports many user counts.
Accelo offers seat-based and package-based pricing models to provide organizations with flexibility. Integration capabilities include open APIs and support for a variety of third-party tools. The platform is built to be scalable and configurable, enabling businesses to tailor workflows, custom fields and templates to their operational needs. Implementation options include tailored packages and premium support services.
Certinia
Certinia, founded in 2009, offers Professional Services Cloud (PS Cloud), a professional services automation platform designed for professional services firms and embedded service provider organizations. Formerly known as FinancialForce, Certinia was acquired by private equity firm Haveli Investments. Technical professional services companies use the platform and have expanded to serve consultancies and digital agencies.
PS Cloud is built on the Salesforce platform, providing native integration with Salesforce CRM to support processes from opportunity management and resource planning to delivery tracking and revenue recognition. In addition to Salesforce integration, Certinia supports connections with various external tools to address broader operational needs. The platform is intended for organizations seeking to unify service delivery, financial management and client engagement within a single, cloud-based ecosystem.
ConnectWise
ConnectWise PSA is a professional services automation platform designed for IT services providers, especially MSPs. Launched in 1995 to support ConnectWise’s internal service delivery needs, the platform has evolved to become widely adopted in the MSP market. Over the years, ConnectWise expanded its capabilities through acquisitions in cybersecurity, quoting, dashboard reporting and customer feedback. In 2019, it was acquired by private equity firm Thoma Bravo.
The platform provides integrated ticketing, project management, CRM and automation features, with emphasis on scalability and customization. ConnectWise PSA supports extensive third-party integrations, including those with competitor and independent tools, offering flexibility for organizations. Advanced AI-driven features like ConnectWise Sidekick assist with ticket handling, self-service, resource allocation, financial forecasting and operational insights. Adoption of these capabilities may require attention to data quality, user training and security. ConnectWise PSA remains a prominent choice for MSPs seeking a comprehensive and adaptable PSA solution.
Datto
Autotask PSA is a cloud-based professional services automation platform operated by Datto, a subsidiary of Kaseya and ultimately owned by private equity firm Insight Partners. The platform is designed for MSPs and internal IT teams, centralizing functions such as billing, CRM and service desk operations to streamline workflows and improve productivity. Autotask PSA features automation, customizable dashboards and workflow management tools that support efficient ticket resolution and business processes.
The solution offers broad integration capabilities with various MSP industry tools, including remote monitoring and management solutions from Kaseya and third-party providers. This integration strategy is intended to enhance technician and business efficiency, while the cloud-based architecture ensures scalability and remote accessibility. Although Autotask PSA is part of the Kaseya portfolio, it continues to support integrations with products from other vendors, including competitors, providing flexibility for organizations with diverse IT environments. The platform is positioned as a comprehensive and adaptable PSA solution for MSPs and IT operations.
Halo
HaloPSA is a professional services automation platform developed by Halo, a U.K.-based company with over 25 years of experience in software for IT services providers. Previously known as NetHelpDesk, HaloPSA is presented as an all-inclusive solution with seat-based pricing, targeting MSPs and IT service firms in the SMB market. The platform is deployed globally and is designed to centralize service delivery, CRM and business operations.
HaloPSA features broad integration capabilities with tools commonly used by MSPs, including remote monitoring and management, security, IT distribution, remote support, asset management, financial accounting, payment platforms and documentation management. The platform supports both its own CRM and third-party CRM systems. Implementation requires a formal process led by Halo or approved partners. HaloPSA is positioned for organizations seeking a comprehensive, integrated solution tailored to MSPs and IT-focused businesses.
Infraon
Infraon is an emerging professional services automation provider founded in 2017 that serves MSPs, IT professional services firms, and enterprises. The company offers Infraon Infinity, an all-in-one PSA and IT infrastructure management solution with a global customer base and a primary presence in Asia/Pacific. Infraon emphasizes tight integration across its own suite of products, including remote monitoring and management (RMM), while also providing an app marketplace for users to install and configure third-party applications.
The platform supports integrations with various service management, collaboration, identity management, and communication tools, allowing organizations to tailor the solution to their operational requirements. Infraon offers flexible pricing models, including both SaaS and on-premises deployment options, with the latter available for customers needing a dedicated instance. Infraon is positioned for organizations seeking a customizable PSA and IT management solution with broad integration capabilities and deployment flexibility.
Kantata
Kantata was formed in 2022 through the merger of Mavenlink (founded in 2008) and Kimble Applications (founded in 2010), and operates from centers in Irvine, California and London. The company provides professional services automation solutions for various professional services organizations, including management consultancies, IT services firms, digital agencies, and technology or product-oriented businesses with embedded service divisions.
Kantata offers multiple platform experiences, including Kantata OX, which is developed on an open infrastructure, and Kantata SX, which is built on the Salesforce platform. Kantata’s integration and workflow platform enables data processing and workflow orchestration between Kantata’s solutions and various third-party applications. The platform supports centralized service delivery, resource management, financial tracking and operational processes. It is designed to address the needs of organizations seeking to unify their professional services operations within a single ecosystem.
Oracle
Oracle acquired NetSuite in 2016, including its Professional Services Automation solution, OpenAir, which has since been rebranded as SuiteProjects Pro. SuiteProjects Pro is a cloud-based PSA platform that supports the entire project delivery life cycle, from proposal through project execution to revenue recognition. The solution is intended for larger service organizations, while NetSuite SuiteProjects is positioned for service practices with fewer than 1,000 resources.
SuiteProjects Pro is an add-on module to NetSuite and can also operate as a stand-alone PSA solution. As part of the Oracle technology stack, it offers integration capabilities with various applications. Integration services include secure connections to other systems and applications via various protocols, prebuilt connectors, and integration platform as a service (iPaaS) solutions. SuiteProjects Pro is designed to centralize project management, resource allocation and financial tracking for professional services organizations seeking a cloud-based PSA solution with broad integration options.
Planview
Planview PSA software is a cloud-based professional services automation solution launched in 2006. It is designed to streamline processes across the customer engagement life cycle. The platform automates opportunity planning, client engagement, project delivery, staffing, financial insights and forecasting, providing real-time data and visibility for professional services leaders and teams. Planview PSA is built within Planview AdaptiveWork, supporting integration with existing technology ecosystems.
The solution is used by technical professional services organizations, consulting firms and embedded service teams, with a customer base ranging from midsize companies to large enterprises. Planview PSA offers multiple pricing and licensing models to accommodate different organizational needs. Integration capabilities include bidirectional APIs and connectors for enterprise platforms, enabling data exchange and workflow automation. Users can configure the interface, workflows and data fields to meet specific requirements. Implementation can be completed in as little as six weeks, with ongoing support available through admin-as-a-service and managed services.
Rocketlane
Rocketlane is a professional services automation platform, founded in 2020, designed for services organizations that need end-to-end project delivery, operational management and client experience. The platform emphasizes AI-driven efficiency to streamline how services teams work. It unifies project management, resource allocation, time tracking, financials and client collaboration into a single system. This helps organizations deliver projects on time and on budget, while supporting internal teams and clients. SaaS, enterprise tech, AI implementation teams and services organizations use Rocketlane.
The platform includes automation and AI capabilities that assist with identifying project risks, staffing optimization and process streamlining. Rocketlane supports integrations with enterprise systems such as Salesforce and NetSuite, alongside a wide range of third-party applications via APIs and no-code platforms, ensuring extensibility across diverse ecosystems. It offers scalability for different organization sizes and provides flexible pricing models, including seat-based, feature-based, enterprise licensing and consumption-based options for AI features. Customization includes advanced templating (projects, documents, meeting notes, project updates, AI fills), branded portal, reports and dashboards, permissions, custom apps, automations, fields and more.
Scoro
Scoro is a professional services automation platform founded in Estonia in 2013, with primary operations in the U.K. The platform is designed to support a broad range of professional services organizations that sell their employees’ time. Organizations it supports include agencies in marketing and creative fields, consultancies in areas such as business and environmental services, and service businesses in sectors like architecture, engineering, IT, legal and event management. Scoro is primarily focused on small and midsize service teams.
Scoro’s client base is concentrated in English-speaking markets, including the U.K., Ireland, the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand, with additional presence elsewhere in Europe. The platform offers various integrations, connecting with accounting, CRM and HR software to support end-to-end business operations. Scoro is positioned for organizations seeking a stand-alone PSA solution with extensive integration capabilities and a focus on service-oriented teams.
Teamwork.com
Teamwork.com is a professional services automation platform in the market since 2007. Developed initially to manage IT services within the founders’ agency, the platform combines operational and financial management with robust project management capabilities. Teamwork.com is designed to support high adoption rates among project managers and billable resources, emphasizing data quality and accurate billable time tracking.
The platform primarily targets digital agencies, technical professional services and consulting firms, with additional use across accounting, engineering, architecture, real estate, legal, and training and development sectors. Teamwork.com offers a stand-alone PSA solution alongside additional tools for project management, client communications, document collaboration and resource management. The platform is scalable, serving small teams and large organizations, and features a flexible pricing model based on seat type, with options for feature trials and enterprise licensing.
Integration capabilities include connections to financial and CRM applications and other platforms. The solution is highly configurable and supports customizable user permissions and multiple user types. Implementation typically spans four weeks, with ongoing support provided at no additional cost.
Workday
Workday is a technology company specializing in financial management and human capital management (HCM) software. The company launched its Professional Services Automation (PSA) offering in 2015 as an add-on component to its core solutions. Workday PSA is designed for project-based businesses, including consulting, accounting, clinical and data research, and also serves business process outsourcers, staffing, architecture, engineering, construction, and business services such as marketing and communications.
The PSA platform is integrated with Workday’s financial management and HCM solutions, supporting unified management of projects, resources and financials for enterprise services organizations. Workday offers a broad implementation and independent software vendor partner network and it supports a library of technical connectors to facilitate integration with partner and third-party software applications. The platform provides configuration options to tailor workflows and data fields to organizational requirements. Workday PSA is intended for organizations seeking an integrated solution to manage the full life cycle of professional services operations within a single system.
Market Recommendations
When considering the approach for obtaining and implementing a PSA solution, include four key factors:
- Build versus buy — Weigh the value of continued use of homegrown tools and the investment to maintain them against the long-term licensing costs of a third-party tool. Also, factor in unique requirements and customizations that may not be easily met and savings in administrative and staff time and error reduction. These savings can be significant. Consider PSAs even for very small companies with a handful of employees, as the benefits can quickly exceed the costs.
- Adaptability and fit — Some vendors may suggest that their PSA solution was developed with the flexibility to be configured for any services company. While that theory is arguable, as a practical matter, specific platforms support certain business types better than others. Would-be PSA users must consider the scope and breadth of their current and anticipated business operations needs.
- Integration — Ensure that the platform can integrate with existing platforms and toolsets, including enterprise platforms in use or being contemplated.
- Scalability for the future — Consider the ability to support future growth to avoid another system replacement within the next five years. For organizations that do not realistically expect to exceed more than a few hundred employees in the foreseeable future, this may not be an issue of great concern.