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Professional services automation software is the best way to manage project delivery, track team utilization and billable rates, and improve your operations and business processes to deliver a better experience for your clients.

There are a glut of software tools available, which makes figuring out which is best for you difficult. Here are my picks for the best professional services automation software, which I've chosen based on my experiences using this type of tool to manage projects and businesses.

What Is Professional Services Automation Software?

Professional services automation (PSA) software is a tool used by service-based organizations to manage and automate various operational aspects. It integrates project management, resource allocation, time tracking, billing, and reporting functionalities into one system.

The benefits of PSA software include:

  • Improved efficiency in managing projects and resources
  • Accurate and timely billing
  • Better team collaboration
  • Real-time insights into project performance and financial metrics
  • Reduced administrative overhead via the ability to automate routine tasks

Professional Services Automation Software Solutions Comparison Chart

Here is a chart where you can easily compare the tools I covered above.

Overviews of the 10 Best Professional Services Automation Software Solutions

Here’s a brief description of each professional services automation solution, its best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give you a snapshot of the user interface.

Best for project delivery from quote to cash

  • Free demo available
  • Available upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.4/5

Accelo is a professional services automation platform that helps businesses manage their operations more effectively. It offers features that automate various aspects of client management, project management, resource management, and financial management.

Accelo's client management capabilities allow businesses to manage clients, leads, quotes, and interactions seamlessly. This feature is particularly beneficial as it centralizes all client-related information, to simplify visibility across teams for effective tracking and management of client relationships. Additionally, Accelo's project management tools streamline projects, time, expenses, tasks, and material tracking, ensuring that projects are completed on time and within budget.

Another significant advantage of Accelo is its financial management features, which optimize invoicing, billing, retainers, and payment processing. These features reduce administrative work and ensure accurate billing, which is crucial for maintaining healthy cash flow and profitability. The software also includes resource management tools that boost productivity through utilization insights and skills-based scheduling. 

Integrations include Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Exchange & Microsoft Outlook, Xero, QuickBooks Online, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Zapier, Stripe, PayPal, Jira, Continuum, Zendesk, Microsoft Power BI, Expensify, Gusto, HubSpot Partner Portal, Practice Ignition, Google Analytics, and others.

Best for powerful resource management and team collaboration

  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.1/5

Mavenlink aims to be the industry cloud for professional services organizations. This is achieved through a resource-centric approach focused on better decision-making. Using Dynamic Resource Optimization, teams can be deployed quickly to respond to changing business conditions.

The software features powerful resource allocation management, plus project management and team collaboration features. Business intelligence and actionable insights inform management decisions. Timelines, budgets, and clients can be managed to produce the best outcomes for the company and for clients.

Through the Mavenlink M-Bridge, the software integrates with business applications such as Oracle, Netsuite, SAP Concur, and Salesforce.

Mavenlink offers customized pricing on request.

Best for all-in-one work management automation

  • 14-day free trial + free demo available
  • From $19.90/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

Scoro is a professional services automation software designed to assist businesses in managing their operations more effectively. It provides a suite of tools tailored for various roles within an organization and addresses every aspect of service delivery—from project planning and execution to customer relationship management and billing. This level of integration is essential for services firms that need to maintain alignment across various departments and projects. 

As a PSA software, Scoro excels in automating the critical yet time-consuming aspects of professional services, such as time tracking, invoicing, and reporting. Its automated billing features allow for the quick creation of detailed invoices based on the tracked time and expenses, reducing errors and saving valuable administrative time. The software's ability to generate in-depth, customizable reports also gives managers and stakeholders insights into business performance, client profitability, and operational efficiency. 

Another key aspect that sets Scoro apart is its CRM functionality integrated directly within the platform. This allows for a seamless flow of information from initial client contact to project delivery and follow-up. The tool helps manage client interactions, store critical data, and track communication history. Furthermore, the ability to link CRM data with project management and billing processes ensures that every client interaction is informed, contributing to better client satisfaction and retention. 

Integrations include Google Calendar, Microsoft Exchange, Xero, QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, Expensify, Stripe, Jira, Slack, Asana, Dropbox, PayPal, and more.

Best for integrated profitability tracking

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $9/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.7/5

Productive is a professional services automation software that's designed to help businesses streamline their operations. It's an all-in-one tool that covers everything from project management and time tracking to sales pipeline and profitability analysis. It's like having a personal assistant that keeps everything organized and running smoothly.

There are several standout features that make Productive a top choice for professional services automation software. The project management feature is particularly impressive. It allows you to plan your projects, assign tasks, track progress, and even forecast future work. The time tracking feature is also very useful. It's easy to log hours, and you can see exactly where your time is going. The sales pipeline feature gives you a clear overview of your sales process, and the profitability analysis feature helps you understand your financial performance.

Productive.io goes beyond standard project management tools by offering unique resource management and utilization insights. This feature allows businesses to gain a deep understanding of their team's workload and availability, enabling better resource allocation and preventing burnout. The platform provides detailed reports and visualizations, showcasing individual team members' workloads, capacity, and efficiency levels. This data-driven approach empowers project managers to make informed decisions on task assignments and redistribute workloads as needed, optimizing team performance and overall project efficiency.

Unlike many other project management tools, Productive.io stands out with its integrated profitability tracking feature. This niche capability allows businesses to monitor project profitability in real-time, providing a holistic view of revenue generation, costs, and profit margins for each project. By linking financial data directly to project tasks and time entries, businesses can quickly assess the financial health of projects and identify areas where costs can be optimized. This level of insight not only enhances decision-making but also helps businesses stay on top of their financial goals and identify high-value projects, fostering greater overall profitability and sustainable growth.

Integrations include Quickbooks, Jira, Xero, Exact, Slack, Fortnox, and Personio. More integrations are available by connecting a paid Zapier account.

Productive costs from $9/user/month (billed annually) and offers a 14-day free trial.

Best for automated project setup

  • 7-day free trial
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.6/5

Screendragon is a comprehensive professional services automation (PSA) software designed to help teams manage projects, resources, time, and expenses in one centralized platform. One standout feature of Screendragon is its resource management capabilities. The platform allows you to match the right staff to the right projects, boosting productivity. Visual dashboards help quickly and easily identify who is available, and you can drag and drop assignments to resources. Additionally, you can forecast future needs by overlaying pipeline resource needs with current commitments. ​

I also like Screendragon for its automation engine, which can create a complete project environment ready for kick-off. This includes pre-populated timelines, budget plans, resourcing, and document structures. The platform supports all project types and methodologies, and you can leverage project templates to speed up project initiation.

Other key features include opportunity management, which allows you to adjust your pipeline process using Screendragon's workflow builder, ensuring the right people get involved at the right time. The platform also offers portfolio and KPI reporting, automatically preparing key data and enabling you to create personalized portfolio views with essential project metrics. 

Integrations include MS Power BI, Slack, MS Teams, Zapier, Google Drive, Trello, Microsoft 365, Box, Jira, Microsoft OneDrive, and PeopleSoft.

Best for MSP operational growth

  • Free trial available
  • From $79/license/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.6/5

SuperOps is an AI-powered PSA-RMM platform designed to support the operational growth of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) by providing a unified solution for client engagement, asset management, and project execution. The platform's emphasis on leveraging artificial intelligence makes it a strategic tool for MSPs aiming to enhance their operational capabilities and scale their services.

The software's employment of automation and AI helps take over repetitive tasks and using algorithms to predict and preemptively address issues. This not only boosts operational efficiency but also enhances the quality of service MSPs can provide, allowing them to allocate their resources to more strategic, value-adding activities.

Client management, quote management, and contract management are also key features of this platform, integrating tools for service desk operations, ticketing, invoicing, billing, and direct communication with clients. The customizable reporting feature further assists MSPs by providing deep insights into their operations, client health, and service metrics, which are critical for strategic planning and decision-making​. Overall, SuperOps' consolidation and automation of operational aspects into a single platform helps streamline administrative tasks, giving MSPs more time to focus on scaling their business.

Integrations include TeamViewer, QuickBooks, Stripe, SentinelOne, Webroot, Xero, HaloPSA, and more.

Best for managing projects, clients, and finances

  • Free trial available
  • From $9/user/month (billed annually)

Bonsai Consulting Software is an all-in-one platform designed to help professional service businesses manage projects, clients, teams, and finances in one integrated system. It offers tools for project planning, time tracking, resource allocation, and budget monitoring, providing clear insights to support better decision-making and profitability.

One standout feature of Bonsai is its end-to-end project planning and tracking capabilities. You can visualize project timelines using Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and list views, making it easy to monitor progress in real-time and ensure your team stays on schedule. This flexibility allows you to choose the view that best fits your workflow, enhancing efficiency and clarity in project management.

It also offers robust time-tracking and timesheet functionalities. Your team can log hours spent on tasks, providing you with a clear view of project statuses, team capacity, and budget utilization. Additionally, Bonsai offers resource planning tools that allow you to allocate work effectively and monitor workloads in real-time, helping to prevent staff shortages and overbooking. The platform even has budget tracking and forecasting, enabling you to keep an eye on project budgets and make informed decisions with up-to-date profitability reports. 

Integrations include QuickBooks Online, Zapier, Calendly, and Xero.

Best professional services software with built-in client collaboration automations

  • Freemium version available
  • From $10/user/month (min of 2 seats)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.2/5

Wrike is a comprehensive project management platform for agencies, marketing teams, and professional services providers. It provides a versatile professional services management and automation solution to optimize the service delivery process.

The professional services management software provides users with a 360-degree view of all active projects, allowing them to effectively manage their resources, keep track of billable hours, and make data-driven decisions with relative ease. 

Project managers can significantly improve client collaboration by simply inviting their clients into Wrike and making them a part of the work process. This allows clients to provide direct feedback and approvals on critical project decisions. And project managers can reduce the tedious back-and-forth process of getting requirements from clients on project requests or scope changes by using customizable request forms. This will enable agencies and teams to quickly collect all the necessary information from clients in one location and trigger fully planned projects with predefined actions, task assignees, and timelines.

Utilizing a user-friendly WHEN-THEN structure, the Automation Engine can also help optimize team workload. This allows the teams to offload otherwise repetitive tasks from their daily queues. In addition, admins can efficiently allocate client work to the most qualified team member based on their role and expertise on the assigned task. This ensures teams and individual members are given the right amount of work they can manage without burnout.

Best for service organizations with global resources and projects

  • Freemium plan
  • $13/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.6/5

VOGSY is a unified project and resource platform that helps organizations set up new countries, track international projects, and connect local finance packages. Its main design, its features and capabilities are geared towards technology companies, consulting firms, and creative agencies. Any business that offers some type of professional service to a diverse clientele will greatly benefit from this fully integrated solution.

Among VOGSY’s features and capabilities are project management, resource management, task management, automated invoicing, performance monitoring, and customer relationship management (CRM). All of which benefit from a global project and resource allocation feature set Apart from its seamless Google integrations, the software can also integrate with third-party business process solutions such as QuickBooks, Salesforce, and HubSpot.

As a professional services automation platform, VOGSY’s main feature is quote-to-cash. One of its primary objectives is to eliminate data silos and serve as a single source of truth for professional services providers, sales departments, and project teams. The software enables users to track their clients easily and every active deal/service yet delivered.

They can develop and solidify their by having the ability to instantly create quotes and generate statements of work (SOWs) on soft-booked deals and projects. The software also allows users to match revenue over their resource plans to ensure delivery. VOGSY’s robust work breakdown structure, through its project management feature, is useful for developing and sticking to a project roadmap based on key objectives and desired outcomes.

The task management feature enables project managers to allocate tasks with ease and efficiency, ensuring that every aspect of the project gets done by the appropriate team members on time and within budget. Resource management, automated invoicing, and performance monitoring make up the rest of VOGSY’s professional services automation software features and capabilities.

Features include resource and project management, unified resource view, intuitive new country set up for resource allocation and global projects, flexible revenue recognition, collaboration, reporting dashboards, budgeting, professional services automation, Gantt charts, notifications & alerts. 

Integrations include Google Workspace, Jira, Microsoft Excel, Xero, Intuit Quickbooks Online, Copper, Hubspot, Salesforce, and Zoho.

VOGSY is free for individual users, while its Lite package starts from $13/user/month. A free trial is also available for all premium plans.

Best PSA with time tracking and expense reporting features

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $20/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

BigTime’s professional services automation (PSA) software is designed to help companies and their teams design and develop better processes for different projects at scale, from start to finish. The PSA software scales with an organization's needs, from the individual time tracking process to the final invoicing on completed projects.

The PSA system allows users to track time and expenses smarter. Project managers and staff members can efficiently log their time and expenses with customized data entry options that apply to their team or department’s timesheets. The billing and invoicing process is also much faster and more user-friendly. Users can easily pull together detailed and professional-looking invoices that can be customized to meet the unique requirements of each project. They can send these invoices directly to their clients as quickly as possible.

BigTime facilitates the staff and resource allocation process to ensure project managers don’t over- or under-schedule the available resources. In addition, the platform provides comprehensive dashboards to deliver all the necessary information in one place, so users will always have an idea of their resource status and availability; i.e., they can determine in real-time who is working on what. This will not only help streamline workflows but optimize the resource management process as well.

BigTime’s integration capabilities will also help organizations seamlessly sync up all their current software solutions and other available tools in their technology stack.

Plans start at $10 per user/month. All plans are billed annually and require a minimum of five users.

Other Professional Services Automation Software Options

Here are some tools that did not make the top list, but which are still worth your consideration.

  1. ProjectManager

    For no-code workflow automation

  2. FinancialForce

    For full lifecycle services forecasting

  3. Workday

    A PSA solution for fast-moving businesses

  4. Birdview

    For automating and optimizing the entire service delivery cycle

  5. ConnectWise

    Intelligent automation for small businesses ready to scale

  6. PSOhub

    Replaces stand-alone tools with an all-in-one solution

  7. Ravetree

    For retainer contracts

  8. Dynamics 365 Project Operations

    A unified solution for project-centric businesses

  9. Smartsheet

    Faster customer onboarding and improved project visibility

  10. Celoxis

    For managing your project portfolio, resources, and budgets

How to Choose Professional Services Automation Software

It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:

FactorWhat to Consider
ScalabilityMake sure the software can grow with your business. Look for features like flexible user limits and the ability to handle increasing project complexity.
IntegrationsCheck that it connects with tools you already use, like CRM, accounting, or project management platforms.
CustomizabilityCheck whether you can tailor dashboards, workflows, and reports to match your team’s specific needs and processes.
Ease of UseChoose software that’s intuitive and easy for your team to use without extensive training. This helps speed up onboarding and improves productivity.
BudgetAssess upfront costs, subscription fees, and any hidden charges. Compare pricing models to make sure the solution fits your financial goals.
Security SafeguardsMake sure the software has robust data protection features like encryption, role-based access, and compliance with industry standards like GDPR.
ReportingLook for advanced reporting tools to give your team actionable insights into performance, resource allocation, and profitability.
Support OptionsConfirm that there’s reliable customer support, whether through live chat, email, or a dedicated account manager, to address issues quickly.

Features of Professional Services Automation Software

These are the core features I look for when I'm evaluating PSA tools:

  1. Project management tools: The tool should help you to plan, track, and manage projects with features like timelines, milestones, and task assignments.
  2. Time tracking: You should be able to accurately log billable and non-billable hours, and then use this information in client invoices.
  3. Resource allocation: The software should help optimize your team’s workload by assigning the right resources to the right tasks based on availability and skills.
  4. Billing and invoicing: The tool should allow you to automate the creation of accurate invoices based on time tracked, project progress, or fixed fees.
  5. Financial forecasting: You should be able to get insights into future revenue, expenses, and profitability to help with strategic planning.
  6. Collaboration tools: Features like shared workspaces, real-time updates, and communication tools foster teamwork and keep everyone aligned.
  7. Client portals: The tool should offer clients secure access to project updates, invoices, and key deliverables in one centralized location.
  8. Analytics and reporting: The software should deliver actionable insights with customizable reports on performance, financials, and resource usage.
  9. Workflow automation: The tool should help you improve repetitive processes like approvals, reminders, and task handoffs to save time and reduce errors.
  10. Mobile accessibility: The feature makes sure your team can access tools and information on the go via a mobile app or responsive web interface.

Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:

  • AI-driven insights: Vendors are adding AI features that can analyze project data and predict risks, delays, or resource bottlenecks, which gives teams a chance to course-correct before problems arise. For example, some tools now suggest resource reassignments based on historical performance.
  • Dynamic pricing models: Some vendors are offering tools that you can use to calculate real-time pricing for services based on market trends, resource availability, and project scope. This means better flexibility for both clients and providers.
  • Employee experience focus: Platforms are introducing features like skills tracking, career development dashboards, and team wellness insights to support employee growth and engagement.
  • Decentralized project tracking: With hybrid work here to stay, tools are evolving to support decentralized teams with multi-timezone support, asynchronous communication options, and real-time global dashboards.

FAQs About Professional Services Automation Software

professional services automation software logos list

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Ben Aston
By Ben Aston

I’m Ben Aston, a digital project manager and founder of thedpm.com. I've been in the industry for more than 20 years working in the UK at London’s top digital agencies including Dare, Wunderman, Lowe and DDB. I’ve delivered everything from film to CMS', games to advertising and eCRM to eCommerce sites. I’ve been fortunate enough to work across a wide range of great clients; automotive brands including Land Rover, Volkswagen and Honda; Utility brands including BT, British Gas and Exxon, FMCG brands such as Unilever, and consumer electronics brands including Sony. I'm a Certified Scrum Master, PRINCE2 Practitioner and productivity nut!