Software Shortlist
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Birdview PSABest for automating and optimizing the entire service delivery cycle
- Dynamics 365 Project Operations
A unified solution for project-centric businesses
- PSOHub
Replaces stand-alone tools with an all-in-one solution
- Connectwise
Intelligent automation for small businesses ready to scale
- Workday
A PSA solution for fast-moving businesses
- Mavenlink by Kantata
Best for powerful resource management and team collaboration
- Smartsheet
Faster customer onboarding and improved project visibility
- SuperOps
Best for intelligent alerts and problem-solving
- Planview
Best for more predictable and profitable customer engagements
- Polaris
Best for managing practice profitability
In any professional services firm, day-to-day work involves keeping a lot of plates spinning. From managing projects to tracking billable hours, there’s a whole host of priorities to juggle. Businesses often end up with a patchwork of software tools to help them stay ahead. But this can result in confusion, plus problems with important matters slipping through the cracks.
Professional services automation software provides an elegant solution to this problem. These tools provide a single solution for a specific profession, offering an easy way to manage entire projects from start to completion.
In this buyer’s guide, I’ll be highlighting the best professional services automation software. I’ll show you what’s great about each one and help you select the tool that’s right for your firm.
Comparison Criteria
What do I look for when I select the best professional services automation platforms? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:
- User Interface (UI): I look for a tool that makes it easy to navigate to the information you need
- Usability: I expect everyone from clerical staff to senior partners to find the software easy to use and understand
- Integrations: I look for pre-built integrations with other software used by professional services businesses
- Value for $: I’m seeking tools that make economic sense for both small and large firms
Professional Services Automation Software: Key Features
These are the core features I look for in the best PSA tools:
- Project management: an approach to executing projects that’s a good fit with the firm’s operating methods
- Time & expense tracking: keeping careful track of costs, revenue, and billable hours
- Contract management: integrating with CRM systems to ensure that quotes and contracts are on point
- Resource management: effective systems for managing costs and making the best use of available resources
- Financial management: taking good care of budgeting and overall financial health
- Revenue management: streamlining the order-to-cash cycle and ensuring that income streams produce optimal revenue
- Delivery management: an easy-to-use workflow engine that keeps deliverables on track
- Analytics: customizable dashboards giving executives the insights they need to make better decisions
- Opportunity management: assigning the right resources to make the most of new leads and inquiries
- Security & compliance: rigorous procedures for ensuring the integrity of data and PSA systems
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Overviews Of The 10 Best Professional Services Automation Software Solutions
Here’s a brief description of each professional services automation solution to showcase each tool’s best use case, some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give a snapshot of the user interface.
Birdview PSA
Best for automating and optimizing the entire service delivery cycle
Birdview PSA is a SaaS solution designed to make it easier to manage projects and resources in the professional services industry. Birdview unifies teams into a single platform for projects, resources, and financials.
This software provides service organizations with comprehensive tools for managing and executing projects, optimizing resources, and accounting projects.
Birdview also features a built-in Business Intelligence (BI) engine that comes with dozens of ready-to-use dashboards and reports that allow teams to make insight-driven decisions and optimize processes for increased productivity and profitability.
Birdview integrates with CRM, accounting systems, ERP, and many other popular tools.
Birdview costs from $37.75/user/month and offers a free trial.
Dynamics 365 Project Operations
A unified solution for project-centric businesses
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations helps professional services organizations shorten project life cycles. The SaaS software offers a smooth transition from estimation to execution. Features include forecasting, estimation, and contract management.
The platform gives project-centric businesses the collaboration tools and insights needed to complete deals within a single solution. Thanks to the embedded Microsoft Project capabilities, managers can easily handle scheduling and also produce interactive views. The view options include Timeline (Gantt charts), Board (Kanban), and work breakdown structures.
Dynamics 365 Project Operations offers a range of integration options. These include dual-write capabilities for synchronizing data across Dynamics 365 Finance and Microsoft Dataverse.
Dynamics 365 Project Operations costs from $120/user/month. A 30-day trial is available.
PSOHub
Replaces stand-alone tools with an all-in-one solution
PSOHub aims to save you time and money by providing one tool encompassing project management, time tracking, and invoicing. The system automates everything from creating the first lead to tracking payments.
After closing a deal, you can create a project from the account. Then you can manage contracts, assign tasks, and plan visually using Gantt charts. Team members book their time and expenses directly into the project, or it can be pulled from their calendar.
PSOHub integrates with customer relationship management (CRM) and business management platforms such as HubSpot, Salesforce, and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
The software costs from $8.50/user/month, and a 30-day free trial is available.
Connectwise
Intelligent automation for small businesses ready to scale
Connectwise is an integrated platform for IT services providers. It offers intelligent automation, cybersecurity features, and improved scalability.
The system encompasses a full range of business management functionality. These include quote and proposal automation, KPI dashboards, and centralized documentation. Managers can also benchmark performance and compare profit to industry peers.
This tool integrates with a wide range of applications, including HubSpot, Slack, Freshdesk, and QuoteWerks
Connectwise costs from $24/user/month, and a free trial is available.
Workday
A PSA solution for fast-moving businesses
Workday PSA helps you support every part of client-facing projects. Everything from staffing to billing and project financials can be handled within a single system. The software also matches the best talent to projects and suggests learning for continued improvement.
The software is designed to be agile and flexible, so you can create new project delivery models or meet changing customer demands as required. You can analyze profitability accurately, automate project forecasting and accurately track time from anywhere.
Workday includes over 600 pre-built integrations with popular business tools.
Workday PSA offers customized pricing available on request.
Mavenlink by Kantata
Best for powerful resource management and team collaboration
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.
Smartsheet
Faster customer onboarding and improved project visibility
Smartsheet offers companies in the services industry a work execution platform with a spreadsheet-style interface. Features include tools for resource planning, financial reporting, file sharing, task management, and timeline tracking. With the help of Smartsheet, teams can standardize business processes, increase productivity and improve collaboration.
The software aims to accelerate customer onboarding and give team members enhanced visibility into budgets and projects. Data can be sorted using grid, card, calendar, or Gantt chart views. The real-time dashboard allows teams to track project status and assign tasks. Using the Smartsheet app, teams can access workflow data and project information wherever they are.
This tool integrates with platforms such as Adobe Creative Cloud, Docusign, Microsoft Teams, and Salesforce Connector.
Smartsheet costs from $7/user/month, and a free 30-day trial is available.
SuperOps
Best for intelligent alerts and problem-solving
SuperOps is an intelligent AI service that combines professional services automation with remote monitoring and project planning. Acting as a single source of truth, it helps firms to automate processes, improve client compliance and enhance security. They can also create custom targets for service-level agreements and set rules for escalation.
Key features include intelligent alerts, which prioritize notifications of events and issues. The system also provides step-by-step prompts to facilitate fast resolution. The software also manages product catalogs, contracts, IT documents, and client communications in a single platform.
SuperOps integrates with IT tools such as TeamViewer, Bitdefender and Webroot.
This tool costs from $89/user/month, and a free 21-day trial is available.
Planview
Best for more predictable and profitable customer engagements
Planview offers an automation solution for professional services teams. It gives managers real-time data and helps track financial KPIs and project outcomes. The result is continuous improvements across all key workstreams.
The software is designed to optimize resource utilization and enhance visibility, making customer engagements more predictable and profitable. It also gives real-time visibility in the process from opportunity to signature. Resources can be allocated more efficiently to grow services revenue.
The software supports a range of integrations, including Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, and DocuSign.
Planview offers single per-user pricing with details available on request. A free 30-day trial is available.
Polaris
Best for managing practice profitability
Polaris Professional Services Automation software analyzes real-time data to provide recommendations for keeping projects, resources, and finances on track. You also get real-time visibility into key metrics, plus the ability to leverage historical and current information.
You can also improve practice profitability through a better understanding of business dynamics. Group projects in a way that makes sense, then set any attributes and metrics required. Service delivery, costs, and billing can be managed transparently, maximizing profits and performance.
Polaris integrates with major business suites such as SAP Concur, Quickbooks, Atlassian, Sage, and Salesforce.
Polaris costs from $29/user/month, and a free trial is available.
Need expert help selecting the right Professional Services Automation (PSA) Software?
We’ve joined up with the software comparison platform Crozdesk.com to assist you in finding the right software. Crozdesk’s Professional Services Automation (PSA) Software advisors can create a personalized shortlist of software solutions with unbiased recommendations to help you identify the solutions that best suit your business’s needs. Through our partnership you get free access to their bespoke software selection advice, removing both time and hassle from the research process.
It only takes a minute to submit your requirements and they will give you a quick call at no cost or commitment. Based on your needs you’ll receive customized software shortlists listing the best-fitting solutions from their team of software advisors (via phone or email). They can even connect you with your selected vendor choices along with community negotiated discounts. To get started, please complete the form below:
The 10 Best Professional Services Automation Software Solutions Summary
| Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Birdview PSA Best for automating and optimizing the entire service delivery cycle | 14 days free trial | From $37.75/user/month (billed annually) | Check out Birdview PSA |
| 2 |  Dynamics 365 Project Operations A unified solution for project-centric businesses | 30 days free trial | From $120/user/month | Visit Website |
| 3 |  PSOHub Replaces stand-alone tools with an all-in-one solution | 30 days free trial | From $8.50/user/month | Check out PSOHub |
| 4 |  Connectwise Intelligent automation for small businesses ready to scale | Free trial is available | From $24/user/month | Check out Connectwise |
| 5 |  Workday A PSA solution for fast-moving businesses | Not available | Pricing upon request | Check out Workday |
| 6 |  Mavenlink by Kantata Best for powerful resource management and team collaboration | Not available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
| 7 |  Smartsheet Faster customer onboarding and improved project visibility | 30 days free trial | From $7/user/month | Check out Smartsheet |
| 8 |  SuperOps Best for intelligent alerts and problem-solving | 21 days free trial | From $89/user/month | Check out SuperOps |
| 9 |  Planview Best for more predictable and profitable customer engagements | 30 days free trial | Pricing upon request | Check out Planview |
| 10 |  Polaris Best for managing practice profitability | Free trial is available | From $29/user/month | Check out Polaris |
Other Options
Here’s a few more that didn’t make the top list.
- BigTime – for real-time insights that power long-term success
- Kimble PSA – helps eliminates bottlenecks to improve scalability
- Autotask PSA – improved business visibility for professional services firms
- Accelo – systematizes the sales and quoting process
- Projectos PSA – enhances resource utilization and project profitability
- OpenAir PSA – cloud-based project management for professional services firms
What is professional services automation software?
Professional services automation software helps service-oriented firms manage their businesses more efficiently. These tools provide the technology needed to deal with all aspects of operations, as well as improving customer satisfaction.
A good PSA platform will assist with everything from project management and time tracking, to budgets and billing. It will also give managers a clear overview of the business, leading to valuable insights that improve productivity and profitability.
What do you think about this list?
Do you agree with my concussions, or do you have different ideas? Let us know in the comments section below. Remember to sign up for our newsletter, too, so we can keep you up to date on the latest developments.
You might also like to check out our review of the 10 best professional service software of 2022 or check out our thoughts on the future of professional services. And be sure to check back regularly…there’s always something interesting to read at the Digital Project Manager!