For many Deltek users, manual exports to Excel and disconnected reports make it difficult to see the full picture of project performance. With rising costs, tighter margins, and shifting workloads, firms need faster, more reliable visibility to stay profitable.
Join Aktion Associates and Phocas Software for a live session on how Deltek users can simplify data access, improve project and contract management, and upgrade budgeting and forecasting processes – no technical expertise required. You’ll see how Phocas connects directly to Deltek to unify your data, streamline reporting, and enable dynamic, scenario-based planning.
Key webinar takeaways:
• Discover how to consolidate project and financial data from Deltek into one unified view
• Learn how to move beyond manual Excel exports to real-time, self-serve BI and forecasting
• See a live demo of Phocas dashboards and budgeting tools purpose-built for Deltek users
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to unify your Business Intelligence and improve your project visibility.
Architecture and engineering (A&E) firms are entering 2026 with more pressure and more potential than ever before. Growth is within reach, but inefficiencies and disconnected systems keep dragging projects over budget and off schedule. The firms gaining an edge are the ones moving to project-centric ERP, with purpose-built platforms like Deltek Vantagepoint that modernize project management from bid to cash collection.
When bids are built in Excel, time tracking is manual, and project data lives in silos, even the most talented teams struggle with challenges, such as projects going over budget, schedules getting delayed, and profitability suffering.
It all comes back to the root problem: a system that can’t keep up with the complexities of modern business. For A&E and professional services firms, this is more than a nuisance; it’s a growth barrier. That’s why so many are rethinking their tech stack and moving toward project-centric ERP like Vantagepoint, a platform built to eliminate these inefficiencies and provide clarity across the entire project lifecycle.
Let’s start with the harsh truth: disconnected systems are silent profit-killers. The numbers speak volumes:
That’s a whole lot of margin leaking out of your project pipeline.
These issues don’t stem from a lack of skill or effort; they stem from a lack of clarity. And it’s why leading firms are shifting to project-centric ERP systems that provide a centralized, real-time view of their operations. In fact, Deltek’s most recent Clarity Study found that 76% of firms struggle to prioritize relevant technology trends, with nearly 60% citing cost as the main barrier, proof that too many organizations are stuck with disconnected systems that hold them back.
A project-centric ERP isn’t just an accounting tool with some basic visuals, like Gannt and pie charts. It’s purpose-built to manage the full lifecycle of a project, from pursuit and proposal to closeout and cash collection.
For A&E firms, that means:
Solutions like Deltek Vantagepoint take these capabilities a step further by integrating CRM, resource planning, and project accounting into a single platform designed for A&E and professional services firms. It’s not about replacing your team. It’s about freeing them up to focus on the work that drives real value.
Firms can’t afford to wait. Delays in adopting project-centric tech directly impact your ability to compete for the best talent, bid profitably, and scale sustainably.
Nearly 80% of A&E leaders say their future growth depends on investing in digital tools. The gap is no longer in the strategy; it’s in the execution. That’s where Deltek Vantagepoint comes in. Unlike “just okay” platforms that deliver little more than an upgraded spreadsheet, Vantagepoint was designed specifically for project-driven businesses.
Here’s what sets this next generation of ERP apart:
And the payoff? According to Deltek’s 46th Clarity Study, A&E firms saw net revenue per employee rise by 11% year-over-year. And they’re forecasting revenue growth of about 9.6% for 2025, proof that efficiency, automation, and better systems can move the needle fast.
Switching systems isn’t just an IT project. It’s a business transformation. And A&E firms know that successful ERP adoption requires the right implementation partner who understands the industry and can align the tech with how real firms work.
As 2026 unfolds, the firms that will pull ahead aren’t the ones patching spreadsheets or clinging to legacy systems. They’re the ones embracing purpose-built platforms like Vantagepoint—tools designed to deliver transparency, efficiency, and sustainable growth in the year ahead and beyond.
Ready to Elevate Project Visibility and Performance?
Architectural and engineering firms face a unique mix of challenges, such as complex projects, tight margins, shifting scopes, and the pressure to deliver high-quality work on time and on budget. Yet many firms still rely on generic or disconnected tools to manage it all. The right ERP system should do more than track hours or generate invoices. For firms in professional services and the A&E space, your systems need to support project-based workflows, improve forecasting, connect teams, and provide the kind of visibility that actually drives smarter decisions.
This blog explores five key capabilities that matter most when evaluating ERP solutions for architectural and engineering firms, plus a few common traps to avoid.
Things slip through the cracks when projects live across multiple tools, like email chains, spreadsheets, folders, and a patchwork of legacy systems. Deadlines get missed. Scope expands without warning. Margins shrink before anyone sees it coming.
A modern ERP for professional services and A&E eliminates those disconnects by centralizing everything from initial estimates to project closeout in one system. That means:
👉 A strong ERP makes it easy to see what’s happening without chasing updates or relying on gut checks.
Schedules are one thing. Forecasts are another. Many firms build solid timelines but lack confidence in how those timelines will hold up under changing project demands.
Static spreadsheets and disconnected systems can’t keep up with real-world conditions. Delays, staff changes, and shifting priorities are part of the job, but without a forecasting tool that reflects those variables, it’s nearly impossible to plan ahead.
A project-centric ERP helps firms:
Labour market challenges are expected to persist through much of the next decade, making accurate planning and resourcing more critical than ever.
👉Reliable forecasting isn’t a luxury; it’s a competitive edge.
Talent allocation can make or break a project. Without a clear view of who’s available and when, it’s easy to overbook key staff, underutilize others, or miss out on new work due to resource uncertainty.
An ERP designed for A&E firms can surface:
According to Deltek’s 46th Annual Clarity A&E Study, firms are reporting record-high profitability and margins, directly tied to increased operational discipline and smart tech investments like ERP systems.
👉 This means fewer fire drills, better team balance, and a clearer understanding of what’s possible before making client commitments.
When billing and financials live in a silo, the entire project lifecycle slows down. Project managers track hours and milestones in one place, while accounting generates invoices in another. Reconciling the two can lead to delays, errors, and miscommunication.
With an integrated ERP:
According to BDC, integrating financial and operational workflows reduces redundant data entry and miscommunication, making billing faster, more accurate, and visible to both PM and finance teams.
👉 An ERP that unites project and financial data ensures faster billing, fewer errors, and more transparency between teams.
When data is scattered across systems, reporting becomes a time-consuming task, and often one that no one wants to own. Different teams pull different numbers, and leadership ends up with an incomplete or inconsistent picture.
An effective ERP automatically tracks KPIs like margin, utilization, and earned value by pulling live data from time entries, budgets, and project progress. This ensures that everyone sees the same up-to-date numbers without juggling spreadsheets.
With the right setup, teams can:
Decision-makers gain “real-time access to critical business data, allowing them to adjust strategies and address potential issues quickly, which directly supports smarter, data-driven decision-making across teams.
👉 ERP reporting isn’t just about speed; it’s about enabling better decisions through greater visibility.
Not every ERP that claims to support “professional services” is right for A&E firms. Some systems create more complexity than they solve.
Watch for:
👉A true A&E ERP fits how architectural, and engineering firms work and grows with them over time.
The best ERP system for architectural and engineering firms isn’t defined by flashy features or endless customization options. It’s defined by how well it supports project-based operations and addresses common pain points: disconnected systems, limited visibility, and inefficient workflows.
To summarize, an ERP that’s built for the A&E industry should include:
Deltek’s ERP platform was designed with project-centric firms in mind. For firms evaluating their current tools or exploring ERP options, the Canadian ERP Buyer’s Playbook is a great place to start.
As a distributor, the challenges you face today, force you to rethink how you do business. Challenges that can include new customer expectations, the need for big data insight as well as adjusting to a more technologically familiar workforce and their expanding expectations. Old processes and approaches just don’t cut it anymore.
You need a solution that drives the rest of your business to be even more agile than the people and processes it supports. We are here to help prepare and to assist you in transitioning to Infor CloudSuite Distribution.
Register and reserve your place today.
As a distributor, the challenges you face today, force you to rethink how you do business. Challenges that can include new customer expectations, the need for big data insight as well as adjusting to a more technologically familiar workforce and their expanding expectations. Old processes and approaches just don’t cut it anymore.
You need a solution that drives the rest of your business to be even more agile than the people and processes it supports. We are here to help prepare and to assist you in transitioning to Infor CloudSuite Distribution.
Register and reserve your place today.
Join us for an insightful webinar showcasing how Phocas Software seamlessly integrates with Deltek Vantagepoint to revolutionize your firm’s data analytics and planning capabilities.
This live demo will highlight two transformative aspects of this integration:
1. Enhanced Dashboards for a Comprehensive Business View: Discover how Phocas Dashboards elevate the functionality of Vantagepoint Dashboards, providing an enriched 360° view of your firm’s business and project performance. With dynamic, interactive visualizations, you’ll gain deeper insights into KPIs and metrics, empowering teams to make data-driven decisions easily.
2. Advanced Planning Analytics for Smarter Decisions: Explore how Phocas Software enhances Vantagepoint Planning Analytics by delivering real-time, actionable insights into project financial performance and planning forecasting. Learn how to streamline forecasting, monitor profitability, and optimize resource allocation across projects, phases, tasks, and departments.
This webinar is perfect for project managers, finance leaders, and decision-makers looking to unlock the full potential of their Deltek Vantagepoint system with Phocas Software.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see the power of integrated analytics in action!
TimberScan Titanium is the most sophisticated solution for easily and automatically routing invoices to the appropriate approver based on your business rules. Developed for seamless integration with Deltek Vantagepoint, TimberScan Titanium automates every aspect of the accounts payable process, including data entry, approvals, and reporting – all on a user-friendly and visually appealing interface.
Join us for this webcast to learn how to get more from Deltek Vantagepoint today and suit-up for the future. Haven’t migrated to Vantagepoint yet – join us to learn more about how these 2 technology solutions can improve your business processes. A software expert will be presenting and ready to answer any questions you have.
Interested in learning more about TimberScan Titanium before the event? Download the brochure today.
Introducing VantagePro from Aktion Associates
In the world of architecture, engineering, and professional services, time is essential. In a fast-paced industry like these, efficiency and productivity are the keys to success. Aktion Associates has developed a suite of tools to help you unlock the full potential of Deltek Vantagepoint, making your business more efficient, productive, and well-informed than ever before. In this blog post, we’ll explore how the new VantagePro tools from Aktion can elevate your business and take it to new heights.
Introduced this year at the 2023 Deltek Project Con Conference, Aktion now offers over 15 pre-built tools that allow you to customize your Vantagepoint ERP according to your needs, making accessing and managing data incredibly efficient. Instead of manually importing or copying data across different applications, VantagePro automatically handles it. Cutting down the time you need to spend on manually importing and exporting data can lead to increased productivity and accuracy.
Here are just a few highlights of some of these powerful and innovative tools from Aktion Associates.
Master Services Agreement Hub
This custom-built hub offers you the most complete way to manage, review, and analyze your master service agreements.
User Maintenance Hub
The perfect tool for managing your company’s user accounts, this customizable solution is designed to help streamline many of the tedious tasks associated with user maintenance.
Professional License Management Hub
For organizations looking to streamline the legal requirements of their employees. This hub is custom-designed to ensure your employees have the right license for any state.
Dashboard Package Featuring Phocas
The Dashboard Package enables decision-makers to gain accurate, actionable insights into their data quickly. With the provided visualizations and reports, users can identify trends that may not otherwise be visible in raw data.
If you want to improve your efficiency and productivity and make well-informed decisions, Aktion’s VantagePro tools can take your business to the next level. Call us to take advantage of the customizable data hubs, effortless connections, and user-friendly interfaces for increased efficiency, and enhanced productivity. Take the first step today to elevate your business.
Learn more about VantagePro in this brochure.
Learn how to setup and maintain project plans in Vantagepoint in this free webinar!
See how to create and maintain project plans in Vantagepoint like a pro! From entering resources to saving baselines and reviewing plan settings this Webinar will leave you ready to conquer Project Planning. Whether you are new to Deltek’s software, considering upgrading to Vantagepoint for your company, or just need a better understanding of Project Planning within Vantagepoint, this is a great opportunity for you. This webinar is designed to walk you through the navigation and capabilities of Project Planning.
