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Emily Zhied
7 min read
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Every consulting firm navigates a complex service delivery cycle–from scoping and project planning to execution and client reporting. As the firm grows, challenges often arise: overbooked consultants, missed deadlines, and budget overruns driven by outdated tools or fragmented systems.

While separate platforms can address parts of the problem, a unified solution–Professional Services Automation (PSA) software–can bring structure, visibility, and control to the entire project lifecycle. The PSA market itself is also evolving quickly. In 2025, we‘re seeing smarter, AI-enhanced tools designed for modern consulting workflows, with improved mobile access and deeper integrations across your tech stack. For a deeper look at what‘s ahead, explore this 2025 PSA trends overview by Singularity Consulting.

In this article, we‘ll explore the top 10 PSA tools to help your consulting firm find the right fit for its evolving needs.

What is PSA Software and why consulting firms need it

Professional Services Automation (PSA) software helps consulting firms manage their entire project lifecycle in one place. Instead of using different tools for planning, time tracking, billing, and reporting, PSA brings everything together. It gives teams better visibility, improves coordination, and helps firms deliver projects on time and within budget.

Key features to look for in PSA Software

Good PSA software should support the way consulting teams work. Key features include project and task management, time and expense tracking, automated invoicing, and clear reporting. It’s also important that the software works well with your other tools, such as your CRM, accounting software, or calendar. A simple, user-friendly interface helps your team stay productive without a steep learning curve.

Benefits of Professional Services Automation Software for Consulting Firms

Benefits of Professional Services Automation Software include making day-to-day operations easier and more efficient. It reduces manual work, improves billing accuracy, and provides a clear view of how time and resources are being used. This helps consulting firms manage more projects with less stress, make better decisions, and scale their business with confidence.

While it’s possible to achieve these outcomes with separate tools, PSA software brings everything together into one platform. This not only reduces errors but also saves valuable time–time that can be better spent delivering high-quality services to clients

 

10 Best Professional Services Automation (PSA)
software in 2025

The right PSA software shouldn‘t just solve your current challenges–it should also support your firm‘s future growth. Choose a platform that‘s flexible, reliable, and able to adapt as your business evolves. A forward-looking PSA solution will help your consulting team stay competitive, efficient, and ready for whatever comes next.

1. Birdview PSA: End-to-end PSA Software

✅ Birdview PSA is a full-cycle professional services automation platform that helps professional service delivery teams plan, manage, and forecast resources, projects, and finances in one place.

✅ Birdview PSA offers a variety of advanced features to make sure you keep control of all stages of your service delivery cycle, from project initiation to final delivery. Thanks to the in-built Resource Planning Center, you can accurately identify whether you have enough resources to complete multiple active projects and forecast future resource demand.

✅ Birdview PSA is also integrated with MS Power BI for accurate reporting and data analysis. The solution can be easily scaled and customized by the client‘s needs and provides advanced functionality for project and financial management. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.

✅ Key Features: Powerful Resource Management (Resource Loading Center), Project Management and Collaboration, Time and Expenses Management, BI Reporting and Forecasting, Free Client Portal, Dashboards and Powerful BI Reports.

✅ AI continuously monitors for threats, enforces access controls, and automates compliance tasks. If it spots unusual activity, it acts immediately to protect sensitive data and keep your systems secure.

💡 What clients say: Most users note that that platform has a user-friendly and intuitive design which makes it easy to use for everyone on the team. Users also mention the ease of reporting and the platform’s PowerBI add-on that provides valuable insights into the projects‘ progress. Reports and other data can be easily extracted from the platform and shared with the company‘s stakeholders and clients. As for the downsides, most users mention their company-specific requests on functionality.

How to start: here is a 14-day free trial (can be extended up to 28 days)
How to ask for a demo: here is a link to the Birdview demo request

2. Accelo

Accelo is next in our list of 10 best PSA solutions. It is a cloud-based platform for streamlining client work delivery and automating the organization‘s business processes. The platform initially was built as a Service Operations Automation (ServOps) solution with the needs of client-based businesses in mind. It currently offers various solutions for sales, project management, time tracking, billing, retainers, and reporting. The company is headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

Key Features: Workplace Management, Sales Management, Project Management, Billing, Reporting

What clients say: The platform‘s users note that the Accello retainer management functionality has been very helpful and flexible. As for the downsides, users experience some issues with customizing the platform for their needs, and note that the learning curve is steep.

3. Planview

Planview is a cloud-based portfolio and work management platform that helps enterprises plan and execute multiple projects more effectively. Originally launched as a web-based resource management tool, it moved to the cloud in 2010. After acquiring Clarizen in 2021, Planview expanded its capabilities to include strategic portfolio planning, connecting goals, investments, and resources within a single unified system. The company is headquartered in Austin, Texas.

Key Features: Strategic, Project and Product Portfolio Management, Enterprise Agile Planning, Value Stream Management, Professional Services Automation

💡 What clients say: Most of the clients note that Planview offers multiple useful features for project management, as well as customization opportunities. However, some customers believe that the product is not very friendly and complex. In some cases, it requires more time to learn than other solutions.

4. Scoro

Scoro is an end-to-end work management software that allows professional services organizations to track everything from daily tasks and projects to team performance and sales within a single platform. The company was founded in Tallinn, Estonia in 2013 and has raised $6.9 million in investments in the next five years. The solution helps teams to streamline their daily work, and eliminate routine tasks to ensure continuous business workflows. The company is headquartered in London, England.

Key Features: Time Management, Project Management, Sales & CRM, Finances, Reporting & Dashboards

💡 What clients say: Most users note that the platform offers great customization options which make it possible to better align the solution with the company‘s needs and processes. They also mention a great job from Scoro‘s customer support team. As for the downsides, users mentioned that the tool has limited display options which make it difficult to keep track of everything that needs to be done.

5. BigTime

BigTime is a professional services automation platform that offers tools for tracking and managing the organization‘s key operational metrics such as time, expenses, and billing, for multiple projects. Based on the acquired data, the BigTime users can identify opportunities for future business improvement and growth. The company is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

Key Features: Time and expense Tracking, Project Management, Resource Management, Billing and invoicing, Reporting

💡 What clients say: Most reviews describe a great but yet a bit long onboarding process and how helpful the members of the BigTime customer support team were. As for the tool functionality, users find time and expense tracking, as well as invoicing features very useful. Some users mention that the reporting tools are not as intuitive as expected and it is sometimes difficult to create reports and capture specific business data.

6. Kantata

Kantata is a cloud-based PSA solution formed by the 2022 merger of Mavenlink and Kimble. Built to support professional services teams, it helps organizations optimize operations and improve performance. Kantata serves companies with 50 to 5,000+ employees across industries like marketing, software development, and consulting. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California.

Key Features: Resource Management, Operations Management, Financial Management, Team Collaboration, Business Intelligence, Project Management

💡 What clients say: Customers note that, overall, Kantata helps their teams visualize every step of a project cycle. However, they also mention that the learning curve is steep when it comes to reporting and non-customizable areas of some reports might be frustrating.

7. Workfront

This list of 10 best PSA solutions wouldn‘t be complete without this tool. Workfront is a collaborative work management platform that was acquired by Adobe Inc. in 2020. The solution aims to connect teams, projects, and data within a single space to help organizations deliver better results. Workfront offers native integrations with other Adobe solutions such as Creative Cloud and Experience Manager. The company is headquartered in Lehi, Utah.

Key Features: Work Automation, Scenario Planning, Workflow Management, Agile Work Management, Reporting, Approvals

💡 What clients say: Many users describe the tool as a great solution to manage multiple projects and tasks from one place. However, some users mention that the solution‘s reporting and API functionalities are limited and the learning curve is a bit long, especially for those users who are new to platforms like this one.

8. FinancialForce PSA

FinancialForce is a set of cloud-based solutions built on the Salesforce platform that initially started as a cloud accounting system back in 2009. In 2021, the company introduced FinancialForce PSA, a service management solution that provides visibility into all data across all departments within your organization. Besides PSA, FinancialForce also offers ERP and Customer Success Cloud solutions to help organizations reach their desired goals. Since all of the FinancialForce solutions are built on Salesforce, they can be easily integrated with Salesforce CRM to boost the company’s financial management capabilities.

Key Features: Accounting & Financial Management, Billing, Revenue Management, Financial Planning & Analysis, Order & Inventory Management, ERP Analytics

What clients say: Users note that the platform is great for planning the team workload and forecasting project needs. It also helps better organize project data and make projects look more structured. Multiple users mentioned that they are disturbed by the number of permissions each individual has and while it is good in general to have control over every detail, it can be overwhelming to get permission for every action you need to perform.

9. Polaris PSA

Polaris PSA is a PSA solution that originally started as a time management system created and owned by Replicon. The time tracking module later became one of the key strongest features of Polaris PSA. For instance, ZeroTim is an AI feature that allows tracking employee’s time without manual data entry. To log the time, users only need to submit the data and make adjustments if needed.

Polaris PSA offers various modules supporting professional services companies at every stage of the project management cycle. However, the platform covers fewer tasks than its competitors for fully-fledged, in-depth management of complex, multi-level projects and tasks. It is more focused on tasks related to time tracking, resources, and finances.

Key Features: Time and expense Management, Analytics, Project Management, Client Management, Financial Modeling, Practice & Program Management, Resource Management.

💡 What clients say: Most of the customers note how fast they can get a response from the support team and how its members are willing to solve any problems or questions about the product. They also mentioned that the platform has met almost all expectations in terms of the functionality for cost and expense tracking, as well as the user-friendly interface. As for the downsides, many customers would like to see a more modern product design and note that the product is not flexible enough in terms of its minimum subscription period.

10. Upland PSA

Formerly known as Tenrox, it began as a timesheet automation tool before evolving into a full PSA platform in 2019. Part of the broader Upland ecosystem, Upland PSA positions itself as the first knowledge-enabled PSA, combining services automation with proposal management, customer insights, and business intelligence. While it covers key areas like resource, project, and financial management, it can be extended with other Upland products for a more complete solution.

Key Features: Timesheet and Expense Automation, Resource Management, Project Management, Finances, Analytics

💡 What clients say: Most users are satisfied with the Upland PSA functionality for project and financial tracking and management. Moreover, customers note the diversity of the product‘s functionality when a company orders an extended package with survey management. As for the downsides, users mention that it might be hard to extract reports and that onsite activities cannot be properly tracked. The system is also hard to use when it comes to large projects, and it takes more time for the system to upload and refresh financial data. Apart from that Upland PSA cannot have multiple currencies entered for a single project.

📌 Why Birdview PSA is built for the future

Choosing the right PSA software isn‘t just about solving current challenges–it‘s about setting your business up for long-term success. Birdview PSA is designed to grow with your organization, offering the flexibility, visibility, and control consulting teams need to scale effectively. With a unified platform that adapts to evolving processes, Birdview empowers firms to stay agile, deliver consistently, and remain competitive in a fast-changing services landscape.

Gain full visibility, control, and confidence
with Birdview PSA

or

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How is PSA software different from project management tools?

While traditional project management tools focus on tasks and timelines, PSA software goes further. It combines project management with time tracking, resource planning, financials, and business intelligence–all in one platform. This makes it a better fit for consulting firms that need to manage both delivery and profitability.

What features should consulting firms look for in a PSA solution?

Key features to look for include project and resource management, time and expense tracking, invoicing, reporting dashboards, and integrations with CRM or accounting tools. Scalability, ease of use, and strong support are also essential for growing firms.

✅ Is PSA software only for large consulting firms?

Not at all. While PSA tools are often used by mid-sized and large firms, many platforms also support smaller consultancies. The key is choosing a solution that fits your current size but can scale as your business grows.

✅ How much does PSA software typically cost?

Pricing varies depending on the provider, the number of users, and the level of functionality. Some platforms offer subscription models based on users or modules, while others offer custom enterprise pricing. It‘s important to consider both the upfront cost and long-term ROI.

✅ How long does it take to implement a PSA system?

Implementation time can range from a few weeks to several months, depending on the complexity of your business and the platform you choose. Most vendors offer onboarding support, training, and setup assistance to ensure a smooth transition.

✅ Can Birdview PSA software integrate with the tools we already use?

Yes, most modern PSA platforms offer integrations with CRMs, accounting software, collaboration tools, and more. This helps ensure smooth data flow across your systems and reduces manual entry.

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