Full Sail Partners Blog

As we embark on a new year, it’s the perfect time to optimize processes and enhance productivity. With January's theme of "New Year, New Efficiency," we’ve realized that not everyone stays updated on our content. To help you catch up on last year's new features, Full Sail Partners analyzed our website to identify the most visited landing pages on our website. These pages highlight the tools and insights most sought after by our clients. Here’s a recap of the top 10 landing pages that exemplify our dedication to enhancing efficiency and streamlining workflows for project-based firms.

1. Smarter Project Docs in Minutes with Vantagepoint’s New Document Automation

Creating polished, client-ready documents has never been easier. With Deltek Vantagepoint’s Document Automation, users can eliminate tedious copy-pasting between multiple applications. In a mini-demo led by Senior CRM Consultant Wesley Witsken, viewers learned how to:

• Build compelling case studies in Word.
• Generate boilerplate agreements and proposals.
• Access team matrices to track contributions by Team members.
• Produce on-brand project documents in mere minutes.

This feature significantly reduces manual effort while maintaining high-quality standards in documentation.

Revisit this mini-demo here. 

2. Mastering Vantagepoint Connect Add-In for Outlook CRM Success

Led by Senior CRM Consultant Stephany Socha, this demo highlights how the Vantagepoint Outlook Connect Add-In enhances CRM functionality directly within Outlook. Users discovered how to:

• Gain visibility of firms, projects, and activities in their inbox.
• Manage contacts with ease to eliminate duplicate entries.
• Log activities and set reminders effortlessly.
• Synchronize calendars between Outlook and Vantagepoint.

This integration promises to streamline workflow and foster better communication within teams.

Watch it again here. 

3. From Pursuit to Award Without the Handoff Hassle

Winning new work is just the start. Presented by Principal Consultant Matt McCauley, in this demo, attendees were shown how Deltek Vantagepoint simplifies the transition from pursuit to award with project planning tools. Key features include:

• Seamless conversion from generic roles to named resources.
• Automatic assignment pushes to employee timesheets.
• Alert and dashpart activation to eliminate handoff challenges.

This functionality ensures that teams remain informed and aligned from day one. You can find it here. 

4. From Pursuit to Project: A Custom Vantagepoint Solution for Master Agreements

Managing Master Service Agreements (MSAs) efficiently is crucial. Principal Consultant Amanda Roussel led a walkthrough of a custom Vantagepoint hub designed to simplify MSA management, featuring:

• Tracking of MSAs, bonds, and associated projects.
• Linking pursuits to parent agreements.
• Real-time metrics on revenue and contract status.

This solution streamlines complex contracts, enhancing transparency for operations and project management teams.

See it in action here. 

5. What’s New in Deltek Vantagepoint 2025.3

Terri Agnew, Principal Consultant, unveiled the latest updates in Deltek Vantagepoint 2025.3, focusing on usability and efficiency improvements. Highlights include:

• Enhanced contract tracking features.
• New dashboard insights with user-defined hubs.
• Simplified billing management processes.

These upgrades empower users with greater control and insight, enhancing overall efficiency.

Learn more here. 

6. Upgrades, Imports, & Mergers – Navigating Data Migrations with Confidence

Data migration can make or break an ERP implementation. Join Jennifer Stevland as she covers the four types of migrations, sharing key insights on:

• Best practices for smooth data transitions.
• The importance of hiring expertise to avoid pitfalls.

This session serves as a valuable resource for firms planning upgrades or optimizing data management.

Watch it here. 

7. How HR Green Unified Marketing with HubSpot and Deltek Vantagepoint

Discovering ways to unify marketing and CRM systems is vital for seamless operations. This webinar featured a mini-demo on the new Blackbox Connector for HubSpot presented by Senior CRM Consultant, Wesley Witsken within Deltek Vantagepoint. Then Partner, Sarah Gonnella interviewed Gail Maldonado, CRM Database Manager at HR Green to highlight the game-changing impact the Deltek Vantagepoint HubSpot Connector had on HR Green’s marketing and CRM processes. Key benefits include:

• Targeting contact lists in Vantagepoint to sync with HubSpot.
• Tracking email campaign metrics in real-time.
• Enhancing visibility into marketing activities for project teams.

This integration enables a closed-loop marketing system that enhances collaboration.

8. Seamlessly Sync Employee Data Between Deltek Vantagepoint and ADP Workforce Now

The ADP Workforce Now Connector simplifies employee data management by eliminating duplication and errors. Joel Slater, Client Solutions Manager, showcased this powerful connector, emphasizing:

• Automated data sync between systems.
• Simplified onboarding processes for new hires.
• Enhanced reliability and accuracy for employee information.

This tool significantly reduces manual data entry efforts.

Learn more about this integration here.

9. Deltek Vantagepoint’s Timesheet Assistance

Managing timesheets can be cumbersome, but the Timesheet Assist feature in Deltek Vantagepoint 7.0 offers timely suggestions to help users stay on track. Presented by Consultant Amanda McClain and Senior Consultant Jenny Labranche, this mini-demonstration focuses on how Vantagepoint empowers firms to make data-driven decisions effortlessly. With real-time insights and robust analytics, organizations can pivot quickly and respond to challenges effectively.

This demo demonstrated how Timesheet Assist:

• Provides reminders based on past projects.
• Allows quick additions of suggestions to timesheets.
• Helps ensure accurate timekeeping across business processes.

Watch the 5-minute demo here.

10. How Deltek Dela Is Revolutionizing the Entire Project Lifecycle

Deltek Dela™ is an AI-powered assistant within Vantagepoint that transforms how project-based firms operate. Jake Lucas, AI Developer, presented how Dela:

• Provides smart summaries for quick insights.
• Answers questions instantly with "Ask Dela."
• Utilizes prediction tools to identify potential issues early.

This tool aids various teams, enhancing efficiency and project outcomes.

Watch again to start using it today.

Conclusion

As we kick off 2026, these top landing pages not only highlight what clients are interested in but serve as a reminder of the importance of efficiency in project management. Deltek Vantagepoint continues to evolve, offering innovative solutions that empower firms to work smarter, not harder. By integrating these tools and insights, organizations can position themselves for success in the year ahead.

So, you are moving to the Cloud!  Your company has made the move, and you have been assigned as the SaaS Administrator.  You may find yourself wondering, “What does this mean to me?  What do I need to do first? Where do I start?”  At first the task may seem overwhelming as you receive welcome letters, guides and instructions on “How to get started.”  We at Full Sail Partners want you to know that you are not alone. We have put together answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we get when a client moves their database to a cloud solution.

What do I need to do first?

As the SaaS Administrator, you will receive a welcome letter that contains links to your test environment as well as a lot of other information.  The most important task to perform at this time is to click the live link (sample above) to the Deltek SaaS Administrator Guide.  It will be your MVR (most valuable resource) during your transition to the cloud.

 

What is the next step after I familiarize myself with the SaaS Administrators guide?

The second most important task as the SaaS Administrator is to set up your Deltek Customer Care Account.  This is where most communication takes place between you and Deltek. It is where you perform all SaaS Administrator functions, open support tickets, and keep up to date on the latest happenings at Deltek. If you are an existing Deltek client and will be migrating data from an existing Vision database or a prior Deltek product, this portal will be the first stop in the process of transferring your files to the cloud. 

Can’t I just have Full Sail Partners set up my account?

Because of the importance placed on security, only the Saas Administrator can submit service requests on behalf of your firm.  These requests can only be submitted via your account on the Deltek Customer Care portal.  The SaaS administrator will work closely with Full Sail Partners on the implementation process.  However, only the SaaS Administrator can make service requests. These requests include database uploads, administrator password resets, request backups, database refreshes, or request a sandbox; they will also receive all system maintenance communications.  

How do I keep up with announcements regarding scheduled maintenance or service-related issues?

These communication emails will be sent from: Deltek Support Services <deltekss@deltek.com> Please work with your internal IT team to ensure this is a trusted email address and they aren’t filtered out by your firm’s spam filter. </deltekss@deltek.com>

As the primary person responsible, what if I am not available? Can a second Administrator be added?

Absolutely! Deltek encourages all clients in the Cloud to have at least one additional SaaS administrator assigned to their account.  You, as the SaaS administrator, can assign the rights to an additional SaaS administrator via the Deltek Customer Care Portal.  Once you are logged into Customer Care simply click on the Administer section, click on Manage Company Contacts, if the person has never had a customer care account, add them here by clicking ‘Add Contact’, if the person already has an account simply scroll down and click on their name and these select the correct radial buttons:

You may even assign Full Sail Partners as your second Administrator.  This will give us the ability to upload databases and custom files directly for you.  Your Full Sail Partners account manager can provide assistance if you decide to assign our firm as an additional SaaS administrator.

How do I add graphics to my firm's invoices?

Absolutely, just follow these quick steps:

You can upload any standard picture file format, such as PNG, JPG, BMP, or GIF. Uploading a large image file could slow down the upload process or cause a time-out error.

1. To upload an image:
2. In the Navigation pane, select Settings > Billing > Invoice Template Editor.
3. On the Actions bar of the Invoice Template Editor form, click Other Actions > Manage Images.
4. On the Available Images dialog box, click Upload Image.
5. On the Select Image to Upload dialog box, browse to the image file and click Open.
6. Click OK.

My firm has experienced a serious event that has created the need for our database to be restored to a specific point in time. Can this be done?

If you require a restore from a specific point in time, you may send the request through Deltek Customer Care indicating the past time frame you need for the restore.  You must also include the time that you would like for the restore to take place as your system will be unavailable while the restore is performed.  See below for Deltek’s current Backup and Retention Policy:

Is there any additional information I should review?

Being the SaaS Administrator is a very important assignment.  Keep in mind, you are the keystone for communication between your firm and Deltek.  Being informed by familiarizing yourself with the SaaS Administrator Guide is essential to your success as the SaaS Administrator for your firm. You can access the guide by typing: Vantagepoint Cloud Administrator’s Help System into the search box on Deltek’s Customer Care website.

Ready to take the next step?  Empower your employees through training!

Deltek now offers tons of training and learning opportunities at no cost to its clients by clicking the following link: https://learning.deltek.com/ From here you can personalize the learning hub and even create learning paths for your employees to follow.

Still have questions and not sure where to turn, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Full Sail Partners Account Manager, we are happy to assist you in this journey.

 

Denver did not disappoint. Between the mountain views, the packed keynotes, the nonstop conversations, and the surprise announcements (hello, Elevate 2027 👀)…this year’s ProjectCon was easily one of the most energizing yet.

Our Crew came home buzzing with insights, inspiration, and a whole lot of renewed excitement for where Deltek Vantagepoint is heading. Here’s what stood out most.

🚀 ProjectCon Becomes Elevate — and Moves to 2027

Shared by Sarah Gonnella

The biggest announcement of the week: Deltek ProjectCon is officially rebranding to Deltek Elevate and will next be held March 8–10, 2027 in Nashville, TN.

Cue the confetti. 🎉

For years, users have requested two things:
✔️ A name that sounds more modern and inspiring
✔️ A date that isn’t during the craziest time of year
Deltek listened.

“I love the name Elevate. And I love that the new date gives clients an entire year to focus on moving from Vision to Vantagepoint,” Sarah shared. “This change genuinely reflects Deltek paying attention to what firms need.”

We couldn’t agree more.

🤖 AI Isn’t the Future—It’s Right Now

Insights from Lindsay Diven, Scott Gailhouse & Wesley Witsken

AI took center stage this year, and each of our Crew members walked away with something different.

Human-Centric Marketing in an AI World

Lindsay captured one of the keynote’s biggest takeaways:

“2026 will be the year of AI agents, but marketing will actually become more human-centric. More authenticity. More in-person events. More small-group connection.”

This aligns perfectly with what we see across AEC firms: technology is accelerating, but relationships still drive results.

Overcoming AI Intimidation

Scott arrived hesitant about AI…but left empowered.

“Before the conference, AI was intimidating. But after hearing it in almost every session, I feel a lot more comfortable—and our clients will too.”

From a fear factor to a confidence boost. That’s the magic of ProjectCon.

New AI Innovations Inside Vantagepoint

Wesley, our CRM and proposal automation expert, was fired up about what’s coming:

“I’m excited about the AI advancements in Go/No-Go, potential proposal generation directly in Vantagepoint, and new updates to document automation—especially for creating resumes in the Employee Hub.”

Proposal people everywhere just exhaled. 😅

📊 Data at Your Service: A Big Win for Large Firms

Shared by Sparsha Muppidi

One of the most talked-about tech previews was Data at Your Service, Deltek’s new offering that connects Vantagepoint to a Snowflake data warehouse and then to any third-party tools.

Sparsha summed it up perfectly:

“It’s really exciting—especially for firms with 250+ employees. This gives clients new options to analyze data and make better business decisions.”

More data freedom = more business intelligence = more confident leadership.

Yes, please.

⛷️ Lessons in Resilience from Lindsey Vonn

Shared by Sarah Gonnella

Olympic legend Lindsey Vonn brought the inspiration this year. When asked how she manages risk on the slopes, she said:

Focus on what you can control. Prepare for what you can’t. Learn from every run. And release the rest.

It’s a message every project-based firm needs tattooed somewhere visible.

Projects are unpredictable. Clients shift. Staffing changes. Scope evolves. But preparation + mindset = resilience.

Lindsey could have been talking about project management.

🤝 The Best Part of ProjectCon? Easy: The People.

Shared by Kim Stamps

Amid all the announcements and innovations, Kim reminded us of the heart of this conference:

“My favorite part is seeing the clients I talk to all year. I love meeting them, hugging them if they’re huggers, shaking their hand, and just connecting face to face.”

If you stopped by our booth, chatted with us in the hallways, or joined us at the Mile High Mixer — thank you. Getting to connect in person is what keeps us coming back year after year.

📈 Wrapping Up: What This Means for 2026 & Beyond

This year’s ProjectCon was a turning point.

Here’s what we’re taking into the new year:

✨ AI will accelerate—but human connection will matter more than ever
✨ Data access and visibility are getting better for firms of all sizes
✨ Vantagepoint is becoming smarter, more automated, and more flexible
✨ The industry is shifting, and Deltek is shifting with it
✨ And in 2027, we’ll all be reuniting at Elevate with a full year of transformation behind us

Our Crew will be sharing their favorite sessions, tools, stats, and strategies in upcoming posts from now until the end of the year—so stay tuned.

Denver, you were incredible.

ProjectCon, you outdid yourself.

Elevate, we’re coming for you. 🏔️✨

 

In our “Get Ready for 2026!” series, we explored various aspects of Vantagepoint and how firms can optimize their processes related to their pipeline, contracts, resource planning, and dashboards. One effective approach is conducting Mini Navigation Analyses, which provide insights into specific areas of a firm’s operations, helping clarify one piece of the larger puzzle. However, when it becomes essential to evaluate multiple facets of a firm’s systems and processes, a two-day Navigational Analysis is the recommended path.

As discussed in our webinar on November 19th, upon completing the initial phases of this analysis, namely the fact-finding mission and needs assessment—firms receive a tailored efficiencies report. This report serves not just as a document but as a crucial action plan intended to help firms maximize their investment in Vantagepoint.

Let’s say your firm decides to complete the Navigational Analysis – then what? The real value lies in what you do next!

Why is Taking Action Important?

Taking action after completing a Navigational Analysis is crucial for several reasons:

1. Realization of Potential: The main objective of a Navigational Analysis is to identify opportunities for improvement within a firm’s systems and processes. Without taking action, firms may fail to capitalize on the insights and recommendations provided in the analysis, leaving potential efficiencies and enhancements untapped.
2. Implementation of Recommendations: The report generated from the analysis includes detailed recommendations across various areas, such as data cleanup, project lifecycle improvements, and reporting enhancements. Implementing these recommendations not only streamlines operations but also fosters a more efficient use of resources.
3. Achieving Goals: When firms initiate a Navigational Analysis, they typically aim to achieve specific goals—such as improved efficiency, better process understanding, and maximization of system capabilities. Action is necessary to ensure these goals are met; without them, the purpose of conducting the analysis may be undermined, and the firm may revert to inefficient practices.
4. Accountability and Engagement: Taking action fosters a culture of accountability within the organization. Engaging key stakeholders in the implementation process encourages teamwork and enhances communication, leading to a more cohesive effort towards achieving common objectives.
5. Continuous Improvement: The recommendations from the Navigational Analysis serve as a foundation for continuous improvement. By actively addressing the suggested changes, firms can establish a feedback loop that promotes ongoing optimization of processes and systems.
6. Enhanced Decision-Making: Implementing findings from the analysis enables firms to make informed decisions based on data and insights rather than intuition alone. This leads to better long-term planning and resource allocation.
7. Avoiding Complacency: Firms that do not act may fall into a pattern of complacency, relying on outdated practices rather than adapting to the latest information and technology. Taking steps based on the analysis helps a firm remain competitive and responsive to changing market conditions.

In summary, acting after a Navigational Analysis is essential for maximizing the benefits of the analysis, achieving defined goals, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability within the firm.

Managing the Report

To effectively utilize the recommendations, firms should follow a structured approach:

1. Deep Review: Key stakeholders should thoroughly review the report, which typically averages around 80 recommendations and spans over 20 pages.
2. Prioritization: Identify which findings require immediate attention versus those that can be addressed later.
3. Task Division: Discuss which recommendations the firm can tackle independently, and which may need external assistance.
4. Timing: Set a timeline for implementation, ensuring that tasks are completed in a cohesive and organized manner. 

Successful Client Case Studies

Several of our most successful clients have effectively acted on their Navigational Analysis reports. Below are just a few examples of this.

• One firm established departmental goals with specific, measurable initiatives incorporated into staff development plans for the upcoming year. These initiatives included implementing approval processes and transitioning data tracking from external spreadsheets to standardization within Vantagepoint.
• Another client formed a “Deltek Vantagepoint Optimization Team,” meeting regularly to divide tasks among departments, fostering accountability by reviewing progress in each session. This collaborative effort also enhanced inter-departmental understanding and support.
• A third client divided their report into four primary categories: CRM & Project Lifecycle, Transactional Accounting (AP, AR, Billing), Reporting/Dashboards, and Corporate Accounting. They established a defined scope in collaboration with our team, focusing on tier-one goals for the first-year post-analysis. An overall project manager was appointed to ensure team cohesion and alignment with the firm’s objectives.

The common thread among these examples lies in the importance of having a defined plan, setting realistic expectations, fostering accountability, and emphasizing teamwork. These firms have achieved notable success, seeing significant improvements in their systems and processes.

Call to Action! That is the point – right?

What is your firm’s next move? Does it need a mini-Nav focused on a specific area like CRM or Billing? If your team has experienced turnover or insufficient training, this could be an opportune moment for a full Navigational Analysis to assess overall system effectiveness.

Are you prepared to embark on the fact-finding mission in response to the common sentiments of “we don’t know what we don’t know,” or “this seems to take too long, but it’s the way we’ve always done things”?

Although year-end is quickly approaching, the time is now to plan your goals for 2026. Reach out to Full Sail Partners so we can discuss the best options to assist your firm in enhancing its operational efficiency. “The Road Ahead” starts with today’s action!

 

As your firm gears up for 2026, now’s the time to make sure your data isn’t just collected — it’s connected.

This blog is part of Navigate November: Get Ready for 2026!, our five-part series designed to help project-based firms perform their own mini Navigational Analysis and ensure their Deltek Vantagepoint system is ready for the year ahead.

In this installment, Senior Consultant Theresa Bowe explores how Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards give firm leaders the complete visibility they need to make confident, informed decisions. When pipeline, contract, and planning data come together in one place, you don’t just get numbers — you get clarity, accountability, and a clear path forward.

In the professional services industry, leaders cannot afford to make decisions based on outdated reports, siloed spreadsheets, or disconnected systems. Growth, profitability, and operational success depend on complete visibility across the entire project and business lifecycle—from identifying opportunities to winning contracts to planning work and delivering results.

Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards provide that full picture, transforming raw data into actionable intelligence. When pipeline, contract performance, resource planning, and financial metrics are all visible in one place, firm leaders gain clarity, accountability, and confidence in every decision they make.

Breaking Down Silos with Connected Dashboards

Traditionally, business development, project management, and resource planning teams operate using separate tools or data sources. As a result, executives often struggle to answer critical questions such as:

• Do we have enough pipeline to sustain our revenue goals?
• Are our ongoing projects performing to budget and margin expectations?
• Do we have the right resources available to deliver upcoming work?

Vantagepoint Dashboards break these silos by consolidating data into intuitive visualizations that reflect real-time firm performance. Dashboards provide a single source of truth that enables leaders to proactively identify risks, spot opportunities, and assign accountability across departments.

Learn how to build role-based views with calculated fields and conditional formatting in our Dashboards & Calculated Fields Mini-Demo.

Connecting Pipeline Data to Future Growth

A firm’s pipeline is more than a list of opportunities—it is the lifeblood of future revenue. Deltek dashboards allow leaders to see how opportunities are progressing, how close they are to conversion, and what their revenue impact will be if won. Key widgets such as Opportunity Stage Funnels, Forecasted Revenue by Month, and Win Rate Trackers enable leaders to immediately gauge whether the firm’s pipeline supports upcoming workload demands. These dashboards help business development teams stay focused on high-value pursuits, prioritize key clients, and measure performance over time.

For example, if the dashboard indicates that opportunities are heavily concentrated in early stages with few nearing contract award, it signals a potential future revenue gap. Leaders can act early, working with teams to accelerate pursuits or identify new markets.

Gaining Real-Time Control Over Contracts and Project Financials

Once an opportunity becomes a contract, dashboards shift focus to project delivery and profitability. Deltek Vantagepoint offers real-time visibility into contract utilization, fee burn, earned value, and margin performance—empowering Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards: Turn Pipeline, Contracts, and Planning Data into Strategic Action  to take action before issues escalate. Widgets such as Budget vs. Actuals, Remaining Fee Alerts, and Margin Trend Charts allow firms to track contract health from day one.

Instead of reacting to problems after financial reports are issued, project managers can see warning signs in real time. If labor is trending above plan, or if actual costs are outpacing earned revenue, dashboards flag those metrics immediately. This creates accountability and ensures the firm remains on track to deliver profitable work.

Aligning Planning and Resource Management with Business Priorities

Planning is where the future becomes operational reality. Firms need to know if they have the right people, with the right skills, available at the right time to deliver current and future work. Deltek Vantagepoint dashboards integrate resource planning data with pipeline and contract information to show staffing demand versus capacity. Leaders can see where workload will exceed resources, where individuals may be underutilized, and how project timelines will impact staffing needs.

For example, a Resource Utilization Gauge may reveal that a specific department is projected to exceed capacity in the next quarter due to several upcoming project starts. With this insight, leadership can make proactive staffing decisions—whether reallocating work, hiring, or engaging subcontractors—before utilization issues impact project delivery or employee morale.

Driving Accountability Across Every Level of the Firm

Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards are role-based, ensuring each stakeholder sees the metrics that matter most to their responsibilities:

• Executives review firmwide performance indicators such as revenue forecasts, profit margins, utilization rates, and backlog health.
• Project Managers track budgets, schedules, contract performance, and profitability on a project-by-project basis.
• Business Development Teams monitor pursuits, client engagement activities, win rates, and expected revenue contributions.
• Resource Managers view future staffing demands, availability, and allocation trends across the organization.

By aligning each role to measurable outcomes, dashboards foster a culture of accountability. Everyone knows what success looks like—and how their performance contributes to the firm’s overall goals.

From Data to Decisions: A Strategic Advantage

What sets Deltek Vantagepoint apart is not just the ability to display data, but the power to turn data into decisions. With connected dashboards, leaders are no longer guessing or reacting. They are anticipating, planning, and executing with precision. Pipeline insights inform staffing plans. Contract performance informs margin protection strategies. Resource data informs business development focus.

This level of visibility not only supports better decision-making—it gives firms a competitive edge. Those that can see the complete picture can act faster, stay ahead of risks, and capitalize on opportunities long before their competitors.

The Bottom Line

Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards empower firm leaders with integrated visibility across pipeline, contracts, and planning functions. By providing real-time performance insights and aligning accountability across departments, these dashboards enable firms to operate with clarity and control. In an industry where margins are tight and competition is fierce, connected intelligence is not optional—it is essential for sustainable growth and profitability.

Your Next Step in Getting Ready for 2026

As part of our Get Ready for 2026! series, we’re helping firms like yours connect the dots between data and decision-making. Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards bring pipeline, contracts, and planning together into a single source of truth — giving leaders the insight to act, not react.

If your firm is ready to turn disconnected reports into a clear roadmap for growth, our team can help you get there. Click the image below to get started.

As architecture and engineering (A&E) firms look ahead to 2026, one theme stands out above all others: planning isn’t just about winning projects — it’s about delivering them successfully.

In an industry where deadlines are tight, margins are narrow, and talent is in high demand, the difference between a firm that thrives and one that struggles often comes down to one thing — how effectively it uses its people.

According to the latest Deltek Clarity Report, optimism remains high across the industry, with 84% of A&E firms expecting profits to increase or hold steady next year. But behind that optimism lies a clear challenge: 63% of firms cite talent shortages as their top growth barrier. Combine that with increasingly complex projects and demanding clients, and it’s easy to see why precision planning will define success in 2026.

The firms poised for growth are the ones that go beyond traditional scheduling and forecasting. They’re embracing a more data-driven approach to resource planning — one that ensures the right people are working on the right projects at the right time. And they’re leveraging tools and insights, like Navigational Analysis and Deltek Vantagepoint, to make that level of precision possible.

Why 2026 Demands a Smarter Approach to Resource Planning

The A&E landscape is evolving quickly. Backlogs remain strong — up 9% year-over-year, per the Clarity Report — signaling a steady stream of project opportunities. Yet, with this growth comes new pressure to deliver faster, smarter, and with fewer people.

At the same time, only 41% of firms say they have clear visibility into their future workload and staffing capacity. Nearly one-third still rely on spreadsheets to manage resource planning, creating blind spots that lead to reactive decisions instead of proactive strategies. In this environment, relying on instinct or legacy practices is no longer enough. Firms need a clear, forward-looking view of their workforce — not just to staff current projects, but to ensure they have the talent to deliver future work. The stakes are high: underutilized teams drag down profitability (with the average industry utilization rate sitting at just 58.4%), while overextended staff drive burnout and turnover. In fact, 48% of firms identify workload balancing as their biggest employee retention challenge.

From Reactive to Strategic: Evaluating Your Planning Practices

Before firms can improve their resource planning, they first need to assess where they stand today. Too often, planning is treated as a reactive exercise — a scramble to assign people after a project is won. But strategic planning starts much earlier, aligning business development, project management, and human resources around a shared view of demand and capacity.

Here are key questions every firm should ask as they evaluate their approach:

• Do we have visibility into future workload and staffing needs? Accurate forecasting allows firms to anticipate gaps months in advance — not weeks.
• Are we aligning project pipelines with resource availability? Business development teams should understand when and where capacity exists before pursuing new work.
• How well are we balancing workloads across teams and disciplines? A strategic plan considers not just who is available, but who is best suited for each project phase.
• Are we proactively planning for growth and turnover? Recruitment and training strategies should be informed by the same data driving project staffing.

The Clarity Report reinforces that firms who excel in these areas see tangible results — top-performing firms are 2.5x more likely to use connected planning systems, achieving higher utilization and profitability.

How Navigational Analysis Uncovers Hidden Gaps

This is where Navigational Analysis becomes a powerful ally. By taking a holistic look at how a firm plans and utilizes its people, it uncovers misalignments that might otherwise go unnoticed:

• Staffing inefficiencies: Identifying overstaffed and understaffed roles before they impact profitability.
• Project resourcing conflicts: Spotting overlapping assignments or scheduling bottlenecks that delay delivery.
• Forecasting blind spots: Highlighting where project demand is likely to exceed available talent.
• Process weaknesses: Revealing where planning workflows break down — often at the handoff points between business development, project management, and operations.

When firms use these insights to refine staffing models and project timelines, they gain measurable improvements. According to Deltek Clarity, firms that track forecast accuracy and adjust plans quarterly report 11% higher utilization rates than those that don’t.

The result? A more agile, efficient workforce — one that’s ready to meet 2026’s challenges head-on.

Turning Insight into Action with Deltek Vantagepoint

Insights are only valuable if you can act on them — and that’s where Deltek Vantagepoint comes in. The platform brings resource planning, project forecasting, and talent management into one connected system, giving A&E leaders the visibility they need to make smarter decisions.

With Deltek Vantagepoint, firms can:

• Create data-driven staffing plans that align people with projects based on availability, skills, and profitability.
• Use real-time utilization data to quickly course-correct when workloads shift.
• Improve cross-department collaboration, ensuring business development, project management, and HR work from a shared plan.
• Forecast future resource needs with confidence — enabling better recruitment and training strategies.

This level of integration transforms planning from a reactive process into a strategic advantage — one that drives profitability, improves project outcomes, and strengthens a firm’s ability to deliver exceptional client experiences.

 

Plan for More Than Just Projects — Plan for Success

Winning work is important. But without a plan to deploy your people effectively, winning isn’t enough. In 2026, the most successful A&E firms will be those that treat planning as a strategic discipline — one that’s embedded in every stage of their business, from pursuit to project closeout.

By evaluating current practices, leveraging insights from Navigational Analysis, and investing in tools like Deltek Vantagepoint, firms can ensure they’re not just ready for the projects ahead — they’re ready to deliver them with precision, efficiency, and excellence.

Learn how Deltek Vantagepoint can support your planning.

As we sail toward 2026, now’s the perfect time to take a hard look at your firm’s financial engine. Is your Deltek Vantagepoint setup helping you steer confidently toward growth—or are you still paddling upstream with spreadsheets and manual workarounds?

If you’re serious about getting ready for 2026, it’s time to make sure your contracts, billing, and revenue management processes are all working together inside one source of truth—Vantagepoint.

Ditch the Spreadsheets, Find Your Source of Truth

Think about all the places your firm might be tracking financial data. How many Excel files are floating around outside the system? Are invoices being created manually and re-entered into Vantagepoint later? Is retainage tracked in a separate document—or worse, not tracked at all?

Every disconnected process creates a gap in your data integrity. And when you’re making financial decisions based on incomplete or inconsistent data, that’s not confidence—that’s chaos.

Vantagepoint has the tools to bring all of it together. But are you using them to their full potential?

Get Smart About Billing

Vantagepoint’s billing module isn’t just robust—it’s built to help your team bill smarter, faster, and more accurately. Ask yourself:

• Are timesheets and cost rates entered consistently across the team?
• Are your projects structured with a proper work breakdown (WBS) that matches how the work actually flows?
• Are your invoices being generated and posted through Vantagepoint—then sent straight to clients?
• Do you use batch billing for drafts and approval workflows to prevent errors?

And when it comes to deeper insights—are you tracking reimbursable expenses, allocating billed revenue correctly, and taking advantage of retainers and retainage functions within the system?

When these pieces work together, your billing process stops being a chore and starts being a source of clarity.

Master Your Contracts and Budgets

If billing is the heartbeat, contract management is the backbone. When your firm tracks contracts and budgets directly in Vantagepoint, everything else becomes easier—forecasting, reporting, even project planning.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

• Capturing all contract compensation, including direct and indirect categories.
• Tracking status changes and amendments using Contract Management.
• Entering project costs in Budgeting to compare expected vs. actual performance.
• Using Estimated Fees or Revenue Forecasting to plan future cash flow.

Once your contracts and billing are fully aligned in Vantagepoint, the ripple effects are powerful—more accurate forecasts, stronger dashboards, and better confidence in every financial report.

Build 2026 on a Stronger Financial Foundation

Getting your contracts and billing processes right isn’t just an accounting exercise—it’s a growth strategy. With the right setup in Vantagepoint, you’ll spend less time reconciling data and more time planning your firm’s next big move.

If you’re not sure where your system stands—or if some of these questions hit a little too close to home—our team can help.

👉 Reach out to our Vantagepoint experts to make sure your firm is ready to show the money in 2026 and beyond. Click below to get started today.

This article kicks off our five-part “Get Ready for 2026!” series—each week we’ll explore a key area of your business that helps set the stage for a successful year ahead. First up: Pipeline and Revenue Forecasting.

As the year winds down, many firms are knee-deep in planning for 2026—forecasting revenue, setting sales goals, and building business development strategies. But before you finalize next year’s plan, take a step back and ask yourself:

Do you have full visibility into your firm’s pipeline—or are you relying on guesswork?

A healthy pipeline is more than a list of upcoming opportunities. It’s your firm’s early warning system, strategic compass, and most reliable indicator of future success. Without it, even the most carefully crafted plans can unravel when reality doesn’t align with expectations.

Why Pipeline Visibility Matters

Pipeline visibility empowers leaders with clarity to make confident, data-driven decisions. It reveals where opportunities originate, which markets are gaining momentum, and how today’s efforts will drive tomorrow’s revenue.

Too often, firms operate with only partial visibility—tracking wins and backlog while overlooking opportunities still in motion. This narrow view turns forecasting into guesswork, triggering last-minute scrambles and stretching teams beyond capacity.

By consistently tracking opportunities through every stage of the pursuit process, your team can spot patterns that reveal:

• Which clients or sectors are most profitable
• Where proposals tend to stall or get lost
• How marketing and business development efforts impact the bottom line

These insights shift your firm from reactive to proactive—empowering smarter go/no-go decisions and enabling you to allocate resources where they’ll drive the greatest impact.

The Real Cost of Pursuing Work

Every proposal carries a cost—time, effort, and focus. Without understanding that cost, it’s nearly impossible to evaluate whether the return is worth the investment.

Tracking the cost of winning work brings those hidden expenses to light. For example, if your proposal team is stretched thin or technical staff are pulled away from billable projects for low-probability pursuits, your profitability suffers long before the contract is ever signed.

By understanding these metrics, firms can prioritize high-value opportunities, protect billable hours, and ensure teams are focused where it matters most. It’s not about chasing every project—it’s about chasing the right ones.

Turning Data into Direction

Once your pipeline data is consistent and reliable, it becomes one of the most powerful tools in your business strategy. Within Deltek Vantagepoint, firms can visualize pipeline stages, track win rates, and forecast revenue with precision—no spreadsheets required.

Imagine being able to answer questions like:

• What is our projected revenue for the next two quarters?
• Which markets are performing above expectations?
• Do we have enough resources to deliver upcoming work?

With clear visibility into what’s ahead, your team can adjust course early—before potential issues become costly roadblocks.

From Insight to Action

Pipeline visibility isn’t just about metrics; it’s about momentum. When marketing, operations, and finance teams share the same data, collaboration improves and strategic decisions become faster and more effective.

As you plan for 2026, take a moment to evaluate your pipeline. Is it accurate? Is it up to date? Most importantly, is it helping your leadership team make smarter business decisions?

A clear pipeline gives you the confidence to plan with purpose—and the foresight to keep your firm moving in the right direction.

Need Help Building a Reliable Pipeline in Deltek Vantagepoint?

Your pipeline is only as good as the data behind it. If you’re struggling to track opportunities, forecast revenue, or make confident decisions from your Deltek Vantagepoint CRM, our experts can help.

The Full Sail Partners CRM consulting team specializes in setting up, customizing, and optimizing Vantagepoint to transform pipeline data into actionable insights that drive growth.

Click the image below to get started.

 

If you’ve ever spent hours reformatting project sheets, fee proposals, or team summaries—only to realize you were using outdated data—you’re going to love this.

Deltek Vantagepoint’s new Document Automation feature is here to save you from that pain (and probably a few late nights, too).

The Magic of Document Automation ✨

You already know Vantagepoint can generate reports, dashboards, and exports—but Document Automation takes it a step further. It lets you create polished, client-ready documents directly from your browser using live data from Vantagepoint.

Think of it as your shortcut to professional-looking deliverables in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint—without ever leaving the system.

The best part? The templates pull your firm’s actual data (including custom fields and grids), so your documents stay perfectly in sync with what’s already in Vantagepoint. No more duplicate files or outdated info hiding in random network folders.

Right now, Document Automation lives in the Projects Hub, but Deltek has plans to expand it to other hubs soon. And trust me—you’ll want to be ready for that.

Real-World Use Cases You’ll See in Action

In my upcoming mini-demo, I’ll walk through three powerful (and practical) ways to put this tool to work for your firm:

1. Project Case Studies

Tired of maintaining static PDFs or Word files for every project? With Document Automation, you can instantly generate up-to-date case studies using live project data. Each page pulls data directly from your Vantagepoint records, pre-formatted with your firm’s branding, and ready to drop into a proposal or marketing package.

2. Fee Proposals

Project managers, this one’s for you.

Instead of copy-pasting from outdated templates, you can use Document Automation—plus a little workflow magic—to build fee proposals that pull directly from Vantagepoint fields and even the Boilerplates Hub. Scopes, exclusions, and terms all populate automatically. The result? A polished proposal that’s accurate, consistent, and includes your firm’s letterhead—all with one click.

3. Team Matrices

Ever need to show who’s worked on what? With Document Automation and Excel, you can create a clean, pivot-table-style Team Matrix showing which team members worked on selected projects. It’s perfect for internal reviews or proposal resumes—and it looks great, too.

Why This Matters

Document Automation does more than make things look nice (though it absolutely does that). It helps your firm:

• 🧭 Maintain Vantagepoint as a single source of truth
• 🕒 Save time spent hunting down and reformatting project info
• 📄 Eliminate outdated or duplicate document versions
• 💡 Create consistency across departments—marketing, project management, and accounting alike

Want to See It in Action?

Join me for a 15-minute mini-demo where I’ll walk through exactly how these templates are built and used inside Vantagepoint. You’ll see how to generate:

• Project case studies
• Fee proposals
• Team matrices

—all without ever leaving your browser.

👉 Register here to save your spot!

If your firm is ready to modernize how you produce proposals, reports, and project documents, our CRM experts can help you set up your own templates and workflows to get the most out of this powerful feature.

 

The way we work has changed and looks very different than it did even just a decade ago. Teams are no longer tied to one office or one location, and many employees are collaborating from home, on project sites, and even across the world. While this shift has opened exciting opportunities such as new levels of productivity and talent reach, it also creates unique challenges around data access, security, and system performance leading management to ask, “How can firms keep everyone connected, secure, and equipped to grow?”

That’s where cloud hosting solutions come in. By moving your firm’s systems and data to the cloud, you can give your teams the secure access they need, while ensuring your business is ready to scale as it grows.

Secure Access from Anywhere

One of the most critical requirements for today’s workforce is the ability to access information and applications from any location. In today’s business environment, flexibility is key. Cloud hosting allows employees to log in securely whether they’re in the office, on the road, or at a client site. Instead of being limited to a single computer or network, your team can access the tools and information they need whenever and wherever they’re working.

For executives, this also means more reliable visibility into project performance and financials. Leaders can access dashboards, reports, and KPIs in real time—without waiting for updates from siloed systems. That level of access supports faster decision-making, better client responsiveness, and stronger competitive positioning.

Protecting What Matters Most

Security is not optional—it’s essential. Cybersecurity threats are a concern for every business, and for good reason. Cloud hosting providers offer layers of protection that go far beyond what most firms can maintain on their own, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and continuous monitoring. By leveraging a cloud hosting solution, firms can confidently protect client data and proprietary information, meeting both internal security needs and regulatory requirements. This means peace of mind for executives and confidence for your clients.

For IT managers, cloud hosting also provides access to enterprise-grade security tools without the burden of managing them in-house. Routine patches, threat detection, and compliance audits are handled by experts, reducing risk while freeing up valuable internal resources.

Effortless Scalability

Growth brings opportunity—and technical demands. Adding new staff, projects, or locations can put strain on in-house systems. As your firm takes on new projects or adds more staff, your technology needs to grow too. With cloud hosting, scaling is simple. You can quickly add capacity or users without having to purchase new servers or go through complicated system upgrades. It’s a solution designed to grow with your business, not hold it back.

This agility is especially valuable for project-based firms that experience seasonal or project-driven fluctuations in demand. The ability to scale up or down ensures resources are used efficiently, helping to maximize profitability while supporting business expansion.

Simplifying IT Management

Managing IT infrastructure in-house can be expensive and time-consuming. Cloud hosting shifts that responsibility to the hosting provider. With cloud hosting, firms no longer need to budget for costly servers, hardware upgrades, or extensive onsite IT staff. The hosting provider is the one that will handle updates, maintenance, and troubleshooting, so your team can focus on serving clients and growing the business.

For executives, the predictable monthly cost structure provides budgeting clarity, while IT leaders benefit from being able to redirect their focus from “keeping the lights on” to more strategic initiatives like digital transformation and data analytics.

Making the Move with Confidence

For firms embracing remote teams and distributed project sites, cloud hosting is more than just a technology upgrade—it’s a strategic investment. By delivering secure remote access, protecting what matters most, and offering effortless scalability, hosting solutions empower the agile workforce to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving business environment.

Whether you’re an executive looking for business continuity and growth or an IT manager seeking operational efficiency and reduced risk, cloud hosting positions your firm to meet today’s demands—and tomorrow’s opportunities.

Ready to explore how Deltek Cloud hosting can support your firm’s future?

Take the first step today by filling out our Cloud Conversion Interest Form. Our team will help you evaluate your options and build a secure, scalable path forward.