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How does your firm measure up? That is the vital question many architectural and engineering (AE) firms should be asking themselves. It is challenging to manage what you are unable to measure! There are several key performance metrics that an AE firm should use to determine its current status. These measurements are important to not only keep you abreast of the condition of your company, but they also allow you to examine the past, so you can plan for the future. Let’s look at a few of the significant performance metrics. 

Proposal Win Rate

When we talk about Proposal Win Rate, we're essentially looking at how effective your business development efforts are at turning potential leads into actual projects. It's like keeping score on how well you're playing the business game! By tracking this rate, you gain valuable insights into what strategies are paying off and which ones might need a little tweaking. 

Even the tiniest improvement in your win rate can have a huge impact on your bottom line. Think about it – landing just a few more projects out of every ten proposals can make a significant difference in your profitability.  

In the fiercely competitive world of AE firms, the ability to gain new business is like having a superpower. It's what sets successful firms apart from the rest. So, honing your business development skills and consistently improving your win rate is critical to your success. 

Here's a pro tip: When analyzing your Proposal Win Rate, pay attention to the reasons behind both your wins and losses. Learning from both successes and setbacks is the secret sauce to continuous improvement. You might discover patterns that can help you replicate your victories or identify areas that need some extra attention. 

Profit

Profit is a crucial metric for any AE firm’s success. It tells you how well your firm is doing financially. It's the money left over after deducting all expenses from your gross income. Profitability metrics help AE firms figure out which projects are worth pursuing. It shows you if you're making enough money to keep your operations going and growing. 

Analyzing your profit helps you make smart decisions about where to focus your efforts and resources. It's like a report card for your financial performance. Being profitable is essential for your firm's sustainability and growth. It allows you to invest in your business and attract top talent. 

But don't get too fixated on profit alone. Keep in mind that different projects may have different profit margins and timelines. 

By keeping a close eye on your profit over time and comparing it to your goals, you can spot areas for improvement and make informed decisions for a prosperous future. 

Labor Utilization

Labor utilization is a metric that helps you measure your team's efficiency. It ensures you have the right number of employees for optimal performance. By analyzing labor utilization, you can identify both high and low performers, enabling you to take targeted actions for improvement. 

To maintain an effective labor utilization rate, review both billable (direct) and non-billable (indirect) hours. Monitoring this metric allows you to make data-driven decisions and allocate resources wisely for maximum productivity. 

A well-utilized team leads to a happy and productive work environment, driving your firm's success. Keep an eye on labor utilization for a thriving team and business! 

Net Revenue/Operating Income

Net revenue and operating income are like a dynamic duo that keeps your business running smoothly and efficiently. Let's take a closer look at these essential metrics and understand why they're crucial for your AE firm's financial success. 

First up, net revenue is the lifeblood of your business. It's the total revenue your firm generates after deducting any discounts, returns, or allowances. Think of it as the fuel that keeps your business engine roaring. Without sufficient net revenue, your firm's growth and sustainability could hit a roadblock. 

Operating income, on the other hand, measures your business's capacity to take on new projects while covering all operating expenses. It's like a litmus test of your firm's operational efficiency. By subtracting your operating expenses from your net revenue, you get a clear picture of how much profit you're generating from your core operations. 

Now, here comes the interesting part: net revenue also sheds light on your firm's relationship with subcontractors. It shows how much of your revenue goes to paying them for their services, leaving you with the revenue that your firm retains for its own services. Understanding this breakdown helps you gauge the impact of subcontracting on your profitability. 

By carefully tracking net revenue and operating income, you can make informed decisions about pricing, resource allocation, and investment opportunities. It's like having a compass that points you in the direction of profitability and growth. 

For example, if you notice that your net revenue is high, but your operating income is lagging, it could signal inefficiencies in your operations or excessive costs that need addressing. On the other hand, if your operating income is strong, but net revenue is low, it might be time to revisit your pricing strategies or explore new revenue streams. 

In a nutshell, net revenue and operating income are two sides of the same coin. Together, they provide valuable insights into your business's financial health, helping you steer it toward prosperity. 

So, pay close attention to this financial power duo. Regularly monitor their performance, set targets, and use the insights gained to fine-tune your business strategies. With net revenue and operating income on your side, you'll be well-equipped to navigate the waters of profitability and keep your AE firm thriving! 

Backlog

The backlog metric is your firm's project navigator, keeping you on course within your budget. By tracking both ongoing projects and potential wins, it provides a clear picture of your workload and budget needs. This insight helps you plan ahead, allocate resources effectively, and deliver top-notch results to your clients. Regularly keeping an eye on your backlog ensures you stay on track and sail smoothly toward success! 

Client Loyalty

For any AE firm to grow and continue to be successful, client loyalty is a necessity. It is important for both word-of-mouth referrals and repeat business. Meeting client expectations, proactively engaging in client feedback, and acting on areas that need improvement are all essential to keeping loyalty. 

Cost of New Business

When it comes to growing your AE firm, new business opportunities can lead the way. But expanding also means there are costs involved. Measuring these costs helps you choose which opportunities are worth pursuing and if the potential gains are worth the investment. Remember, calculated risks can lead to profitable growth. So, keep an eye on the cost of new business and set your company on a path of strategic expansion! 

Measuring Up the Firm

Keeping a close eye on key performance metrics is the secret sauce to your AE firm's ongoing success. We've explored some noteworthy metrics today, but there's a whole world of data waiting to be discovered. It's up to you to decide which metrics align best with your firm's goals. 

To see how your firm measures up with these KPIs and gain valuable insights into the A&E industry, we encourage you to download the latest Annual Deltek Clarity A&E Industry Study by clicking the image below. This study contains valuable information to aid your decision-making and stay ahead of the competition. 

Remember, the path to prosperity starts with data-driven decision-making. Equip your firm with the right metrics, ensure your team understands the goals, and set sail toward a brighter, more successful future! 🚀 

At Full Sail Partners, we firmly believe in the transformative power of the business benchmarking process. It serves as a vital tool that empowers professional services firms like yours to make well-informed decisions, streamline operations, and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. To achieve optimal results, we advocate adopting an approach that encompasses four essential steps. These steps lay the foundation for a comprehensive and effective benchmarking strategy, allowing you to unlock the full potential of your business. 

#1 Look for Benchmarking Resources

If you're just getting started in the world of benchmarking, it's always beneficial to get a glimpse of how other professional services firms handle this process and measure up against your own company. There's an abundance of industry experts and organizations out there who generously share valuable insights into their benchmarking practices.

By taking advantage of these resources, you'll gain valuable knowledge and a broader perspective on benchmarking strategies. You'll be able to see firsthand how successful companies approach this process and uncover valuable tips and tricks to apply within your own professional services firm. So, don't hesitate to tap into this wealth of information and discover the key to benchmarking excellence.

Here are a few of our personal favorite resources that you'll want to check out:

• Deltek 
• Forrester 
• Gartner
• Hinge Marketing 
• IDC 
• Society for Marketing Professional Services 
• Vision Edge Marketing 

There are countless other companies and organizations out there who are also avid benchmarkers, so don't hesitate to explore further and discover even more insightful resources.

#2 Choose Your KPIs to Measure Success 

This is where we get to choose the meaningful measurements that will serve as your benchmarks or standards. Don't worry, we've got an array of exciting key performance indicators (KPIs) to explore—financial and project-related statistics that provide valuable insights into your professional services firm's performance. It’s like finding the perfect recipe for success! 

In the world of professional services firms, there's a whole bunch of KPIs that can help you gauge your organization's financial and operational health. Here are some of the widely used favorites: 

• Accounts Receivable
• Average Collection Period
• Chargeable Ratio
• Chargeable Ratio times Net Multiplier
• Current Ratio
• Debt to Equity Ratio
• Employee Realization
• Employee Utilization
• Estimate at Completion (EAC)
• Estimated to Complete (ETC)
• Net Multiplier
• Net Revenue per Technical Staff
• Net Revenue per Total Staff
• Overhead before Discretionary Distributions
• Profit on Net Revenues before Taxes and Distributions
• Return on Owners’ Equity
  
  

Now, it's time to do some soul-searching and consider which of these metrics truly encapsulates success for your unique organization. Establish corresponding benchmarks that align with your firm's historical performance, industry surveys, specialized standards, your company's philosophy, or even a delightful combination of factors. The goal is to create a tailored measuring tape that fits your organization like a glove.

When selecting professional services firms to benchmark against, think about factors like industry, geography, and size. The more similarities they share with your firm, the more relevant and valid their metrics will be. It's all about finding those perfect benchmarking buddies who can inspire and guide you toward greatness.

#3 Diligently Track Your Data

With the metrics identified and the benchmarks set to evaluate your professional services firm's performance, it's time to engage in diligent data tracking. Fortunately, there are various options available to streamline this process. 

While traditional methods like one-off spreadsheets and makeshift workarounds may seem tempting, we highly recommend exploring sophisticated software packages tailored to your specific needs. These solutions range from advanced accounting software that effectively monitors financial statistics to specialized project management tools designed to meticulously track individual projects. 

However, allow me to introduce an even more compelling alternative: a purpose-built Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system such as Deltek Vantagepoint. This comprehensive solution seamlessly integrates data from both the front office (project-related activities) and the back office (accounting operations). Imagine having a reliable sidekick that offers real-time, comprehensive visibility into all the aforementioned metrics. But it doesn't stop there—Deltek Vantagepoint also optimizes project and staff oversight, automates manual processes (including Customer Relationship Management and business development), and significantly enhances operational efficiency. 

Whether you opt for a combination of software programs or embrace the unified power of Deltek Vantagepoint, it is essential to utilize consistent and continuous data collection. This is an ongoing endeavor that ensures you stay well-informed and propels your professional services firm towards remarkable achievements. So, let's implement robust systems, leverage cutting-edge technology, and diligently track that data to stay ahead of the curve as accomplished benchmarkers. 

#4 Use Your Benchmarks to Make Data-Driven Decisions 

This is where we close the loop and ensure that the right data reaches the right people in a timely manner. It's all about fostering a management commitment to utilizing data for decision making and trust me, it's a game-changer. 

Imagine this scenario: You have schedule-based metrics at your disposal. Not only do they help you determine if a project is currently on budget, but they also shed light on whether it will ultimately stay within the overall budget. If the Estimate at Completion (EAC) surpasses the overall budget, management faces a pivotal choice. They might decide to reduce future expenditures or accept that the project will go over budget, while also identifying where the slippage occurred (perhaps those additional services contracts slipped through the cracks). Mind you, this is just one example. Depending on the specific underperforming metric and the degree of deviation from the desired benchmark, management will have an array of options and decisions to make. 

Now, let's uncover the secret to success in this phase of the benchmarking process: granting management access to all the vital metrics at any given moment. While manual methods can be employed to gather and present this information, there's a far more efficient way to do it—automated KPI dashboards. These customizable features, available in Deltek Vantagepoint, serve as your trusty sidekick, delivering essential data to management in a snap. 

By embracing this data-driven decision-making approach, you unlock the power to steer your professional services firm with precision and confidence. So, let's ensure the flow of valuable insights reaches decision-makers in a timely manner, empowering them to make informed choices that propel your company to new heights of success. 

Don’t Wait, Start Now! 

Regardless of the approach you choose to identify and track your professional services firm's benchmarking information, rest assured that the process yields substantial dividends. It grants your firm a more relevant and up-to-date understanding of its performance, positioning you for success. Equally important, it enables proactive measures to address underlying issues before they escalate into significant challenges, thereby increasing the likelihood of achieving both project and financial success.   

The future of a professional services firm's success begins with benchmarking. Embrace it, harness it, and let it guide us towards a prosperous tomorrow.  

One of the topics that keeps arising from the Deltek user base is utilizing business intelligence (BI) tools. Firms are seeking out BI tools for different reasons, but all are looking to provide further analysis and visibility to employees within the firm. Some of the key products firms are investigating include Power BI to Tableau to Informer. So, what is the best BI tool for Deltek Vantagepoint users? Let’s dive in and discuss why firms are searching out BI tools and discuss what we have found to be the best solution. 

Clients Want More

The Deltek Vantagepoint product is robust and provides many out-of-the-box visuals and dashboards, but there are some further capabilities that require users to turn to a BI tool. Some of the most common features include: 

• Report upon any table or field not just pre-selected datasets 

• Create visuals combining different hubs or tables (For example, Project and GL Reports) 

• Enhance drilldown capabilities from a visual

• Combine outside data from payroll, marketing solutions, etc. 

• Track against goals, KPIs, and industry benchmarks 

Why Entrinsik Informer Stands Out Amongst Other Business Intelligence Solutions 

1. Out-of-the-Box Standards – No more starting from scratch and spending months and even years building out something that could be available to you day one. Our team has built what we call the gold standard, a starting point for project-based firms. On the first meeting, our team will show you how your data looks in our out-of-the-box datasets, visuals and dashboards. We will then work with your team to tweak datasets to your definitions and work with you to validate the data. Our gold standard includes visuals from the executive down to the employee and every role in between. 

2. Reduce Burden on IT – Deploying a BI tool can be cumbersome for technology teams. Our streamlined approach to deploy a BI solution saves time and resources. Most tools require in-depth database programming skillsets, such as SQL. One of the key benefits of Entrinsik Informer is its intuitive and user-friendly capabilities, including dataset and visual design. Informer also scales to meet the needs of organizations as they grow and evolve, so companies do not have to sweat about the future.  

3. Integrated Security with Deltek Vantagepoint  – Informer utilizes the same security protocols utilized with your Deltek product streamlining the login process. A key advantage is user security data can be assigned in Deltek. As an example, when users are disabled within your Deltek product, they are also disabled within Informer. 
   

4. Drilldown Capabilities is Built-in  – Informer offers built-in drilldowns to transactional data on visuals. The drilldowns are automatically configured on visuals. In other BI tools, it is just another thing you have to design, but not in Informer. 
   

5. Cloud Compatible  – Deltek users in the cloud need not worry. Another benefit of Entrinsik Informer is that it is Deltek cloud compatible by using FLEX direct database access.  

6. Combine Outside Data  – Users can combine multiple outside data sources. For example, firms can bring in payroll data or other third-party solution data for further analysis.

7. Send Reports and Alerts Based on Conditions  – Informer allows users to tap into their data and email certain filtered views to internal or external recipients. Emails and alerts can be scheduled on any conditional criteria. For example, as Project Managers utilize 80% of their budget, an email can be sent with a link to their dashboard and a breakdown of time on their project.

8. Schedule Data Updates On-Demand – Users can schedule data to be refreshed on-demand or at specific time intervals. Datasets can also be scheduled at separate intervals. Some BI tools lack this flexibility, and all data is refreshed at one time. For example, opportunities may be updated every two hours, projects updated nightly, and income statements updated monthly after postings.

9. Mobile Accessibility – Dashboards can be viewed on-the-go on any mobile device. One of the key differentiators between Entrinsik Informer and other BI tools is its drilldown capability. Informer content is automatically configured for mobile viewing without any additional development.

10. Easily Create Firm Documents – Informer is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, even for those without technical expertise. With Informer templates, firms can automate manual form and template creation with ease. Examples include firm invoices, fee proposals, custom reports, and more. Templates are highly customizable and won’t break when Deltek Vision or Vantagepoint is updated, allowing the template to be used well into the future.

See Informer in Action

Entrinsik Informer provides a combination of ease of use, customization, integration, speed, affordability, and scalability that sets it apart from other business intelligence tools on the market. If you are ready to see more, we recommend checking out this previously presented demonstration webinar to see highlights of the capabilities of the product. Power BI, Tableau, and Informer each offer unique features, but our clients believe Deltek users will find Informer to be the best business intelligence tool option. Click the image below to watch our webinar providing a more in-depth analysis of the capabilities of each of these products and learn what the future holds for BI tools. 

Have you heard of doing a temperature check to help you gauge the health of your relationships? While Employee Engagement Surveys are temperature checks for the Employer-Employee relationship, equally important is the Employer-Candidate (Talent Acquisition) relationship. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are great ways to measure the effectiveness of a company’s recruitment process.  

To stay competitive in the Professional Services industry talent market for 2023, HR professionals and business leaders are reevaluating their recruiting strategies. Determining your company’s top talent acquisition KPIs is an effective way to identify critical strategies. KPIs provide data to recruiters and HR professionals on areas of improvement and show the value and ROI for specific recruitment actions. So, what are some popular talent acquisition KPIs for this year? Let’s look at 5 top talent acquisition KPIs for 2023. 

1. Time to Hire 

Unlike the Time to Fill, which measures the number of days it takes to fill an open position from the date a job requisition is posted to the date a new hire accepts the position, the formula for the Time to Hire is the day they accept the job minus the day the recruiter first contacts the candidate. According to the 2020-2021 Recruitment & Retention Report of AEC Firms, “most firms (56%) need between 30 and 60 days to hire. According to each firm’s listed recruitment and retention metrics, the median time it takes to hire a candidate is 43 days. This is higher than the U.S. average of 36 days according to SHRM’s Talent Acquisition Benchmarking Report, which is common for a technical sector like the AEC industry.” However, statistics show that the best candidates are off the market in 10 days, so employers are trying to streamline their hiring processes, trim down the number of candidate interviews and firm up their candidate evaluation process to make more timely and efficient hiring decisions.  

2. Application Completion Rates 

Calculating the Time to Hire requires that candidates are able to successfully complete their applications. The number of completed applications by prospective employees shows how well a company’s application process is set up. A poorly designed application process is either too long, too cumbersome, or too complex. Research has shown that as much as 73% of candidates will abandon a job application if it is taking too long to complete.  

Furthermore, longer applications are directly correlated to higher costs per applicant. According to Recruiter.com, an application that takes less than 5 minutes to complete costs around $4 per applicant. When the application takes 15 minutes to complete, the cost-per-applicant rises to $13.85, which is 65% more than the shorter application process. Consider these steps to improve your application completion rates: 

• Evaluate your abandoned applications to determine the most frequent points of the drop-off in the applications.   
• Ensure your application process is easily accessible and user-friendly. Almost 90% of job seekers will use their mobile phones when searching for new job opportunities. Most candidates are anxiously looking to start their new opportunity, so too many steps and obstacles create a delay in the process, so they will just move on to the companies that have less delay in their time to fill. 
• Keep questions to a minimum. Save more detailed, position-related questions for the interview. On the application ask identifying, work history, and availability questions like the candidate’s contact details, availability, and work preferences (the location, number of days, and shifts they would be available to work).  

3. Sourcing Efficiency 

The sourcing channel metric gives insight into the effectiveness of a company’s sourcing channels. The formula for calculating sourcing effectiveness is (the total number of hires via the channel /total number of applications via the channel) x 100. For example, if you get 100 applications via LinkedIn and 12 hires, then your sourcing efficiency would be 12/100 x 100 = 12%. It is important to understand the difference between determining your sourcing channels’ Source of Applications efficiency versus their Source of Hire efficiency.   

This brings into question if the company values quantity or quality. According to a study posted on Jobvite.com, job boards yield the highest percentage of applicants, but the lowest percentage of actual hires. It also revealed that the most effective sourcing channels are internal hiring (18X more effective) and referrals (5X more effective). You’ve heard the phrase “consider the source.” This 100% applies to the talent acquisition process.  

4. Offer Acceptance Rate 

Sometimes the issue is not that you can’t find enough qualified or top-tier candidates to extend offers to, but that not enough are accepting your company’s offers. The formula for calculating the offer acceptance rate is (the number of accepted job offers/the number of all offers) x 100. According to an article in Inc. magazine, 5 reasons candidates reject job offers are: 

• You’re too slow. 
• You didn’t make a good impression. 
• Your job description doesn’t match the role. 
• You unknowingly raised a red flag. 
• They just weren’t that into you. 

Basically, the longer you keep a candidate waiting, the more they will question their interest in your position and your interest in them. This also gives the candidate time to re-think if they even want to leave their current position. Often, managers have the mindset that it is the candidate’s job to impress them because the candidate is the job seeker, however, the hiring managers need to remember that they are the employee seeker and want to acquire the best talent available. Companies also have a need to fill a vacancy, and just as they have choices, candidates have choices as well.  

Yes, companies are encouraged to make their job descriptions stand out by highlighting the company culture and company benefits, but the actual description of the job duties needs to be as accurate and as detailed as possible so as not to be misleading. You do not want candidates to feel like they have experienced a bait-and-switch during the interview process. Sometimes there are even factors that the company has no control over.  

As an example, the culture of the company or nature of the position may have been revealed in the interview process or job offer process that confirmed for certain candidates that either the company wasn’t a good fit for them or that they weren’t a good fit for the position. The hardest truth to accept is that sometimes candidates simply lose interest in your company, which results in them moving on. The candidates may not communicate this with the company to avoid any awkwardness, so they keep the door open to receive an offer even though they are not intending on accepting. 

5. Candidate Net Promoter Score (NPS) 

The NPS is the number of people who promote the company minus the number of those who detract from the company. Promoters are candidates and former employees who speak positively about their experience with the company and would recommend employment there. Detractors are those that provide negative feedback and cause potential candidates to question their interest in the position and/or company. This illustrates the importance of ensuring that an employee has a positive full life-cycle experience at a company, from application to termination (whether voluntary or involuntary). Also, it is a reminder to be mindful and professional with all candidates, whether they move forward in the process or not. 

Is it Time to Re-Visit Recruitment Strategies?  

So, which recruitment strategies yield the top talent your firm needs to ensure future success?  

By using these key performance indicators in their recruiting metrics, firm leaders can evaluate which strategies are worth keeping and which are not beneficial. Need help with deciding which talent acquisition KPIs to focus on? Full Sail Partners can help with our HR Consulting Services. 

As a Deltek representative, we have heard all kinds of misconceptions about Deltek Vantagepoint. Despite our monthly newsletters, webinar series, and continued communication, we are still speaking to firms that are confused or have been advised incorrect information about transitioning from Vision to Vantagepoint. Most are honest mistakes conveyed by all kinds of people. However, many of these "untruths" come from competitors spreading incorrect rumors so they can take advantage of your firm and convince you to leave Deltek. 

We need your help! Please send this blog to everyone at your firm. Share it with user groups you are involved with and other firms that you know use Deltek Vision. Below are the real facts about upgrading from Deltek Vision to Deltek Vantagepoint. Please help us to dispel the misconceptions.

What is Deltek Vantagepoint?

• Deltek's reimagined flagship project-based solution, the next version of Deltek Vision for architects, engineers, and other professional services businesses. 
• Designed to help you manage the entire project lifecycle better than before. 
• Based on feedback from Deltek customers over the past 10 years. 
• An intuitive, powerful solution that puts your people and projects at the center of your business so you can be more efficient, productive, and profitable. 

For executives or employees wanting to view the upcoming changes, we recommend checking out our hour-long monthly Deltek Vantagepoint demonstration. Additionally, our team has put together tons of resources to help firms including our Deltek Vantagepoint mini demonstrations. In each of these demos, viewers will see how Deltek Vantagepoint empowers the different roles within your firm. Each demo goes into detail on a specific feature of Vantagepoint, with each video being 4-20 minutes long. 

Dispelling the Misconceptions about Deltek Vantagepoint

Q: Is Deltek Vantagepoint a new product?

A: It is a continuation of the Vision product. Think Vision 10!

Q: Will our firm need to repurchase to move to Deltek Vantagepoint?

A: No! If you are current on maintenance, it is free. This does not mean upgrading to Vantagepoint should be done without a strategic plan in mind.

Q: How long will Deltek Vision continue to be supported?

A: The short answer is Deltek hasn't set a date.   

The long answer is that under the Deltek Support Assurance program, Deltek provides three distinct phases and levels of support: Active, Maintenance, and Sustaining. Even when the product moves to Maintenance and Sustaining Support, your firm is still supported and will have plenty of time to upgrade. The product is currently under Active Support, which means that software enhancements, hot fixes and service packs are supported. Maintenance Support still receives hot fixes for severity 1 issues and tax, legal and regulatory updates and lasts 12 months. Sustaining Support is where you still have access to all of the pervious fixes and service packs. Additionally, Deltek has stated they will give us at least a year's notice before moving it to Maintenance Support. So, that provides your firm plenty of time. 

Q: To get Deltek Vantagepoint, do I have to move to the cloud?

A: No! However, it might make sense, so reach out to your account manager if you are interested.

Q: Will Deltek Vantagepoint be available on-premise?

A: Yes!

Q: Will Deltek Vantagepoint require me to migrate my data?

A: No! Your data will move over. There are considerations due to the way that Vantagepoint handles data differently than Vision, especially if you have repurposed any info centers.  

Q: Will all of my user-defined fields and user-defined info centers move over?

A:  Yes!

Q: Will Vantagepoint contain the exact functionality as Vision 7.6?

A: No. The product is being reimagined and improved. There are certain areas that will not move forward. Please read on for more details.

Q: Can my firm request to upgrade to Deltek Vantagepoint and move next week?

A: We do not recommend that. There are considerations that need to be made. We highly recommend starting with reviewing Deltek and Full Sail Partners’ resources and requesting a Vantagepoint Upgrade Consultation. 

What Are My Options for Getting a Vantagepoint Test Environment?

For firms that are seeking to obtain a Vantagepoint test environment, the answer to this question depends on your current deployment method. Below are the options: 

My firm is hosted by Deltek Cloud or On-Premise: Visit the Vantagepoint Upgrade Resources page on the Deltek website, and scroll about three-quarters of the way down the page to the “Get Preview Environment” section of the page. 

My firm is hosted by Full Sail Partners: If your firm is hosted by Full Sail Partners, email your Account Manager or hosting@fullsailpartners.com. 

My firm is hosted by an external hosting provider: If your firm is hosted by an external hosting provider, request that your provider set up a test environment. If they have not set up a Vantagepoint environment before, then we recommend you reach out to Full Sail Partners or your partner of record. It might make sense to consider moving to Deltek's cloud, hosting permanently with Full Sail Partners, or utilizing Full Sail Partners' transition hosting service. Contact us if you are interested in any of these options. 

Keep in mind, the upgrade to Deltek Vantagepoint requires a new install and has new installment requirements. For on-premise clients, please check out our past webinar: Is Your Firm Technically Prepared for Deltek Vantagepoint? 

Who Do I Contact?

If your firm is seeking assistance with upgrading to Vantagepoint, our team is here to help. Request a Vantagepoint Upgrade Consultation. Additionally, here are other resources to know.     

Deltek Vantagepoint Resources Page: Please click here to check it out, and to clarify some distinct areas on this page, please read below: 

What is the Customer Assistance Program (CAP)? 

CAP is focused on helping Vision customers prepare for their upgrade to Vantagepoint. This is a complementary program for Deltek Vision customers. It runs for eight weeks, and you can have as many people as you want from your company participate. This program will cover specific upgrade topics and best practices. You will also be able to join live sessions with the experts to ask questions. You can register here for any of the sessions. The next sessions from Deltek in 2023 will be session 14 starting January 25, 2023, and session 15 starting April 19, 2023. 

What is the Vantagepoint Readiness Portal? 

The Vantagepoint Readiness Portal is your go-to resource for all things Vantagepoint. This portal includes videos, demonstrations, and presentations by Deltek experts to give you a perspective of how things have changed from Vision to Vantagepoint. This is the first step on your journey toward understanding Vantagepoint. There are also resources specifically for administrators including details about preview environments. The Portal has info about CAP too. To access the portal, just follow these simple steps: 

1. Log into the Deltek Learning Zone (DLZ) platform with your DLZ account credentials. 
2. On the opening Dashboard screen, use the “Enter Search keyword” feature to search for the “Readiness Portal.” 
3. The “Deltek Vantagepoint Readiness Portal” will come up as the top result for all Vision and Vantagepoint product users, and you can simply click to enroll and launch the portal. 
4. Once enrolled, you can access the portal at any time from your personal Learning Profile where it will appear on your “Courses” list. 

Deltek Vantagepoint Resources

Make sure to check out our webinar series about preparing for the upgrade to Deltek Vantagepoint. In this series, our team of consultants covers a variety of topics such as technical requirements, resource planning, and project management, new CRM functions, and the improved accounting interface. This webinar series page also includes demonstrations of Deltek Vantagepoint. If you prefer to read about the enhancements, check out all the articles we have posted about the enhancements Vantagepoint offers to firms that upgrade from Vision!