The crowded but growing PSA (professional services automation) software market continues to gain more capabilities -- particularly business analytics capabilities.

A recent example involves Upland Software extending its PSA platform (Tenrox) with analytics capabilities aptly called Upland Analytics. Service organizations gain upgraded monitoring, tracking, and management of key performance indicators (KPI), the company claims.

Upland Analytics also provides PSA customers with real-time reporting and data visualization on the performance of their projects, resources, and finances directly within their PSA environment, the company claims.

PSA Features and Functions

Upland Analytics claims Tenrox PSA customers can receive the following benefits:

  • Faster decision-making through customizable reports and dashboards generated from both Tenrox and connected third-party data to spot key trends and conduct in-depth root cause analysis
  • Deeper understanding of their services business performance with real-time data visualization native to their PSA environment
  • Improved company-wide transparency and alignment through emailed reports and alerts to key stakeholders
  • Seamless user work environment based on a unified Upland user experience and user interface

Upland Software has been in growth mode. The company's revenue reached $31.6 million in Q1 2018, up 52 percent from $20.8 million in Q1 2017.

Tenrox PSA and BI vs. Entrenched Rivals

The Tenrox PSA offering targets all types of professional services organizations -- extending far beyond VARs, MSPs and service providers. If the company decides to more aggressively target IT partners as companies, it could face intense competition.

Numerous PSA companies, particularly ConnectWise and Datto (via the Autotask business unit) already have strong followings among technology solutions providers and recurring revenue-centric partners, and Kaseya has been making a PSA push the past year or so. Many of those offerings have gained more BI and automated reporting capabilities. Third-party business intelligence tools like BrightGauge and MSPCFO further enhance traditional MSP dashboard.

Cloud-based BI tools, meanwhile, increasingly are available for the masses to consume. Amazon QuickSight, for instance, costs as little as $0.30 (thirty cents) per 30 minutes of use.

We'll be watching to see if or how PSA and BI offerings continue to converge.

Additional insights from Joe Panettieri.