Deltek recently announced that Deltek for Professional Services (DPS) will be renamed to Deltek Vantagepoint with the version 2.0 release of the product later this year. The change comes as Deltek continues to modernize its professional services automation solution for the AEC and consulting market.
Deltek Vantagepoint Resource Planning
Last year at Insight Deltek began communicating the product roadmap to existing Deltek Vision users with the end goal of retiring Vision and migrating all customers to DPS. BCS ProSoft has been conservative in its approach to migrating customers until later releases of the product. Vision will be supported until at least 2020 with a year-end Payroll update, Deltek Vantagepoint is the future.
What’s New in Deltek Vantagepoint 2.0?
The Smart Client is going away! And about time. The UI of DPS 1.X is split with some features available in the browser interface and other in the smart client. Currently, all hubs, CRM, time, expense, approvals, and dashboards are available in the browser while all back-office functionality, reporting, utilities, and configuration reside in the smart client.
In Deltek Vantagepoint 2.0 we’ll see Resource Planning, billing, accounting, GL, cash management, and reporting moved over to the browser client. Meanwhile, purchasing, asset management, payroll, and some utilities will still reside in the smart client. Then with the release of Vantagepoint 3.0 later on in 2019, we’ll see those features along with a VPM equivalent added to the browser and the ultimate retirement of the smart client. Time & Expense, as well as CRM, will continue to have mobile applications.
As the interface continues to transition away from the smart client to a browser interface, it’s important to remember that Deltek Vantagepoint is still a fully functional ERP solution regardless of what client/interface you’re looking at. Functionality will remain the same as the UI is consolidated into a single application. You won’t lose any features along the way, but where you go to access certain pieces of information will change. Notable enhancements include:
- The retirement of the Smart Client
- Introduction of the Proposal Engine
- Combined Opportunities and Projects
- Simplified Transactions
- Deltek Project Information Management (PIM) Integration
- Expanded Dashpart Designer
- Improved Reporting
Deltek Vantagepoint Upgrade Timing
The target release for Deltek Vantagepoint 2.0 is November 16, 2018, for new customers. If you are a Deltek Vision customer with an existing DPS preview environment, your preview will be upgraded in mid-December. All current DPS 1.X customers will get preview environments in early February and the upgrade to Deltek Vantagepoint 2.0 is scheduled to take place in mid-March 2019.
On-Premise Timeline & Availability
An on-premise release of DPS 1.X is currently available for new customers only, but only with special permission from Deltek. There will be limited availability for some Vision customers to preview the on-premise 1.X release. The on-prem 2.0 version of Deltek Vantagepoint will be available shortly after the cloud version in March, but a target date has not been confirmed.
The Future of Deltek Ajera
Deltek has not made any significant announcements about Deltek Ajera yet. Ajera will continue to be developed for the next several years as per the product roadmap. There is no direct migration path from Ajera to DPS/Deltek Vantagepoint. Data will still need to be converted as it is a new implementation. Existing Ajera users should contact their Deltek rep for more information.
Key Takeaways
Deltek for Professional Services 1.X will be rebranded Deltek Vantagepoint on the DPS 2.0 release. You’ll likely still see some marketing and communications material referring to DPS, just know that Vantagepoint is referring to the DPS product beyond version 1.X. If you’re interested in taking a deep dive or getting a preview environment, contact us online to be connected to your Deltek Account Manager.
