Simplifying Professional Services Challenges with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations

Professional services firms are inherently complex because their “product” is expertise. When clients choose your services, they’re investing in your knowledge, experience, and problem-solving capabilities.

This human-centric complexity exists internally before clients even present external challenges. Building a culture of transparency, accountability, and trust is critical for reducing internal complexities and managing operational risks effectively.

Industries such as legal, accounting, consultancy, construction, and engineering often measure expertise through billable hours. However, true business success depends on how engaged your workforce is. According to Gallup, disengaged employees cost the global economy $7 trillion annually, with only 20% of employees feeling engaged at work.

In professional services, your people are your product, investing in their engagement is non-negotiable.

One of the leading causes of low employee engagement in professional services is outdated or inefficient technology. The Adobe Workfront State of Work report revealed that 32% of employees quit jobs because their workplace technology made tasks harder. Furthermore, 49% would consider leaving if tech frustrations persist.

Eastwards recommends Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, a unified project management solution that brings together your sales, resource planning, finance, and operations under a single platform. It’s more than a quote-to-invoice tool, it’s an end-to-end solution designed to optimize every phase of your project lifecycle, from prospecting to profits.

If your organization faces issues like poor collaboration, lack of transparency, and slow decision-making due to legacy systems, you’re likely losing more than just time. Upgrading your tech stack to an integrated platform like Dynamics 365 Project Operations ensures your teams work smarter, not harder.

Professional services firms often deal with prolonged sales cycles, leading to an overinflated pipeline of prospects and a diluted focus on actual project delivery. The lack of visibility into the sales funnel causes missed opportunities and inefficient resource allocation.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, recommended by Eastwards, offers built-in CRM capabilities that provide real-time visibility into leads, quotes, and sales activities. It seamlessly integrates with Dynamics 365 Sales and other third-party CRM systems, enabling your sales team to prioritize high-value prospects and reduce the project lifecycle.

Dynamic pricing models ensure accurate quotations, align client expectations early on, and eliminate surprises during billing. By streamlining sales-to-delivery workflows, you reclaim valuable time and enhance client satisfaction.

Professional services firms have the advantage of wide exposure to industry-specific challenges, from compliance and cybersecurity to supply chain optimization. However, this diversity creates a balancing act between customizing solutions and standardizing proven methodologies.

Millions of businesses globally use Microsoft technologies, yet many fail to maximize their full potential. Rather than building systems from scratch, professional services firms can leverage the out-of-the-box capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations. This platform, implemented by Eastwards, is built upon millions of global use cases, providing a robust foundation for process standardization while allowing for necessary customizations.

Standardizing core operations with Dynamics 365 Project Operations improves efficiency, reduces overhead, and accelerates project delivery.

Professional services organizations compete fiercely for top-tier talent, especially in Project Management Offices (PMO). The Project Management Institute predicts a need for 25 million new project professionals by 2030, necessitating the hiring of 2.3 million project managers annually.

One significant challenge in retaining top talent is restrictive technology. Limiting software customization or access can frustrate high-performing employees, driving them to seek more flexible workplaces.

Eastwards helps firms empower their project managers with Dynamics 365 Project Operations, providing full visibility across projects, quotes, timesheets, billing, and resource allocation. The platform’s intuitive dashboards enable PMs to make informed decisions, optimize resource usage, and enhance collaboration with stakeholders.

Without robust tools like Dynamics 365 Project Operations, even the most experienced PMs risk losing control over project oversight, leading to communication breakdowns and reduced client satisfaction.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations delivers a comprehensive, end-to-end solution that connects your sales, marketing, project management, and executive leadership teams — ensuring everyone works from a single source of truth.

Eastwards helps professional services firms leverage Dynamics 365 Project Operations to reduce operational complexity, accelerate sales cycles, and bridge the talent gap. Addressing these challenges isn’t just about improving workflows , it’s about safeguarding your bottom line.

With disengaged employees costing the global economy trillions annually, the cost of inaction is far greater than the investment in the right technology.

Want to see how Eastwards can revolutionize your project operations? Contact Eastwards today to get started.