NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro in 2025: Revolutionizing Professional Services Automation with AI

In today's competitive professional services landscape, optimizing operations and maximizing profitability are non-negotiable for sustainable growth. Professional service organizations like IT consultancies, accounting firms, legal practices, and consulting agencies are increasingly focusing on resource optimization and utilization to drive profitability. Oracle NetSuite's SuiteProjects Pro (formerly OpenAir) Professional Services Automation (PSA) solution has evolved significantly in recent months, introducing game-changing features that are transforming how service-based businesses operate.

The Evolution to NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro: A New Era for PSA

At SuiteWorld 2024 (which we attended) we saw NetSuite announce the rebranding of OpenAir to SuiteProjects Pro, officially taking effect on January 25, 2025 for sandbox accounts and February 15, 2025 for production accounts. This change is more than just a name update—it represents NetSuite's strategic investment in enhancing and evolving this powerful platform as an integral part of their business suite and we love it.

The latest developments in the platform have focused on enhancing user experience, improving resource management, and streamlining project workflows. In 2024, the solution delivered two major releases that introduced significant improvements to the platform. The second release of 2024 introduced the Redwood design system, providing a more modern user experience that enables services professionals to complete their work more efficiently.

Key Innovations in Recent Releases

• Enhanced User Interface with Redwood Design: The adoption of Oracle's Redwood design system marks a significant leap forward in OpenAir's evolution as a next-generation PSA solution. This refresh brings a cleaner, more intuitive interface focused on usability and efficiency, aligning with Oracle's broader ecosystem design principles. The redesigned interface makes navigation easier for all users, from project managers to consultants to financial teams.
• AI-Powered Project Risk Analysis: This feature helps project managers monitor project health, anticipate issues, and prevent delays by proactively calculating and analyzing risks based on historical data and key metrics. By identifying potential problems early, the system provides actionable recommendations to keep projects on track.
• AI-Powered Staffing Recommendations: Finding the right resources for each project is critical to success. This AI feature accelerates project planning by automatically matching projects with the most suitable talent based on skills, availability, and experience. This ensures optimal resource allocation and improves project efficiency from the start.
• Improved Global Search and Navigation: One of the most valuable additions is the enhanced global search capability. The new search feature allows users to find any information they need in one place without scrolling through multiple pages, saving critical time that can be redirected toward delivering exceptional customer service. The typo-tolerant, synonym-matching functionality lets employees use their own language to find what they need.
• Advanced Project Management and Resource Optimization: The Project Center has received numerous enhancements giving project and resource managers more control over resource booking searches. Users can now search for resources either at the project level or dive deeper to the task level, review all existing active resource profiles for availability, and make more educated decisions based on priority.
• Mobile Experience Upgrade: The recent mobile app updates allow users to draft time and expenses in the Draft inbox even when offline, organizing and tracking work regardless of internet connectivity. When ready, staff can pull in these drafts to complete timesheets or expense reports efficiently.

Core Value Propositions of NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro

Comprehensive Project Lifecycle Management

NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro continues to provide end-to-end support across the entire project lifecycle, from initial bid through delivery and billing:

• Resource Management: Optimize resource allocation and utilization with advanced booking and matching capabilities
• Project Management: Plan, track, and adjust project activities with real-time visibility
• Time and Expense Tracking: Capture accurate data from anywhere with mobile accessibility
• Project Accounting: Connect project activities with company financials for precise accounting
• Advanced Billing and Invoicing: Streamline billing processes and improve cash flow

Real Business Impact

The benefits of implementing NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro extend beyond operational efficiency:

• Increased Predictability: Better revenue and margin forecasts for improved planning
• Optimized Project Profitability: Efficient management of project revenues and expenses
• Enhanced Margins: Real-time dashboards and reporting tools for proactive decision-making
• Improved Resource Utilization: According to Services Performance Insight benchmarks, PSA solutions yield a 4% increase in billable utilization—a compelling ROI driver for executives

Success Stories: Transforming Service Organizations

The real testament to SuiteProjects Pro's effectiveness comes from organizations that have implemented the solution:

Strata Information Group achieved remarkable results by bringing time and expense capture, scheduling, and invoicing under one roof. "Monthly utilization rates are 90% or higher and our invoice-to-payment cycle is less than 20 days for a majority of our clients," they report.

SoftwareAG standardized on the platform globally and saw significant improvements in their ability to track budgets and schedules. "Not having to worry if the data is correct has freed us up to focus on higher strategic values such as how to efficiently manage a project, forecasting and revenue recognition," the company notes. The integration of accounting and professional services led to an 8% savings in administrative overhead.

Kenway Consulting affirms the value proposition succinctly: "If you're a services organization that has struggled to get the insight into the data you need, [the solution] is worth your investment."

ONE Pacific's Approach to Professional Services Automation

At ONE Pacific, we leverage our first-hand experience in professional consultancy business management to implement NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro effectively. As Hong Kong's leading NetSuite consultancy, we apply industry best practices while customizing the solution to meet the unique needs of various organizations in our Asia-Pacific clientele.

Our approach focuses on partnering with clients to optimize and automate their professional services business for sustainable growth. By implementing SuiteProjects Pro with our expert guidance, organizations realize a lot of wins including but not limited to:

• Transparency across operations
• Actionable insights for strategic decision-making
• Streamlined processes that reduce administrative overhead
• Improved resource utilization and project profitability
• Enhanced client satisfaction through more efficient service delivery

Looking Ahead: The Future of Professional Services Automation with SuiteProjects Pro 2025.1

The latest release of SuiteProjects Pro (2025.1) brings exciting new capabilities to the platform. The release includes homepage charts that allow project leaders to visualize key metrics at a glance, enhanced global search functionality, and a new collaboration tool that centralizes discussions between teams to prevent miscommunication.

These innovations demonstrate that as professional services organizations continue to evolve, NetSuite remains at the forefront of innovation. The platform's ongoing development roadmap suggests even more powerful capabilities in the coming months, further enhancing its position as the leading PSA solution in the market.

The trend toward professional services automation is only gaining momentum, with organizations across industries recognizing the competitive advantage that comes from optimizing resources, streamlining operations, and gaining real-time visibility into performance metrics.

For service-based businesses aiming to thrive in an increasingly competitive APAC landscape, implementing a robust PSA solution like NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro is no longer optional—it's essential for sustainable growth and profitability.