The introduction of Dynamics 365 Project Operations back in October 2020 was the beginning of the end for Project Service Automation
When Microsoft announced the launch of Dynamics 365 Project Operations, two things were clear. The first was that the new application, combining Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Project, would be an incredibly useful tool for any organisation involved in project management. The second was that Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation or PSA 3.x. end-of-life couldn’t be far away.
As expected, on the 19th of March 2024 Microsoft announced the depreciation of the PSA application.
What is Project Operations?
Dynamics 365 Project Operations combines the best of functionality from Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation and Microsoft Project.
It then adds additional functions including opportunity management, invoicing and wider service management features to offer a more complete approach to project management.
You can discover more about the applications on our dedicated Dynamics 365 Project Operations page.
What’s the future of Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation?
As of the 31st of March 2025, Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation will no longer be supported, meaning that beyond this date there will be no more feature enhancements, updates or bug fixes.
Microsoft, and subsequently Akita, strongly encourage all customers using the PSA application to start planning their upgrade process as soon as possible.
Microsoft has made tools available for organisations to migrate data from their existing Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation setups to new Dynamics 365 Project Operations instances. However, from our experience of undertaking such a migration, the data transfer should not be approached casually.
There is also a range of new features and possible connections (eg. accounts systems) to configure as part of any new Dynamics 365 Project Operations setup. Using a Microsoft Dynamics professional to undertake this work is therefore advisable.
Project Service Automation End Of Life: Migrating To Project Operations
The upcoming end-of-life of Dynamics 365 PSA 3.x. demands immediate attention from those still using it. With the depreciation date drawing closer, it's crucial to understand the implications of delaying a migration to Dynamics 365 Project Operations.
The migration process is multifaceted. Firstly it involves technical transitions which will be different for every organisation due to timelines depending on the number and size of projects that need to be migrated.
Secondly, an often overlooked aspect is user adoption and accounting for the now steep learning curve between the two applications. Since its unveiling in October 2020, Dynamics 365 Project Operations has undergone a series of updates and enhancements that not only improved it as a product but also changed it significantly from the familiar terrain of the PSA application.
The complexity of this migration cannot be understated. With Project Service Automation promising to be end-of-life by March 2025, organisations run the risk of having to work with an unsupported application if they don’t act quickly.
Akita has assisted many organisations in migrating from Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation to Dynamics 365 Project Operations already.
To discuss mitigating the impact of Project Service Automation end of life for your organisation, please get in touch:
