Here’s What Acumatica Professional Services Edition Means for Engineers

Engineering firms need more than just an ERP. They need a system built for project-driven businesses with complex accounting, billing, and resource management needs. 

Released in 2024, Acumatica’s Professional Services Edition (PSE) delivers exactly that with real-time project tracking, automated billing, and smooth financial management. But the real difference comes when you implement it with a partner who understands your industry inside and out.

That’s where ReviveERP comes in. As an Acumatica value-added reseller (VAR), we specialize in tailoring Acumatica for engineering firms for a smooth transition and immediate efficiency gains. 

Here’s what you need to know about Acumatica PSE for engineering firms. 

The ERP Challenge for Engineering Firms

Engineering firms operate in a project-driven world where efficiency is important, but so is precision. Outdated ERP systems and disconnected tools often lead to:

• Complex project accounting that requires manual tracking of multi-phase projects, work-in-progress (WIP), and revenue recognition.
• Inefficient time and expense tracking, leading to billing errors and missed revenue.
• Siloed project data that slows collaboration between engineers, project managers, and finance teams.
• Rigid legacy ERP systems that aren’t built for project-based businesses.

Unlike generic ERPs, Acumatica PSE is built for project-driven businesses like engineering firms with total financial control, resource planning, and easy collaboration—all in a cloud-based, scalable platform.

Key Features of Acumatica Professional Services Edition

Project Management

Acumatica PSE acts as a centralized project hub that provides:

• Real-time project updates for finance, operations, and field teams.
• Seamless integration between project planning, resource allocation, and budgeting.
• Automated workflows for approvals, change orders, and billing milestones.

Project Accounting

Engineering firms need more than basic accounting—they need project-based financial control. Acumatica delivers:

• Advanced WIP tracking for accurate reporting on revenue, costs, and profitability.
• Flexible billing models—whether fixed-fee, time & materials, or milestone-based invoicing.
• Automated revenue recognition that aligns with GAAP and IFRS standards.

“Engineering firms need a financial engine that matches the complexity of their projects. That’s exactly what Acumatica provides.”
— Jason Leveson, Principal at ReviveERP

Resource Management

Acumatica optimizes resource planning to maximize efficiency and reduce project delays by:

• Matching engineers with the right projects, based on skills and availability.
• Providing real-time utilization insights to prevent overbooking or underutilization.
• Automating PTO tracking so approved time-off is accounted for in project planning.

ReviveERP Customization

Our Resource Planning Module helps engineering firms forecast labor needs and make sure teams are aligned with long-term project demands.

Embedded Customer Relationship Management 

Strong client relationships are just as important as strong engineering. Acumatica’s built-in customer relationship management (CRM) supports:

• Smooth contract and proposal management linked to projects.
• Automated follow-ups and reporting for ongoing client interactions.
• Visibility into customer histories, ensuring engineers have the right context for every project.
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The Benefits of Acumatica for Engineering Firms

Improved Efficiency

With automated workflows, integrated time tracking, and real-time reporting, engineering firms:

• Eliminate duplicate data entry across project management, finance, and HR.
• Reduce billing cycles from weeks to days with automated invoicing.
• Gain instant visibility into cash flow and project profitability.

Easier Collaboration

Acumatica eliminates information silos, making sure that: 

• Engineers, finance teams, and project managers work from a single source of truth.
• Mobile access for teams in the field, reducing reliance on spreadsheets.
• Automated approvals keep projects moving without bottlenecks.

Scalability Without Hidden Costs

Unlike traditional ERP systems that charge per-user fees, Acumatica offers:

• Unlimited users, allowing firms to scale without increasing licensing costs.
• Consumption-based pricing, meaning you only pay for the resources you use.
• Modular expansion, adding payroll, CRM, and inventory management as needed.

“With Acumatica, engineering firms aren’t penalized for growth. It scales with your business—not against it.”
— Sean Fitzsimmons, Principal at ReviveERP

Why Engineering Firms Choose ReviveERP

Engineering firms need a partner who understands the industry’s unique challenges. That’s why ReviveERP goes beyond a standard Acumatica implementation.

We’ve developed industry-specific custom modules, dashboards, and reporting tools that engineering firms won’t find out of the box:

PTO Management Module 

Tracks employee vacation, sick leave, and personal time within Acumatica, allowing managers to approve time-off requests in real time and maintain accurate resource planning.

Resource Planning Module 

Assigns skills to employees and maps them to project tasks, making sure the right engineers are allocated to the right work. With built-in forecasting, firms can plan for future hiring needs and maximize resource utilization.

Custom Engineering Dashboards 

Pre-configured dashboards by role (CFO, Project Manager, Operations) provide instant visibility into project profitability, resource allocation, and financial performance.

Automated Approval Workflows

Eliminate bottlenecks by automating approvals for project expenses, purchase orders, and invoices, ensuring faster decision-making.

Implementing Acumatica Professional Services Edition

Cost Considerations

Acumatica’s pricing is based on resource consumption, not user count, making it:

• Scalable—grow your team without rising per-user fees.
• Flexible—add industry-specific modules as needed.
• Predictable—clear costs without surprise licensing fees.

Unlike traditional ERP pricing models, Acumatica keeps your costs aligned with actual usage, making it a great option for engineering and construction firms.

Implementation Timeline

Most engineering firms see a full Acumatica rollout in 4–6 months, with key phases including:

1. Assessment & Planning: Understanding project needs and setting goals.
2. Data Migration: Transferring financials, project history, and time tracking data.
3. Customization & Configuration: Setting up dashboards, workflows, and reporting tools.
4. Training & Go-Live: Ensuring teams are fully equipped to use Acumatica effectively.

Support & Training

ReviveERP provides our clients customized training for the finance and operations teams, ongoing support for troubleshooting and optimization, and industry-specific best practices to help firms maximize their investment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How much does Acumatica software cost?

Acumatica doesn’t charge per-user fees, unlike many traditional ERPs. Instead, it uses consumption-based pricing, meaning costs depend on data storage, transaction volume, and selected modules (like Payroll, CRM, or Inventory).

• Typical cost range: $1,000 to $5,000 per month for small to mid-sized firms.
• Pricing depends on: edition, deployment (cloud or private cloud), and business needs.
• How to get an exact quote? Work with an Acumatica partner like ReviveERP to assess your firm’s specific requirements.

Bottom line: Acumatica’s flexible pricing means firms only pay for what they use, making it scalable and cost-effective—especially for growing engineering firms.

Is Acumatica similar to Deltek?

Both Acumatica and Deltek serve project-based businesses, but Acumatica is the better choice for engineering firms due to its flexibility, cost structure, and scalability.

Key differences:

• Customization: Acumatica is modular and highly configurable. Deltek is more rigid, requiring firms to adapt to its structure.
• Pricing: Acumatica doesn’t charge per-user fees. Deltek uses per-user pricing, which becomes expensive as firms grow.
• Deployment: Acumatica offers cloud or private cloud options. Deltek is mostly cloud-based, but upgrades and maintenance are controlled by Deltek.
• Industry focus: Deltek is built for government contractors and A&E firms, while Acumatica is tailored for a broader range of project-driven businesses, including engineering firms.

Bottom line: Acumatica provides a more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solution for engineering firms looking to optimize project accounting and financial control. Talk to our team today to see how Acumatica can work for you.

Is Acumatica a good ERP?

Yes, Acumatica is one of the best modern ERP solutions for mid-sized businesses, particularly in engineering, construction, and professional services. It's extra powerful when you use it with ReviveERP's custom dashboards.

Why Acumatica stands out:

• Recognized by industry analysts (Gartner, IDC, and Nucleus Research) as a leading cloud ERP.
• Unlimited users & consumption-based pricing—firms grow without increasing costs.
• Strong financial & project accounting with WIP tracking, milestone billing, and revenue recognition.
• Modern, intuitive interface that’s easy to adopt.
• Fully cloud-based with integrated financials, project management, CRM, payroll, and reporting.
• Cost-effective alternative to SAP, Oracle, or Deltek.

What companies use Acumatica?

Acumatica is trusted by small to mid-sized businesses and growing enterprises across various industries. Engineering firms, consulting companies, and IT service providers use it for project accounting, resource planning, and time tracking, while general contractors and specialty subcontractors rely on it for job costing, contract management, and field service integration. 

Is Acumatica SQL-based?

Yes, Acumatica runs on Microsoft SQL Server but also supports cloud-based database technologies depending on the deployment model.

Here's how Acumatica uses SQL:

• Private cloud: Uses Microsoft SQL Server for high-performance transaction processing.
• SaaS deployments: Can leverage cloud-optimized databases for scalability.
• Open APIs: Acumatica provides REST and SOAP APIs for integration with third-party applications—without needing direct SQL queries.

Switching ERPs sounds disruptive—how hard will this be?

It’s never easy, but ReviveERP makes the transition as smooth as possible. Our pre-configured dashboards and industry-specific workflows mean firms hit the ground running with minimal downtime.

Can Acumatica scale as we grow?

Absolutely. With unlimited users, modular add-ons, and seamless third-party integrations, engineering firms never outgrow Acumatica.

Future-Proofing Your Firm

Acumatica Professional Services Edition is the ERP solution engineering firms have been waiting for. With flexible project accounting, automated time tracking, and real-time reporting, firms gain:

• Stronger financial control over projects.
• Streamlined operations that eliminate inefficiencies.
• Scalability without hidden costs.

Want to see if Acumatica is the right fit for your firm?

Contact our team today and see how ReviveERP can customize Acumatica for your engineering business.

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