Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations: The road to "the new PSA"

On February 19th Microsoft announced the release of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations, the latest module of its suite of cloud business apps and the successor to its current project management app, Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation (PSA).

Dynamics 365 Project Operations is scheduled to become available in October 2020. Microsoft describes it as an end-to-end project management app that empowers service-based businesses to “win more deals, accelerate project delivery, and maximize profitability.”

Why another project management app?

Only a year ago, one would have thought that Microsoft has plenty of project management applications already. Its portfolio at the time included Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, Dynamics 365 Project Service Automation (PSA) and Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O).

These apps varied in complexity and scope, ranging from the basic task organizing with Planner to providing a bird’s eye view of projects financials in F&O.

However, abundance was part of the problem. Potential customers were confused which app met their needs as the differences between them were not as clear-cut as Microsoft made them out to be.