The business landscape of today is competitive and fast-paced and that means that project based firms, especially those in architecture, engineering and construction, need software that not only streamlines operations but adapts to real world complexity as necessary.
From time tracking and budgeting to talent matching and project forecasting, the right SaaS platform can make all the difference in profitability, client management and satisfaction, and long term scalability.
Below we've reviewed seven of the best B2B SaaS platforms that support project based organisations. These solutions were selected based on their ability to improve visibility, reduce admin burden and help teams to deliver projects more effectively and on budget.
Whether your team is in AEC consulting or professional services, this list is built to help you to find a scalable partner that fits what you need.
1. Unit4
Best for: Project-centric financial and resource control in AEC firms
Unit4 is tailor made for professional services organisations, especially those in architecture and engineering. These are the firms that need high visibility and control over their projects. What sets Unit4 apart is its deep focus on project based financial tracking, real time cost control and accurate revenue recognition. This helps firms to stay on top of budgets margins as project scoops evolve.
Their biggest benefits include robust tools for resource planning and talent matching, which allows you to assign the right people to the right projects while avoiding overbooking or idle time. Unit4 also excels in field work management, offering mobile tools for time travel and expense logging, which is critical for site visits and remote work.
For architectural and engineering firms that deal with multiple entities, currencies or regions, Unit4 provides scalable global support, helping reduce manual admin while improving compliance with contracts, codes and safety standards. An intuitive interface that also boosts adoption among technical staff, making project administration less of a chore.
2. Deltek
Best for: Government contracting and compliance-heavy industries
Deltek specializes in ERP solutions for project focused industries, particularly government contractors and architectural firms. It offers powerful tools for cost control, contract management, and compliance reporting, which makes it ideal for firms working in regulated environments.
Their project ERP system integrates accounting, time tracking, and resource planning while helping firms to align with industry standards such as DCAA or ISO. If your projects are requiring tight documentation and reporting, Deltek is a strong contender!
3. BigTime
Best for: Professional services time tracking and billing
A cloud based platform that is designed for consulting, architecture and IT services firms, BigTime shines in its ability to simplify time tracking, invoicing and expense management. This makes it much easier for firms to improve their cash flow and reduce billing errors.
Its intuitive interface makes it easy for team members to submit hours and expenses while automated workflows streamline approvals and payroll. For growing professional services teams that need reliable and easy to use solutions, BigTime is an excellent option.
4. Kantata
Best for: Managing complex services lifecycles
Formerly Mavenlink, Kantata helps service based businesses manage the full life cycle of their client projects. From scoping and resourcing to project execution and delivery. It offers end to end visibility and control.
Kantata stands out for its focus on collaboration as well as resource forecasting. They are able to offer real time dashboards and analytics that help managers anticipate bottlenecks and adjust in real time. With native integrations to platforms like Salesforce and Slack, Kantata fits seamlessly into existing workflows.
5. Wrike
Best for: Cross-functional project collaboration
Wrike is a collaborative work management platform that bends task management with real time reporting. While it's suitable for a wide range of industries, it's especially effective for those in professional services that look to bridge gaps between teams, clients, and project timelines with customizable, easy workflows, Gantt charts, and time tracking features.
Wrike enables organisations to gain real time visibility into their project status and they can do this while reducing admin overheads. It offers a user-friendly UI and powerful integrations with tools like Microsoft Teams and Adobe Creative Cloud. This makes it ideal for agencies and consulting firms.
6. Scoro
Best for: All-in-one business management for consultancies
Scoro combines project management with CRM, billing, and business analytics. It's particularly useful for consultancies and creative agencies that want one platform to manage the entire client lifecycle, from prospecting to delivery and invoicing.
Scoro helps to prevent scope creep and missed revenue. It does so by tightly aligning project milestones with billing and financial planning. For teams that want real time data across sales, project delivery and finance, Scoro provides the integrated solution without requiring the multiple tools.
7. Workamajig
Best for: Creative and marketing teams with client work
Workamajig is designed specifically for those in-house creative teams and marketing agencies that need something more. It merges project management with budgeting, resource planning and client billing. What makes it unique is its client collaboration portal, which helps to reduce miscommunication and feedback loops during creative projects.Its resource management tools allow teams to allocate workloads based on availability and skill sets, which is ideal for managing multiple campaigns and client deliverables simultaneously.
Workamajig offers both cloud and on premise solutions, which makes it a flexible option depending on your organization's preferences.
Whether you're an architectural firm managing complex build cycles or a consulting agency juggling multiple client engagements, choosing the right B2B SaaS platform can dramatically improve your efficiency, cash flow, and employee satisfaction. If your firm is thriving on project based work, platforms like Unit4 are designed to align financial control, resource planning, and operational agility.It's the focus on real time project insights, automated workflows and scalable compliance tools that makes them a front runner.
Take the time to evaluate the unique needs of your business, whether it's compliant collaboration or invoicing, because the right software will make all the difference to support your team's current needs while scaling as your firm grows and diversifies.
