When Deltek first introduced Vantagepoint to the ERP world in August 2018, it prompted questions and concerns from customers who wondered what would happen to Deltek Vision. It was clear that Vantagepoint was meant to be an upgrade — but what was it exactly?
As it turned out, Deltek clarified that Vantagepoint was intended as a replacement for two different software solutions: Deltek for Professional Services, and Deltek Vision.
Thus, in November 2018, Deltek announced that Vision 7.6 “will remain in an active support mode (including regulatory updates) at least until the end of 2022.”
While we haven’t seen an update on that timeline, one industry insider informed us that Deltek will be “forcing upgrades within the next couple of years.” And this aligns with what we have been hearing from our clients: Deltek is sending signals that it’s time to upgrade.
According to Deltek, it should be a smooth transition for those already on the Vision platform, and this was confirmed to be the case by one of our clients. Rather than an entirely new ERP implementation, it is possible that the migration from Vision to Vantagepoint could be compared to installing a new version of existing software — with the caution that the new interface could require a new round of user acceptance testing.
But what if Deltek Vantagepoint isn’t the best product for your needs? It might be time to look at moving to a different platform. In this article, we’ll take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of switching to Vantagepoint, as well as what to do if you decide to remain on Vision.
Deltek Vision to Vantagepoint: Benefits and Drawbacks
Benefit of Vantagepoint: Stronger Capabilities, Easy Transition
If you are already using Deltek Vision and it works for you, then it could be beneficial to move to Vantagepoint. From what we have learned from some of our clients, Vantagepoint has stronger capabilities than Vision. They are reporting that the data migration went as well as could be expected, with a relatively smooth transition.
Some of our customers who upgraded reported these benefits to Vantagepoint:
- Newer user experience
- Cloud compatible
- Functionality improvements
Drawback to Deltek Vantagepoint
On the other hand, some of our other customers who have already made the switch from Vision to Vantagepoint are reporting that the difference might not be worth the trouble.
One client reported that they recently finished upgrading from Vision to Vantagepoint, and it was a difficult implementation. They said even though both are Deltek products, Vantagepoint was different enough that they had problems with user adoption – it was essentially the same as if they had moved to an entirely different ERP system.
Not everyone felt Deltek Vision was the perfect software solution for their firm. In some industries, such as architecture and engineering, Vision became the de facto solution, and some companies implemented it because “that’s what everyone else was doing.” But that does not mean that Deltek Vantagepoint will be right for your specific requirements.
Benefit of Switching to New Software: Finding a Better Solution
If you have to migrate to a new system, and Vision wasn’t the perfect solution for your organizational needs, it could be beneficial to investigate other products. Chances are, it has been a while since you searched for software solutions, and there are new solutions in the market that were not available when your organization first started using Vision.
Many companies that we are talking to are saying that now is a good time to evaluate a wider spectrum of ERP applications and look beyond the industry-specific solutions.
Drawback of Switching: A New ERP Implementation
If you are using Deltek Vision and it works fine for your organization, it might be better to stay within the Deltek ecosystem. You could search for a new app and go through an entire ERP project only to find that the new product isn’t the right fit either. Sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know.
There is a significant investment involved any time a company changes from one software product to another — especially if you are making a change to a completely new platform. Your whole organization will have to learn an entirely new way of interacting with the application. We have found that many clients have implemented highly customized instances of the original software. Any time you are looking at upgrading to a new software platform, realize that you will have to replicate your customizations in the new ERP system.
This is where each organization must make an evaluation for themselves and determine if the problems of going to Deltek Vantagepoint are greater or lesser than the costs and benefits of going to another application.
Another Option: Don’t Upgrade, Keep Vision
What if you have decided that you don’t want to upgrade to Deltek Vantagepoint, but it is also not the right time to switch to a new product? If you want to keep Vision, what do you do once it is no longer supported by Deltek?
The truth is, you still have options. When you are evaluating whether you should stay on Vision, first look at what you will need in terms of support. If the product is working for you, then you may only need occasional updates, such as yearly tax codes or forms. There will no doubt be many organizations that remain on Vision even after Deltek no longer provides their own support services, and we predict that there may be third-party partners who will provide support for the older versions.
Here at ERP Advisors Group, we believe you should switch software only when you really need to. So, when deciding to upgrade from Deltek Vision to Vantagepoint, do your due diligence, and ensure you are upgrading for the right reasons. Do not upgrade just because the vendor told you to, or because you are fed up with a particular company and want to get away from their products. Do your research and find out what is best for you.
Whichever you decide, ERP Advisors Group is here to assist. If you have any questions about upgrading Deltek Vision to Vantagepoint, and you’re not sure which decision is best for your company, contact us, and we will help you find the right solution for your organization.
