Service-based businesses from all over the world are now leaning towards automation suites to do more, serve more, and gain more. Professional Services Automation (PSA) has already opened up Pandora’s box full of growth opportunities. NetSuite OpenAir PSA solution came as the most complete, comprehensive, and powerful automation suite for service sector brands.
Professional services firms now focus on speedy project delivery, efficient resource management, and clear financial outlooks because these factors influence their success. With team growth across different locations and clients asking for greater complexity, many businesses still struggle with separate systems and limited visibility into project progress. This leads to inefficient use of staff, inaccurate forecasts, and lower profit from projects.
Many organizations are now using professional services automation platforms. These platforms combine project management, resource allocation, time tracking, and financial operations into one system. By 2026, PSA solutions will become essential, not nice-to-have tools. They support decision-making and ensure better delivery control and revenue visibility in service-based businesses.
Throughout this small blog post, we are going to shed light on different aspects of this popular PSA suite. From explaining what NetSuite OpenAir is to its key modules, features, benefits, cost, and some helpful answers to common queries, we will explain it all.
What Is NetSuite OpenAir?
NetSuite OpenAir is a Professional Services Automation (PSA) suite that is widely considered to be the best-in-class toolset. This PSA software system has been designed keeping in mind the requirements of professional services organizations across all sizes and niches. The best thing is that NetSuite OpenAir PSA allows integration with any leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution.
NetSuite OpenAir helps with separate modules such as project management, resource optimization, project accounting, time management, expense management, billing and invoicing, revenue recognition, etc. It ensures end-to-end automation and comprehensive data visibility across the systems and processes.
Leading NetSuite implementation services can further help you to get the most out of this robust automation suite. NetSuite OpenAir PSA helps companies to draw real-time data-driven insights, enhance profitability from projects, optimise utilization of resources, and make timely, data-driven business decisions to propel growth.
Some of the key ways NetSuite OpenAir PSA measurably transforms business operations include the following.
- Optimising resource utilization, return from projects, and ensuring timely project delivery, while at the same time reducing IT costs, pulling down project accounting needs and corresponding overhead costs, and streamlining the cycles of billing and invoices.
- Enhancing precision and accuracy of invoices and billing, automating revenue recognition, and boosting data visibility for any service-sector company.
- Ensuring anytime, anywhere access through the cloud and providing support to, users anywhere, anytime based on their location, on the go or at the sites of clients.
NetSuite’s professional services automation has grown a lot over time. Now, it’s part of the broader SuiteProjects Pro PSA system. Still, the term NetSuite OpenAir PSA is commonly used in the market, especially by companies that have depended on it for managing projects and resources for years.
What’s New in NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro in 2026
Since the OpenAir rebranding, NetSuite SuiteProjects Pro has continued evolving into a more connected and insight-driven PSA platform for professional services organizations. Recent updates are focused on improving operational visibility, simplifying project administration, strengthening financial alignment, and helping teams manage resources more efficiently across increasingly complex delivery environments.
Improved Resource Visibility and Workforce Planning
Recent enhancements place greater emphasis on resource planning and utilization tracking. Managers now have better visibility into workforce availability, project demand, utilization patterns, and staffing requirements through more advanced planning views and reporting capabilities.
This allows organizations to make faster staffing decisions, reduce scheduling conflicts, and maintain better control over delivery timelines across multiple projects and teams.
Stronger Project Financial Oversight
SuiteProjects Pro continues to improve the connection between project execution and financial management. Updated reporting capabilities help organizations track project costs, billing progress, expenses, and revenue performance with greater accuracy throughout the project lifecycle. For professional services businesses, this provides clearer visibility into project profitability and supports more informed operational and financial decision-making.
Expanded Workflow Automation Capabilities
Automation remains a major focus within the latest SuiteProjects Pro updates. Organizations can streamline approval workflows, reporting activities, time entry management, and operational processes through configurable automation features designed to reduce manual effort. This helps teams improve consistency across operations while allowing project managers and finance teams to spend less time on administrative coordination.
Better ERP Connectivity and Reporting Alignment
NetSuite continues strengthening the relationship between SuiteProjects Pro and its ERP ecosystem. Improved integration capabilities help organizations align project delivery, accounting workflows, financial reporting, and operational planning within a more unified business environment. This creates better synchronization between delivery teams and finance departments while reducing reporting gaps caused by disconnected systems.
Enhanced Operational Reporting and Analytics
Recent reporting improvements give organizations deeper visibility into project performance, utilization trends, forecasting accuracy, and operational KPIs. Leadership teams can access more actionable insights through centralized dashboards and analytics tools that support faster and more data-driven decision-making.
As professional services organizations continue scaling in 2026, these enhancements help businesses improve operational transparency, strengthen project governance, and maintain better control over profitability and delivery performance.
OpenAir vs SuiteProjects Pro PSA
NetSuite OpenAir PSA is a well-known professional services automation platform that big companies use to handle projects, resources, and money. Over time, Oracle NetSuite has updated its PSA features under the SuiteProjects Pro system.
People often switch between the two terms when talking about this software, but both names essentially point to the evolving PSA strategies of NetSuite. There are some distinctions in how each term is positioned-
- OpenAir PSA is what a lot of current systems and discussions use.
- SuiteProjects Pro shows off the new improvements like better integration and an upgraded design.
- They still both aim to boost resource use, make projects more visible, and align finances better.
- SuiteProjects Pro showcases where NetSuite is headed in terms of advanced PSA linked to ERP systems.
If your company is looking at PSA options now, it’s wise to know that these labels refer to the same suite of tools from NetSuite, just at different stages of development.
What Problems Does Oracle NetSuite OpenAir Solve?
NetSuite OpenAir comes equipped with a wide range of applications and tools that are designed to cater to every step of the life cycle of professional services. It comes as a Software-as-a-Service toolset and provides a user-friendly NetSuite OpenAir integration manager and dashboard. Among the cluster of applications for service sector companies, it offers apps to manage timesheets, projects, resources, and expenses.
The PSA toolset also comes loaded with value-added applications required for billing, invoicing, accounting, and data analytics. The best thing is that NetSuite OpenAir is fully optimized to operate through mobile devices. Users can also access it through browsers by using NetSuite OpenAir Connect, and they can access the backend systems of the company with the web-based platform.
NetSuite OpenAir became quickly popular as a PSA solution among professional services firms across all verticals and niches. But as of now, it has mostly benefited large-scale and global brands. Leading NetSuite consultants always suggest that small organisations with fewer than 500 employees use NetSuite SRP (Services Resource Planning), which is more suitable for small-scale operations.
According to SPI Research, companies that use professional service automation software have a better employee billable utilization rate of 70.9% compared to those that don’t use a PSA solution at 68.3%
SPI Research, 2019
Globally, NetSuite OpenAir and other PSA solutions from NetSuite are being used by more than 1,500 companies that offer different types of professional services to customers. Among all these NetSuite PSA offerings, OpenAir stands taller because of the hundreds of features covering almost every aspect and ensuring ultimate flexibility of configuration.
Let’s explain the NetSuite OpenAir modules to understand how they solve different types of business problems with ease.
- Portfolio and Project Management
NetSuite OpenAir project management is the most popular and impressive module, providing a competitive edge to the platform. In comparison to other similar SaaS platforms in the market, it supports the largest range of portfolio and project management features.
- Resource Management
Again, with this module also NetSuite OpenAir enjoys a competitive edge as it covers the bulk of the characteristics and features needed for resource planning and resource scheduling. Almost all the features and characteristics central to resource management and planning are covered by this NetSuite OpenAir module.
- Contact and Contract Management
NetSuite OpenAir also offers extensive support for most of the features of Opportunity, Contact, and Contract Management. In comparison to other Professional Services Automation systems in the competition, NetSuite OpenAir has a considerable edge.
- Time and Expense Management
When it comes to time and expense management in the service sector, NetSuite OpenAir provides great support covering 98% of key Time and Expense Management features. This module offers a lot of customisable controls to help service sector companies manage both time and expenses more efficiently.
Client expectations are increasing in quality of work (51%), speed of service delivery (50%), cost of work (48%), transparency (37%), and accountability (37%).
Mavenlink
- Budget & Billing
This is another successful module from NetSuite OpenAir and this module provides support for the vast majority of features and functionalities. It offers real-time billing and cost estimation functionalities. It also provides both long-term and short-term budgeting features and functionalities.
- Collaboration & Analysis
In the whole service sector, managing knowledge and data-driven insights to deal with the evolving competition is extremely important. This is another area where managing knowledge and data-driven insights in a streamlined manner and sharing real-time data analytics can be a little consuming. NetSuite OpenAir provides pretty robust support for the maximum features required by this module.
- Third-Party Integration
One of the major reasons behind the increasing popularity of NetSuite OpenAir is arguably this module. Ease of third-party tool integration is a key attribute that NetSuite OpenAir extensively covers. From custom configuration to custom integration of third-party tools, this module facilitates everything.
NetSuite OpenAir Professional Services Automation Features
NetSuite OpenAir comes with a load of valuable features facilitating the smooth automation of professional services. Here below, we mention all the NetSuite OpenAir features.
- Pre-packaged integration of third-party software
- Report for labor costs
- Access through the mobile app
- Import and export of data
- API for security enhancement
- Sales Collaboration
- Data Analytics Dashboard
- Skill-based Profile Management
- Expense Management
- Timesheet management
- Reporting and Dashboards
- Multi-Company synchronisation
- Revenue Recognition
- Resource Management
- Project management
- Customer Billing and Invoicing
NetSuite OpenAir is a leading Professional Services Automation tool designed to cater to the needs of service organizations across various industries. This robust platform offers a wide range of functionalities that streamline project management, resource allocation, expense tracking, and financial operations, among others. Below, we explore the key features of NetSuite OpenAir that help organizations improve their service delivery, operational efficiency, and profitability.
1. Timesheet Management
NetSuite OpenAir revolutionizes how organizations handle timesheet management by providing an easily accessible online platform. Employees can enter their time remotely from anywhere in the world, using any device with internet connectivity. This flexibility is important for modern organizations with global or remote teams.
The timesheet feature is integrated within OpenAir’s project management module, allowing real-time updates and comparisons against key project deliverables. This integration helps maintain up-to-date project timelines and budget statuses, which are essential for managing client expectations and project delivery.
OpenAir’s timesheet management allows detailed tracking by project, task, and phase. Employees can add comments or descriptions to their entries, thereby enhancing the granularity and accuracy of the time reporting. This level of detail is vital for analyzing project performance and improving future project estimates.
2. Resource Management
One of NetSuite OpenAir’s strengths lies in its global resource management capabilities. The platform offers features specifically designed to streamline the process of resource allocation across different regions and projects. This is particularly beneficial for multinational companies looking to optimize their workforce effectively.
Through its sophisticated resource management system, OpenAir allows for the tracking and allocation of resources via multiple booking times. This feature helps project managers with in-depth visibility into resource utilization.
3. Expense Management
OpenAir automates the entire cycle of expense management, from submission to approval. This automation reduces the administrative burden on employees and speeds up the reimbursement process, improving employee satisfaction.
The expense management feature is tightly integrated with project accounting and invoicing modules, ensuring that all expenses are accurately captured and billed to the appropriate projects. This integration is crucial for maintaining financial integrity and avoiding discrepancies in project budgets.
4. Project Management
OpenAir facilitates effective collaboration among project team members and stakeholders. The platform provides tools that help maintain current and accurate project status, which is accessible to all relevant parties. This transparency helps in managing expectations and fosters a collaborative work environment.
The project management module includes tools to proactively identify and resolve potential threats to project success. By allowing project managers to foresee possible issues and react promptly, OpenAir helps ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget.
Improved client engagement is a direct benefit of using OpenAir’s project management features. The platform ensures that all client deliverables are met with high standards, thereby enhancing client satisfaction and loyalty.
5. Reporting and Dashboards
OpenAir provides comprehensive reporting and dashboard capabilities that offer real-time, on-demand access to data across all modules. These tools are essential for making informed business decisions and for reporting to stakeholders.
Users can customize dashboards to display relevant project metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs). These graphical representations help simplify complex data sets and provide at-a-glance visibility into the health of projects and overall business performance.
The advanced reporting features include predictive analytics, which helps forecast future trends based on historical data. This capability allows organizations to anticipate challenges and adjust strategies proactively.
6. Invoicing and Billing
OpenAir’s invoicing and billing module streamlines the financial aspects of service delivery. From bid preparation to time and expense tracking to final billing, the platform covers all financial interactions, which enhances the accuracy and timeliness of client invoicing.
The platform supports operations across different currencies and business entities, making it ideal for global companies. This feature simplifies the management of financial operations in diverse geographic locations.
7. Project Budgeting
OpenAir allows for detailed tracking and management of project budgets. Managers can set initial budget forecasts and track actual spending, comparing various scenarios to ensure projects stay financially on track.
Powerful budget management tools are complemented by visual reporting capabilities, which provide financial leaders with clear insights into financial performance and resource allocation. This visibility is important for maintaining budget compliance and for making timely adjustments to project plans.
NetSuite OpenAir 2024.1
The releases of OpenAir 2024.1 and OpenAir Mobile 5.1 bring significant improvements to the NetSuite OpenAir suite. These new updates promise to enhance the functionality and user experience of OpenAir, providing new tools and features that streamline project management and improve security measures.
Project Center Enhancements
The Project Center will now allow project managers to search for resources that match specific criteria such as profile, job code, and availability. This feature simplifies the process of finding the best staffing fit for projects. Users can scroll horizontally through their project timelines, offering a smoother and more intuitive way to manage project schedules from a single screen.
Navigation Shortcuts
Improve your efficiency with navigation shortcuts that let you quickly access your favorite pages within OpenAir or external URLs. Add shortcuts to any page within OpenAir, including new record forms and specific record tabs. These can be organized and accessed from any page, significantly reducing navigation time.
Two-Factor Authentication
With the introduction of two-factor authentication, OpenAir increases security by adding an extra verification step during sign-in. Users will verify their identity using a time-based one-time password from an authenticator app. Account administrators will have the ability to control who must use two-factor authentication, ensuring compliance with security policies.
OpenAir Mobile 5.1 Features
OpenAir Mobile 5.1 focuses on enhancing mobile accessibility and functionality:
Offline Functionality:
- Draft Inbox: Users can plan time and expenses on the go, even without an internet connection. This feature ensures that all entries are captured accurately and in a timely manner, regardless of connectivity.
- Draft Management: Time entry and receipt drafts can be managed in a draft inbox and, when ready, easily dragged into time cards or added to expense reports for completion.
Streamlined Mobile Experience:
- Drag-and-Drop Time Entries: OpenAir Mobile 5.1 will introduce a drag-and-drop feature for moving time entries from drafts to time cards, simplifying the process of completing timesheets.
- Enhanced Expense Reporting: Similarly, receipt drafts can be quickly added to expense reports, streamlining the expense management process.
NetSuite OpenAir Key Benefits
Now that we have explained the key features of NetSuite OpenAir and all the positive attributes it offers, it is time to have a closer look at some of the key advantages it provides to business users.
- NetSuite OpenAir comes with its own free mobile app version that can be accessed through both Android and iOS devices. This ensures flexible, device-independent, and location-independent access to timesheets.
- NetSuite OpenAir provides an array of ready-to-use user roles, dashboards, metrics, and reports as per the implementation needs. There are nearly a hundred pre-configured and ready-to-use reports. OpenAir also provides a multitude of templates so that new projects can be created with ease as per different billing rules.
- As far as controlling and allowing access to different features and tasks are concerned, the role management of NetSuite OpenAir comes in handy. It provides a robust platform focused on user roles and the level of information required by each individual.
- NetSuite OpenAir makes tracking task completion by each employee easier through a powerful dashboard feature. Each employee role has a pre-built dashboard loaded with charts and reports specific to their tasks and responsibilities in the company.
NetSuite OpenAir Cost
First of all, let us mention here that NetSuite OpenAir doesn’t provide any trial version. This SaaS software platform comes with two different pricing plans, such as Professional Suite for Small and Medium Business (SMB) segment and Enterprise Suite. The latter also offers a Resource Management module.
The Professional Suite for SMBs comes with a price tag of $399/month and an additional $49 per user per month. The Enterprise Suite, which comes loaded with Resource Management, is priced at $899 per month and an additional $49 per user per month.
Why Is NetSuite OpenAir Better?
NetSuite OpenAir for the entire service sector brings a lot of promises for streamlined operation with great flexibility, cost control, and efficiency. For a company whose core business is running service-based projects, tracking the progress of the project, resource utilisation, and revenue generation become very important. Not a single software solution in the market today provides all three of these simultaneously. This is the most competitive value proposition offered by NetSuite OpenAir.
Since modern service-based organisations have their workforce scattered across locations, roles, and workplaces, including client-side workstations, it has become very important for organisations to track projects and update all activities flexibly. On top of everything, OpenAir is powered by the widely acclaimed and one of the leading ERP systems in the world called Oracle NetSuite.
NetSuite OpenAir PSA offers a complete and fully loaded software automation system with powerful and robust capabilities. If you run a business of software-based service projects, this NetSuite PSA offering will give you complete peace of mind regarding operational control and process optimisation.
Why NetSuite OpenAir PSA Matters in 2026
Professional services organizations expanding globally deal with growing operational complexity in projects, teams, and financial systems. Today, businesses must move quicker, keep bigger profit margins, and offer instant insights into performance. In this setting, Professional Services Automation (PSA) platforms are critical systems, not nice-to-have tools.
NetSuite OpenAir PSA backs up this shift by linking project management, financials, and resource planning within one system. This lets companies boost efficiency, lessen reliance on manual processes, and improve control over results. By 2026, using PSA is strongly tied to a company’s sophistication level, particularly for those aiming to enhance utilization, profits, and operations transparency.
VNMT Offers Implementation & Optimization For OpenAir & Support
NetSuite OpenAir PSA helps professional services firms integrate projects, resources, and financial management into one unified system. As companies adopt more complex models in 2026, there’s a greater need for clear visibility, tighter utilization control, and precise profit tracking to aid decision-making.
This platform enhances operational clarity, cuts down on manual tasks via automation, and syncs project handling with financial processes driven by ERP. For those looking into PSA solutions, it provides a solid method to boost efficiency, manage service rollout better, and have greater control. To better understand how NetSuite OpenAir PSA aligns with project operations, resource planning, and ERP-connected financial management, businesses often explore NetSuite implementation services to evaluate deployment strategy, workflow alignment, and operational requirements.
