Operating vs. NetSuite SuiteProjects (OpenAir)
Consulting teams pick Operating when they need PSA their consultants actually use every day, with practical resource planning and clear pricing instead of complex menus and opaque enterprise deals.
Why pick Operating over NetSuite OpenAir?
Get a tool consultants actually use
NetSuite often sits unused because it feels heavy and admin driven. Operating is simple enough for consultants to plan work and log time daily, so leaders finally trust the data.
See real margins before it’s too late
With NetSuite, margin and leakage issues appear after month end. Operating shows planned vs actual hours and margins in real time, so you fix problems while projects are still running.
Start small, know the price upfront
NetSuite usually means big rollouts and unclear pricing. Operating lets you start with resource planning beside existing systems, add modules later, and always know the per person cost.
With 150 people across countries, Operating helps us staff projects efficiently by aligning our sales pipeline, allocations, and our consultants’ skills and interests. This helps us minimize costly bench time.
Operating connected with HubSpot provides our team of 10+ staffing managers the forward-looking view they need to plan our company's work.
Resource planning your consultants actually use
Modern PSA built by ex-consultants so your team plans work, tracks time, and protects margins without the heavy admin of NetSuite or legacy tools.
Staff projects in minutes
Search by role, skills, and availability in one clean view so project leaders can staff work quickly instead of clicking through complex NetSuite menus.
Real-time utilization and margins
Get live utilization, capacity, and margin dashboards by person, project, and team so you see problems early rather than waiting for month-end ERP reports.
Planned vs actual tracking
Compare planned hours, actuals, and margin in real time to catch revenue leakage during the project instead of discovering it weeks later in spreadsheets.
Start with planning, add more later
Begin with resource planning alongside NetSuite, then add timesheets and invoicing when ready so you avoid risky, all-at-once PSA replacements.
Connect to tools you already use
Use our REST API and native integrations for HubSpot, Pipedrive, and HiBob so sales, staffing, and finance stay in sync without a full ERP rollout.
Simple pricing, direct support
Pay a clear per-person monthly price and get onboarding plus live chat directly with the Operating team, instead of navigating big-vendor pricing conversations.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Operating different from NetSuite OpenAir and SuiteProjects Pro?
Operating is built for everyday use by consultants, not just admins. Your team gets a simple interface for staffing, time tracking, and utilization so they actually keep it up to date. You still get real time views of margins and capacity, without the heavy, complex setup that comes with a full ERP suite like NetSuite.
Can I use Operating alongside NetSuite instead of replacing it all at once?
Yes. You can start by using Operating just for resource planning on top of NetSuite. Later, you can add timesheets and invoicing when you are ready. This lets you de risk your rollout and prove value fast instead of committing to a big bang replacement.
Will my consultants actually use Operating day to day?
That is the whole point. Operating keeps staffing, skills matching, and time entry simple so your consultants can update plans and hours in a few clicks. You get accurate utilization and planned vs actual data without long trainings or chasing people every week.
How does Operating help me see margins and revenue leakage in real time?
You plan work in Operating and track actual hours against that plan. The app shows you margins, utilization, and capacity as projects run, not weeks later after month end close in your ERP. You can adjust staffing, scope, or rates early instead of losing profit quietly.
What integrations does Operating support with my existing tools?
You connect Operating to your CRM and finance stack using our REST API and ready made integrations, for example HubSpot, Pipedrive, and HiBob, plus accounting tools like QuickBooks or Xero. You keep the systems that already work and use Operating as your resource and margin control center.
How is Operating priced compared to NetSuite?
Operating uses transparent per person monthly pricing with published plans starting from resource planning only. You see exactly what you will pay and can scale up as you add timesheets and invoicing. There are no opaque enterprise quotes or surprise modules you must buy to get value.
Tired of tools your team ignores?
Give consultants a PSA they actually use, with clear resource planning and real time margins, without the heavy setup, hidden pricing, or full ERP rollout risk.