Service Stewardship: Giving Back to Our Communities

Cloud Journey Group Co-founder and CRO Kyle Schlotfelt reflects on how giving back is woven into the company’s identity. Highlighting partnerships with Cowtown Warriors, supporting veterans, and the Dallas Margarita Ball, bringing joy to underserved children, Schlotfelt shows that CJG’s commitment goes beyond business solutions. As a participant in Salesforce’s 1% Pledge, CJG encourages others to embrace service stewardship—whether through volunteering, pro-bono work, or creating a culture of giving—proving that making a positive impact is essential to long-term success.

How to Build Stronger Teams and Achieve Business Growth in the Services Era

Kris Kildahl, Certinia’s Chief People Officer, explores strategies for empowering teams, fostering growth, and driving sustainable success. Drawing from conversations with industry leaders, Kildahl emphasizes the importance of trust, goal alignment, continuous learning, and cross-department mentorship in building high-impact teams. Her insights offer actionable takeaways for leaders to create environments where employees feel valued, engaged, and motivated to grow alongside the business.

Cracking the Code: Where to Start with Emerging Tech?

Ladd Partners' Nathan Threlkeld explores how service-based organizations can tackle digital transformation without the overwhelm. He introduces the “Lego strategy,” a modular approach where companies adopt new technologies piece by piece to reduce risks and see faster ROI. This practical guide shows leaders how to build scalable systems that drive growth while avoiding disruption.

Charting Your Career Path as a Woman in Leadership: My Journey in the Services Era

Jessica Mead, Co-Founder and Chief Architect of Cloud Journey Group, shares how her unexpected entry into the Salesforce ecosystem sparked a career transformation. She reflects on the power of customer-centric processes, technology, and mentorship in building inclusive teams. Mead encourages leaders—especially women—to embrace continuous learning, define success on their own terms, and lead with purpose and passion in the evolving services economy.

Focus on These KPIs to Boost Revenue, Optimize Margins, and Minimize Risk for your Services Business

Services leaders are under constant pressure to grow revenue, protect margins, and reduce risks. Achieving these outcomes hinges on the ability to focus on the right KPIs that offer the clearest view into how the business is truly performing. In Enterprise Times, Certinia Head of Value Engineering Sridhar Parameshwaran breaks down the three most important business outcomes for services firms and the KPIs that help leaders reach them.

Top 4 Ways to Strengthen Services Through Collaboration and Dialogue

Cloud Journey Group highlights 4 key ways service-based businesses can strengthen their operations, improve processes, and achieve long term success.

Services by the Numbers: How Data Defines the Services Era

Cloud Journey Group dives into the numbers that tell the story of the Services Era, exploring some of the key metrics and trends that define this growing movement and why service-based businesses are at the heart of global innovation and success.

What will the next 10 years hold for the professional services industry?

To kick off International Services Week, we asked industry leaders: What will the services industry look like ten years from now? Here’s what they had to say! Now it’s your turn—how do YOU think services will evolve over the next decade? Share your thoughts on LinkedIn using the hashtag #ServicesWeek!

The Rise of the Services Era: How Service-Based Businesses Drive the Global Economy

Cloud Journey Group Co-founder and CRO Kyle Schlotfelt breaks down why services have become essential to business growth, with industries increasingly relying on cloud solutions, AI, and digital transformation to stay ahead. Now accounting for a massive portion of global GDP, the services sector is redefining success through long-term partnerships rather than one-off transactions.

Top 5 Problems in the Services Business— And How to Solve Them

Service businesses are constantly facing challenges to maintain customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. In this article, Agilyx explores the top five challenges faced by these businesses as well as the solutions. Read on!

How Leading Professional Services will use AI

From identifying ideal clients and candidates to automating project documentation and streamlining resource management, AI offers new ways to enhance efficiency and outcomes. The article from Exceleris Consulting explores how transforming unstructured data into actionable insights helps firms improve scoping, estimating, and client engagement—leaving readers to consider: how ready is your organisation to embrace the future of AI-driven services?

The Role of Automation in Optimising Business Process with ERP Solutions

Did you know: companies that automate their ERP systems experience a 30% increase in productivity and a 23% decrease in operational costs?  Automation within ERP Cloud solutions transforms how entire organizations operate, streamlining everything from financial processes to supply chain management. In this blog, Aroha Bains from Agilyx explores how automation in ERP can optimize business processes, save costs, and boost your bottom line. 

3-Tips to Scaling and Growing a Professional Services Business

Scaling a services business often involves developing new practices or lines of business. One of the most effective ways to do this is by building around an experienced resource who can lead and shape the new offering. Establish a multiplier effect to develop junior talent and mitigate the risks of relying too heavily on a single key individual. This article from John Vu, CEO at Cross Cloud Partners, explains how your services business can create a scalable and flexible delivery model by leveraging expertise, growing your talent pool, and managing the risk of attrition.

Maximizing Customer Lifetime Value: The Pivotal Role of Services Teams

This article from Ross Fulton, Founder & CEO of Valuize, explores the potential for services teams to redefine excellence in B2B relationships, advocating for a shift towards value-driven methodologies and processes. Ross examines how these teams can align their efforts with customer success, ultimately driving meaningful outcomes for B2B customers.

PwC Workforce Radar Research Report

Evolving your workforce over the next three years is vital. PwC’s inaugural Workforce Radar research report provides practical steps businesses can take to not just change with the times but lead that change. PwC has spent the last year researching how business leaders and CHROs can use workforce levers in new ways to drive desired business outcomes. This included identifying five workforce signals — each of which can be acted upon by using certain levers, or actions that businesses can customize and expand. When used with intention, these levers can empower your C-suite and workforce to drive enterprise-wide transformation.

The 8 principles for success in the 'Services Era'

The shift from selling products to offering services has transformed industries globally. Certinia CEO DJ Paoni breaks down the eight key principles businesses need to embrace to thrive in the Services Era, rom prioritizing people and customer experience to leveraging AI and embracing project-based work.

The Role of Customer Success in a Professional Services Organization: A Path to Achieving Business Goals

What if professional services could deliver more than just projects? Essam Nessim from Diabsolut explores how Customer Success (CS) transforms PSOs by fostering deeper client relationships, aligning services with strategic goals, and driving long-term growth. With insights from real-world examples, he highlights how proactive CS bridges the gap between service delivery and client needs, unlocking new opportunities for retention and expansion. A must-read for anyone rethinking the future of services!

What these key metrics reveal about the future of the services industry

Certinia Co-founder Deb Ashton previews her upcoming fireside chat with Nana Gregg and Rachel Chand at Diabsolut, in which the trio decode some of the major trends shaping the future of professional services, and the opportunities they present.

10 CRM & ERP Trends that Will Shape the Future of the Professional Services Industry

Cloudteam Company highlights ten trends shaping the professional services industry, from the growing influence of AI and machine learning in automating ERP and CRM processes, to the rise of cloud-based solutions for flexibility and scalability, and a focus on personalization to improve customer experience and loyalty. 

The Foundation of Effective AI: Data Quality and Strategic Adoption

Mariam Oyebanji, Consultant at VFP, writes why AI is not just about predictions but also about understanding the causes of outcomes, allowing businesses to take strategic actions. 

Professional services unite for new business event

Digital Journal Editor Dr. Tim Sandle speaks with Certinia CEO DJ Paoni about the inaugural International Services Week, highlighting how the shift from product-centric to service-led strategies is transforming industries, with professional services teams becoming key drivers of profitability and growth. Paoni emphasizes that success now depends on managing the customer journey and adopting technology that supports a service-driven, customer-centric approach.

Business services industry outlook

This analysis from RSM shows that staffing firms are focusing on improving employee experience and adopting AI to enhance recruitment and productivity, crucial for staying competitive amid economic uncertainty. Advertising firms face a critical year in 2024, with those investing in AI and leveraging first-party data set to outpace competitors as technology companies dominate the ad market. Middle-market advertising firms must embrace digital transformation and expand their service offerings to remain relevant and drive growth.

Professional services industry outlook

In this article by RSM, Business and Professional Services Senior Analyst Sonya King writes how the professional services industry is seeing rising profitability, particularly for law firms, driven by rate growth outpacing inflation, despite challenges like hiring complications and economic uncertainty. Midsize law firms are adopting unique hiring strategies, differing from larger counterparts, while all firms explore AI and outsourcing to enhance productivity and reduce costs. With mergers and acquisitions (M&A) expected to bolster demand, law firms are focusing on AI investments to navigate economic cooling and improve profitability.

Celebrating the future of professional services in APAC

Seleen McKinnies, RVP of APAC at Certinia, shares her insights on the critical role professional services play in driving economic growth and innovation in the APAC region, and previews an upcoming fireside chat with Cloudwerx CEO Toby Wilcock during International Services Week.

Announcing International Services Week 2024: Welcome to the Services Era

Certinia’s Greg O’Sullivan outlines the mission of International Services Week: to unite the B2B technology and services community, engage diverse perspectives on the state of the industry, and create opportunities to connect with peers. Read this article to learn what Services Week is all about!

The 2024 Global Service Dynamics Report

Drawing from the perspectives of more than 1,000 services executives and leaders worldwide, this report offers fresh data and actionable insights to help you navigate the always-evolving services landscape.

Charting The Course For Pragmatic AI Adoption

AI integration will be critical to business survival, as Gartner forecasts a substantial increase in global AI software spending. This article by Certinia CEO DJ Paoni introduces a five-stage Pragmatic AI Maturity Model to help organizations assess and enhance their AI readiness, from initial isolated uses to advanced, integrated deployments fostering continuous improvement.

As the ‘Uncertainty Era’ looms over PSOs, growth is good but efficiency is the key to survival

Professional Services Organizations are facing an uncertain era — but research points to actions that can provide stability. Certinia's Andy Campbell drills down into the data findings.