Who is the PPM software selection for?

For organisations facing a tool decision: users of Project Server 2016 or 2019, whose support ended on 14 July 2026; users of Project Server Subscription Edition looking for a successor or a hybrid path; organisations that have outgrown Dynamics 365 Project Operations or Planner Premium; teams that use Microsoft Planner only and lack an overview of all projects; and companies selecting a PPM software for the first time or replacing a non-Microsoft tool.

How long will Project Server Subscription Edition be supported?

Project Server Subscription Edition follows Microsoft's Modern Lifecycle Policy and is updated continuously. Microsoft states 31 December 2031 as the earliest possible end of support, so there is no lifecycle deadline. The usual trigger for a selection is the dependency on SharePoint Server on-premises and the wish for cloud capabilities such as Copilot, Power BI and Teams integration.

Is Dynamics 365 Project Operations a PPM software?

Project Operations is designed for project-based service businesses: quoting, contracts, time tracking, invoicing and project accounting. Portfolio prioritisation, strategic resource planning across all initiatives and scenario comparison are not its core. If you need these capabilities, the selection process checks whether a PPM solution complements or replaces Project Operations.

How long does the selection take?

Typically three to six weeks with one workshop per week. The short duration is possible because the criteria catalogue and the longlist are prepared for the Microsoft and Atlassian ecosystem and because the pilot runs with your own data in your own environment, not in a vendor sandbox.

What does the selection consulting cost?

The complete selection process costs EUR 7,965 net at a fixed price. Included are the workshops, the weighted criteria catalogue, longlist and shortlist, organisation and moderation of the demos, the trial, the pilot with a sample of your projects and the decision paper for your management. Licences of the candidates are not included; vendors usually provide trial licences free of charge.

What happens after the decision?

The selection ends with a hand-over plan. If you implement the solution with Smart Start, the pilot environment and the criteria catalogue are reused directly. The process workshop at the start of Smart Start is no longer needed because the requirements are already documented.

How independent is Holert?

Holert does not manufacture any of the candidates. We are an implementation partner for Altus PPM, Projectum xPM and Atlassian and know the products from day-to-day project work. Scoring follows your weighted criteria catalogue in a transparent scoring matrix, so every recommendation can be traced.

PPM software selection: independent consulting at a fixed price

We guide your PMO from business goals to the decision: criteria catalogue, longlist, demos, trial and a pilot with your own data. Result in three to six weeks, independent of any vendor, at a fixed price.

PPM Software Selection – Independent consulting at a fixed price

How do we find a PPM tool that fits our processes, not the other way round?

How do we compare Altus PPM, Projectum xPM, Jira and Planner Premium objectively?

How do we avoid a wrong decision that costs years?

We deliver a sound basis for your decision in three to six weeks.

We score the candidates against your own criteria catalogue, not against vendor slides.

We test the favourites with your data in your own environment.

PPM software selection

We support you in selecting the PPM software that fits your processes. As we are not a manufacturer ourselves, our advice is independent of any vendor: Altus PPM, Projectum xPM, Jira with PPM apps and Planner Premium are scored against your own criteria catalogue. We know the starting situations of Project Server, Project Online, Project Operations, Excel and custom SharePoint solutions from many selection and migration projects, as well as the situation where teams work with Microsoft Planner only and lack an overview of all projects. See references.

Step 1

Develop business objectives and success criteria
Determine scope and exclusion criteria
Clarify the framework conditions
Provide a suitable catalog of criteria for the selection

Step 2

Create longlist
Quick check against K.O. criteria
Creation of a list of questions
Organization of demos

Step 3

Deep dive for the shortlist
Organization of a test site
Optional support during pilot operation with your existing project data
Support with contractual protection

After the decision: hand-over to Smart Start

The selection ends with a decision paper and a hand-over plan. If you implement the chosen solution with Smart Start, the pilot environment and the criteria catalogue from the selection are reused directly. The process workshop at the start of the implementation is no longer needed, and your PMO moves into implementation without a break.

Integrated

Completes and integrates what is missing

Uses existing Microsoft 365 apps such as Power BI, Microsoft Teams, Project and Planner and integrates tools such as Azure DevOps, Jira and SAP as standard

Automated

With process automation and artificial intelligence

Automates many processes, supported by Copilot and other AI technologies, which relieve you of a lot of tedious manual work.

Safe

All data in your Microsoft environment

The software runs entirely within your Microsoft 365 environment, which means that you and your IT have full control over all data. Your IT already knows the ropes and you save yourself lengthy approval processes.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most important questions about selecting a PPM software, Microsoft Project Server and Dynamics 365 Project Operations.

Who is the PPM software selection for?

For organisations facing a tool decision: users of Project Server 2016 or 2019, whose support ended on 14 July 2026; users of Project Server Subscription Edition looking for a successor or a hybrid path; organisations that have outgrown Dynamics 365 Project Operations or Planner Premium; teams that use Microsoft Planner only and lack an overview of all projects; and companies selecting a PPM software for the first time or replacing a non-Microsoft tool.
How long will Project Server Subscription Edition be supported?
Is Dynamics 365 Project Operations a PPM software?
How long does the selection take?
What does the selection consulting cost?
What happens after the decision?
How independent is Holert?

I definitely recommend Holert due to the very high level of expertise and the pragmatic and thus strongly customer-oriented consulting approach.

Ralf Czymmek

PMO, Rohde & Schwarz

The cooperation is very pleasant and the commitment of the employees, even after many years of working together, is very good.

Gerald Dohle

Cost Engineering | Next Generation Technology, Evonik Operations GmbH

Our consultant from Holert - Great, customer-oriented, fantastic.

Volker Jach

Head of Project Management, Member of the Executive Board, KPT Krankenkasse AG

We work a lot with Holert and they always solve our challenges, they have a lot of expertise and you can rely on them 100%.

Alexander Luna

Strategic Project Manager, Rohde & Schwarz

Together with Holert, we sat down and asked ourselves how we could represent the many projects coming our way in a way that truly matched our own terminology. We then adapted the software accordingly, a process that was actually quite quick and straightforward - and in the end, we felt it really reflected our needs.

Thilo Fuchs

PMO, Miele & Steelco-belimed

Working with Holert has been very successful. You have always found the right solutions to our problems and implemented them. This has allowed us to benefit from your experience. I am therefore delighted that we have worked together so successfully and will continue to do so.

David Kurz

PMO, KUKA

I particularly liked the documentation provided. It was possible to check the current status at any time. You are very professional and you simply understand how to identify and perceive needs as they really are and try to find solutions for them.

Oliver Haak

Project Manager, Accompio

The cooperation with Holert is really recommendable. They are much more than just a Power Apps or Power BI development company — first and foremost a consultancy that can also implement what they advise.

Andreas Plodek

PMO Lead and Engagement Manager, Amer Sports