SUCCESS STORY
Adage Technologies Finds Its Operational Rhythm with Kantata
Adage Technologies designs and builds custom software, ecommerce, and AI web solutions. Our thoughtful, advanced solutions foster enduring client partnerships and measurable success.
1%
annual variance between forecast and actuals
80%+
faster month-end close and invoicing cycles
Industry
Company
Headquarters
What Kantata Replaced
Adage Technologies, a software, ecommerce, and AI web firm specializing in advanced solutions for complex challenges, transformed the way it plans, delivers, and manages client projects using Kantata. By integrating core systems and introducing Pulse Checks that track client and team perception of project delivery, Adage quickly unlocked real-time visibility, cross-functional alignment, and deeper project health insights that have redefined how they manage delivery and support teams.
“Within probably two and a half months, we were already seeing the information from Kantata being used, the teams were reliant on it, they felt comfortable using it, and it was being socialized in nearly every meeting,” says Kyle Sandine, Associate Director of PMO and Delivery Center of Excellence at Adage.
With teams quickly embracing the platform and leadership leaning on its insights, Kantata has become the operational backbone that supports Adage’s growth, helping the business refine its operational rhythm and scale with confidence.
The Challenge
As Adage grew, so did the complexity of its operations. A homegrown resourcing tool that once worked for smaller, static teams buckled under the pressure of scaling and specialization. Visibility into role-specific availability was opaque, and syncing data across a patchwork of disconnected systems was cumbersome — often delayed until month-end, which left leadership without timely insights.
“We didn’t have visibility into some of the things that we needed in real time due to data needing to sync,” said Sandine. “That meant we were making important hiring and project assignment decisions with what felt like second- or third-hand sentiment mixed with gut feeling.”
This lack of integrated visibility resulted in stalled hiring decisions, forecasting gaps, and hidden opportunity costs—especially when team availability wasn’t clear.
A pivotal turning point came with the arrival of a new VP of Delivery, who had prior experience with professional services automation (PSA) tools. She advocated for operational maturity, asking why a PSA wasn’t already in place. This helped the team recognize that their tools were no longer enabling growth — they were limiting it.
Benefits
- Centralized visibility replacing fragmented, manual processes
- Confident, data-backed decision-making across delivery and finance
- Stronger collaboration between sales, delivery, and leadership
- Proactive course correction through integrated team and client feedback
“I come in asking question D now, because I already know the answers to questions A, B, and C. The information is available to have better, more informed, faster conversations.”
Associate Director of PMO and Delivery Center of Excellence, Adage
Implementing the Solution
Adage selected Kantata following a highly structured and criteria-driven evaluation process. While several PSA vendors had compelling features, Kantata stood out for its usability, clean reporting, and, most importantly, its ability to integrate seamlessly with existing systems like Jira, Intacct, and HubSpot.
The Kantata implementation team helped guide best practices and offered tailored support for Adage’s business model. “Any time a question came up, the team responded with, ‘That makes sense — here’s how you do that,’ or, ‘Let’s check with the product team on best practices,’” recalled Sandine.
Internal change management played a big role. Adage ran office hours, shared enablement resources, and helped staff adapt to the new platform. These efforts helped foster internal champions and set the tone for a successful rollout. As teams grew more familiar with the platform, their confidence grew alongside it.
Kantata’s intuitive reporting and usability helped users quickly build trust in the data. Teams could finally access reliable information without manually stitching it together. “The insights Kantata gives us have given us the opportunity to reshape how we talk about our clients, resourcing, and project teams,” says Sandine.
“Kantata Pulse lets people share how they’re really feeling — without fear or filters. That’s critical to healthy projects and healthy people.”
Associate Director of PMO and Delivery Center of Excellence, Adage
Reaping the Benefits
Accurate Forecasting, Down to the Role Level
Adage’s ability to forecast resources and demand has evolved from manual guesswork to data-backed accuracy. With clear visibility into backlog and staffing capacity, leaders can anticipate hiring needs and allocate the right roles to the right projects faster. Accurate forecasting also enables smoother project transitions and more reliable financial planning across the business.
“In 2024, we were within one percent of our forecast from the beginning of the year to the end. That says our teams are using Kantata effectively.”
Reporting at the Speed of Business
Adage’s executive team now gets the information they need without waiting on manual exports, spreadsheet cleanup, or end-of-month reviews. Time that was once spent wrangling data is now used to make decisions faster, backed by trusted metrics. Whether it’s understanding financial status, capacity forecasts, or project margins, real-time visibility helps keep leadership aligned and clients informed.
“I was able to share our final revenue number with the finance team and CEO within a few hours of reconciling timesheets. That used to take a week or more.”
Faster, More Informed Decision-Making
Kantata has empowered Adage’s leadership and project teams to operate with greater clarity and speed. With unified systems and fresh insight from accurate data, leaders and PMs alike have gained greater confidence in the information they’re working with. They no longer need to wait for weekly updates or second-guess reports; they can verify performance trends in real time and escalate blockers with hard evidence. The time spent explaining the ‘why’ behind a red flag has been replaced with focused action and better conversations.
“I come in asking question D now, because I already know the answers to questions A, B, and C. The information is available to have better, more informed, faster conversations.”
Empowered PMs
With Kantata, Adage’s project managers no longer rely on lagging indicators or monthly meetings to flag project risks. They can make adjustments mid-flight, reshuffle resources, and keep leadership informed — without waiting for an escalation. The platform’s visibility has allowed PMs to operate more independently and focus on outcomes rather than processes.
“You’re not waiting for flags to be raised at set milestones. You can react in real time — as soon as the data is available.”
Deeper Insight Into Project Health
With Kantata Pulse sending regular Pulse Checks to project stakeholders throughout delivery, Adage can now monitor not only financial health but also delivery sentiment. This allows for timely intervention when projects go off course — based on real data from clients and internal teams, not just anecdotal feedback. To learn more about Adage’s use of Kantata Pulse, check out the full Feature spotlight here.
“Healthy margin doesn’t always mean healthy delivery. Pulse gives us objective data that helps us validate — and improve — project health.”
“The insights Kantata gives us have given us the opportunity to reshape how we talk about our clients, resourcing, and project teams.”
Associate Director of PMO and Delivery Center of Excellence, Adage