Microsoft Project Online will be retired soon, and businesses are evaluating their next step.
Key takeaways
Many leaders are considering implementing an integrated strategic portfolio management solution.
ServiceNow SPM is a powerful option that can strengthen integration across the enterprise.
Microsoft Project Online will be retired in September 2026, and many organizations are assessing the subsequent impact on their project and portfolio management functions. This transition creates an opportunity for business leaders to evaluate whether their next platform should simply replace Project Online or support a more integrated approach to strategic portfolio management (SPM). For teams looking to strengthen visibility, standardize governance and improve alignment between work and enterprise priorities, ServiceNow SPM is a powerful option worth considering.
Organizations already investing in the ServiceNow platform often realize additional value by extending it to support portfolio and project delivery. Expanding its use can help reduce fragmentation and give leaders a clearer view of how time, resources and funding are deployed across the enterprise.
Understanding the implications of Project Online deprecation
Project Online has served as a foundational tool for many project management offices (PMOs). Its retirement means organizations will need to migrate data, templates and workflows to a new solution. Leaders should evaluate how the transition may affect the following:
- Ongoing demand and intake processes
- Resource allocation and capacity planning
- Project tracking and reporting
- Portfolio decision-making and governance
The upcoming deadline provides a natural juncture to assess whether existing practices support long‑term needs or if PMOs should evolve to support more strategic planning.
Why organizations are looking to ServiceNow SPM
ServiceNow SPM brings demand, project and portfolio management processes together on a platform that many organizations already use for operational and IT workflows. This structure can help eliminate silos and strengthen alignment between strategy and execution.
Key capabilities include:
A single, real‑time view of where time, money and resources are invested and whether those investments are delivering value
Collaborative Work Management, which supports planning and execution with Kanban, Gantt and list views, along with workflow automation that does not require advanced administration
The ability to use familiar ServiceNow data and workflows to support portfolio planning, reducing complexity for teams across the organization
For organizations already using ServiceNow, expanding to SPM can help simplify the technology footprint and give stakeholders a consistent experience across the enterprise.
The takeaway: Taking the next step
The retirement of Project Online represents a meaningful milestone for PMOs. For many organizations, the shift is an opportunity to improve visibility, align work with strategy and simplify the technology landscape. ServiceNow SPM offers a way to strengthen integration across the enterprise, and working with an advisor such as RSM can help leaders establish a structured, future‑focused transition plan.
Organizations evaluating their options should begin by assessing current processes, identifying gaps and determining which capabilities best support their long‑term strategy.
How RSM supports organizations through this transition
A transition away from Project Online is an opportunity to modernize PMO practices. RSM can work with your organization to evaluate current‑state processes, assess future needs and design a path that aligns technology with strategy.
Experience implementing ServiceNow SPM
Our team brings more than a decade of experience helping organizations adopt the ServiceNow SPM platform to support their operating models and governance needs.
Practitioner-led insight
Our deep perspective helps identify the practical considerations that influence adoption, including intake design, reporting structures and resource planning models.
PMO transformation support
RSM’s PMO transformation practice utilizes a three-step approach, helping leaders evaluate performance, align governance and outline a strategic roadmap to help organizations identify opportunities and establish a clear path forward.
A structured migration path: SPM Foundations
RSM’s SPM Foundations offering provides a structured path to stand up ServiceNow SPM within a six- to 12-week implementation window, depending on readiness and complexity. The approach includes:
- Intake and demand management
- Project management
- Program and portfolio management
- Resource management
- Time tracking
- Reporting
- Data migration from Microsoft Project Online
The approach is designed to help organizations adopt core capabilities quickly while laying a foundation for continued maturity.
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