Elevated by Design: How Deltek is Driving the Future of AI

By Warren Linscott, Chief Product Officer & Dinakar Hituvalli, Chief Technology Officer

If there was one takeaway from this year’s Deltek ProjectCon in Denver, it’s this: the conversation around artificial intelligence has officially shifted. For the 3,000+ attendees who gathered in Denver Colorado, it’s no longer a question of if AI will transform the way we work — it’s about how fast organizations can harness it to stay ahead.

With the theme Elevated by Design, we showcased how Deltek is not just keeping pace with innovation — we’re leading it. From intuitive interfaces to intelligent automation, our next generation of AI capabilities is built with one goal in mind: to elevate project-based businesses now and into the future.

The Evolution of Enterprise Software

Enterprise software has come a long way from its origins as a system of record — built to log transactions and generate reports. But as projects grew more complex and teams more distributed, that foundation needed to evolve.

At Deltek, we’ve led that evolution by designing project-based ERP and information solutions that do more than store data. Over the years we’ve created systems of engagement to help users visualize information, build workflows, and interact with tools in more meaningful ways.

But now, we’re entering the next phase: systems of action and intelligence. With AI agents that automate routine tasks and workflows, teams can shift their focus from manual steps to strategic priorities. And by combining deep project expertise with real-time usage patterns, we’re delivering predictive insights that help you make smarter decisions, faster.

This is the AI-driven future of enterprise software — built to help you move quickly, adapt confidently, and stay in control of high-stakes projects. Because when speed, clarity, and control matter most, your software should be working as hard as you do. 

Elevating Your People & Projects

Transforming How You Work

Over the past year, the pace of change has only accelerated — and Deltek has been right there, moving in step with the industry’s shift toward smarter, faster, more connected ways of working.

One of the most exciting developments has been the evolution of Dela^TM. What began as a business companion is now an intelligent AI orchestrator — surfacing insights, offering timely recommendations, and enabling users to make faster, more informed decisions. And this is just the beginning. Dela’s expanding capabilities are being woven deeper into our solutions, setting the stage for an even more intuitive and intelligent user experience.

That commitment to user experience is also driving the latest release of Deltek Costpoint and its reimagined Harmony interface built around simplicity, context, and consistency. Harmony isn’t just another upgrade; it’s a design philosophy that’s shaping how users interact with our products. By creating a unified, intuitive experience across our core solutions, we’re helping teams stay focused on what matters most: delivering successful projects.

But the most transformative step forward is the evolution of Deltek into the intelligent platform that powers every stage of the entire project lifecycle — Win, Plan, Execute, and Analyze. It’s not just about layering AI on top of existing workflows; it’s about embedding intelligence where it makes the greatest impact, bringing cohesion and control to even the most complex environments.

From platform to product to experience, Deltek is evolving with purpose. Every advancement is guided by the needs of project-based businesses and the opportunities AI presents, so our customers can deliver with speed, clarity, and control at every stage.

Accelerating Action with Dela

At Deltek, we’ve always seen it as our responsibility to ensure that evolution keeps pace with the needs of our customers and the industries they serve. So as we look towards 2026, the evolution of enterprise software is accelerating toward something more dynamic, more intelligent, and more responsive to the way project-based businesses actually operate.

We’re creating a system of action, and this next wave of innovation is already taking shape through our AI-powered Dela solutions. It’s designed with one goal in mind: to help project-based businesses stay competitive in a world where speed, clarity, and control are everything.

Our commitment to being Elevated by Design means we’re not just imagining the future — we’re building it. From smarter proposal creation to enterprise-wide risk visibility, and faster, more confident financial closes, our newest AI-powered solutions are redefining what’s possible:

• Deltek Proposals: Expected to launch in Q1 2026 with GovWin IQ, followed by Q3 2026 for Costpoint and Q3 2027 for Vantagepoint, AI-generated proposal creation will be embedded directly into these platforms. By automating solicitation analysis, compliance mapping, and first-draft creation, Deltek Proposals is projected to reduce proposal creation time by 60–70%, helping capture teams produce smarter proposals and stronger wins.
• Deltek PPM Enterprise Risk: Launching in or around Q1 2026, this solution elevates risk management from isolated project tracking to enterprise foresight. It uses AI to provide visibility into organization-wide risk exposure, helping leaders identify patterns, predict potential issues, and take early, coordinated action to protect performance, profitability, and compliance before risks escalate.
• Deltek Agentic Financial Close: The first release is planned to be available in Q3 2026 for Costpoint, with Maconomy and Vantagepoint following in 2027. This solution applies AI-powered reconciliation and validation to shorten financial close cycles by several days while maintaining human oversight. It automates ledger reconciliation, detects anomalies, and surfaces exceptions for review — supporting GAAP and SOX compliance and enabling finance teams to close faster, with greater accuracy and confidence.

These are just a few of the strategic AI innovations on the horizon that are designed to elevate performance across every corner of the business. And they’re only the beginning.

Bringing You Next-Gen AI Innovation

As we continue to evolve, our focus is on building a future where intelligence is embedded into every stage of the project lifecycle — acting as a system of intelligence. We’re not just enhancing features; we’re rethinking how software can actively support and elevate the people who use it.

At the center of this transformation is the Deltek “AI Platform”, a unified foundation that draws on decades of industry expertise, deep workflow knowledge, and rich project data. This platform will power a new generation of AI-native applications—designed to guide employees, automate processes, and deliver timely, contextual recommendations that help teams move faster and smarter.

This evolution also introduces a new kind of user experience: the Agentic UX. It’s a shift from static interfaces to dynamic, conversational environments where AI agents work alongside users, surfacing priorities, resolving tasks, and adapting to individual roles and workflows. It’s about giving people more clarity, more control, and more time to focus on what matters most.

Together, the Deltek AI Platform and Agentic UX represent a purposeful leap forward—one that transforms how project-based businesses operate and innovate. So for us it’s not just about keeping up with change. It’s about designing the future of work.