ERP tends to focus on business from a logistics perspective. The services sector of the economy is so diverse, however, that the notion of a standard application working for all service organizations is probably over optimistic. We are not suggesting that fast food restaurants, airlines, and consulting firms can use the same software to support their core processes. However, when we apply just a few conditions to the services sector, we discover a large market segment that does share the same fundamental operating principles. Knowledge workers are a good example.
Work is organized around something that can be termed a project.
Even traditional manufacturing concerns can be included, since many of them maintain sizeable service operations. For example, industrial equipment manufacturers that install or service their products in addition to selling them meet the criteria. These companies clearly fall within the manufacturing sector of the economy, yet they still maintain a pool of technical specialists who must be scheduled to go from job to job in the field. This aspect of PSA functionality is similar to Customer Relationship Management applications, except of course that it is integrated with other modules. By that time, the opportunity has been categorized by a series of requirements that will serve as the starting point for project staffing and budgeting.