Professional services firms look to boost client satisfaction to boost financial results
Almost eight-in-ten project-based firms expect profits to increase in 2026, with more than one in five forecasting growth of 10% or more, according to new Deltek research. While global geopolitical tensions, cyber security and heightened inflation continue to cause concerns, consulting firms are confident that entering new markets, and improving client satisfaction rates, can help them weather the storm.
A 78% majority of architecture, engineering and consulting firms expect profits to increase in 2026 despite ongoing economic uncertainty, according to new research from Deltek. The platform for project-based businesses surveyed 375 senior strategic decision-makers, including CEOs, C-suite-level directors, and heads of relevant departments such as finance, operations, delivery, and projects from the UK, Germany, and Australia.
And according to the results in the annual ‘Deltek Clarity’ report, economic uncertainty might have become a persistent operating condition for project-based firms, but in spite of this, many expect an up-turn in results. Some 22% even forecast an increase in profits of 10% or more.
National lines
When it comes to national markets, the UK is the most cautious in the study. A 61% majority cited global political uncertainty as a top three challenge for 2026 – narrowly ahead of Germany by one percentage point, but more than 20 more than Australia. However, respondents in the UK were even more concerned about two other leading issues. A 64% portion said that cyber security risks were a leading concern, while the same number identified inflation as a top issue. This is more than 20 points more than seen in either Germany or Australia.
This does not mean that the UK is less optimistic, but it does mean that it is preparing for the future in a different manner to its global counterparts. In Britain, improving cybersecurity was cited by 30% of respondents as a top priority, overtaking investment in the implementation of new technologies at 25%. Connected to this, in second place was optimising AI – at 29%.
In contrast, neither of these two areas features in the top four in Australia or Germany. Instead, Australia’s top priorities are expanding into new markets (28%) and investing in or implementing new technologies (26%), while firms in Germany are prioritising streamlining processes (35%) and investing in or implementing new technologies (33%).
Industry breakdown
National borders were not the only places where priorities diverged. Different industries also had a myriad of approaches for 2026 and beyond.
In architecture, the leading priority was investing in new technologies, cited by 33% of leaders, while in engineering 37% identified that as optimising AI in their organisation. But consulting – which has spent the last decade leading the charge in terms of digitalisation and AI adoption, instead prioritised more traditional levers: 27% said more effective sales and client service were key for their performance, while 24% said expanding into new markets was top of the agenda – suggesting the time has come for the sector to move beyond talking about the potential of technology, to putting it to practical use.
Heather Larkin, CFO at Deltek, commented, “The highest-performing firms in our study share common characteristics. They’re all connecting financial data to project data, embedding AI to deliver measurable returns, treating cyber risk as a financial exposure, and building KPI discipline that enables early intervention rather than late reporting. They understand that it’s not a case of having the most resources or the biggest teams but about moving fast and demonstrating control.”
