Mission Control gets PERT and RACI makeover

Aprika has announced the latest version of Mission Control, its PSA solutions. Version 1.80. It introduces a suite of powerful new features and enhancements to elevate project management for professional services organisations. This release focuses on improving estimation accuracy, resource management, collaboration, and reporting. These are key areas that drive profitability and client satisfaction in the professional services sector.

The key new features include a PERT (Project Evaluation and Review Technique) estimator, a RACI Matrix, and a new Project Grid tab.

PERT Estimator

The new PERT Estimator introduces a robust, three-point estimating process (Optimistic, Most Likely, Pessimistic) to deliver more accurate project effort forecasts. The workflow includes:

• Requesting Estimates: Project managers can request estimates from relevant roles at the program, project, or milestone level.
• Completing Estimates: Estimators use a guided wizard to enter their values, and the system automatically calculates the PERT estimate.
• Review and Finalisation: Estimating teams can review, discuss, and finalise estimates to ensure consensus and transparency.

The new feature will also produce a daily digest that includes a summary of incomplete, overdue, or review-required estimates. This structured approach reduces the risk of under- or overestimation by using an industry-standard methodology. It should lead to more reliable project planning, improved client trust, and better resource allocation.

Enterprise Times asked Colin Johnson, CEO of Aprika, the developers of Mission Control, how the PERT Estimator will be improved in the future and whether it will leverage AI to enhance it?

He replied, “Like any new feature, we will monitor usage and consult with customers around the benefits they’re gaining from the feature. From there, we’ll determine improvements that can be made, whether that’s manual efficiency gains or integration to AI.”

RACI Matrix

A new, interactive RACI Matrix is now available on the Project Overview. It provides a clear, at-a-glance view of who is Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed for every project component. RACI members can be added manually or generated automatically from the project’s roles and stakeholders.

Users can view the areas of interest / level of involvement in the project overview and switch to a different point of view.

The new RACI matrix enhances stakeholder clarity, reduces confusion, and ensures accountability—critical for complex, multi-role professional services projects.

Enterprise Times asked Johnson which drill-down options were available to find more information about the individual or the different phases/milestones within the RACI matrix.

He replied, “The RACI Matrix itself is intended to be an easy-to-consume visualisation of the various parties that have an area of interest in the WBS element. If they need to get further information on the WBS element or the RACI Members relating to an individual WBS element, that is all available by clicking through to the detail page of the WBS element, located right next to the RACI Matrix on the Project Overview.”

Project Grid

A dynamic new Project Grid tab offers advanced data interaction for project work breakdown structures. Features include grouping, quick filtering, inline editing, auto-save, custom sorting, and column control. Users can view actions, checklists and their items. Users can group items using a drag-and-drop feature. Inline editing is also available to avoid having to switch to different screens if anomalies are spotted within the grid view.

The feature empowers project managers and teams to quickly analyse, update, and manage project data, boosting productivity and data accuracy.

Other enhancements

Client Read-Only Page Enhancements

Clients can now access enhanced read-only views, including:

• Project Health Checks Tab: Share project health updates directly with clients.
• Time Log PDF Export: Clients can export time logs for their records. This feature was already available for internal users and is now available to customers as well.
• Customizable Overview Fields: Tailor what clients see for greater transparency.

The update will help improve client communication and trust, while reducing administrative overhead for project teams.

Role Master Team & Function History Tracking

Role History records now track changes in team assignments and functions over time. This ensures that rate card financials and utilisation reports accurately reflect historical changes, such as promotions or team transfers. Customers can also export time logs as a PDF, though it does not appear as a CSV/Excel file.

This feature will deliver precise financial and utilisation reporting, supporting better forecasting, billing, and performance analysis. Importantly, it means that team-level metrics are not penalised or enhanced when members join mid-reporting period.

Role Forecast Gantt Chart

The Gantt Chart now supports a Role Forecast view, allowing users to visualise and manage resource forecasts alongside traditional project timelines. Users can drag-and-drop forecasts, access detailed models, and customise field displays. This new feature view enables proactive resource planning and helps avoid over- or under-utilisation of key personnel.

Resource Planner Enhancements

There are several updates to the resource planner. They include new grouping options (by Master Team or Function), exclusion of placeholder roles from capacity calculations, flexible period cell value displays, and advanced filtering to focus on roles with available capacity. The update enables more granular and accurate resource planning, ensuring the right people are assigned to the right projects at the right time.

Opportunity Auto Generation

Two new methods for auto-generating projects from opportunities:

• Product Quantity x Hours: Builds project plans based on opportunity product quantities.
• Base Template + Product Quantity x Hours: Combines standard templates with product-driven milestones.

Adding these new opportunity-generation methods increases the likelihood of meeting more requirements. I asked Johnson what the driver was behind the two new opportunity-generation methods. He replied, “Customer requests, providing greater flexibility in being able to auto-generate projects that support their business processes. “

Other Minor Enhancements

Numerous smaller improvements, such as enhanced filters in the Gantt and role utilisation report, baseline hour tracking, multi-line milestone editing, non-billable phase indicators, billing event voiding, and improved timesheet controls, further refine the user experience and reporting accuracy.

What is coming next?

Enterprise Times asked Johnson what is on the roadmap for the next release. He said, “Core product features will include additional enhancements to the WBS/Role Forecast integration on the Gantt Chart, Enhancements to Retainer-based billing, supporting rollovers of retainers and Cash Flow Reporting.”

Other PSA vendors are rolling out updates that include AI-powered features. This update appears to have little. Johnson shared that Mission Control is working on AI features, adding, “We’re focusing on delivering AI features that provide our customers with the broadest level of efficiency gains across the product.”

Reading between the lines, Johnson, and based on how the firm has developed Mission Control, it is likely that when they do reveal what they have been working on, they could have developed something unique in the market.

Enterprise Times: What does this mean?

Mission Control Version 1.80 is a significant step forward for professional services organisations seeking to modernise their project management practices. By combining advanced estimation, resource management, and collaboration tools, this release empowers teams to deliver exceptional results for their clients while optimising internal operations.

This is a substantial release, with the RACI matrix and PERT model estimator as significant additions. It will be interesting to see how Mission Control develops these further, especially if they consider integration with AgentForce.

For a detailed walkthrough of these features, users are encouraged to view the pre-recorded webinar available in the Mission Control Support Centre.

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