In the AI era, everyone is leaning into the term… even when it doesn’t apply. But sometimes it’s smarter to be more plain spoken, using terms like “automation,” and avoiding the temptation to jump on bandwagons. Indeed, AI is a loaded term and may even scare away some users.
This was a key finding in a recent Localogy report with original SMB survey data, done in collaboration with Duda. We presented the results at the recent L25, and the full report will be launched soon. In the meantime, some companies have already launched strategies that align with those findings.
Rocketlane is one of them. The company is pioneering what it calls professional services automation. It’s all about saving busy executives’ time through automating rote aspects of their workflows. Of course, that’s one of the things that AI promises, but PSA focuses on benefits rather than buzzwords.
We recently had the chance to catch up with Rocketlane co-founder and CEO Srikrishnan Ganesan to find out more. Last week, we featured part 1 of that discussion, including definitions and basics around PSA. Here in part 2, we go deeper into its applicability and tactical takeaways…
What are the types of job roles that [PSA] applies most to? Help us envision the use case with a hypothetical example or any case studies you have to illustrate the product in action.
Project managers and engagement managers benefit the most from AI-driven efficiencies, as they handle frequent meetings and post-meeting documentation. However, roles in training, solutioning, and configuration will also experience increasing automation as AI learns from accumulated documentation and knowledge in the system. At Rocketlane, we see AI progressively handling initial tasks across roles, with humans reviewing and refining the output, thus driving efficiency across the board.
Besides tangible ROI to users, such as fewer headaches and time saved, what are some of the ways that you quantify the benefits of the product in terms of metrics and analytics for users?
When we talk about time saved with AI, it’s not just about reducing the number of hours spent or cutting execution costs. AI’s ability to complete work faster also shortens project timelines, which in turn allows teams to execute initiatives in weeks instead of months.
This speed creates a ripple effect: clients become more eager to start new projects, knowing they’ll see results sooner. As service delivery becomes faster and more cost-effective, demand for those services will grow.
In fact, when effort drops by a significant multiple, customers’ appetite for the services rendered can grow exponentially. We’ve seen this in action: companies that reduced project timelines from, say, 18 months to just 4, experienced such a surge in demand, they had to double their team size just to keep up.
One of the most compelling outcomes we’ve seen is companies experiencing such a surge in demand after significantly reducing project timelines that they had to scale their teams to meet it. Contrary to fears of AI replacing jobs, it is actually driving job growth in this space.
One point of resistance to AI is that it requires inputs in order to be most effective and well-trained. However, those same inputs are where some users get uncomfortable in terms of sharing sensitive company data. What are you doing to overcome this challenge and foster trust in data privacy?
Users are more willing to adopt AI when they see its value in eliminating tedious tasks. At Rocketlane, we focus on high-impact use cases that:
- Build internal knowledge and context to enhance AI’s effectiveness over time.
- An integrated experience across documentation, communication, and other tools encourages in-the-workflow adoption of AI capabilities like AI Fills. When AI reduces busy work and directly benefits the user, adoption naturally increases.
- Provide AI-driven insights that teams feel a competitive urgency (FOMO) to adopt. We also amplify this momentum by showcasing customer success stories; we regularly share them on social media and other channels to inspire and inform the broader community.
You’ve recently secured $24 million in series B funding. How will that add fuel to your product road map and where are you investing that cash infusion in the near term?
We are expanding our go-to-market (GTM) presence in multiple regions while doubling down on AI innovation.
Beyond launching new AI capabilities, we are developing a groundbreaking product that introduces AI agents to augment service teams. These AI agents will provide automation for various aspects of service delivery alongside human teams, unlocking unprecedented efficiency.
What are you working on now that you’re most excited about? What can we expect next from Rocketlane?
Our upcoming AI product will consist of:
- AI scribes, responsible for capturing and documenting key knowledge.
- AI execution assistants, collaborating with humans to streamline work processes.
- AI analysts, who assess project data, identify risks, and provide leadership with early warnings.
The rapid evolution of AI has opened up possibilities we couldn’t have imagined just months ago. With our extensive knowledge base and integrated AI automation capabilities, Rocketlane is not just competing in the PSA space—we are redefining it.
Header image credit: Wade Allen on Unsplash
