2026 Professional Services Maturity Benchmark
SPI Research's 2026 Professional Services Maturity Benchmark (February 2026; n=509, fielded 2025 performance year) found that 66.4% billable utilization in 2025, the lowest in SPI's 19-year history.
68.9%
66.4%
Key findings
- 01Billable utilization fell to 66.4% in 2025, the lowest in the benchmark's history and below SPI's 70–75% targets.
- 02About 27% of projects used generative AI in 2025, roughly a 40% increase over the prior year; 40% of firms offer AI services.
- 03Average PS revenue growth was 5.2% with headcount growth of 2.8%.
By the numbers
66.4%billable utilization in 2025, the lowest in SPI's 19-year history
27%of projects used generative AI in 2025, roughly a 40% increase over the prior year
23.2% vs 1.7%average revenue growth at Level 5 (most mature) firms versus Level 1 firms in 2025
What it means for you Draft
For executives at $10–100M companies
If you run a services firm, falling utilization alongside rising AI use on projects is worth sitting with: time saved by AI is not automatically turning into billable time or margin. It may be a good moment to look at our own utilization and pricing together, rather than treating AI as purely a delivery tool.
Limitations
Medium trust.Long-running, large benchmark with transparent KPIs; self-reported; heavily promoted and distributed by PSA software vendors (Kantata, Certinia, Rocketlane, Deltek).
About the publisher: Sells research reports; co-published with a PS software vendor.
SPI Research. "2026 Professional Services Maturity Benchmark." February 24, 2026. https://spiresearch.com/reports/2026-ps-maturity-benchmark/
Related reports
47th Annual Deltek Clarity Architecture & Engineering Industry StudyAI adoption among A&E firms rose from 53% to 70% year over year; generative AI use rose from 64% to 78%.
2026 AI in Professional Services ReportOrganizational GenAI use nearly doubled to 40%, up from 22% the prior year.
2025 Legal Trends ReportFirms with wide AI adoption are nearly three times more likely to report revenue growth than firms that have not adopted AI.