Gartner defines configure, price and quote (CPQ) applications as software that enables sales organizations to automate and optimize the creation of quotes and capture of orders. A CPQ application is a sales tool that captures the new goods and services a customer wants to buy or the changes a customer wants to make to existing goods and services. While generally focused on assisted sales channels, CPQ capabilities such as product configuration and pricing must be shared with the self-service commerce channel. The new purchases and changes must be priced and a binding contract must be formed with the customer before sending an order to downstream fulfillment systems.
Professional services automation (PSA) tools help services organizations manage and streamline their business operations by automating tasks and optimizing processes. They provide a centralized platform for service planning and execution, enabling improved efficiency and business performance through better visibility into delivery costs and profitability. PSA tools focused on supporting managed services providers also include integration capabilities for orchestrating and capturing additional service activity delivered through customer accounts via third-party systems and/or service providers. PSA tools provide a centralized platform for collaboration, project planning and tracking, resource allocation, contract management, service management, cost tracking, customer invoicing, and reporting and analytics. Multitenancy is a foundational aspect of PSA tools as users support multiple customers accounts concurrently. With a focus on services delivery activity and cost capture, PSA tools provide organizations insight into profitability overall as well as at the account and service-line level.
Gartner defines a unified endpoint management (UEM) tool as a software-based tool that provides agent and agentless management of computers and mobile devices through a single console. Modern UEM tools: Provide a user-centric view of devices across device platforms; Offer agent and/or agentless management through native Windows endpoint, macOS, Linux and Chrome OS controls. Offer agentless mobile management through native Apple iOS/iPad OS and Google Android controls; Aggregate telemetry and signals from identities, apps, connectivity and devices to inform policy and related actions; Aggregate and analyze technology performance and employee experience data; Integrate with identity, security and remote access tools to support zero-trust access and contextual authentication, vulnerability, policy, and configuration and data management; Manage nontraditional devices, including Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wearables and rugged handhelds.