Statement of Work: Self-service category setup

Take control of your SOW setup—create, update, and manage everything in one place, on your timeline.

Managing Statement of Work (SOW) templates, categories, and terms is now faster and easier. You can maintain these components directly in your VMS—no need to rely on your Client Operations Manager (COM). With self-service tools, you quickly configure templates, organize work, and standardize language so your teams can create accurate, consistent SOWs for every project.

Why it matters

Self-service SOW management puts you in control. You reduce delays, keep your program agile, and ensure your templates stay aligned with changing business needs.

• Avoid waiting on external updates
• Keep projects moving without interruptions
• Standardize processes across teams
• Improve reporting and spend visibility

Who it’s for

This feature is designed for users responsible for managing SOW setup and governance:

• Managed Service Providers (MSPs)
• Program office users
• Procurement, operations, or program leads
• Any user with permissions to edit SOW components

How it helps

You can directly manage key SOW components to improve accuracy, efficiency, and consistency. Faster SOW creation, fewer errors, and better program control.

• Templates: Guide users through SOW creation with predefined structures
• Categories: Organize work by labor groups and improve spend tracking
• Types & Terms Library: Standardize language and reusable content
• Filters & Search Enhancements: Quickly find the right template using geography and industry
• In-app Guidance: Tooltips and captions help users complete setup with confidence

How it works

You manage all SOW components from the VMS settings area. Each component supports creation, editing, copying, and filtering so you can adapt quickly.

Example capabilities:

• Add and manage SOW categories to classify work
• Build templates with required fields, filters, and behaviors
• Copy existing templates to save time
• Organize reusable terms by type and category
• Apply filters (industry, geography, project type) to target the right use cases

Action steps

Before using self-service SOW management:

• Users must have the appropriate roles and permissions
• Your organization must enable SOW self-service features
• Contact your COM to grant access (initial setup only)

How to steps

Defining Categories for your SOW templates lets you capture and report on the majority of spend by category for your projects. The Categories you define display when adding a template and when creating an SOW, and users can use them to filter and find the right template.

1. Select Preferences > VMS Settings > Statement of Work. A Statement of Work page displays.
2. Select SOW Categories. A Category List page displays.
3. Select Add New to create a new SOW category. An Add Category page displays.
4. Enter a label in the Name field. This name displays on the Category List page and is available as a filter when searching SOW templates. The name also displays in the Category list on the General Info tab when a user is creating an SOW.
5. Enter an abbreviation in the Code field. This code displays on the Category List page.
6. Enter an explanation of how the category is used in the Description field.
   The explanation you enter here displays when a user clicks the Information icon on the Category List page.
7. Select the Active checkbox.
8. Take one of these actions:
   • Select OK. OR
   • Select Save and Add New to save your current category and add another SOW category. OR
   • Select Cancel to withdraw the category you’re creating.
9. Optional. To delete a category, take these steps: SPOT
   1. Select the checkbox next to the category you want to remove.
   2. Select Delete Selected.
10. Select Return to go back to your default Dashboard.

The SOW category you created is available in your VMS. Users can use the SOW Categories you created as a filter when searching for an SOW template. Users can also select SOW Categories to ensure resource spend is accurately tracked.