Smartsheet's vsActual: An AI-Driven Strategy Management Tool

Smartsheet has unveiled a ground-breaking tool, vsActual, aimed at empowering executives to better manage corporate strategies. Launched at the Smartsheet Engage event, this AI-native application is distinct from its core work management software.

What is vsActual?

vsActual leverages artificial intelligence to track strategic progress, identify issues, and propose solutions. By integrating data from various business applications including Oracle, Salesforce, SAP, and Workday, it provides a comprehensive overview of an organization’s operational landscape.

AI Agents at Work

The application features several specialized AI agents that facilitate effective management:

• Intake Agent: This agent uses existing documents to generate a detailed plan of record, which outlines goals, timelines, budgets, and resource capacities.
• Planning Agent: Assisting in capacity planning, this agent models scenarios and can respond promptly when plans require adjustments.
• Drift Agent: Continuously monitoring for issues such as budget overruns and schedule delays, this agent analyzes data from connected applications, including Slack conversations.
• Data Quality Agent: This agent ensures that the data quality remains high, while the Reporting Agent keeps users informed about changes across various projects.

Target Audience and Market Shift

Designed specifically for C-suite executives, particularly CFOs and COOs, vsActual addresses challenges like budget creep and timeline drift. According to Liz Miller, vice president and principal analyst at Constellation Research, tracking the gap between strategies and actual outcomes—termed “execution drift”—is a known hurdle for executive teams.

Traditionally, these insights are only uncovered during quarterly meetings or through cumbersome Excel spreadsheets. vsActual changes that narrative by proactively identifying 'drift' and suggesting operationally contextual recommendations.

Enhanced Decision-Making Capabilities

Foundational to vsActual's capabilities is Smartsheet’s Execution Graph, a knowledge structure that connects tasks, projects, and strategic objectives. This innovative feature allows the agents to operate independently, updating data in third-party platforms when given appropriate permissions—albeit with human approval as the default.

Miller emphasizes that the quality of operational and financial data is essential for the AI's accuracy. Organizations must establish robust frameworks and protocols to test and train the agents, ensuring they are equipped to handle tasks autonomously, while still allowing for human oversight when necessary.

Evolution of Smartsheet

This launch marks a significant pivot for Smartsheet, reflecting a strategic transition from task management into greater governance over strategy, budgets, and capacity. Keith Kirkpatrick, vice president and research director at The Futurum Group, notes this shift encourages Smartsheet to cater not only to project managers but also to senior executives.

While the vsActual framework is sound, Kirkpatrick points out that Smartsheet faces the challenge of marketing to a new audience with a tool that diverges from its traditional offerings.

Looking Ahead

Currently, vsActual is available for early access, with a wider rollout expected in early 2027. While the pricing details have not been disclosed, Smartsheet confirmed that it will adopt a usage-based billing model.

This exciting development sets the stage for Smartsheet to redefine its role in corporate strategy management, offering a fresh approach that taps into the power of AI.