It usually starts with a quick request before an IC meeting.
A partner wants a pipeline report by sector. Someone needs an updated relationship view ahead of a call. Portfolio reporting is due for an LP update, but the dashboard is missing key fields. A new hire cannot find the right Intapp DealCloud layout. A VP asks why activity tracking does not match what is happening in Outlook.
None of these is unusual. What is unusual is who ends up solving them.
In many mid-market private equity and private credit firms, the “DealCloud admin” is not an actual role. It becomes a shared responsibility across the team, and ultimately, whoever can figure it out fastest. Over time, that means analysts and associates step in to keep the system functioning, even when their real job is driving deal activity.
That is why searches for DealCloud managed support are rising, and why 2026 is shaping up to be a turning point.
Prediction for 2026: DealCloud Support Shifts to Specialist Partners
By 2026, more PE and credit firms will adopt a hybrid operating model. Internal teams will stay lean, while outsourced partners take on operational support for the platforms that run the firm. This shift is not about reducing spend. It is about scaling capability and reliability without scaling headcount, and without pulling investment talent into system work.
The Real Issue: Critical Infrastructure with No Clear Owner
DealCloud is no longer “just a CRM.” For many firms it sits at the center of origination workflows, relationship intelligence, pipeline visibility, and portfolio reporting.
When DealCloud becomes the system of record, small cracks become operational risk:
- reporting is delayed because the logic lives in someone’s head
- fields multiply and governance breaks down
- data quality slips, so trust falls
- adoption slows because the system feels unreliable
- integrations become fragile and require constant attention
This is when the firm starts paying a hidden tax. Not in software fees, but in productivity and missed leverage.
The ROI Problem: Expensive Investment Time Spent on Operational Tasks
If your analysts and associates earn $160K to $210K all-in, asking them to manage CRM workflows is an inefficient use of talent.
Even a few hours a week spent on maintaining fields, cleaning data, building reports, fixing dashboards, or troubleshooting integrations adds up quickly. The firm is effectively using premium compensation to cover operational work, while deal work and value creation fight for the remaining time.
Firms do not always recognize this as a staffing issue because the work is scattered across many people. But the outcome is the same: analysts and associates absorb the cost in nights and weekends spent fixing the system instead of moving deals forward while the platform improves slowly.
What DealCloud Managed Support Looks Like in a High-Performing Firm
Managed support is not just reactive ticket resolution. At its best, it provides consistent ownership and proactive improvement. It usually includes:
- DealCloud administration: layouts, fields, permissions, views, governance, and system health checks
- Portfolio reporting and dashboards: recurring reporting packages, standardized outputs, data validation, and LP-ready views
- Workflow automation: stage logic, approvals, reminders, task routing, and process standardization
- Integration governance: Outlook and calendar sync, enrichment tools, portfolio data sources, and stability monitoring
- Training and enablement: onboarding, refreshers, documentation, and user support
When these functions are owned, DealCloud becomes an operational advantage. Reporting becomes repeatable. Data becomes reliable. Investment teams use the system because it reflects reality.
Why the Hybrid Model Wins in 2026
The trend is accelerating because firms want leverage. They want to stay lean, move faster, and maintain high-quality systems without building a large internal operations function.
Managed support creates that leverage by giving firms access to specialists who do this work every day. It also protects investment time for origination, execution, and portfolio work.
What to Look for in a DealCloud Support Partner
The best implementation specialists and CRM admins typically combine three strengths:
- strong communication and project management
- a deep understanding of private markets workflows
- technical depth in reporting, automation, and integration planning
That combination is rare in-house and highly valuable when delivered consistently.
The Bottom Line
In 2026, more private equity and credit firms will stop treating DealCloud operations as “extra admin work.” They will treat it as infrastructure, and they will support it accordingly.
If your team is stretched and you are looking for DealCloud managed support, Monarch can serve as an extension of your team. We provide high-touch administration, workflow automation, and training so your investment team can stay focused on the work that drives returns.
Reach out to meet with a managed support admin today.
