projects360 10.0.36 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations introduces a set of new features such as ETC/EAC multiplier journals, Fee billing projections, Sales price cap. This release also includes lots of enhancements to existing features such as Contract management, Adjustment request, Resourcing, Billing schedules, Pre-billing summary, Personal time off, HR automated events, Automatic transactions, Simple adjustments, Annual holidays, Invoicing grouping, Invoice archives, Manage pending time.
New Features
ETC/EAC cost multiplier journals (Preview)
“ETC/EAC Cost multiplier journals” new feature will allow Project Accountants to use cost multipliers to review and analyze the current status of the whole project based on “ETC cost buckets” and apply a new adjusted “Effective multiplier” afterwards updating the project cost forecast.
The following multipliers will be calculated and displayed from Main project perspective:
- AEC cost multiplier. Current multiplier based on Actual + ETC cost vs contract value. This multiplier is the real one and doesn’t consider adjustments.
- Targeted cost multiplier. Targeted multipliers can be configured for each project. This will allow us to compare the targeted vs the current/effective ones.
- Effective cost multiplier. This multiplier will consider all the adjustments made so far by “ETC/EAC cost multiplier journals”.
Multipliers will be displayed as well within the “ETC/EAC management view” in Fee management. Also, the ‘effective cost multiplier’ can be used for revenue adjustments.
Manual ETC/EAC cost buckets
Manual “ETC/EAC cost buckets” new feature allows us to break down the cost ETC in different pieces that we can track independently e.g.: Labor, Direct cost, Reimbursables.
- “Cost buckets” can be related to “Contract buckets” and “Reporting groups”.
- ETC cost buckets” will be displayed in “ETC/EAC management” view withing “Fee management” form.
- The information entered for each bucket will be stored as independent forecast transaction.
Fee billing projections
This new feature provides the ability to forecast the project billing projections.
- Billing projections will be available as a new view in “Fee management” form.
- Projected billing amounts will be stored as forecast transactions for each specific period.
- Billing periods can be configured as Month, Quarter or Year.
Sales price cap
Now we can define sales price caps when utilizing “Multiplier/Charge percentage” models based on cost .
- Sales price cap value will be applied if the price calculation overruns the defined cap.
- This new feature will be activated by configuration in projects360 parameters.
Features Enhanced
Contract management
Enhanced cross-entity access
This enhancement introduces the ability for users to seamlessly access and review contract management records for projects that extend beyond their current logged-in entity. With this enhancement, users gain the flexibility to explore contract management data from all projects list, broadening their scope and access to vital information without navigating too much on different forms or without changing the company.
Approval for future projects
We’ve implemented a logic upgrade that now enables the approval of contract agreements for future projects. In practical terms, this means that if you input an approval date that precedes the project’s originally specified start date, our system will intelligently adapt and instead of sticking to the original date, it will seamlessly adjust and utilize the approval date as the project start date, ensuring precision and flexibility in creating the contract values for the projects starting in future.
Status on Adjustment request
With this enhancement, users will now have the ability to seamlessly access and view the identical status that is updated on the Adjustment Request when utilizing the “Update Status” process. This streamlined feature ensures transparency and consistency in tracking and managing status updates, providing a unified view of progress and changes across the system.
Resourcing
Resource view/Project view
In this enhancement, we’ve harnessed the full potential of the grid space within the Resource view and Project view forms. Now, users can effortlessly view greater number of records for both resources and projects. This enhancement optimizes the user experience, allowing for more comprehensive and efficient management of resources and projects within the system.
Intercompany resource forecast pricing
With this enhancement, users gain the valuable ability to get the real-time cost prices and sales prices within intercompany resource forecast records. These updates are governed by parameter controls, empowering users with control and visibility over pricing for their intercompany resource forecasts. Currently, we are catering only for the Sales price model as “Qty”.
Billing schedules
Remaining projects.
Previously, when creating billing schedule groups, it was a bit cumbersome as projects that had already been selected in prior groups still appeared as options for selection. However, with our latest enhancement, we’ve streamlined this process. Now, in the “Remaining Projects” grid on billing schedule groups, you’ll exclusively see projects linked to the specific “Project Contract ID” that haven’t already been chosen in any of the existing billing schedule groups. This improvement not only simplifies the user experience but also prevents the inadvertent selection of the same projects across multiple billing schedule groups, ensuring efficiency and accuracy.
Billing calendar on Billing schedule.
In this enhancement, we’ve introduced the “Billing Calendar” field directly into the billing schedule list page. This addition empowers users to effortlessly filter their billing schedules right from the billing schedule list page, providing a convenient and efficient way to organize and access critical billing information.
Pre-billing summary
In this enhancement, on account transaction will be displayed on the pre-billing summary report which also gives an overall information on all types of transaction for the projects. Also, total contract value on the pre-billing summary report is added which gives information on total contract value for main project.
Personal time off
In this enhancement, we’ve liberated the “PTO Balances” feature from its previous dependency on the “PTO Request” feature. What this means is that now, even if you haven’t activated the “PTO Request” feature, you can fully utilize the “PTO Balances” feature independently. Both functionalities are now governed by separate, user-controlled parameters, granting you the flexibility to tailor your system precisely to your needs.
HR automated events
Support for Multiple domains
With this enhancement, we empower users to define multiple email domains within the HR automated parameters. When creating a user profile for an employee in the system, our enhanced logic now exhibits increased flexibility. It initially scrutinizes the employee’s email domain and meticulously contrasts it with the primary domain specified in the parameters. If a match is not found, the system seamlessly proceeds to explore the secondary domains for a suitable match. This enhancement streamlines the user creation process and ensures seamless integration of employee records with varying email domains.
‘Known as’ name
We identified a distinct need within organizations where the ‘Known as’ name was being used in conjunction with the last name to generate employee names. Recognizing this requirement, we have now incorporated the ‘Known as’ field into our ever-evolving list of features. It’s important to note that this addition is accessible only when HR automated parameters are activated, ensuring that organizations can seamlessly integrate the ‘Known as’ name into their employee creation process, streamlining naming conventions for enhanced clarity and precision.
Automatic transactions
Automatic transactions for Intercompany
Our automatic transactions functionality has been enhanced to provide you with even greater control over the creation of intercompany transactions for every rule. We’ve introduced a new field on the automatic transactions rule page, empowering you to fine-tune the system’s behavior to align perfectly with your needs. Within this field, you’ll find three distinct options at your disposal, the 3 options are –
- “Include all transactions”. All transactions are included. This is like how the logic currently behaves.
- “Exclude intercompany transactions”. The rule will skip transactions that are considered intercompany.
- “Exclude non-intercompany transactions”. The rule will skip transactions that are not considered intercompany.
Project stage
In this enhancement, we’ve strategically relocated the project stage check to the forefront while creating automatic transactions, mitigating performance issues that may have arisen when executing this process through batch jobs.
Simple adjustments
Role modification on Simple adjustments.
In this enhancement, we have added an option to modify Role ID for the hour transactions through simple adjustments. This will help users to modify the role ID on the posted transactions.
Invoice status filter on Simple adjustments.
In this enhancement, we have added an option to filter hour transactions based on the invoice status through simple adjustments form when opened through Billing schedules.
Annual holidays
In this enhancement, the creation of an annual holiday record now seamlessly marks the corresponding day as “closed” in the linked calendar. This update not only reflects the change in the working day but also ensures an accurate adjustment of the utilization target.
Invoicing grouping
In this enhancement, we’ve added a new feature that allows you to group invoice transactions based on resource roles. By configuring the desired attribute, users gain the flexibility to intelligently group their transactions, streamlining their invoicing process for greater efficiency and control.
Invoice archives
In this enhancement, we’ve introduced a new functionality that empowers users to effortlessly merge the invoice report and all associated invoice archive documents into a single, comprehensive PDF. This streamlined PDF can be seamlessly sent to customers via email, simplifying the communication process and providing a cohesive and better representation of invoice information. This is controlled by a new parameter, giving users precise control over this feature.
Along with this we have renamed the file name that is generating during the creation process of Invoice report and Invoice archive.
Manage pending time
This enhanced functionality empowers users with the flexibility to precisely determine where the calendar appointment description should populate within the internal comments, external comments, or both while importing the calendar appointment. This newfound control offers a superior means of managing information flow from calendar appointments to effectively handle pending forms and timesheets.
