These reports compare forecasted values and budgets against actuals and certifications, helping you proactively manage margins.
1. Accessing Cost Reports
Navigate to the Dashboard.
Select the Cost Reports tab from the available options.
Choose a report view or create a new one using the toolbar.
2. Understanding Cost Report Metrics
Cost Reports display multiple financial indicators in both the metrics card area and data table. The metrics are grouped into categories:
Forecast vs Original Values
Forecast Value - Original Value
Forecast Budget - Original Budget
Forecast Margin - Original Margin
Forecast Margin % - Original Margin %
Actuals & Certified
Certified Value
Certified Budget
Margin
Margin %
Each of these cards can be edited:
Click the three-dot menu on any card.
Change the source data for Value or Budget.
For Certified Value, options include: Certified Value, Applied Value, Actual Sales.
For Certified Budget, options include: Certified Budget, Applied Budget, Actual Costs.
The source data can be tied to a specific Payment Application, enabling tighter alignment with progress claims.
The Live Margin shown is dynamically calculated based on the selected value and budget metrics.
3. Grouping and Drilldowns
The cost report now supports a flexible multi-level grouping mechanism, allowing you to analyse costs across multiple dimensions simultaneously.
Available grouping dimensions:
Cost Groups — top-level containers that group related cost codes (e.g. Labour, Materials)
Cost Codes — individual codes assigned to BoQ line items and documents
Tags — custom data tags you can apply across cost codes for cross-cutting analysis
Metrics — financial metrics such as Forecast Value, Budget, Actual Costs, Certified Value, and Margin
Supported grouping combinations:
Cost Groups | Cost Codes | Metrics |
Cost Groups | Tags | Metrics |
Cost Groups | Metrics | Cost Codes |
Cost Groups | Metrics | Tags |
Cost Codes | Tags | Metrics |
Cost Codes | Metrics | Tags |
Tags | Cost Codes | Metrics |
Tags | Metrics | Cost Codes |
Tags | — | Metrics |
Cost Codes | — | Metrics |
Cost Groups | — | Metrics |
Metrics | — | Tags |
Metrics | — | Cost Codes |
Metrics | — | Cost Groups |
All groups can be expanded and collapsed inline. Metrics are aggregated correctly at each level of the hierarchy, including for forecasting data.
4. Filters & Customisation
Date Range: Set a custom period using the calendar selector.
Interval: Choose Monthly, Yearly, or All to change how data is displayed.
Metrics: Add/remove metrics using the toolbar.
Views: Save multiple custom views for different purposes (e.g. monthly board review, supplier overview).
5. Use Case Examples
Board Reports: Create a view grouped by Cost Code, with Forecast and Actual margins visible. Export monthly for board pack.
Budget Performance: Track Applied vs Actual Cost to flag overspend early.