Align Estimate and Platform Data

You can align the Estimate data with Platform data to prepare the job in Estimate for publishing. Alignment starts with creating a project in Platform, and then matching your estimate. For more information about creating a project in Platform, see Project initiation.

Create a Platform project

  1. In Platform > Main menu > All projects & organizations, click the Add project icon to create a new project.

  2. Enter the Project ID and External Project ID.

  3. Enter a project name in the Name field. The name does not have to match the ID, or the project name in Estimate.

  4. In Status, select New to execute the Publish Estimate to a New Project status. The budget becomes initialized when the status is set to New.

  5. In Phase, select Execution.

  6. Select an organization from the list.

Next, create the estimate (job) in Estimate. You must select the Platform project to associate the estimate to. Doing this updates the estimate with certain project details, such as notes, and location.

After you match the Platform project and the job in Estimate, you must check that the following data matches between the two applications:

  • Currency must match the project base currency for the project in Platform. Make sure the currency symbol descriptions match in both Estimate and Control. For example, AUS dollars in Estimate must be AUS dollars in Control.

  • Units of Measure names must exist in both Estimate and Platform.

  • Account Code structure must be finalized to match Platform. Account codes are optional.

  • Tags and User-defined fields from Estimate need to be configured at the organization or project level in Platform.

  • Cost Categories.

  • Pay Item related fields.

The following are key considerations when conforming the estimate:

  • Summarizing estimate details into logical work groupings, such as combining costs, quantities, and work hours for work activities and resources.

  • Breaking estimate structure into more detail (e.g., to track by area).

  • Aligning the estimate data with an Account Code Structure.

  • Conforming major materials from resources to cost items for better tracking.

  • Moving, splitting, and combining cost items.

  • Converting dependent cost items and cost item assemblies into standard cost items and resources.

  • Addressing suspended cost items. Suspended cost items do not go over to Control.

  • Converting ad-hoc resources to a library resource or a plug value against a cost item.

  • Addressing productivity factors by updating in Estimate to reflect the actual budgeted man-hours that are required for the cost item in Control.

  • Adding man-hours by creating a labor resource in Estimate or importing man-hours directly to Control (when necessary).

  • Establishing tag values imported from Estimate in Platform at the organization level.

  • Configuring key pay item fields to match Control.

For more detailed information about Estimate integration to Platform, see Estimate Integration to Cloud Platform and Control.

Convert dependent cost item to plug cost item

You must convert a dependent cost item to plug cost item as part of conforming the estimate. You can do this in the CBS register of the estimate. For more information about dependent cost items, see Dependent cost items.

Convert dependent cost item to plug cost item

  1. Create a new cost item at the bottom of the CBS, and then enter a description for the dependent cost item you’re replacing.

  2. Select a unit of measure.

  3. Open both the dependent cost item and new cost item.

  4. Change the new cost item’s Cost Source to Plug.

  5. Review the unit and total values in the dependent cost item’s cost category fields.

  6. Copy or enter those values into the same cost category fields of the new cost item’s Plug tab.

Make sure contingency is represented on its own cost item. Contingency should not be directly included in cost items where cost performance is required against budgeted rates.