23.8 Release Notes

Till now, Budget Managers were limited to viewing the templates in Read-Only mode, restricting their ability to modify employee data. However, this update allows them to open the workforce planning template in edit mode and make all necessary changes, including adding new employees or updating existing ones.

The following screenshots illustrate the difference between the recent enhancement and the previous version. 

Previously, the Budget Managers could open the Workforce Planning template only in the read-only mode and the employee information was arranged in card view by default. However, with the latest enhancement, they can update employee data (based on security) in addition to viewing it and also switch between list and card views.

Let’s understand this with an example:

Michael, a budget manager, despite having permission, was unable to make any changes to the Workforce Planning Template. However, with the recent enhancement, Michael can now access the template in input mode and update employee information as necessary.

To know more about the workforce planning template and input support options, refer to Workforce Planning Template.

With this release, the ESM Canvas option has been introduced in Dynamic Planning with an enhanced platform and a range of new capabilities. The ESM Canvas allows you to format columns with text and numbers, improving the presentation and analysis of data. Now, there's no need to switch to SpotlightXL for data handling as you can conveniently monitor and modify ESM grids directly online.

The ESM Canvas platform enables users to create new canvases and list them, modify data, and save changes. It also allows users to store and structure data in a way that facilitates deployment, granting different access levels, such as Contributor and Reviewer. To streamline your workflow, you can use the filter option to narrow down and sort displayed content. The landing page of the ESM Canvas includes pagination, displaying 100 canvases per page with a scroll bar for seamless navigation through the list and a Ctrl+F shortcut for efficient searching. 

The ESM Canvas in Dynamic Planning improves the user experience by eliminating limitations, offering advanced formatting options, and powerful data management capabilities. It enhances accessibility and allows for more efficient strategic planning.

Use Case Example: Marketing Campaign Analysis

Let’s say the marketing team at ABC Tech uses the ESM Canvas in Dynamic Planning to analyze recent advertising campaigns across platforms and regions. They format columns with key metrics like conversions, ROI, and more while organizing data by platforms and regions for easy comparison and trend identification.

With filters, they gain valuable insights for decision-making by focusing on specific campaigns or time periods. The canvas is shared with stakeholders, granting different access levels for contributors and reviewers to collaborate effectively.

The ESM Canvas streamlines the marketing team's workflow, offering advanced data formatting and powerful analysis capabilities, leading to more informed marketing strategies and improved campaign performance.

For more information, click here.

With this release, we have introduced Predict Signals to DAP (Direct Access to PCR) Reports. Predict Signals is an advanced feature that assists in identifying and resolving potential anomalies within your data, empowering you to make well-informed decisions based on data-driven insights. These anomalies can originate from various sources, including typographical errors, mistakes, flawed formulas, or intentional changes in planning assumptions. By leveraging Predict Signals, you gain access to detailed contextual information presented through intuitive graphs, facilitating collaboration with colleagues and peers.

There are two methods to access the Predict Signals option in DAP Reports. Firstly, you can select Predict Signals from the menu bar. Alternatively, you can right-click on any cell in the report and choose the Predict Signals option. This functionality supports different types of members, such as:

• Roll-up members
• Leaf-level members
• Calculated members
• Substitution or derived variables
• Simple user-defined custom formula members

The Predict Signals options provide the following functionalities:

• Signals For All Lines: Generates signals instantly for smaller reports with up to 50 lines. It applies the logic to obtain predicted signals for all lines in the report.
• Signals For Selected Line(s): Allows you to check signals for a maximum of 10 lines simultaneously. It applies the logic to obtain predicted signals for the selected lines in the report.
• Hide Signals: Removes signals from the report.

Highlighted cells indicate signal presence. Right-clicking on these cells offers two actions: resolving the signal or selecting the Signal Context screen option. Selecting the Signal Context screen option navigates you to the Signal Context screen for a comprehensive analysis. 

Let's take the example of ABC Financial Services, a leading multinational finance company that seeks to enhance the accuracy of its financial reporting process. With Predict Signals, they are capable of identifying potential issues within the financial data, such as unusual patterns or discrepancies. For instance, if there is an unexpected and significant spike in expenses for a specific business unit, Predict Signals promptly highlights this anomaly in the financial report, drawing the finance team's immediate attention to the potential issue.

Once an anomaly is successfully identified, the finance team can effortlessly share the Predict Signals reports with relevant stakeholders, enabling seamless cooperation and data sharing. By accessing the Signal Context screen, the team can delve into detailed contextual information, including insightful graphs and charts, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of the detected anomalies.

For further information, click here.

With this release, we have enhanced the Export option for the Navigation Role area on the User & Role Management page. Administrators can now export detailed navigation role information and access details, providing a convenient and efficient method to extract and share data effectively. This enhancement saves time and ensures accurate reporting.

Previously, you could only download the summary report, which provided a condensed view of navigation roles. However, we have now expanded the functionality of our export feature by adding a new option to download the detailed report, offering a more comprehensive view of navigation role information.

The following screenshot illustrates the recent enhancement, displaying the option to export the detailed report. 

The summary report, as shown in the below screenshot, previously provided the list of navigation roles, including role code, name, creation and modification details, and whether they are predefined or custom-created.

Now, the detailed report offers comprehensive navigation role information and access details for different users, highlighting specific permissions and access levels with Yes or No indicators.

Let’s understand this with an example:

Emily, an administrator at XYZ company, previously could only download the summary report, which provided a limited overview of navigation roles. However, with the enhanced export option and the ability to download the detailed report, Emily can now access comprehensive information, enabling better decision-making and effective management of user access and permissions. The detailed report improves efficiency and enhances administrative tasks.

In practice: Exporting Navigation Summary Report and Detailed Report

1. Go to Maintenance > User & Role Management > Navigation Role.
   
2. Click the Export to Excel icon.
   
3. From the drop-down menu, click:
   1. Download Summary Report for the navigation role summary.
   2. Download Detailed Report for detailed navigation role and access details.
      

With this release, we have enhanced our task assignment emails by adding the View Link button, providing direct and seamless access to the tasks assigned.

Previously the task assignment emails had a link that directs them to the Task Manager. Now, when creating a new task in Task Manager and selecting the External Link option with a valid URL, users will receive a task assignment email with a View Link button, as shown in the image below. Clicking this button will direct users to the provided URL, making it quick and easy to access the required information.

Let’s see the scenarios when the user clicks the View link button:

• For users with active sessions:
  If the session is active, clicking the View Link button will take users directly to the task location.
• For users with inactive sessions:
  If the session is inactive, clicking the View Link button will redirect the users to the login page where they must provide their credentials to access the assigned task. For SSO users with inactive sessions and to access a task link specific to Dynamic Planning, the Login via SSO button will be enabled on the login page if the IDP is configured. This enables users to enter their credentials through the SSO provider and access the task.

Note:

The View Link button only appears in task assignment emails when the External Link option is selected when creating the task. If you select the Planful option, the email does not include the View Link button, as shown below.

Let’s understand this with an example: 
Alex, a finance analyst at a financial company, previously received task assignment emails with a link that directs her to the Task Manager. However, the new View Link button in the task assignment email enables her to access financial reports. 

Learn more about how to add a task here.