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Predict Signals
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Contents

Predict Signals

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Article summary

The Predict Signals functionality supports Signals for roll-up members, leaf-level members, calculated members, substitution or derived variables, and simple user-defined custom formula members.

Signals are divided into three categories based on the variance between the user-provided value and AI-generated statistical ranges.

  • High Risk
  • Medium Risk
  • Low Risk

Signals Overview in File Cabinet

All users that already have access to Reports will by default have access to Signals Overview.
Signals Overview_ Option

The Signals Overview page has a comprehensive look and feel.

Signals Overview

The following is a list of the features on the Signals Overview page:


Donut Charts

You can see donut charts of the Total number of GL Combinations processed and the number of GL combinations having High-Risk signals, Medium-Risk signals, and Low-Risk signals, displaying the severity of each GL combination.
Signals Overview_Donut Chart

The percentage inside the chart corresponds to the signals' proportion to the total number of signals. While the number beside the donut chart displays the count of the signals.
Note:
A user input value is identified as a signal only when it does not lie between the upper and lower ranges generated by the Signals AI engine.


Total Impact and Peak Impact

The Total Impact represents the total dollar impact for all the signals of a specific GL combination for the selected fiscal year. For a single GL combination, there could be different Signals with different risk categories. The variances of all those Signals based on the upper range and the lower range (for Signals below the lower range) added together give the Total Impact. Total Impact essentially is the total variance of Signals for a fiscal year.

The Peak Impact represents the dollar impact for the highest signal available (the one with the highest variance) for a given GL combination for the selected fiscal year. The Peak Impact helps you identify those anomalies that could be a result of typos or fat-finger errors.

Signals Overview_Total_Peak Impact


The Total Impact and the Peak Impact are not associated with the Risk Levels. For specific selection criteria, you must sort both the Peak Impact and the Total Impact to get the topmost relevant signals.

For example, for a given GL combination and fiscal year, there could be a medium-risk signal in June having a higher dollar impact than a high-risk signal in December with a lower dollar impact. In this case, the actuals for all the Decembers across the previous years are within the $1000 to $3000 range. In this case, even $5000 could also be a high-risk signal. Whereas, for June, the actuals are usually very high and range from $500,000 to $1,000,000. Then, even a medium or low-risk signal that is slightly off the normal range could have a much larger dollar impact than the high risk in December.


Comparing Total Impact and Peak Impact:

When we consider the Total Impact, the presence of multiple low-dollar impacts averages out the one or two high-dollar impacts. While Peak Impact captures the fat-finger error cases, the Total Impact captures cases that are not planned well or are planned with conscious changes in planning assumptions, etc.

For example, in situations where the business has taken a conscious planning change and allocated a higher budget for a GL combination for the selected fiscal year, there is a possibility that all 12 months have low-risk signals, and the total dollar impact is also a decent number, say $80,000. This number could deprioritize a fat-finger error case for a different GL combination in March. The month of March has just one Signal where the numbers range from $6,000 to $10,000 and there is a signal because $60,000 was input instead of $6,000. This will be captured by the Peak Impact and help you analyze these issues.


Signal Context

When you are on the Signal details grid, you can click any row in the grid to view the corresponding signal's context.
Signals Overview_ Grid

The Signal Context pop-up is displayed containing the signal's GL combination, a data table, and a graph that showcases all the required information on the signals.
Signals Overview_Signal ContextThe data table contains:


  • The scenario for the entire fiscal year of the selected row.

  • The upper and lower ranges are generated by the AI engine.

  • The historical actuals used for Model Training.

Note:
The historical actuals are displayed only up to the past six years.

The graph displays the same information visually, explaining why it was marked as a signal. By default, the graph has the upper and lower ranges and the scenario, but it also lets you see the historical actuals by clicking on the actual data label displayed below the graph.

Note:
By enabling the Chart Only toggle, you can view the entire graph.
Signal Context_Chart Only
The pop-up displays data for all the months in the entire fiscal year to demonstrate the trend and seasonality present in the data; this helps users better understand the signal.

Signal Context_Pop up

This functionality provides you the ease of viewing the data trend of a selected dimension for the entire fiscal year and comparing it with the historical actuals. You can view actual data for multiple years and view their trend along with the selected scenario, upper range, and lower range. It gives you a better understanding of every signal.

Signal Context_Trend Data

You can click on the PDF icon available on the top right side of the Signal Context screen to download a snapshot of the signal context. This provides you with the flexibility to view and analyze the signal context offline.


Comment

The Comment functionality helps you collaborate with colleagues or peers to collectively address potential anomalies.

How to use Dynamic Commentary in Signals Overview?

  1. Navigate to Reports > Signals Overview.
  2. Click on any signal cell to open Signal Context.
  3. Right-click on any cell where you want to add a comment.
  4. Select Comment from the options.
    Signal Context_Comment
    The Leave a comment pop-up appears.
    Leave a comment
  5. If you choose to leave a comment without assigning any task, click Comment.
  6. If you choose to assign a task to a collaborator, leave a comment by using + or @to mention a collaborator on a comment or assign a comment as a task to the collaborator.
    Comment_ Assign

    Note:
    The collaborator should be an active Planful user.
  7. Enable the Assign to <username>checkbox and fill in the following details:
    • Title of the task
    • Due date of the task
    • Priority level of the task
      Comment_Create Task

  8. Once you have filled in these details, you can click Create Task.
    Note:
    You can view the created tasks in the Task Manager.
  9. Once you have commented on a cell, a blue comment icon will appear on the top right corner of that cell.
    Comment_Blue icon
    You can click the Blue icon to view the comment trail on that cell.
    Comment Trail

    Note:
    Once a comment has been resolved, the blue comment icon will automatically disappear from the cell.
  10. Once a comment has been posted, you can do the following tasks:
    • Resolve
    • Edit
    • Highlight
    • Delete Thread
      Comment_Options

    Notes:
    • Only the assignee of a task can mark a comment as Resolve.
    • Only the creator of the comment can delete the comment.


Drill Through

Drill Through allows you to view and analyze all financial, operational, capital, workforce, and transactional data for that Signal from a single place.

For more information on the drill through functionality, refer to Enhanced Drilling on Dynamic Report Output.

How to Drill Through the Signals?

  1. Navigate to Reports > Signals Overview.
  2. Click on any signal cell to open Signal Context.
  3. Right-click on the Signal for which you want to view the Drill Through.
  4. Click Drill Through from the options.
    Signal Context_Drill Through
    The Drill Through page is appears with the all data tabs to display the GL combination.
    DrillThrough_2(1)
  5. Scroll the page to the right and click on the reference given under the Doc Ref column.
    DrillThrough_3(1)
    You will be redirected to the input sheet from where the data for the selected GL combination is stored.
    DrillThrough_4(1)


Resolve Signals

Resolve signals for single or multiple cells in the Signal Context screen of Signals Overview, Dynamic Reports, and Templates.

Signal Context_Resolve Signals Pane

How to Resolve Signals in Signals Overview?

  1. Navigate to Reports > Signals Overview.
  2. Click on any signal cell to open Signal Context.
  3. Right-click on the signal(s) for which you want to resolve.
  4. Click Resolve Signals from the options.
    Signal Context_Resolve Button
    The Resolve Signals pane will appear.
    Resolve Signals_Screen
  5. Select the reason for resolution from a list of pre-existing options.
    Resolve Signals_Select Reason
    Note:
    If you resolve multiple signals simultaneously, the same reason will be applied to all.
  6. You can leave a comment or add other collaborators by using + or @ in the comment field.
  7. Click the Resolve button.
    Resolve Signals_Resolve Button
    The resolved signal will appear as a comment in the report. The comment will display the original cell value, the reason for resolving the signal, and any additional comment provided while resolving the signal.
Note:
Resolving signals permanently unflags the cells with the specified GL Combination and value(s), and the signal(s) will be marked as resolved in all other application areas for the same GL Combination.

Signals in Dynamic Reports

Predict Signals in Dynamic Reports supports Signals for roll-up members, leaf-level members, calculated members, substitution or derived variables, and simple user-defined custom formula members.

Signals are also supported for Dynamic Reports with a Static Report Set that meets the following criteria:

  • The reporting area of the Report Set must be Financial.
  • Only dimension members (non-attribute members) must be selected for the report set.

The following is an illustration of the Predict: Signals button on the top menu bar. Report_Signals Option Signals can be generated for any scenario, as it is not restricted to the precomputed selections.

Note:
You must still select the three scenarios for precomputation to view Signals in the Signals Overview page.


Generate Signals

The Signals For All Lines option generates signals instantly for smaller reports of up to 50 lines.

The Signals For Selected Line(s)allows you to check signals when the report's size exceeds the maximum limit of 100 lines without any delay.
Report_Predict Button



Hide Signals

Hide the signals for a report or template if you do not want to view Signals for that report.

Report_Hide Signals

Note:
In Dynamic Reports that already have some formatting defined, the Predict Signals severity colors will take precedence over the report formatting used. Hiding Signals will enable you to view the report in its custom formatting.




Resolve Signals
Resolving signals permanently unflags the cells with the specified GL combination(s) and value(s). When you resolve a signal or multiple signals in reports, the signal(s) will be marked as resolved in all other areas of the application for the same GL combination(s).

How to Resolve Signals in Reports?

To resolve signals in reports, perform the following:

  1. Navigate to Reports, and select a dynamic report.
  2. Go to Predict: Signals > Signals for All Lines/Signals for Selected Lines from the top menu bar.
  3. Select the cell(s) or line(s) you want to resolve, and follow any of the two ways as instructed below:
    1. Right-click on the cell, and click Predict Signals > Resolve Signals option from the drop-down list.
      Report_Resolve Signals
    2. Go to Predict Signals drop-down on the menu bar and click Resolve Signals.
      Report_Signals_Resolve Signals
      The Resolve Signals pane will appear.
      Resolve Signals_Screen
  4. Select the reason for resolution from a list of pre-existing options.
    Resolve Signals_Select Reason
    Note:
    If you resolve multiple signals simultaneously, the same reason will be applied to all.
  5. You can leave a comment or add other collaborators by using + or @ in the comment field.
  6. Click the Resolve button.
    Resolve Signals_Resolve Button
    The resolved signal will appear as a comment in the report. The comment will display the original cell value, the reason for resolving the signal, and any additional comment provided while resolving the signal.


Show Legend Panel

The Legend Panel displays color codes for signals, each color code represents the following categories: Red (High-Risk), Orange (Medium-Risk), Cyan (Low-Risk), Blue (Insufficient History), and Lavender (Excluded GL).

Full Legend Panel

How to View the Legend Panel?

  1. Navigate to Reports, and select a dynamic report.
  2. Go to Predict: Signals > Signals for All Lines/Signals for Selected Lines from the top menu bar.
    The application displays color-coded signals along with the Legend panel at the bottom of the screen.
    Report_Legend Panel
  3. De-select all unwanted categories in the legend panel to display the desired category.
  4. If you want to hide the legend panel, follow any of the two ways as instructed below:
    1. Click the Hide button in the legend panel.
      Legend Panel_Hide
    2. Click the Predict: Signals > Hide Legend option from the top menu bar.
      Report_Hide Legend
  5. If you want to view the legend panel after hiding it, click the Predict: Signals > Show Legend option from the top menu bar.
    Report_Show legend


Adjust Signals Range

The Signals Range feature temporarily modifies the sensitivity level for a specific template on the fly, affecting only the currently open session. This feature allows you to adjust the sensitivity level to your preferred setting with the help of an easy-to-use slider. You can now customize the sensitivity level to view fewer or more signals.

Note:
When you refresh or close the session, the sensitivity will revert to its configured setting in the Predict Admin screen.

Once you have generated signals for the report, you can access the Signals Range option from either of the following ways:

  • Navigate to the Predict: Signals drop-down menu in the top menu bar and select Adjust Signals Range.
    Report_Adjust Signals Range
  • Go to the Legend panel and click Signals Range.


Signals in Templates

The Predict Signals feature is available on GTSC, GTEC, Line Item, and Allocation Templates. Signals are also available on templates based on budget entities with dimension attributes. This functionality will allow users to prevent any data anomalies due to fat-finger errors or typos.

You can check Signals on the selected lines or the entire template as often as required. However, every time you change a cell or a set of cells, the signal will not dynamically change on those cells. Therefore, you must check for Signals again.

Note
  • Signals will only work on the L-type lines in a template.
  • The signals will be lost every time you freshly access or refresh a template. You must check for Signals again to see the signals on the templates.

How to access Signals in Templates?

To access Predict Signals on templates, perform the following:

  1. Navigate to Structured Planning and select a Scenario of your choice.
  2. Choose an entity and a Template, and click Input from Template Workflow.
  3. To, follow any of the two ways as instructed below:
  4. You will now see the Predict button available in the top menu bar. You can access Signals from this menu button or the context menu when you right-click on any cell. 
    Note

    • If a cell has a signal, when you right-click on that cell, you will see the Show Signal Context option under Predict Signals. This option will take you to the Signal Context screen to better understand the signal.


Generate Signals

The Check All Lines option will work for smaller templates of a maximum of 50 lines. 

The Check Selected Lines option checks signals for a maximum of 100 lines in one go. It is recommended to use Check Selected Lines for large templates.


Hide Signals

Hide the signals for a report or template if you do not want to view Signals for that report/template in the future without the risk of losing any data.


Resolve Signals

Resolving signals permanently unflags the cells with the specified GL combination(s) and value(s). When you resolve a signal or multiple signals in templates, the signal(s) will be marked as resolved in all other areas of the application for the same GL combination(s).


In Practice

To resolve signals on templates, perform the following:

  1. Select the cell(s) or line(s) you want to resolve, and right-click.
  2. Click Predict Signals > Resolve Signals option from the drop-down list.
    The Resolve Signals pane will appear.
  3. Select the reason for resolution from a list of pre-existing options. If you resolve multiple signals simultaneously, the same reason will be applied to all.
  4. Click Resolve.
    The resolved signal will now appear as a comment in the report. The comment will display the original cell value, the reason for resolving the signal, and any additional information provided while resolving the signal.


Show Legend Panel

The Legend Panel displays color codes for signals, each color code represents the following categories: Red (High-Risk), Orange (Medium-Risk), Cyan (Low-Risk), and Blue (Insufficient History). To highlight a category, unselect the unwanted categories in the legend panel.

In Practice

  1. Open a template.
  2. Click Predict> Check All Lines option from the top menu bar.
    The application displays color-coded signals along with the Legend panel at the bottom of the screen.
  3. You can use the Legend panel to highlight the required signal category.
  4. If you want to hide the legend panel, click the Hide button in the legend panel, or click the Predict > Hide Legend option from the top menu bar.
  5. If you want to view the legend panel after hiding it, click the Predict > Show Legend option from the top menu bar.


Adjust Signals Range

The Signals Range feature temporarily modifies the sensitivity level for a specific template on the fly, affecting only the currently open session in templates and reports. This feature allows you to adjust the sensitivity level to your preferred setting with the help of an easy-to-use slider. You can now customize the sensitivity level to view fewer or more signals directly within the template.

Note:
When you refresh or close the session, the sensitivity will revert to its configured setting in the Predict Admin screen.

Once you have generated signals for the template or report, you can access the Signals Range option from either of the following ways:

  • Navigate to the Predict: Signals drop-down menu in the top menu bar and select Adjust Signals Range.
  • Go to the Legend panel and click Signals Range.
     
  •  



Limitations for Signals Generation

  • Signal generation at the roll-up level is not supported in Signals Overview. Users can select roll-up members in the Selection Criteria, but signals are calculated and displayed at leaf-level members.
    Note:
    Signal generation at the roll-up level is supported only in Dynamic Report.
  • Updating the source system from Predict Signals is not supported.
  • The Predict Signals functionality is available only for Budget, Forecast, and Planned scenarios.
  • The Predict Signals functionality is available for Actuals in Dynamic Report.
  • In the Selection Criteria, you can select only one scenario at a time.
  • Signals data is available only on Flow MTD account types such as operating expenses, revenue accounts, and so on. Balance YTD accounts like balance sheet accounts are not considered for generating signals, so the Account hierarchy in Selection Criteria will only display flow accounts. Balance accounts are not displayed in the Selection Criteria.
  • The Predict Signals functionality is not available for calculated members in the hierarchy as they are derived values.
  • Predict only enables fiscal year setups of 12 months period, any setup other than 12 months will not be supported.



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