Use Case: Construction Project Management and Revenue Forecasting in Salesforce

Objective

To deliver enterprise-grade construction project oversight and forecasting capabilities without relying on expensive third-party platforms like Primavera or Oracle, by using a customized solution built entirely inSalesforce.

Scenario Overview

A construction firm managing complex capital infrastructure projects—often funded through bonds or grants—requires real-time budget tracking, milestone management, and revenue forecasting. Traditional tools likePrimavera and Oracle are feature-rich but come with high licensing ,integration, and training costs.

Instead, the firm implements a fully integrated Salesforce-based project management system that consolidates scheduling, budgeting, and reporting in a single platform.

Key Components & Workflow inSalesforce

1. Program & Funding Management

• Parent Program Records store key attributes like     duration, capital outlay, and funding type.
• Funding Sources (Source/Bond) are created using custom record     types linked to the parent program, allowing clear financial lineage.
• Account Hierarchies visually show the relationship     between programs and funding sources—replacing the need for external     modeling tools.

2. Built-in Cash Flow Reporting

• Native reports and dashboards     track:
   
  • Current budget vs. actuals
   
  • Forecasted revenue
   
  • Monthly financial variance
 
• Cash Flow Reports are dynamically     updated using custom objects and calculated fields—eliminating the need     for separate BI tools.

3. Project and Budget Management

• Project Records include:
   
  • Budget, funding method, schedule      status, and team assignments
   
  • Capital improvement and debt      service categorization
 
• Budget Line Items are tracked granularly:
   
  • Original and current budgets
   
  • Contract and change order      amounts
   
  • Payment progression      (auto-calculated)

✅ This replaces the need for Oracle-based cost control modules orPrimavera’s WBS and cost breakdowns.

4. Milestone Tracking and Scheduling

• Target Schedule Objects manage all critical project     dates:
   
  • Construction start, completion,      contract execution, etc.
 
• Built-in dependency mapping     through related objects—no need for Primavera’s scheduling engine.
• Use dashboards to alert for     timeline risks or slippages.

5. Monthly Forecasting and Financial Drawdowns

• Monthly Forecasts and Monthly Draws     automate:
   
  • Forecast generation based on      project phase and curve multipliers
   
  • Draw requests against approved      budgets
 
• Override options enable     flexibility, with audit trails to ensure accountability

✅ Eliminates reliance on Primavera’s earned value management or Oracle’s draw request automation.

6. Centralized Reporting & Historical Data

• Automated monthly data snapshots preserve historical performance     for reporting and compliance.
• Salesforce reports replace     external BI and analytics platforms, driving decisions from:
   
  • Portfolio dashboards
   
  • Program summary reports
   
  • Funding utilization      visualizations

Cost and Efficiency Advantages

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Outcomes & Benefits

• Significant Cost Savings: Eliminates the need for     expensive project controls software.
• Scalable, Flexible, and Unified: One platform handles CRM,     funding, scheduling, and forecasting.
• Audit-Ready and Transparent: Full traceability of funding,     budget changes, and project status.
• Built for Growth: Modular architecture supports     small projects or citywide capital programs equally well.

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