The Budget Generation module in Orien includes a variety of other functions. These are described in more detail below.
Explore
The Explore tab allows you to start deconstructing the costs associated with the selected period. You can see a list of the budgeted tasks and then can delve into the task to view all the costs linked to that task.
To set up the parameters:
- Select the Explore tab.
- Enter the Start Date and then select the appropriate Activity Grouping from the drop-down. This allows you to group the budgeted tasks into a dater grouping (i.e. yearly, monthly, weekly, customized budget periods, etc.).
- Select appropriate Cost Type from the drop-down. You can choose a costing grouping to display (i.e. capitalised, budgeted repairs, operational costs, etc.).
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Enter any relevant search text Search Text (this optional field allows you to filter the results down to a specific query; it can search through Expense Elements, Resources Assigned, Operations and Activities).
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The Managed Tasks Only checkbox allows you to filter to show only those tasks that have been selected as Managed. These are defined in the Scheduling tab, and are covered in more detail below.
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Once you have your options configured, select Update to apply your filters. You can also select Hide Options to hide the filter options and start working on your budgets.
Once you start viewing your budgets you can view the data in multiple ways. The figure below will show the budget for the last few weeks of 2024.
- In the first column you will see a consolidated view of your costing types with the values associated to those types (see 1 below).
- The second column, you will need to select Show Occurrences. This will expand the values into showing each costing into their respective Activities and Operations (see 2 below). To collapse the values click Show Summary.
- Finally, in the third column select Show Occurrences (see 3 below) and then select the total value of the Operation or Activity (see 4 below). This will expand the selection to show all allocated resources against the selection. To collapse the values click Show Summary.
Scheduling
The Scheduling tab allows you to manually set, override or offset the next date that an Operation or Activity will be scheduled to occur. In the scheduling grid, you will see all the details related to that component.
To schedule an Override Date:
- Select the Scheduling tab.
- Find the Operation or Activity you want to set an Override date for.
- Double click on the Next Override Date box for that Operation or Activity.
- Select the date to assign as Next Override Date.
Note
The managed column allows you to allocate an Operation or Activity a managed ‘tag’ which allows you to use this column in filtering. This does not have any effect on your budgets or scheduling.
Reports
The Reports tab allows you to view your generated budgeted data in a tabular or chart format. You can further customise your report by using choosing your budget period, time frame and filters on what values to include.
To generate a Report:
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Select the Reports tab.
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Adjust the parameters of your report (i.e. budget period, start and end dates, additional budget values to include).
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Select the Report, Chart or Details you wish to view for your data.
Note
If you change any parameters while the report, chart or details are showing, you will need to press ‘Reload’ to refresh the information displayed. Changing which report, chart or details you are viewing will also update the data with your new parameters.
Note
The TCO tab is covered in the article on Capital Items & Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).