Trend & Projection chart

The chart is a visualization tool that is embedded in the C-Suite dashboard and Trend & Projection report.

In the Trend & Projection chart widget you can perform these actions:

Track performance over time.
Compare actuals, budgets, and forecasts.
Visualize trends and variances.
Project year-end outcomes.

The widget shows values for a selected metric. In the C-Suite dashboard, the metric is selected in the Metrics Table widget. In the Trend & Projection report, you can select the metric in the Filters panel.

Actual and Budget Column chart

The chart shows up-to-the-current reporting period actuals, forecasts for periods after the reporting one, and budgets for all periods.

Actuals are required and must always be selected in the reporting version of the Application Context.

Periods are shown on a monthly basis and are based on the group calendar.

Δ% Budget chart

The Δ% Budget chart is a lollipop chart. It shows the difference between the selected reporting version and comparison version. The color code is based on metric logic.

The chart shows the percentage difference between the reporting and comparison versions up to and including the reporting period. For periods after the reporting period, the chart shows the difference between the forecast and comparison versions.

Note: When no forecast is selected in the Application Context, the chart does not show values for periods after the reporting period.

The Δ% chart is automatically hidden if no comparison version of the budget is selected in the Application Context. Use the chart settings to hide or show the chart.

Previous Periods Waterfall chart (Δ Period Waterfall)

The Δ Period Waterfall chart compares the displayed periods with the matching number of months from the comparison range. For example, if the chart shows 15 months, they are compared with the 15 months before the first displayed period.

The waterfall chart needs enough historical data to be displayed. If the comparison range lacks sufficient months, the chart is hidden. Use the chart settings to hide or show the chart.

The Δ Period Waterfall chart is not available when a percentage metric is displayed.

These are the elements of the Previous Periods Waterfall chart:


Name	Description
Cumulative movements of last months	The Cumulative Movements columns provide the start of the waterfall. They show the sum of the actual, which is a reporting version, in the comparison time range. They also show movements and the budget, which is a comparison version, in the comparison time range. For example, when showing periods from Jun 25 to Oct 26 (16 periods), the cumulative movements of the last 16 periods, shows the sum of the previous 16 movements from Feb 24 to May 25.
Steps	Each Step field of the waterfall compares the value of the current month against the matching month in the comparison time range. The comparison month is selected by going back as many months as the chart shows.
Total	The Total field at the end of the waterfall sums up the actual and forecast movements and compares them to the sum of the budget movements.
Summary	The Summary dialog box shows totals for actuals, forecast, and budget, and their differences and over or under-budget insights. These summary elements are available: Actuals: Total of actuals values up to and including the reporting period. Budget: Total of budget values. Over or Under Budget: The difference between total actual and budget. Over or Under Budget %: The difference between total actuals and budget in percentages. Forecast: Total of forecast values after the reporting period. Actuals and Forecast: Total of actuals values up to the reporting period and forecast values after the reporting period. Forecasted over or under Budget: The difference between the actuals and forecast, and the budget. Over or Under Budget %: The difference between the actuals and forecast, and the budget in percentages.

Previous Periods Difference chart (Δ Period Difference) for ratios and percentage metrics

When you select a ratio, semi-additive, or percentage metric, the Trend & Projection chart cannot provide a waterfall chart. Instead, a chart is provided, which compares each month against the comparison month.

The comparison month is selected by going back as many months as the chart shows.

For ratio and percentage metrics, the Summary dialog box shows these elements:

Forecasts: The last forecast value
Actuals: The last actuals value.
Percentage increase or decrease from the last actuals value to the last forecast value
Budget: The last budget value
Forecast difference: The difference between the last forecast value and the budget value.

Best practices

Use these best practices for the Trend & Projection chart widget:

Use the rolling trend to monitor the recent performance and the short-term projections. The rolling trend dynamically shows months before and after the reporting period.
Switch to the defined range or fiscal year to create a fixed view.
Disable the Δ% Budget and Waterfall charts to simplify the view or enable them for deeper insights.
Use the Summary dialog box to assess how forecast values compare to budget.
Verify color indicators to interpret positive and negative variances.
Navigate to the Trend & Projection report for deeper breakdowns and export options.