Forecast, monitor, and control project costs in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Overview

The Project Forecasting app by Dynamics Connect gives you the power to create accurate forecasts for Payroll, Agency, and Subcontracting resources directly within Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Compare your Target Forecast, Actual Forecast, and Posted Actuals side by side with clear, actionable reporting.

No more manual spreadsheets or guesswork—Project Forecasting centralises your planning and monitoring, ensuring you always know how your projects are performing against budget.

Key Benefits

• Accurate resource forecasting. Build forecasts for Payroll, Agency, and Subcontracting with ease.
• Target vs Actual vs Posted. Instantly compare planned forecasts, updated forecasts, and actual project ledger entries.
• Clear reporting. Get an at-a-glance view of project performance to help decision makers stay in control.
• Eliminate manual spreadsheets. Reduce errors and duplication by managing all your project forecasting in Business Central.
• Improve project control. Spot variances early and take corrective action before costs spiral.

Why Choose Project Forecasting?

• Streamlined forecasting directly in Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Built for project-driven businesses who rely on accurate cost control
• Fully integrated with standard Business Central jobs and resources
• Easy to use and quick to set up—no custom development required

Perfect For

• Project-based organisations in manufacturing, construction, engineering, consulting, and contracting
• Businesses with significant Payroll, Agency, or Subcontracting costs
• Companies looking to replace spreadsheets with a structured, auditable solution in Business Central

Get Started

Dynamics Connect experts will guide you through setup and configuration so you can be up and running quickly.

• Built in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Backed by Dynamics Connect support and expertise

Additional Resources

Browse other Dynamics Connect offerings, such as Adyen Payment By Link or Rest API Integrator, which enables sending payment requests via email directly from Business Central and the ability to integrate any third party application with Business Central through configuration.

Project Forecasting Functionality

Forecasts are split into 2 different types, Target Forecast and Forecast, all dates are according to the financial year, the Target Forecast is filled out first, without a Resource, with target dates and target working percentages:

For every year that the Target Role is to work on the project, their Target rate is calculated and uplifted per year according to an uplift % set in the setup.

Once the Target Forecast is filled out, the Forecast can be created, this copies all the Target lines to the Forecast, where a Resource must be selected, and the working % can be adjusted per line.Once the Target Forecast is completed, you Release the Target Forecast meaning no more changes are available to the Target, you then fill out the (actual) Forecast, these can be with actual Resources or without Resources, in which case the average rate is taken for all resources with that Role.

The Forecast Rates work like the Target Rates in that they are uplifted each year according to the uplift % in the setup, where there is a Resource assigned, only there rate is used and uplifted

The Working Forecast works like the Target Working Forecast, again this time with the actual Resource

Change logging is included with the Forecasts to see how has changed what and where

The Summary report is available to check the differences between the Target Forecast, Forecast and actual project ledger entries for those resources and roles on the project.