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AboutRead In 10 Minutes
One Centralized System For Every Project Team
4castplus is enterprise software in that it is designed to be utilized collaboratively by various business units and teams across the organization. Anyone who needs to access projects to either manage them, input data or report on them can access them from a centralized platform. That can include project management, field staff, procurement, finance, project controls, engineering, etc.
In addition to being the operational system for projects, 4castplus also has the capability to plug into the enterprise ecosystem by integrating with other systems and tools. This enterprise integration is most commonly with scheduling (P6, MS Project), payroll and the finance system or ERP. Since 4castplus collects and manages a significant amount of financial information regarding projects, by far the most common system integration is with a client’s accounting system (ERP).
4castplus works very well with accounting systems as it provides very comprehensive capabilities for managing the finances of complex industrial projects. Capabilities that are far beyond the reach of any ERP on the market. While most ERPs will tout a construction or project management extension, they are only rudimentary tools for setting up the base project structure, codes and data for reporting. They fall short of the requirements needed to control costs, forecast cash flows, analyze productivity, measure progress, provide EVM, and monitor performance in real-time.
ERP Integration
A typical pairing of 4castplus with an ERP sees 4castplus as the operational solution – where projects are managed on a day-to-day basis – while exchanging critical information with the ERP through an integration layer. 4castplus does not replace the ERP, it instead compliments the ERP by delivering the tools that match the complexity of major projects. We don’t make accounting systems. We make accounting systems better.
The example diagram below shows a simple enterprise solution that includes P6 and 4castplus as the project operational systems, and SAP as the ERP. In this example, SAP is only a placeholder – 4castplus can integrate with most any ERP.
The arrows between the systems are meant to represent the various data flows that will pass between the systems at regular intervals. 4castplus is typically set up to have a bidirectional data exchange with the ERP, reflecting the fact that some data originates from 4castplus and some originates from the ERP. These dataflows and direction of flow are highly customizable and depend on the requirements of the organization.
Example ERP-4castplus Integrations
As mentioned above, most modern finance systems have an integration platform that is accessed through a published API. This includes systems such as, Oracle, NetSuite, SAP, Viewpoint, Deltek, Sage, MS365, and more. Older versions of these ERP systems often do not have an integration solution, so in some cases third-party vendors provide applications to broker the integration.
Learn More About ERP Intergrations
Integration Framework
There are many options for what dataflows are exchanged between systems, along with how the data is synchronized.
Dataflows
Dataflows are simply the datasets that will be synchronized between the systems.
The range of dataflows is extensive and can include, AP, AR, payroll, timesheets, master data, project, budget, change orders, actuals, purchase orders, etc. An integration between 4castplus and the ERP is customized to each client’s requirements. If the client, for example, is using 4castplus for project procurement, there will likely be an integration dataflow for AP vendor invoices originating in 4castplus and synchronized to the ERP for ageing and payment. It could also go the other way around, where 4castplus is the recipient of AP invoices.
Data Mapping & Coding
Once the dataflows and direction of flow have been determined, a key component of any integration project is determining how to map the data and associated codes between the systems. As a project management system, users will define project coding and the work breakdown structure (WBS and CBS) to a granular level as needed for the purposes of detailed oversight of project financial governance. 4castplus also has flexible tools for mapping these project codes to the standard code of accounts defined for the ERP. This streamlines the effort of ensuring that the data that originates in 4castplus is mapped to the correct coded areas of the ERP. And vice versa.
Integration Platform
Most modern ERP systems come equipped with an integration API for sharing key data with other systems. 4castplus also includes a REST API that enables bidirectional integration with most any system. On top of that, 4castplus also includes a dedicated middleware application that provides programmable intelligence for brokering integrations. This application is called 4castplus-Connect.
4castplus-Connect is an integration solution that can reside in the cloud or behind a client’s firewall. It provides built-in tools for integrations, such as:
- Error handling
- Reporting
- Notifications
- Transformation logic
- Programmable scheduling
By using 4castplus-Connect, integrations are automated and free of any manual effort. Any errors that occur are handled elegantly and key personnel are notified. 4castplus provides an area where administrators can monitor the integration, run reports, resend failed synchronizations, etc.
Soft Integrations
Not all organizations are ready for a fully automated integration as described above, and would prefer to opt for a soft integration. Also known as manual integration. Or, swivel-chair approach. It simply means using import/export files where data is exported from one system into a CSV or Excel file and imported into the other system. While this more manual approach means a person has to perform the integration, it can be quite effective for the initial phase of a 4castplus rollout. It’s a simpler method that can be implemented relatively quickly and serves as a proof of concept to ensure everything is working properly prior to committing to a fully automated integration.
A Flexible Solution
While system integrations can have many moving parts and require careful planning and rollout, the end result is data moving seamlessly across the enterprise – ensuring the various business units are in sync with accounting. The ERP is the master system of record of all things financial and all required data should land there. 4castplus provides a flexible and powerful solution for enabling organizations to have a premium solution for project controls, while maintaining compliance and oversight of all financial data for the organization.
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By seamlessly integrating with your ERP system, 4castplus captures labor hours directly from the jobsite and connects them in real time to cost codes, budgets, commitments, and progress. The result? A single source of truth for labor cost, productivity, and overall project performance.
Eliminate manual data transfers, reduce reconciliation errors between systems, and ensure finance and operations are always aligned. With 4castplus, the data already flowing through your ERP becomes actionable intelligence, helping you protect margins, improve forecasting accuracy, and keep projects on track.
