Obtaining project budget approval: 5 key tips

Obtaining project budget approval is not an easy task. Every project comes with costs, and generally, the larger and more complex the project, the more difficult it will be to get approval.

Because no company possesses unlimited resources, every project involves a set budget that, ideally, will need to be observed. You might be interested in this article on how to make a project budget.

However, here’s the challenge: It’s not always easy to establish how big a budget a project will need. There is always the risk, in fact, of underestimating some factors and not being able to complete the project on time. On the other hand, if the estimates are too high, there is a risk that the whole project will be scrapped because it is not cost-effective.

So, how can you determine the right budget for a project and get it approved? Let’s find out in this article.

Obtaining budget approval: What to consider when making a project budget

Here are the most notable factors:

1. Cost estimates

A project budget comprises many types of expenses, including:

  • direct and indirect costs,
  • capital expenditure
  • operational expenses,
  • costs related to project results
  • and much more.

Trying to determine exact figures can be tricky, especially for brand-new projects.

In this case, you need to remain cool and keep in mind that budget numbers rarely match up totally with actual costs and are very likely to change as a project progresses.

Therefore, it is important to focus on estimating resources accurately at the time and providing cost estimates that are as realistic as possible.

2. Budget contingency

The greatest challenge in project management budget planning is the unexpected.

Even with a thorough estimate of costs and resources, unexpected contingencies or changes to the project may require budget revisions.

As a result, just as a project plan will incorporate a buffer with regard to timelines, so the same should be done in the case of the budget. A kind of contingency fund for the unexpected – a contingency in fact – should be prepared.

Since this is an amount for the unknown, its estimation is very difficult to pin down.

An amount that is too large will make those who have to approve the budget think that it has been inflated without logic.

A good rule of thumb is to set aside 10% of the total budget for contingencies.

3. The bottom-up approach

One of the most effective methods for ensuring an accurate budget is the bottom-up approach, which involves the active participation of human resources from the earliest stages of planning. Unlike a budget imposed from above, this strategy allows costs to be estimated more realistically, based on the direct experience of those who will be working on the project.

Why does it work?

  • Greater accuracy: Those who carry out daily activities are more familiar with the resources required and can identify potential unforeseen costs.
  • Team empowerment: Involving employees increases their sense of ownership and reduces the risk of underestimating expenditure items.
  • Flexibility: A bottom-up budget is more adaptable to changes because it is already aligned with operational needs.

How to apply it?

  1. Planning workshop: Bring together area managers to gather detailed estimates.
  2. Historical analysis: Use data from similar projects to validate requests.
  3. Level review: Consolidate individual estimates and compare them with the overall budget.

Warning: If the budget is approved without this approach, the risk of financial surprises increases. Integrating the bottom-up method with a 10% contingency (as suggested above) is the winning combination for a budget that must be solid and convincing to stakeholders.

4. Budget monitoring

Just as you track project activities, likewise you want to track and monitor expenses throughout the project lifecycle.

By regularly monitoring your budget, you can quickly find when costs begin to exceed estimates and make changes before the budget is exceeded.

This monitoring also identifies additional budget needs with enough time to get funding in place before work is forced to stop.

Tips for obtaining project budget approval

budget approval

In project management, few things are as critical as a well-managed budget. Yet, according to the PMI, 28% of projects fail due to inaccurate financial estimates. What if there was a way to turn this challenge into your strength?

Here’s how to get your budget approved (and keep it under control) in 5 proven steps.

1. Knowing what you need as opposed to what you want

The key is including in your budget at least some of what you would like to have but don’t think is necessary.

It is unlikely that you will get everything you ask for, so it is important to draw a definite line between what you think is absolutely necessary and what you think might be useful.

To be more convincing, you can list the risks and negative consequences of not getting what you need to get the job done.

2. Define the why before the what

Before introducing a budget piece, it is important to define concretely why it is important to the project.

Getting support and evidence can make the argument even more compelling.

A structured approach helps build a solid business case and gain stakeholder support.

  • Alignment with strategic objectives: Link each expenditure request to business objectives (e.g., reduction in delivery times, improvement in quality, increase in turnover). Explain how the investment will contribute to the most relevant KPIs.
  • Cost-benefit analysis: Present quantitative and qualitative data to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI). Use graphs or tables to show scenarios with and without the expenditure item.
  • External benchmarks: Citing successful examples of similar projects in the industry or market data strengthens the credibility of the proposal.
  • Risk scenario: Identify the risks of not funding the item, illustrating possible delays, additional costs or lost opportunities.
  • Measurement plan: Establish clear metrics and timelines for monitoring the impact of each expenditure. This demonstrates transparency and facilitates future control.


3. Seek out and propose concrete options

Take multiple options into consideration, research and evaluate them.

If the project requires working with a service provider, then it’s worth looking for several vendors who have experience executing similar projects, discuss the idea with them, check their references and get different quotes.

Based on this research, you can create different project budgets, from a “top” version with the most expensive options to “regular” and “budget” versions.

Motivate why you would prefer one option over another.

4. Emphasize how your proposal will bring value to the organization

As well as a budget outlining how much the project will cost, it is important to calculate the value that the organization will gain over time thanks to the project.

These could be, for example, annual cost savings, increased efficiency or productivity improvements.

5. Anticipate the questions that will be asked

Whoever is in charge of approving the budget will most certainly have questions about the submitted proposal.

Anticipating the questions and considering which details will need to be explained in more detail is key to winning stakeholders over.

When you are proactive, well-organized and set concrete goals, it will be significantly easier to get the budget approved, even in the case of very expensive projects.

Furthermore, by demonstrating skill and respect for time, you will have the confidence that your budget suggestions will be considered seriously by the stakeholders or business leaders who must approve it.

Also, don’t forget that once the budget is approved, it is the project manager’s duty to oversee it.

To do this, it is a good idea to use project management software such as Twproject to track and have visibility of costs and real-time comparison with the budget.

In fact, it boasts a very straightforward and clear section for tracking your budget.

With Twproject, you have everything you need to:

  1. Track every expense accurately
  2. Predict unexpected costs before they happen
  3. Optimise human resources and materials
  4. Easy reporting with customised reports

If you haven’t already done so, try Twproject for free by clicking on the banner below and discover how simple it is to manage your budget.

Control your projects’ budget with Twproject.

Project cost management: what is it and how to implement it

Project cost management is an evergreen feature in all projects: big or small, from IT to construction. In fact, all projects require the purchase of any type of material or service.

Regardless of the scope or the program, projects need funds to complete the work.

Technically, even projects that use only manpower needfunds. Someone in fact is paying for that job.

Project cost management concerns the process of planning and controlling the project budget.

Without project cost management, the organization could lose its revenue as costs could outweigh profits.

The activities of Project COST management

Project cost management includes activities such as:

  • planning;
  • estimation;
  • budgeting;
  • funding;
  • management and control of costs

so that the project can be completed within the approved budget limits.

Cost management covers the entire project life cycle, from the initial planning stage to the measurement of actual cost performance and project completion.

What is the process of project cost management?

Cost management is a way of managing the total cost of the project and takes place in four phases, called the planning phase:

1) Resource planning

In the initial phase of a project, it is necessary to define the resources necessary to complete the project activities. This includes the team members who make up the project team.

Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and historical information of similar projects can be used in order to define which physical resources (and not) are needed. It is possible to think about time, material, work, equipment, etc.

Once all types of resources and quantities are known, the estimation of the associated costs can be determined.

2) Estimate costs

Several cost estimation methods can be applied in order to predict how much it will cost to perform project activities.

The choice of the estimation method depends on the level of information available.

Estimates based on the actual cost of similar prior projects can serve as a basis in order to estimate the current project.

Another option is to use parametric models in which the characteristics of the project are represented mathematically.

Estimates can be refined when more information becomes available during a project.

At the end, this translates into an estimate of unit costs with high accuracy.

3) Cost budgeting

Cost estimation forms, together with a project plan, the input for the cost budget.

The budget gives an overview of the periodic and total costs of the project, including the variable costs that may change over time.

Cost estimates define the cost of each work package or activity, while the budget allocates costs in the period when the cost will be incurred.

A cost baseline is a budget approved that is used as a starting point for measuring actual performance progress.

4) Project cost control

the project costs management

Cost control concerns

  • changes in the baseline measurement of costs
  • the adoption of effective corrective actions in order to stay at a minimum cost.

The procedures are applied to monitor expenses and performance against the progress of a project.

All changes to the baseline of costs must be recorded and the final total costs expected are constantly forecast.

When actual cost information becomes available, an important part of cost control is to explain what is causing the change from the baseline.

Based on this analysis, corrective actions may be needed in order to avoid cost overruns.

Suggestions for a correct management of the project cost

  • Take inflation into consideration: any good cost management plan should take price increases into account.
  • Considering hypothetical natural disasters or potential events: expecting the unexpected may seem silly, but it is necessary to have a budgetary buffer for a meteorological event, a personal problem, or some other unknown factors that could delay the project.
  • Other unexpected costs: not all unexpected costs are random. Thanks to a structured risk management activity, it is at least possible to define the risk values according to the project. There may be legal problems, penalties associated with the project or unforeseen labor costs, for which it is not possible to provide a specific budget, but it is possible to prepare a buffer.
  • Real time tracking: having software that allows to monitor the budget during project execution is essential for cost management. If we analyze data that is not current, it will be difficult to act quickly enough to solve the problems.
  • Respond promptly: regardless of how a discrepancy exists in the cost of the project, it is necessary to act immediately. The longer you wait, the more money will be wasted.
  • Dimension: Some people think that smaller projects do not need project cost management. Small or big, in every project you have to manage costs.

To better manage the costs of the project, it is necessary to know the project inside and out, in all its details.

Project managers are in a difficult situation; in fact, they are the link between the customer and the project team that will complete the client’s project.

In most organizations, it is generally easier to get “more time” than “more money”, and there is usually more concern about how much it is spent rather than how much time is needed to complete a project.

Project managers and their stakeholders must enter any project with a common goal: to identify an accessible area and a plan on how to achieve it.

Too often, the cost is ignored in the project planning. But someone will eventually have to pay the bill, so why not make everything more organized and peaceful?

Therefore, it can not be ignored that cost management is essential for the success oIt cannot, therefore, be ignored that cost management is important from an early stage for the success of the project.

In addition, careful management today also allows for better planning of future projects.

It can not be ignored that for an effective monitoring and if you want to intervene promptly in the management of costs, it becomes essential to have a project management software that tracks data in real time, such as Twproject.

The use of advanced tools such as Twproject makes it possible to centralise all project information, making it quickly and easily accessible to all involved stakeholders and team members. This ensures greater operational transparency and improves internal communication, two crucial elements in keeping objectives, timeframes and investments aligned.

In addition, Twproject allows the generation of automatic and customisable reports, ideal for analysing the economic and technical performance of a project. In this way, critical areas or activities that are generating cost deviations can be identified at an early stage, enabling targeted corrective action.

Another key aspect concerns risk prevention. It is possible to simulate alternative scenarios and assess the potential impact of any problems before they actually occur. This proactive approach significantly reduces the probability of exceeding the economic limits of the project.

In contesti altamente competitivi, dove ogni euro speso deve produrre valore, saper gestire le risorse in modo efficace non è più un’opzione, ma un’esigenza strategica. La governance dei progetti, quindi, deve necessariamente includere una visione integrata dei processi, dove analisi predittiva, controllo puntuale e capacità di adattamento diventano gli strumenti chiave per il successo.

In highly competitive environments, where every amount spent must produce value, knowing how to manage resources effectively is no longer an option, but a strategic requirement. Project governance, therefore, must necessarily include an integrated view of processes, where predictive analysis, timely control and adaptability become the key tools for success.

Finally, it is worth emphasising how a culture oriented towards financial performance and the measurement of results favours not only the success of individual projects, but also the growth of the entire organisation.

Those who invest in the professionalisation of project management build a solid foundation to face future challenges with confidence, with more informed decisions, smoother processes and tangible results.

Try Twproject for project cost management

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The best tools for Financial Planning

Most of the time, bad financial planning leads to project failure or late delivery.

Solving this issue is not easy, but in this article, we will provide tips on how to improve project financial management and the best tools for it.

What is project financial planning?

Financial planning is the art of managing all financial matters in a project, from expenses to potential excess funds.

This process includes estimates, budgeting, risk management, and financial reporting.

The primary purpose of project financial management is to ensure that the work is completed within the given budget while achieving financial goals.

Someone has to manage all financial transactions, like expenses or payments received, throughout the project life cycle.

Usually, the project manager works alongside a finance manager to set the budget and monitor expenditures, but these figures can change depending on the size of the company and industry.

Successful financial management helps the project manager optimize resource allocation, manage risk, and make informed decisions based on real-time financial data.

Getting it right can make the difference between the success or failure of a project.

Financial planning throughout the project life cycle

Typically, financial planning is done in stages that align with the different phases of a project’s life cycle. These are:

•   Launching phase: Here, the financial situation of the project is assessed according to the business capabilities.

•   Planning phase: The actual financial management begins after project feasibility is confirmed. Project budget and expense allocations are synced with key activity milestones.

•  Execution phase: As the project team focuses on completing assigned tasks, the budget must always be monitored to catch any deviations in costs and expenses in time and take improvement measures.

•   Closing phase: Here, it is imperative to conduct a financial review to assess the return on investment (ROI) and overall financial impact of the project.

Common challenges of project financial planning

Managing a project’s financial statement is a task that involves critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

The following are some common challenges of project financial planning:

•   Unexpected costs: You can painstakingly plan a project, yet unexpected expenses can arise that cause the budget to go over budget. These can be caused by errors in procurement or macroeconomic factors, such as changes in the market that are beyond your business’ control.

•   Inaccurate budget projections:Budget creation is a complex process that requires rough forecasts of future events, such as the cost of materials, staffing, and other expenses.

•   Cash flow management:Even if the overall budget is accurate, delays in funding or payments can stall progress. It is challenging to sustain a steady cash flow successfully, but it is necessary to monitor the budget closely.

•   Scope creep: During the project life cycle, stakeholders may request additional features or changes that were not initially considered. This translates into project costs that can escalate if not proactively checked.

•   Poor communication: Clear communication among all parties is a vital requirement for effective project financial management. Poorly managed communication can alter a project’s financial balance due to duplicate efforts, missed payments, or misallocated funds resulting from a lack of transparency or misunderstandings.

Twproject: the best project financial planning tool

Traditionally, businesses have managed their finances manually, such as spreadsheets.

However, in today’s marketplace, which presents many more variables than in the past, most organizations have transitioned to more automated solutions.

Financial information must be relevant, timely, and accurate. It must provide a true picture of performance and fact-based information needed to make realistic predictions about future performance.

This is why choosing project management software with accounting capabilities enables it to support long-term project planning.

Twproject is a tool designed to support companies of all sizes and industries.

This software offers a range of functionality for both day-to-day project activities and broader enterprise-wide efforts.

Twproject supports project budgets of all kinds; moreover, complex budgets can be broken down into multiple phases to simplify financial management.

Budgets can be monitored at any time, and all changes made are automatically applied to the data in real-time.

Twproject also sports a custom reporting feature that allows you to add all those key parameters for a specific project to the documentation.

These reports can be shared with relevant parties by arranging views on the dashboard or scheduling them to be sent via e-mail.

These features, and others that Twproject offers, help project managers manage the complete project picture while simplifying collaboration and communication with the team.

As we have discussed, optimal financial planning is vital to the success of a project and a company in general.

Every step is critical, from the opening assessment and estimation to monitoring and adjusting for changes during project execution and the full financial review at closure.

Implementing project management software such as Twproject, which can manage a business’s budget and overall processes, is, therefore, a major advantage.

Keep costs under control with Twproject

How to develop a budget and make realistic forecasts

How to prepare a budget? As a business grows and becomes increasingly complex, budget preparation and realistic forecasting become ever more critical.

Budgeting and forecasting may sound the same, but within the corporate financial framework, they present distinctive characteristics.

Although they cover two different spheres, budgets and forecasts work together to produce a comprehensive guide to a project’s and the company’s financial performance.

Understanding the difference between budgeting and forecasting and strategies to manage them best can help an organization operate successfully.

Budget vs forecasts

As previously mentioned, budgets and forecasts are not the same thing.

A budget is a financial plan that outlines an organization’s future earnings and expenditures.

It is the basic blueprint for a company’s financial operations, setting out how much and what it plans to spend.

When set, the budget generally remains as is, becoming the benchmark for financial performance.

Conversely, a forecast predicts an organization’s future financial events based on current business trends, market conditions, and relevant data. The goal is to estimate how internal and external trends will affect a project or company’s financial future.

For example, forecasting may discover an opportunity to enter a new market by launching an innovative product.

Based on the forecast’s findings, a project manager can develop a strategic plan to capitalize on opportunities and overcome challenges. Budgeting is static, whereas forecasting is dynamic and an important part of the overall business plan.

This means that forecasting can be revised frequently, especially when internal changes or important influential external factors come to light.

The role of management control

To successfully implement a coherent budget and forecast, it is crucial to implement sound management control.

This process consists of continuously monitoring set targets and comparing them with actual results to pinpoint any deviations and take appropriate corrective action in a timely manner.

Management relies on the information provided by management control to make strategic decisions and properly allocate financial resources.

How to prepare a budget

Here are five basic steps to follow when drafting a budget:

1. Review and collect input

Inputs refer to all elements, such as fixed and variable expenses, revenue flows, and any other elements that can influence financial planning. At this stage, it is important to differentiate fixed and variable costs to have a clear overview of the operating margins.

2. Analyze historical data

Researching past budgets and other historical financial data provides insight into past trends to help establish realistic business goals for revenue and expenses for each month and fiscal year. You can also take the performance of the industry in which you operate as benchmarks.

3. Get cross-functional stakeholders involved

Consulting and communicating with stakeholders from other departments, such as sales managers or executives, provides insight into how the company’s priorities are perceived and helps create a budget that reflects the needs of the whole organization.

This consultation will also make colleagues feel part of the process, increasing their willingness to accept the budget.

4. Plan capital expenditures

Identifying any necessary capital outlays during the budget period, such as equipment, facilities, and property investments, is also important to ensure you have the resources you need to operate and grow smoothly.

5. Set KPIs

KPIs and any other performance indicators will help monitor budget effectiveness. Particularly, it is vital to include in the analysis not only general costs, but also the revenue forecast and variable cost structure to support objectives.

Come generare e gestire benefit di progetto

Economic budget and financial budget

In budgeting, it is worth distinguishing between economic and financial budgets.

  • The economic budget focuses on the income statement, namely cost projections (fixed and variable) and revenues, to determine the expected profit or loss.
  • The financial budget, in contrast, analyzes cash flows (inflows and outflows), cash management, and funding sources to ensure that the company possesses the financial resources needed to support its day-to-day operations and investment projects.

Having these two types of budgets separate helps management make more focused decisions, weighing both economic sustainability and financial soundness.

How to make realistic forecasts

To produce realistic financial forecasts, here are some key steps:

 1. Define areas of interest

The first step involves identifying the key metrics that the forecast needs to cover, such as revenue growth or determined cash flow.

2. Update your forecast with the latest financial data

The latest financial data drawn from business operations will be used as the starting point. By incorporating real-time data, the estimates will truly reflect the state of the business at that specific time, ensuring more accurate forecasts.

Additionally, adopting a collaborative budget planning approach can enhance accuracy by involving different departments in the forecasting process. This cross-functional input ensures that all financial projections consider diverse perspectives, leading to more informed decision-making.

3. Set a forecast time frame

The forecast must encompass a specific time frame, which can be monthly, quarterly, or annually, but the performance tracked must be precisely consistent with the chosen time frame.

4. Identify patterns and trends

By analyzing past performance data, you can look for trends that are likely to recur. Are there consistent patterns in sales, spending, and other critical metrics that can guide projections? Moreover, it is important to note when things change, how, and the causes.

5. Take into consideration the influencing factors

When making forecasts, it is important to factor in any known or unknown elements that could impact your forecast. For example, the launch of new products, economic changes in the market, regulatory changes, etc.

Drafting a budget and making forecasts with Twproject

Preparing an accurate budget and making reliable forecasts are two fundamental activities for the success of any project or organization.

Yet, it is also often one of the most complex tasks a project manager can face.

Many organizations rely exclusively on Microsoft Excel due to its familiarity and low cost, but this can be a big mistake in the long run, as fragmented workbooks and manual input can lead to errors.

In this case, choosing a great project management software becomes crucial, as a well-informed decision will help make financial management more precise and strategic.

Among the numerous software available on the market, Twproject stands out for its user-friendliness and wealth of customizable features.

By centralizing all relevant information, such as estimated costs, actual expenses, and available resources, teams, managers, and stakeholders can maintain a clear and up-to-date understanding of the project’s financial situation.

costi software project management twproject

Features such as detailed report generation, scenario simulation, and predictive analysis based on historical data help promptly identify deviations between planned and actual budgets.

Moreover, Twproject provides the potential to predict possible financial risks, optimize resource allocation, and adjust planning as needed.

A further benefit is the streamlined collaboration process between team members and stakeholders, who can easily access relevant financial data and contribute to more informed decisions.

Ultimately, project management software such as Twproject improves operational efficiency and brings crucial support for more informed and success-oriented economic management of a project and the company as a whole.

Keep costs under control with Twproject

How to monitor operating costs in a project

Projects cost money and, therefore, require regular monitoring of their operating costs to ensure success.

Indeed, being able to manage and track expenses is what keeps the project within a budget.

It is unlikely that stakeholders will consider the project a success if it costs too much money.

In this article, we will examine what we mean by a project’s operating costs and how best to monitor them.

What is a project’s operating cost?

A project operating cost, also known as Opex—Operational Expenditure, details the expenses a company faces in operating a product or business.

Opex also includes production and operating costs for a business.

The so-called Capex – Capital Expenditure, which is the cost of purchasing, maintaining, or implementing operating fixed assets such as buildings, equipment, land, etc. —is different.

Let’s consider a concrete example: a company’s printer purchase falls under Capex, while the cost for toner, paper, and maintenance belongs to Opex. These operating costs can be divided into fixed, variable, and indirect costs.

Best practices for monitoring and keeping in check operating expenses

1. Defining and classifying OPEXs

The first step is clearly defining and ranking OPEXs based on their nature, frequency, and impact. For example, one can group these costs into fixed, variable, and discretionary expenses.

Fixed expenses, such as rent and insurance, stay constant regardless of the level of production or sales. Variable expenses, such as raw materials and commissions, vary with the level of production or sales.

Discretionary expenses, such as marketing and training, are not essential to core operations but can improve the company’s performance or quality. By ranking OPEXs, you can better identify and optimize expenses.

2. Establish and monitor your OPEX budget

The second step involves setting and monitoring the OPEX budget based on revenue projections, business goals, and industry benchmarks.

The OPEX budget should reflect the corporate strategic plan and align with key performance indicators (KPIs). Regularly monitoring actual OPEX against the budget and analyzing variances will also be necessary. This will help spot any trends, problems, or potential opportunities for improvement.

Establishing periodic strategic reviews is helpful to ensure that the budget stays aligned with business objectives. These reviews can include assessing long-term results and comparing them with the company’s overall strategic goals.  

This approach allows you to proactively adjust the budget and ensure that resources are optimally allocated to support corporate growth and sustainability.

3. Automate and simplify your OPEX processes

This can save time, money, and resources. You can do this by using project management software like Twproject to streamline and standardize OPEX activities such as billing, accounting, expense management, and reporting.

Automation allows avoiding errors and duplication and improves productivity and efficiency.

For example, automated accounting features allow you to log and categorize expenses in real time, ensuring an up-to-date view of business finances.

Moreover, automated reporting tools help generate detailed and customized reports without the need for manual intervention. These reports can include expense analyses, future forecasts, and comparisons between budgets and actual expenses.

Having access to detailed reports in real time facilitates more informed and strategic resource management, enabling managers to make data-driven and timely decisions.

4. Negotiate and review OPEX contracts

OPEX contracts with suppliers, vendors, and service providers should be regularly reviewed. Any good project manager should always look for better deals and terms, such as discounts or flexible payment options.

Current contracts should also be compared with market rates and terms.

5. Implement and monitor OPEX controls

This ensures conformity, accuracy, and accountability. Establishing clear policies and procedures for approving, recording, and reporting OPEX transactions and assigning responsibilities to staff is necessary.

In addition, project managers should conduct regular checks and reviews to verify data and documentation and correct any errors.

6. Assess and improve OPEX performance

OPEX results should be regularly compared with the budget, targets, and benchmarks to identify strengths and weaknesses. Customers, employees, and stakeholders can also provide feedback.

Customer satisfaction, employee engagement, and stakeholder value can be increased by measuring and improving OPEX performance.

Significance of controlling the operating costs of a project

cost management

Being able to closely manage and monitor operating expenses directly impacts profitability and determines the realization of strategic business objectives.  

Successful control of operating expenses allows for accurate cost alignment, limits project expenses, and ensures that the budget remains under control.

Moreover, wise expense management leads to an overall reduction in expenses, freeing up cash that can be reinvested in other company areas or used to repay debts.  

This helps maintain financial stability and contributes to project success, as a well-managed budget allows each milestone to be reached with the funds needed for each phase of the project.

Successful cost management ensures maximum operational effectiveness, improving company finances and helping optimize profits. A business with good cost control can complete projects without additional expenses, sustainably increasing profits.

Also, good expense management facilitates better contracting with suppliers and partners, maintaining favorable profit margins. Sound cost management further supports economic stability, allowing the company to thrive even in changing economic conditions.

This also contributes to a stronger corporate reputation, as it demonstrates reliability and accountability in budget management, positively influencing future market awareness.

And lastly, thoughtful expense management prepares the company for unforeseen situations by improving the preparedness and problem-solving skills of the project manager and team. Quickly addressing and resolving cost discrepancies helps keep projects on track and effectively manage any unforeseen contingencies.

Twproject: the ultimate tool for monitoring operating costs

In this article, we have already mentioned how using project management software enables the automation of processes and, as a result, better control over operating expenses.

Twproject, for example, collects project data, analyzes the numbers, and displays the parameters so you can have a sharp outlook at any time. Thanks to its user-friendly dashboard, you can get an overview of expenses in real-time, making it easier to control and manage your budget.

Detailed and customizable reports, easily shareable with stakeholders, simplify in-depth data analysis and monitoring of operational costs.

Expenses change constantly during a project’s life cycle, which can complicate management.

However, with a tool like Twproject, you can monitor expenses effectively. Try it for 15 days.

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Why invest in warehouse management software

Using warehouse management software for efficient control is critical to a company’s success, regardless of size.

Both small and large businesses face the daily challenge of optimizing their inventory, streamlining order fulfillment, and improving overall operational efficiency.

Warehouse management software can streamline business operations by streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and reducing expenses.

Let’s learn more about it in this article.

What are the benefits of warehouse management software?

1. Better inventory management

Inventory management is one of the critical areas of warehouse management software. With this tool, you can see inventory levels in real time and determine if and when a restock becomes necessary.  

You can also track stock movements, so you know where each item is in the warehouse, decreasing the chances of it being lost.  

A warehouse management software calculates lead time, budgets, and internal load trends to derive intelligent suggestions for inventory orders.

2. Greater efficiency

Warehouse management software can reduce manual data entry processes, leading to fewer errors and improved management efficiency.

It also provides a real-time view of inventory, resulting in informed restocking decisions. This is especially useful in preventing understocking or overstocking, which can negatively impact business operations.

Another significant benefit is the ability to monitor stock movements. With an effective management system, you can track every product movement within the warehouse, from when it arrives until it is shipped to the customer. This tracking reduces the risk of loss and theft by ensuring that every item can always be located.

Advanced management software uses predictive algorithms to suggest replenishment orders based on historical data and current trends.

This approach optimizes the ordering process, reducing costs associated with excess inventory and minimizing disruptions caused by product shortages. Additionally, it can automatically calculate the lead time for each product, ensuring that orders are placed at the best possible time.

3. Better customer service

Too many complaints made to customer service can harm a company’s reputation and, as a result, hurt profits. If you have a flawed system for order fulfillment, you can avoid sending items to the wrong address, sending incorrect quantities, or, even worse, running out of stock.

Warehouse management software can react quickly and correctly to customers’ requests for product availability with real-time inventory information. This allows items to be found and delivered promptly to consumers, improving order fulfillment and customer satisfaction.

4. Increased cost efficiency

Warehouse management software can cut expenses in many ways. Faster collection and packing increases productivity and reduces workforce expenses.

Reducing shortages and excess inventory lowers inventory costs. By providing real-time access to inventory levels, better choices can be made about replenishing items, reducing the expense of maintaining additional inventory, and preventing shortages.

5. Better data management

The first step toward greater efficiency is minimizing paper-based documentation and manual listings. Even for smaller warehouses, relying on pen-and-paper-based processes can slow down the process, increasing the risk of errors.

A warehouse management system can thus help companies automate and improve data management practices. Businesses can collect, store, and analyze vital data about their operations, which will later help them make informed choices.

6. Improved employee efficiency

Employee wages are among the biggest costs of a warehouse. By automating what warehouse management software brings, employee efforts can be optimized.

Analysis of movement efficiency and individual employees leads to better movement patterns. The new system will allow ideal picking routes to be followed through the warehouse so that each staff member can cover more ground more efficiently.

Warehouse management with Twproject

Twproject is a project management software that can be easily integrated to a warehouse management.

Thanks to its complete API, you can integrate this service an have a complete overview on the inventory management processes.

We are well aware that managing a warehouse is not easy. There are many operations to manage, and any errors or inefficiencies can lead to costly delays and mistakes.

With Twproject, warehouse management can become more streamlined and efficient.

Twproject in fact can help managing warehouse operations, logistics, shipping, and employees.

Investing in warehouse management software together with a project management software like Twproject can dramatically transform warehouse operations, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Companies of any size can leverage this tool to gain a competitive advantage by ensuring optimal management of resources and operations.

Still in doubt? Well, you can try yourself with a free demo.

 

How to keep project expenses in check

Keeping a project’s expenses in check is often easier said than done.

Tracking expenses is becoming increasingly complex, and without the right tools and processes, meeting a project budget becomes virtually impossible.

So, in this article, we will cover how to make budget management efficient.

Why is project expense monitoring important?

A project budget is key in making critical decisions such as:

  • Which and how many resources to recruit;
  • What level of quality can be achieved;
  • What supplier quotes may be acceptable, etc.

Without a set budget, answering these questions is challenging, and once the project is in motion, it becomes impossible to assess whether one is headed in the right direction.

In large organizations, the scale of this concern is further increased due to the simultaneous management, del cambiamento delle ipotesi iniziali e della comparsa di costi imprevisti.

5 tips for keeping project expenses in check

tenere sotto controllo costi

1.  Check and change your budget frequently

Keeping your budget up to date is easily the most important element in project cost management.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, a change can happen at any moment, and it is necessary to stay responsive and prepared to find a solution.

The only way to do this is to monitor, update, and possibly change your project budget frequently so that you stay on track.

2.  Monitoring resource utilization

One of a project’s biggest cost areas is usually manpower, as well as machinery, tools, and technology.

As with constant budget control, successful project management is also linked to continuous resource monitoring.

Typically, project managers must regularly review the number of people working on the project and revise the strategy to stay within budget if costs are too high.

The same applies to any material resources, such as machinery. Reviewing a project’s resources will ensure they are used effectively.

It will also help to understand whether fewer or more resources are needed to complete your project.

A good cost management tool helps, for example, to differentiate between resource costs and ancillary costs, and also allows a comparison between estimated and actual cost.

management of resource cost with Twproject

3.  Involve multiple stakeholders

Teamwork is crucial to project success. Even when it comes to cost control, each team member should actively consider the budget before making any purchases.

This will help promote a mindful and healthy spending culture, reduce unauthorized spending, and increase each individual’s accountability.

4. Focus on your project

Over the course of a project, unplanned work may seep into your schedule.

This “scope shift” can lead to a major change in project focus, ultimately leading to the failure of both the budget and the project itself.

To mitigate this risk, constantly reminding team members of the original project goal is critical.

5.  Automating budget management with project management software

Project managers often track costs only after team members submit expense reports.

This reactive approach to project budget management can make all the difference between job success and failure.

Regarding cost management, working reactively can be harmful.

After all, a project manager needs to know the status of their project budget in real time to make informed decisions.

To do so, one solution would be to automate expense management and cost control as much as possible.

Project management software such as Twproject can significantly simplify this process.

Here is a short video showing how many processes you can optimise with the use of this tool:

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of using this software in project cost management:

  • Automation of complex quantitative analysis during estimation and measurement helps prevent manual errors;
  • Data integration through planning, estimating, and cost control enables continuous monitoring and rapid, proactive responses;
  • Decision-making is made easier as the software helps evaluate alternative solutions through scenario prediction and what-if analysis;
  • Clear and user-friendly reports delivered as dashboards and other advanced and customizable user interfaces;
  • Many project cost solutions allow third-party integrations so that data can be grouped and analyzed;
  • Benchmarking and standardization are possible through the accessibility of project performance data.

Thus, to ensure efficient project expenditure control, you need a proactive management style and Twproject, the best project management software available.

Keep costs under control with Twproject

 

Analysis of the costs of a project

The analysis of the costs (and benefits) of a project, is crucial in project management and is often the most critical element for a project manager. Let us take a closer look at this essential process.

When managing a project, it is necessary to make many important decisions, such as implementing project monitoring and control during the project life cycle.

Because of the high stakes involved, good project managers do not simply make decisions based on instinct. They prefer to minimize risk and act only when there is more certainty than uncertainty.

But how is this possible in a world with a myriad of variables and a constantly changing economy?

The answer is:

rigorously consult collected data with reporting tools, graphs and spreadsheets.

Project managers can then use this data to evaluate their decisions with a process called cost-benefit analysis of a project.

Smart use of cost-benefit analysis will help minimize risks and maximize profits for both the project and the organization in general.

What is a project cost analysis?

The cost analysis in project management was designed to assess the cost compared to the benefits in the project proposal.

This process begins with a list, which includes all the expenses of the project together with the benefits that will derive from it once the project will be successfully completed.

From this, it is possible to calculate the return on investment (ROI), the internal rate of return (IRR), the net present value (NPV) and the amortization period.

The difference between the cost and the benefits will determine whether the action is worth it or not.

In most cases, if the cost is 50% of the benefits and the amortization period is not more than one year, it is worth taking action.

A cost-benefit analysis is a process that allows organizations to analyze decisions, systems, or processes or determine a value for intangible assets.

The model helps to identify the benefits of an action and the actual costs of it, subtracting the costs from the benefits.

clear and effective cost management with Twproject


Once completed, a cost-benefit analysis will produce concrete results that we can use to develop reasonable conclusions about the feasibility and / or opportunity that represents a specific decision or situation.

The purpose of the cost-benefit analysis

The purpose of the cost-benefit analysis is to have a systemic approach in order to understand the advantages and disadvantages of various solutions through a project, including transactions, activities, business requirements, and investments.

Cost-benefit analysis offers options and is the best approach to achieve a goal while saving on investment.

There are two main purposes for using a cost-benefit analysis for a project:

  • To determine if the project is valid, justifiable and feasible, verifying if its benefits exceed the costs.
  • It offers a cost baseline for comparing projects by determining which project benefits are greater than its costs.

The cost-benefit analysis process: 10 key steps

The process of cost-benefit analysis of a project has 10 steps through which we can establish the convenience of the project. Let’s see what they are:

  • What are the goals of the project? Before you can decide if a project is worth, you need to have a clear and precise idea of ​​what it must accomplish.
  • What are the alternatives? Before you can know if the project is the right one, you need to compare it with other projects and see which is the best one to follow.
  • Who are the interested parties? List all project stakeholders.
  • What measures will you use? You need to decide the metrics you will use to measure all costs and benefits.
  • What is the outcome of costs and benefits? You need to know what the costs and benefits of the project are and map them over a significant period of time.
  • What is the common currency? Here, we take all the costs and benefits and convert them into the same currency in order to make a real comparison.
  • What discount rate will be applied? This will express the amount of interest as a percentage of the balance at the end of a certain period.
  • How is the net present value of the project options? This is a measure of profit that we can calculate by subtracting the current values ​​of the cash outflows from the current values ​​of incoming cash flows over a given period of time.
  • Sensitivity analysis? This is a study of how the uncertainty of the output can be divided into different sources of uncertainty in its inputs.
  • Final decision? The final step, after collecting all these data, is to make the most recommended choice according to the analysis.

Are there limitations to cost-benefit analysis?

Of course, there is always a risk inherent in any business, and the risk and uncertainty must be considered when evaluating the cost-benefit analysis of a project.

It is possible to calculate this with the probability theory. Uncertainty is different from risk, but can be assessed using a sensitivity analysis in order to illustrate how the results respond to parameter changes.

Overall the use of cost-benefit analysis is a crucial step in determining whether it is worth pursuing any project.

For projects involving small to medium capital expenditures and from short to intermediate (in terms of completion time), a thorough analysis of project costs may be sufficient to make a rational and well-informed decision.

For large projects with a long-term time horizon, cost-benefit analysis typically fails to justify important financial concerns such as inflation, interest rates, variable cash flows, and the present value of money.

Alternative methods of analyzing initial capital, including the net present value or internal rate of return, are more appropriate for these situations.

Unless you are extremely lucky, it will never be possible to get all the information needed to complete a cost-benefit analysis.

There will in fact always be gaps in information.

Cost analysis: the hypothesis method

One way to try to overcome these shortcomings is to use hypotheses about the missing information.

However, for the inexperienced project manager, hypothesis creation is one of the most terrifying aspects of an analysis of project costs.

Here is an example: we are conducting a cost-benefit analysis for a real estate investment project. There may be a case of not knowing what the maintenance costs will be in the future. What we know, however, are the types of maintenance fees that have been paid for similar properties in the past. You can then use some of those numbers to make an assumption.

In any case, we must be careful when using assumptions. Factors do not always follow trends and even the smallest change in the hypothesis can produce totally different results.

In conclusion, analysis of project costs is a data-driven process and very often requires a sufficiently robust project management software to handle and distribute information.

If you haven’t tried TwProject yet, do it now! You will discover how simple it is to organize information and complete a cost-benefit analysis, thanks to its simple and precise project cost and budget management.

In Twproject cost monitoring is a relevant aspect of project management

Cost-benefit analysis in a project

Measuring costs and benefits of a project isn’t something that can be left to the feelings of the Project Manager. We are talking about the essence of the company’s business and therefore we need certain elements on which to make assessments.

When managing a project, in fact, you need to make many key decisions, taking into account all aspects, including potential costs.

There’s always something that needs to be done and often it is crucial to the success of the project and the organization itself.

Because of the high stakes, good managers do not only make decisions based on instinct, but prefer to minimize risk to the best of their ability and only act when there is more certainty than uncertainty.

But how is this possible with myriad variables and with an ever changing economy?

The solution is to seek concrete data with reporting tools, graphs and spreadsheets, even better with the help of project management software.

Thus, you can use this data to assess your decisions with a process called cost-benefit analysis (CBA).

A smart use of cost-benefit analysis will help minimize risk and maximize gains for both the project specifically and the organization in general. This method of evaluation is crucial for effective project management.

What is cost-benefit analysis?

Jules Dupuit, a French engineer and economist, introduced the concepts behind the cost-benefit analysis in the 1840s.

This method became very popular in the 1950s; a simple way to evaluate the costs and benefits of a project and, therefore, to determine whether to carry on (or not) with a project.

As the name suggests, cost-benefit analysis involves summing the benefits of a course of action and comparing them with the costs associated with it.

The results of the analysis are often expressed as a payback period, the time it takes for the benefits to pay off, also considering the discount rate.

Many people who use it, in fact, search for a payback within less than a specific period.

You can use this technique in a number of situations. For example, when you want to:

  • Decide whether to hire new team members.
  • Consider a new project or change initiative.
  • Determine feasibility of a capital purchase.

The cost-benefit analysis for project management is an additional tool available that the project manager can make use of.

Cost-benefit analysis purpose

The purpose of the analysis is to have a methodical approach to understand the pros and cons of the various possible options for a project, including transactions, activities, business requirements and investments.

In short, the cost-benefit analysis offers options and the best approach to achieve the goal while saving on investment.

There are two main goals to be achieved with the use of this analysis:

  • Determine whether the project is sound, justifiable and feasible, assessing whether its benefits outweigh its costs.
  • Offer a base for comparison of projects by determining which benefits are greater than their costs.
the costs-benefits analysis

How to use cost-benefit analysis

Here are the steps to perform a cost-benefit analysis.

1) Brainstorming on benefits and costs

Although there are some guidelines on how to draw up a project budget, it is always necessary to spend time thinking about all the costs associated with the project and make a list of them, including any unexpected costs (the ones you can think of).

Then, you will do the same for all the benefits of the project, including any potential unforeseen benefits.

2) Give a financial value to the costs

Costs include both the price of the required physical resources and the cost of manpower involved in all stages of a project.

Costs are often relatively easier to estimate than revenues.

It is important to think of as many related costs as possible. For example, how much will it cost to train team members?

Will there be a decrease in productivity while people are learning a new system or technology and how much will it cost?

Also, it is important to consider the costs that will continue to be incurred once the project is completed.

adding estimate and cost

3) Give a financial value to the advantages

This step is less simple than the second one: first, it is often very difficult to accurately predict revenues, especially for new products.

Second, along with the expected financial benefits, there are often intangible benefits that are still important results of the project.

For example, what is the impact on the environment, employee satisfaction or health and safety? What is the financial value of this impact?

For example, is the preservation of an ancient monument worth $500,000 or is it worth $5,000,000 because of its historical significance? Or, what is the value of a stress-free trip to work in the morning?

In these cases, it is also important to discuss with other interested parties and decide how to assess these intangible elements.

4) Compare costs and benefits

The last step is to compare costs with benefits and use this analysis to decide what course of action to take.

For this, calculate the total costs and total benefits and compare the two values to determine whether the benefits exceed the costs.

At this point, it is important to consider the payback time of the investment, to find out how long it will take to reach the “break even point”, i.e. the time when the benefits will pay off the costs.

A simple example, considering a situation where the same benefits are collected in each period, is to calculate the payback period by dividing the total expected cost of the project by the total expected revenues. This way:

Total cost / total income (or benefits) = duration (depreciation period).

How to consider the cost-benefit analysis

The data collected is used to help determine whether the project will have a positive or negative consequence.

It is essential to keep the following aspects in mind when evaluating this information:

  • What are the effects on users?
  • What are the effects on non-users?
  • Are there any external effects?
  • Is there a social benefit?

It is also important to take into account the time-value of the money spent. This can be done by converting expected future costs and benefits into current rates.

Of course, there is a risk intrinsic to any business and the risk and uncertainty must always be considered.

This can be calculated with the theory of probability.

Uncertainty is different from risk, but can be assessed using a sensitivity analysis to show how the results meet parameter changes.

How accurate is cost-benefit analysis?

The short answer is that the analysis will be as accurate as the data entered in the process.

Some inaccuracies are caused by:

  • Relying too much on data collected from past projects, especially when these differ in purpose, size, etc. from what you are working on
  • Using subjective insights during evaluation
  • Improper use of heuristics (problem solving that employs a practical method that is not guaranteed) to obtain the cost of the intangibles variables
  • Confirmation bias or use only data that supports what you want to find

Generally speaking, a cost-benefit analysis is more suitable for small and medium-sized projects that do not take too long to be completed.

In these cases, the analysis can lead the people involved to make appropriate decisions.

For large projects that run for a long period of time, there may be a number of problematic external factors that need to be taken into account in a cost-benefit analysis, such as: inflation, interest rates, etc.,

There are other methods that complement the cost-benefit analysis in the evaluation of larger projects.

Overall, however, the use of this methodology is a crucial step in determining whether or not a project is worth pursuing.

Cost-benefit analysis reliability

The cost-benefit analysis also suffers from reliability when a project has cash flows that vary from period to period.

Furthermore, the revenue that will be generated by a project can be very difficult to predict and the value that people attribute to intangible benefits can be very subjective.

Also, the production of a cost-benefit analysis requires a thorough awareness of project risks.

The intangible benefits analyzed can easily be underestimated or overestimated.

The benefits might also not arise or the risk that the benefit will not be achieved is too high.

The risk has two main factors that compose it:

Risk = Probability x Gravity

Here the level of risk of an event is proportional to the probability of its occurrence and the level of risk of an event is proportional to the size of the impact it generates.

For example, the office in which the project team works could be destroyed by an aircraft (a “risk event”).

The probability is clearly very low, but the severity is very high.

However, for most people the low probability outweighs the high severity, which leads to the conclusion that this risk event is not worth creating a risk response plan.

Ultimately, cost-benefit analysis is a data-based process and must be tackled appropriately.

With the help of sufficiently robust project management software, it will be possible to collect, analyze and distribute information effectively, so that the greatest possible benefit can be gained from a cost-benefit analysis.

Measure costs and benefits of a project with Twproject.

How to monitor and cut business costs with Twproject

In the project management world, keeping business costs under control is critical to any project’s success.

As projects become more complex and the pressure to keep costs to a minimum grows, project management tools such as Twproject become indispensable.

Here in this article, we will explore how to monitor business costs effectively.

Types of business costs: Fixed and variable

First, it is crucial to understand the nature of business costs, which are mainly split into two categories: fixed and variable costs.

This differentiation is pivotal to effective financial management and implementing cost reduction strategies.

Fixed cost characteristics

Fixed costs are expenses that remain constant, whatever the production volume or level of services offered. They include rent, basic salaries, depreciation, and overhead expenses such as utilities and insurance. The main characteristic of fixed costs is their short-term immutability, even if production volume increases or decreases.

For a company, it is crucial to monitor and manage fixed costs because they are expenses that must be incurred regardless of the level of economic activity. Effective management of fixed costs can lead to greater financial stability and better long-term planning.

Variable cost characteristics

Variable costs, conversely, vary with the volume of production or the level of services provided.

Typical examples include raw material costs, shipping costs, sales commissions, and direct labor costs. These costs generally increase as production grows and decrease when production decreases.

Managing variable costs is vital to maintaining competitiveness and profitability. A major key challenge is balancing the production and services offered with the associated variable costs, optimizing the relationship between costs and revenues.

Why business cost analysis is important

Business cost analysis, comprising both fixed and variable costs, is crucial in gauging the financial health of a business.

Understanding how these costs affect the selling price of products or services and operational efficiency can help companies make informed decisions concerning pricing strategies, production volumes, and cost-reduction methods.

Here, tools such as Twproject become critical.

They provide a clear and in-depth picture of the various costs incurred in a project, enabling managers to make evidence-based decisions and plan more effective cost-reduction strategies.

In the next section, we will explore how Twproject specifically streamlines the management and monitoring of these costs, contributing to more efficient and focused financial management.

Monitoring project costs

The first step in cutting business costs is to monitor project costs thoroughly.

For example, by using budgeting and cost planning, you can ensure that projects are funded appropriately and that there are no cost surprises.

Cost tracking allows you to pinpoint any deviations between budgeted and actual costs so that you can take corrective action.

Cost analysis allows you to identify areas where costs can be reduced, such as by lowering resource, material, or service costs.

 

cost management twproject

Managing business costs with Twproject

Twproject stands out as a key tool in business cost management, providing innovative and customizable solutions to address financial challenges in project management.

Its flexibility to adapt to fixed and variable costs makes it a versatile and indispensable tool for managers aiming to optimize the financial management of their projects.

 

  • Project budgeting and cost control: Twproject offers detailed project budget management, helping managers set and monitor budgets for every project stage. This functionality is critical to ensure that costs are always aligned with forecasts and to prevent budget overshoots.
  • Budget Overflow and Underflow: Twproject’s BUDGET_OVERFLOW_FORBIDDEN feature prevents inputting costs that exceed the allotted budget.
  • This check helps prevent budget overshoots and ensures that each project sub-phase meets the higher phase’s budget. Likewise, the underflow control prevents budget reductions below estimated or incurred costs.
  • Assisted financial planning: Twproject helps project managers input estimates consistent with their available budget, facilitating more accurate and realistic financial planning.

Twproject does not just help in budget management but also offers advanced tools for cost control at all stages of the project:

  • Hourly resource cost management: The USE_REAL_RESOURCE_COST feature helps differentiate the internal cost of resources from the value billed to customers. This is critical for proper evaluation of direct and indirect costs and accurate billing of services to customers.
  • Real-time cost monitoring: Twproject allows access to work logs and updated estimates, providing a clear and up-to-date view of actual and estimated project costs.
  • Worklog control and cost center management: the WORKLOG_OVERFLOW_FORBIDDEN feature prevents the logging of over-estimated labor hours, ensuring that the work performed is always aligned with budget and forecast. Moreover, advanced cost center management simplifies allocating and tracking costs across different departments or projects.

Strategic benefits of using Twproject for enterprise cost management

Using Twproject in business cost management offers many strategic advantages:

  • Greater transparency: Twproject provides a thorough and transparent overview of costs, helping managers pinpoint potential waste areas and savings opportunities.
  • Data-driven decisions: with accurate and up-to-date data, managers can make informed decisions to optimize costs and improve operational efficiency.
  • Flexibility and customization: Twproject‘s flexibility in adapting to different projects and costs makes it a versatile tool suitable for a wide range of business needs.

Twproject is a must-have project management software for any project manager who wants to optimize business cost management.

 

 

Keep costs under control with Twproject

 

Expense report: how to manage it in complex projects

Expense report management is one of companies’ most sensitive and tricky tasks, especially for large projects.

The expense report is a core document that accounts for costs incurred by an employee during a trip or as part of a specific project.

Managing it can be challenging due to the variety of expenses involved and the complexity of the reporting process.

Let’s take a look at how to manage the expense report in complex projects.

The perfect expense report

Expense report management is critical for many companies, and having a clear and comprehensive expense report is fundamental to ensuring accurate and timely reporting.

A “perfect” expense report should be transparent, detailed and comply with current regulations.

The current regulation on expense reports in Italy is Ministerial Decree 55/2014, which defines the requirements that expense reports must meet to be valid for tax filing purposes.

Here is what a perfect expense report should include:

Personal data

The basic information of the employee who sustained the expenses. They should be clear and accurate to avoid possible misunderstandings or errors. They include:

    • Full Name: Complete identification of the employee.
    • Company Name: The legal name of the business or body for which the employee works. It is fundamental to ensure that the expense report is associated with the proper organization, especially in large companies or groups having several companies.

Expense list

A comprehensive list of expenses is vital to understanding the nature and extent of costs incurred:

  • Detailed: Each expense should be described in detail, specifying, for example, whether it is a business dinner, a train ticket, or an overnight stay in a hotel.
  • Broken by category: Expenses should be split into categories, such as travel, food, accommodation, etc. This helps to understand the nature of expenses quickly and facilitates their approval and accounting.

Date and place

These details are key to putting expenses in context:

    • Period: Specifying the dates when the expenses were incurred helps to understand the context and verify their relevance.
    • Context: The place or event at which the expenses were sustained (e.g., a business conference in Milan or a client meeting in Rome) provides additional details about the nature of the expenses.

Reimbursement of expenses incurred

This section of the expense report should make it clear how and when the employee will be reimbursed:

  • Method of reimbursement: Whether by wire transfer, check or other means, it is key to specify how the employee will receive their reimbursement.
  • Refund times: Clearly state when the employee can expect to get reimbursed, for example, within 30 days of submitting the expense report.

Managing expense reports in complex projects

Managing expense reports in a complex project environment can be a significant challenge due to the variety of expenses and the reporting process’s complexity.

Some of the challenges and critical issues that can arise in managing expense reports in complex projects include:

Variety of expenses

In large projects, expenses can come from multiple sources and for different reasons:

    • Travel and transfers: Business travel, both domestic and international, may include expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, and other related expenses.
    • Procurement of goods and services: This may include software purchases, equipment, external consulting, and more.
    • Events and trainings: Attending or hosting events, seminars or training courses may incur significant costs.
    • Unexpected expenses: In any project, unexpected expenses may emerge during the course of the project and must be properly documented and justified.

Complexity of the reporting process

Reporting expenses in complex projects can be a tricky process:

    • Expense approval: Any expense might require approval from different hierarchical levels or departments, such as finance or management.
    • Verification and monitoring: Expenses must be reviewed to ensure they are legitimate, relevant to the project, and in compliance with company policies.
    • Reporting: All expenses must be documented appropriately, with receipts, invoices, and other evidence justifying the amount spent.
    • Reimbursement: Once approved, expenses must be reimbursed timely, per the procedures and timeframes established by the company.

Twproject: a one-stop solution for managing expense reports

nota spese

In an age where digitization and automation are revolutionizing how businesses work, expense report management is no exception.

Manual expense management, relying on spreadsheets and folders full of receipts, has become obsolete and ineffective, especially in large businesses or complex projects.

Twproject stands out as a state-of-the-art solution, offering many features that make it a precious ally for businesses.

Here is a detailed analysis of its key features:

  • Multi-currency management: In an international context, companies must often manage expenses in different currencies. Twproject can manage expense reports in various currencies, ensuring accurate and up-to-date conversions and making reporting and approving costs incurred in foreign currencies easier.
  • Recurring and one-time expenses: Every company has recurring payments, such as subscriptions, but also one-time costs, such as travel expenses. Twproject allows both types to be managed effectively, enabling clear categorization and detailed tracking.
  • Personal expenses: An employee may incur an expense that does not fall under the company’s reimbursable items. Twproject also offers the option to record these expenses, ensuring a clear distinction between reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses, thereby providing transparency and clarity in the reporting process.
  • Efficiency and accuracy: Managing expense reports with Twproject significantly reduces the time spent filling out, approving, and reimbursing expenses. It also minimizes the risk of human error, ensuring more accurate reporting.
  • Allocation to cost center: Whenever an expense report is inserted, it can be automatically associated with a specific cost center. This ensures that each expense is correctly recorded and allocated to the right project or department.
  • Accessibility and traceability: Expense information will become accessible in real-time from any device, allowing better tracking of expenses and greater transparency in the process.

Bottom line, Twproject is not just a project management tool but also a comprehensive solution for managing expense reports.

Its versatility and advanced features make it a great option for companies looking for an effective and reliable way to manage expenses.

Keep costs under control with Twproject

 

The perfect expense report

Expense report management is critical for many companies, and having a clear and comprehensive expense report is fundamental to ensuring accurate and timely reporting.

A “perfect” expense report should be transparent, detailed and comply with current regulations.

The current regulation on expense reports in Italy is Ministerial Decree 55/2014, which defines the requirements that expense reports must meet to be valid for tax filing purposes.

Here is what a perfect expense report should include:

Personal data

The basic information of the employee who sustained the expenses. They should be clear and accurate to avoid possible misunderstandings or errors. They include:

    • Full Name: Complete identification of the employee.
    • Company Name: The legal name of the business or body for which the employee works. It is fundamental to ensure that the expense report is associated with the proper organization, especially in large companies or groups having several companies.

Expense list

A comprehensive list of expenses is vital to understanding the nature and extent of costs incurred:

  • Detailed: Each expense should be described in detail, specifying, for example, whether it is a business dinner, a train ticket, or an overnight stay in a hotel.
  • Broken by category: Expenses should be split into categories, such as travel, food, accommodation, etc. This helps to understand the nature of expenses quickly and facilitates their approval and accounting.

Date and place

These details are key to putting expenses in context:

    • Period: Specifying the dates when the expenses were incurred helps to understand the context and verify their relevance.
    • Context: The place or event at which the expenses were sustained (e.g., a business conference in Milan or a client meeting in Rome) provides additional details about the nature of the expenses.

Reimbursement of expenses incurred

This section of the expense report should make it clear how and when the employee will be reimbursed:

  • Method of reimbursement: Whether by wire transfer, check or other means, it is key to specify how the employee will receive their reimbursement.
  • Refund times: Clearly state when the employee can expect to get reimbursed, for example, within 30 days of submitting the expense report.

Managing expense reports in complex projects

Managing expense reports in a complex project environment can be a significant challenge due to the variety of expenses and the reporting process’s complexity.

Some of the challenges and critical issues that can arise in managing expense reports in complex projects include:

Variety of expenses

In large projects, expenses can come from multiple sources and for different reasons:

    • Travel and transfers: Business travel, both domestic and international, may include expenses for transportation, accommodation, food, and other related expenses.
    • Procurement of goods and services: This may include software purchases, equipment, external consulting, and more.
    • Events and trainings: Attending or hosting events, seminars or training courses may incur significant costs.
    • Unexpected expenses: In any project, unexpected expenses may emerge during the course of the project and must be properly documented and justified.

Complexity of the reporting process

Reporting expenses in complex projects can be a tricky process:

    • Expense approval: Any expense might require approval from different hierarchical levels or departments, such as finance or management.
    • Verification and monitoring: Expenses must be reviewed to ensure they are legitimate, relevant to the project, and in compliance with company policies.
    • Reporting: All expenses must be documented appropriately, with receipts, invoices, and other evidence justifying the amount spent.
    • Reimbursement: Once approved, expenses must be reimbursed timely, per the procedures and timeframes established by the company.

Twproject: a one-stop solution for managing expense reports

nota spese

In an age where digitization and automation are revolutionizing how businesses work, expense report management is no exception.

Manual expense management, relying on spreadsheets and folders full of receipts, has become obsolete and ineffective, especially in large businesses or complex projects.

Twproject stands out as a state-of-the-art solution, offering many features that make it a precious ally for businesses.

Here is a detailed analysis of its key features:

  • Multi-currency management: In an international context, companies must often manage expenses in different currencies. Twproject can manage expense reports in various currencies, ensuring accurate and up-to-date conversions and making reporting and approving costs incurred in foreign currencies easier.
  • Recurring and one-time expenses: Every company has recurring payments, such as subscriptions, but also one-time costs, such as travel expenses. Twproject allows both types to be managed effectively, enabling clear categorization and detailed tracking.
  • Personal expenses: An employee may incur an expense that does not fall under the company’s reimbursable items. Twproject also offers the option to record these expenses, ensuring a clear distinction between reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses, thereby providing transparency and clarity in the reporting process.
  • Efficiency and accuracy: Managing expense reports with Twproject significantly reduces the time spent filling out, approving, and reimbursing expenses. It also minimizes the risk of human error, ensuring more accurate reporting.
  • Allocation to cost center: Whenever an expense report is inserted, it can be automatically associated with a specific cost center. This ensures that each expense is correctly recorded and allocated to the right project or department.
  • Accessibility and traceability: Expense information will become accessible in real-time from any device, allowing better tracking of expenses and greater transparency in the process.

Bottom line, Twproject is not just a project management tool but also a comprehensive solution for managing expense reports.

Its versatility and advanced features make it a great option for companies looking for an effective and reliable way to manage expenses.

Keep costs under control with Twproject

 

How to use the cost center to simplify large projects

The cost center is a valuable tool for simplifying the financial management of projects.

Accurate and detailed cost management is critical to ensure sustainability and growth in any company. Elements such as raw material, unit cost, and other economic factors are essential to the success of any business.

But how can all these elements be successfully managed?

The answer lies in the strategic use of cost centers, which provide comprehensive control over every financial aspect of your business.

Let’s examine how the cost center can help you simplify cost management for large projects.

What is a cost center?

A cost center is a department within a company that is in charge of certain costs.

Each single cost center is responsible for the costs involved in manufacturing products or providing services. It can be a production line, a department, or a subsidiary.

The cost center allows information to be collected regarding the costs of all project activities and components. This information can be used to:

  • Getting an overview of project costs
  • Identify cost areas where improvements can be made
  • Monitor cost trends over time

The various cost centers within a company can be associated with different products or services. Each product or service may have different related costs, which can be monitored and analyzed separately.

 

Why create a cost center map

Creating a cost center map is critical. The map helps to understand where costs occur and how they are distributed within the company.

Twproject is project management software that can streamline this process. It allows specific costs to be assigned to each cost center, providing in-depth insight into the allocation of costs within the company.

 

Notably, Twproject makes it possible to create a cost center map tailored to the company’s specific needs and defines cost centers based on the activities carried out by the company, products or services offered, or other criteria.

It also assigns costs to each cost center accurately and efficiently.

Information about costs provided by Twproject can be used for many different purposes, including:

  • Calculating the cost of products or services
  • Cost analysis
  • Cost management
  • Improving efficiency and productivity

 Project managers can easily monitor direct and indirect costs, production time, and other crucial aspects. Twproject allows assigning and tracking costs for each project, significantly simplifying cost management and analysis, providing greater efficiency and control.

It offers a clear, detailed, and up-to-date view of costs incurred, helping companies optimize resources and improve efficiency.

6 tips on how to simplify large projects with the cost center

Here is a guide on using the cost center to streamline large tasks while ensuring efficiency and financial control.

1. Get a cost management software

Begin by getting a cost management software such as Twproject. This tool centralizes and automates cost center management, allowing you to monitor costs in real-time, assign specific budgets, and generate detailed reports on a one-stop platform. This will save you time and reduce the risk of human error.

2. Clearly define your cost centers

A clear definition of each cost center within the project is key. This step eliminates confusion, makes communication with your team, and ensures that everyone is on the same page about the project’s cost structure.

3. Assign a specific budget

Assigning a specific budget to each cost center also prevents overshoots and ensures that each cost center has the financial resources it needs to operate efficiently.

This step is crucial for maintaining financial control of the project and preventing unexpected expenses.

cost management

4. Monitor costs regularly

Regularly monitoring actual costs compared to projected costs for each cost center allows you to spot any discrepancies quickly and make timely corrections. This practice ensures that the project remains within budget and time constraints.

5. Build your team

Make sure your team is properly trained on effective cost center management. An informed team is invaluable for cost control and effective project management.

6. Perform regular reviews

Don’t forget to regularly review your cost centers to ensure they stay aligned with project objectives. This allows you to make adjustments based on project needs, ensuring that cost centers are always optimized.

By implementing these steps, cost center management will become a more seamless and manageable process, thus contributing significantly to the success of your large project.

By streamlining internal project management via Twproject, we were able to implement a very strong and effective cost control on the resources directly involved in account-based projects.

Managing cost centers with Twproject

Recently, we released a new Twproject version with improved cost center management features.

Here’s an overview of its new features:

  • Cost center propagation

This feature allows you to change the cost center of a task or resource and automatically propagate the change to all subordinate subtasks or resources. This way, you will not have to update each item manually.

For example, if you change a project’s cost center, all project tasks and resources will automatically be updated with the new cost center. However, if a task or resource has a different cost center from the project, it will remain unaffected.

 

  • Choosing the type of cost center

Before, cost centers were used for both projects and resources. This new feature allows you to manage cost centers for projects and resources separately. This allows you to choose whether to use cost centers for projects, resources, or both and have a clearer and more organized view of your data.

 

  • Cost center legacy

This feature automatically allows project add-on costs to inherit the cost center from their phase. This way, you can skip manually editing the cost centers for each add-on cost.

For example, if an additional cost is related to a project phase, the cost center of that extra cost will automatically inherit the phase’s cost center.

In short, these new features allow you to:

  • Save time since you won’t have to update cost centers manually;
  • Improve accuracy, preventing potential errors;
  • Have a more transparent and structured overview of your data.

Ultimately, the cost center is a powerful tool for streamlining the financial management of large projects. Properly using the cost center can improve cost transparency and efficiency, reduce risk, and improve the odds of achieving project success.

Remember, sound cost control is the foundation of successful project implementation.

 

Keep costs under control with Twproject

 

How to make a project budget

How can I create a budget for a project if I have no historical basis on which to orient myself?

When starting a project, it is difficult to know how much it will cost.

If we are dealing with a repetitive project, we will probably have a history on which to base ourselves.

In this case it may be easier to draw up a project budget, but different is the case when it comes to a new project.

Project managers are required to account for their budget estimates.

Given the great uncertainty that usually prevails in the initial phase of a project, this can be one of the major challenges of a project manager.

The ability to create an accurate budget is an essential skill for a project manager.

It can be a daunting task, especially for new project managers; however, once the first budget is created, you will have a first reference system.

From then on, it will be easier to manage this aspect for future projects.

The approaches to drafting a budget

There are two main approaches that can be adopted when drawing up a budget:

  • Top-down approach: decide how much the project will cost in total and divide the amount between the various phases of work;
  • Bottom-up approach: calculate the individual work steps, starting from the lowest level, then adding sum up their cost and estimate the total cost of the project.

Both approaches, like all things, have their advantages and disadvantages.

Let’s try to evaluate them together.

How to make a project budget: The top-down approach

The top-down approach, literally from top to bottom, is more than simply a guess of the total amount on which to base the whole project.

In fact, it is necessary to explain how the work will be carried out and structured within the amount of budget allocated for each phase of the project.

One should ask oneself if the balance sheet seems realistic on the basis of the experience of past projects, if there are any.

The advantage of the top-down budgeting approach is that it focuses on achieving the project within the allocated budget and leads to efficiency and reduction of costly practices.

A disadvantage is that it presupposes that the person who creates the budget has sufficient knowledge and skills to make a reasonable cost estimate.

If this is not the case, a conflict may occur when a team member is assigned an unrealistic and insufficient budget to complete his work phase.
In fact, there is the risk that deliberately low budgets are created with the – false – belief that this will encourage cost savings and waste elimination.

How to make a project budget: the bottom-up approach

In the second approach, bottom-up, literally from bottom to top, the project budget is built starting from the individual work stages, from the lowest level, and adding them up until reaching the total cost of the project.

The team is often involved in identifying the tasks and activities needed to complete the project and to estimate the various costs.

The advantage of the bottom-up budgeting approach is its accuracy, assuming that we have not forgotten any activity, and consequently its cost.

It is good for team morale because the project manager involves the team in budgeting.

For this reason, this approach is sometimes called participatory budget.

A disadvantage of the bottom-up approach is the difficulty of obtaining a complete list of activities and tasks necessary to complete the project, especially if it is something new, or if we are dealing with a young and / or inexperienced team.

In fact, the risk in starting new projects or in the involvement of junior resources, may be that of not contemplating entire phases of activity and process.

This inevitably leads to totally unleashing not only the costs, but also the time required to complete the project.

The different types of cost in creating the budget

In creating the budget the Project Manager must take into account different factors and above all the different types of costs.

There are basically two types of costs that affect project managers when they create a budget:

  • Direct costs
  • And indirect costs.

The former are uniquely attributed to the project and can be easily definied, such as: the cost of personnel, equipment, travel, consultants, ecc.

Indirect costs, on the other hand, are related to expense items loaded simultaneously on more than one project. Only part of their total cost is charged to a single project.

For example: telephone bills, office rent, company insurance, office equipment, etc.

How to calculate these costs?

For example, if the project will take 6 weeks and the internet bill is € 50 per month, the total cost of the project will be € 75.

To get an idea of the other costs, you can take a look at the previous year.

It will be necessary to see what has been spent on the whole and then divide it by 52 (the number of weeks in the year) to obtain an average weekly cost.

This can be valid for an indirect cost such as that of the equipment.

How to make a project budget: the management reserve

A management reserve or contingency reserve is usually added to projects and usually corresponds to a percentage of the total cost and time of the project.

This fund is used when events related to unexpected costs occur during the project.

The management reserve should be adjusted according to the level of risk identified for the project.

Clearly, the more risky the project is, the greater the management reserve will have to be, and viceversa.

A routine project, already carried out several times, will have a lower management reserve than a totally new project.

The budget will therefore be made up of direct costs, indirect costs and the amount that serves as a management reserve.

 How to make a project budget

How to make a project budget: ineligible costs

There are also costs that are generally not eligible in a project and therefore can not be included in the budget.

In general we can identify them in the following:

  • Non-accountable costs, such as voluntary work;
  • Capital investment costs;
  • Financial charges;
  • Passive interests;
  • Losses caused by the currency exchange, among other things not quantifiable given the volatility;
  • VAT in the case it is a recoverable cost;
  • Costs covered by EU funding or by another type of state funding;
  • Sanctions.

Manage budget changes

Projects rarely go according to plan in every detail.

It is therefore necessary that the project manager is able to identify when costs vary from budget and manage these changes.

A project manager must regularly compare the amount of money spent with the amount provided and report this information to the managers, the company president and the stakeholders.

It is therefore necessary to establish a method on how these progress will be measured and reported.

A widely used method for medium and high complexity projects is the earned value method.

This is a method of periodic comparison of the estimated costs – budget value – with the actual costs during the project – actual value.

The earned value method can provide information not only with regard to cost variances, but also with regard to time deviations, ie if the project is on time or not.

A simple way to evaluate the progress of the project is to take two values:

  • Direct cost percentages pertaining to an activity;
  • Sum of already worked hours on the activity and the forecast of the hours until the end of the project.

The progress of the activity will therefore result from the product between these two indicators. If it less than 1, it means that we are facing a project delay.

At the end of a project, it will be necessary to evaluate if a budget deviation has taken place and what were the reasons that caused it.

Regardless of the approach a project manager chooses to make the budget, it is essential to take the time to monitor it throughout the whole project.

In fact, for project management, cost monitoring is a strategic aspect.

For this reason in Twproject, we have developed the functionalities able to insert and manage both the costs generated by the work (direct costs) and the additional costs (indirect costs), reserving, of course, such access only to the Project Managers.

The importance of monitoring and managing a budget is crucial! Here is a small example of the support that TWproject can give you.

how to make a project budget

In this example (an integral part of the previous screen) your forecast margin (calculated from budget and planned costs) is 850.

This is the first estimate you’ve made, and it’s probably very close to what you told your client.

Then, in a second phase, you have refined your estimate: the second line represents how it is going in relation to what is planned.

The last line is the “real” situation, you have a budget of 2500, and you have spent 1285. Great! There is a margin of 1215, better than expected!

By streamlining internal project management via Twproject, Temera was able to implement a very strong and effective cost control on the resources directly involved in account-based projects, and to include and represent costs and resources from other services and systems in the same tool

Which is the best tool for making a project budget?

Therefore, building, customizing and monitoring the budget are fundamental aspects for a winning project!

Budget management is of the main tasks of the project manager, who also has many other activities to carry out during the project life cycle.

The support of a project management software can prove to be a very effective choice, not so much to eliminate the risk of cost overruns, but to help keep them under control.

A tool like Twproject is developed to meet the supervisory needs of the Project Manager and of those in the company who deal with cost management.

See how useful it is to use Twproject to manage your costs:

If you want to start testing the features of our software today, to create an accurate project budget, try the demo version: it’s free and complete with all the useful and necessary features.

What are the biggest difficulties you have experienced while creating a budget?

What strategy did you use?

Leave us a comment and share your experience with us.

Start now to create an accurate project budget

Revenue management with Twproject: an excellent solution

By reading this article, you will discover how advantageous revenue management with Twproject is, and some tricks to put it into practice in the best possible way.

The detailed and constant analysis of a company’s financial flows is the main tool for not making losses, and in general for not running into unpleasant events that could easily degenerate over time.

But why is it so important to schedule periodic checks of these flows?

Because in order to manage a company properly, it is often necessary to play in advance, predict the moves and have clear forecasts of future trends.

To do this, it is useful to know in detail the economic potential of the ongoing projects, so as to make the right investments and not grope in the dark.

To this end, it is essential to have a tool that aggregates costs and revenues, and this is where the management of these factors with Twproject comes into play.

We have recently seen how easy it is to keep the costs of your projects under control.

Now it is time to focus on revenue posting. Doing it with Twproject is really fast and easy.

Estimated and actual values

What distinguishes the cash flow analysis in Twproject is the possibility of always differentiating between estimated and real flows.

This applies to both costs and revenues.

In fact, as in the cost sheet, also for revenue management with Twproject you can add all the expected revenue streams, thus obtaining a probable trend of this crucial aspect.

The method

First, enter all the revenues you think you will get, with an expected date.

Later you will enter the actual revenues and if you want you can also attach the billing document.

Twproject also offers you the possibility of quickly converting a forecast into an actual revenue with a simple click if the value and date have been respected. This will save you a lot of time!

Furthermore, revenues can be registered at each node of the project tree and the total will be reported in the main node under the “total on children” item.

Adding real incomes

The progress diagram (cash flow)

As you enter your data, you will see the financial (or cash) flow of your project compose with a linear diagram that aggregates income and expenses.

In addition, here you will also find the graph relating specifically to the revenue trend and which shows the gap between real and estimated values.

RRemember to always include dates so your diagrams are as accurate as possible!

And remember that the cash flow is visible in each node of the project’s tree so you will not only have a general trend of the project but also a specific detail phase by phase, depending on how you want to track the data.

As you can see, also in this case Twproject offers you the solution to leave all spreadsheets behind and to manage all aspects related to financial performance in a single platform.

An advantage in many respects

Thanks to project graphs X-BRAIN now keeps track of actual costs and revenues against what was budgeted.

1. The importance of forecasting in the revenue management with Twproject

Currently, if you use any electronic invoicing software it is normal to have invoices already managed and saved online, but there are no tools that allow you to differentiate between expected and actual revenues and above all that give you this information relating to a specific project.

This will allow you to truly identify those projects that do not meet the billing plan or whose income does not exceed the expenses.

This is crucial for analyzing deviations from the project baseline and refining techniques to make more accurate forecasts.

2. Data transferability

Consequently, it is clear that this is also an excellent tool for refining business strategies and using the real data of a project even on similar projects to be programmed for the future.

Having the situation of your revenues in real time will not only help you stay within budget during construction but will also be useful when you want to estimate the budget for new projects.

3. Sharing of responsibility

You will be able to choose who and to what level of depth will be able to access data on financial flows, making the monitoring of this aspect a team effort.

By sharing the data with your team, you will be able to give responsibilities to those directly involved, whether they are project leaders or in charge of single phases, or also decide to leave this aspect to well-defined figures.

Twproject security is extremely refined and you can define who will have the opportunity to interact with project costs and revenues.

Do not waste any more precious time and take a free trial to experience how convenient it is to monitor your revenue with Twproject.

If you like, share your experience with us and let us know what you think.

Manage your flows from A to Z with Twproject

Cost estimating in project management

What cannot be missing in a healthy project management is cost estimation, an essential element for the success of a project, although often unjustly neglected.

A poorly conceived budget leads to misallocation of resources, unrealistic expectations, and, eventually, failure.

Also, the very nature of a project carries risks, which lead to unexpected costs and management issues.

SIt is therefore clear that cost estimation in project management is an arduous task, and yet an interesting challenge to engage in.

So let’s see what it is and some techniques to simplify it.

What is cost estimation in project management?

In project management, cost estimation forecasts the financial resources needed to complete a project within a given scope.

Early estimates are often used in the first planning phase and can determine whether or not a project will move forward.

After a project has been approved, a more detailed cost estimate becomes essential for budgeting to allocate various resources over the lifecycle appropriately.

A complete cost estimate should include both direct and indirect costs.

Getting a budget that minimizes costs while maximizing project quality and scope can be challenging.

And yet it is important to do this exactly, and here we come to you with some techniques to employ.

4 project cost estimation techniques

costs estimating in projects

The exact way project managers do a cost estimate depends on different factors.

Some businesses, for example, require that all projects be budgeted based on specific policies, while others may rely on the project manager’s experience.

Here are four of the most common cost estimating techniques in project management:

1. Analogous estimating

Through an analogous estimating technique, a project manager estimates the expected project costs based on the known costs associated with a similar project that has already been completed in the past.

This estimating method involves a mix of historical data and expert opinions from professionals working on the project.

As no two projects are identical, analogous estimating has some limitations.

This technique is often used in the early stages of project planning, when a rough estimate may be enough.

Alternatively, analogous estimating can be used when there is not enough detailed information about the current project.

2. Parametric estimating

The parametric estimating technique uses historical data and statistical modeling to attribute a monetary value to specific project resources.

It is a significantly more accurate method than the analogous estimation seen above, but it requires more early data to estimate costs accurately.

This technique is often used in the construction and building industry.

One example might be: an experienced construction manager may know that, on average, the square meter of a new building costs a given amount.

Having this average cost known, as well as the error margin and square footage of the new project, parametric estimating will help identify a relatively certain budget.

Please note, however, that in this case, the data source must be accurate; otherwise, the entire estimation would be incorrect.

3. Bottom-up estimating

In bottom-up estimating, a larger project is split into several smaller pieces of work.

Then, the project manager estimates costs for each of these smaller work packages individually.

For example, if a project involves work that will be divided among multiple departments within an organization, then costs might be split by department.

Once all costs have been estimated, they are counted and summed into a single larger cost estimate for the project as a whole.

Since bottom-up estimating allows a project manager to examine each activity within a project in more detail, this technique generally provides for a very accurate estimating process.

4. Three-points estimating

In the three-points estimating, based on the experiences of similar past projects, three separate estimates are defined for those costs associated with a project:

  • An “optimistic” estimate (a), where work is ideally carried out by spending funds as efficiently as possible;
  • A “pessimistic” estimate (b), which is the worst scenario, where funds are spent, and work is done in the absolute least efficient way;
  • The “most likely” scenario (m), which generally lies somewhere in the middle and is the most realistic estimate.

From these three numbers, through exact formulas, the weighted average and standard deviation are calculated:

E = (a + 4m + b) / 6

DS = (b – a) / 6

Standard deviation is used to estimate probability.

This technique, when employed correctly, provides a very accurate estimate and, thus, successful cost planning.

It is therefore evident, after these considerations, how cost estimation is a key element in project management.

With Twproject we can manage and have control over all our projects including their budgeted costs vs. realized final costs

Not only is budgeting considered when deciding whether or not a project should be undertaken, but it must also be regularly monitored so that work can be successful.

When estimating and monitoring project costs, it is crucial to use good tools to calculate a more accurate project budget.

Twproject allows you to keep track of a project’s costs through its multiple features, providing essential support to a project manager’s work.

Find out how Twproject’s functions allow you to optimally manage your project costs

Measure costs and benefits of a project with Twproject.