Getting Started with Cost Management

Getting Started for Administrators

Administrators play a key role in setting up and maintaining Cost Management. Here are the initial steps:

• Invite Project Administrators: Account administrators need to invite one or more project administrators to a project.

  Note: Docs must be activated before Cost Management.

• Set Up New Projects: Project administrators are responsible for getting new projects up and running with Cost Management.

  1. Set up a new project.
  2. Add project members. A project administrator needs to activate Cost Management for other project members.
  3. Set up budget code segments.
  4. Create a budget.

Getting Started for Project Members

Once invited by the project administrator, project members can start using Cost Management. The initial steps include:

• Learn the Basics: Familiarize yourself with the tool and its interface in a Cost Management Video Course.
• Explore Functionalities: Navigate through the various features available to manage costs effectively.

Possible Workflows with Cost Management

See the basic financial workflow within Cost Management and learn how those functionalities can streamline your processes.

Here are examples of workflows that can be used throughout a project. See the Collaborate in Cost Management article to learn more how to work with owners and suppliers in Cost Management.

Cost and Change Management Workflow

Use this workflow to control cost and confirm that all changes are accounted for and managed effectively. Maintain positive cash flow, reduce risk, and maximize profit. Understanding the workflow is critical for efficient cost and change management. Key steps include:

• Document Templates: Prepare document templates for contracts, payment applications, and change orders.
• Financial Markup Formula: Set up financial markup formulas for change orders.
• Collaboration: Learn how to set up Cost Management to collaborate in Cost Management.
• Integration: Integrate Cost Management with other apps.

Payment Application Workflow

Use this workflow to manage incremental pay applications effectively, automate tasks, and gain a real-time view of the project’s financial health. The payment application workflow involves several key steps:

• Create Contracts: Set up contracts within the system.
• Payment Overview: Understand how payments work in Cost Management.
• Forecast Functionalities: Use forecast functionalities to set up performance tracking or cash flow.

Cost Management Settings

Customize Cost Management settings to suit your company's needs. This includes:

• Setting Up Cost Management: Follow the Set Up Cost Management group of articles for detailed instructions.
• Customizing Software: Tailor the software to fit your specific requirements.

Cost Management Terminology

Familiarize yourself with the terminology used in Cost Management. See the Terminology in Cost Management article for detailed definitions.

Connected with Cost Management

There are multiple tools within Autodesk Build that can be connected with Cost Management's capabilities. For example, you can:

• Set up account-level features and standards within Project Admin and Account Admin.
• Export cross-project budget reports in the Reports tool within Autodesk Build.
• Use the prediction and analytics capabilities in Insight.
• Create the necessary documents at the project level within Docs.

More Resources

To further assist you in your Cost Management journey, we have compiled a list of valuable resources:

• Cost Management Video Course
• Cost Management Workflow Guide