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Mainspring's Pulse™ dashboard system is uniquely yours. How does that happen?

Each builder has unique key data values in their system we use to make your Pulse™ dashboards your own.

Calibrate your Company's Pulse™

Congratulations on choosing to manage your operations with Pulse™ by The Mainspring Group. You have just selected a way to use your current operational systems and data to improve your tomorrow. Step 1 is complete.

The goal of Pulse™ is to provide you specific answers to improve your profit and operations. Gone are the days of you needing to digest reams of reports, grids of data, and hours of computation. Our platform not only shows you what is out of range, but also what you need to do to bring it back to healthy business.

At Mainspring, we have created a visual system for you to rapidly realize the benefits of your responses. Step 2 is as easy to complete as providing us a few pieces of your existing data to align your Pulse™ platform. Each data field is necessary in order to bring life to the hands of the Pulse™.

We understand your systems and processes will change over time. Any of these variables are able to be updated whenever you want. Please allow us (3) business days to complete the integration of your variables into your Pulse™. We will notify you when complete.

Each variable item listed below can be found in your current MarkSystems interface or readily answered by your own team. If you have any questions, please let your Mainspring Assistant know.

Company Variables

Header Title - (Your Organization Name)     *Required Value

The Header Title is used at the top of each dashboard and throughout the system.  The name is typically the name of your organization identified by MarkSystems (3) character data identifier assigned to you. 

Company Logo - (url)     *Required Value

Your company logo graphic is used at the top of some dashboards that are typically emailed to you.  Please furnish a public URL to a company graphic image.  The optimum size is 150 pixels x 100 pixels.  Your marketing team most likely has this readily available.

Here is an example: https://www.ecisolutions.com/images/favicons/favicon-128.png

Default to a single Company display? (Y or N) - If Y, specify either a single company code or an Array as Preferred Company Code(s) - (???)

Y- You may use the Company element of MarkSystems to manage numerous subsidiary companies but only wish to view a few specific companies or a single Company for your Pulse™ dashboards. If so, specify the Company Code(s) you want to be included.

N - If you choose to not limit Pulse™ to a single MarkSystems Company, you will be presented with filters throughout your Pulse™ to allow you to see all of your Companies or select specific ones. If you select "N" here you may still specify a preferred company that you wish to be automatically selected when some dashboards are loaded.  Your other companies will still be listed to be chosen to view.

The default is 'N' if you do not specify a value.

Region Code - (???)

A single MarkSystem tenant may choose to purchase multiple Pulse™ subscriptions if they desire a different set of VPMs for seperate Regions.  If so, the value expected here would the Region Code specified in MarkSystems.

Each Region would have it own specific users with their own permissions and scheduled emails. 

Additionally, you may have VPMs set up for the parentwithout specifying a Region Code.  Any users logged in to the parent would be able to access all Regions.

Scheduling Variables

Production Schedule Start Activity Code(s) - (???, ???)    *Required Value

This is the Activity Code(s) in your MarkSystems Scheduling system you recognize as the initial on-site function. You may consider clearing, stakeout, or foundation excavation date as your start of construction. This date is used in the Pulse™ to realize the activity that you begin incurring hard costs on the unit, the carrying cost on Specs and Models, and the duration of field production. 

Note that this is also the activity the signals the end of the PreConstruction or soft cycle. It must be flagged in your Master Schedule Activities as a Milestone.  If you designate multiple Start Activity codes, there must be a single designated code in a single unit schedule.

Spec Home Ready Activity Code - (???)    *Required Value

This Activity Code is the last Activity that gets completed in the Schedule for Spec Units. This activity often is just prior to the Certificate of Occupancy, Homeowner Orientation, or some other point you consider Spec home construction complete until it is sold. Pulse™ uses this activity to indicate Spec Inventory Aging, Daily Carry Cost, and Total Carry Cost since Ready. You will have the ability to select an interest rate allowing a what-if analysis for optimal time to carry the Specs.

Production Finish Activity Code(s) - (???,???)    *Required Value

This is the Activity Code(s) in your MarkSystems Scheduling system you recognize as the completion of on-site production. This is typically the last activity preceding any post-closing warranty period. This date is used in the Pulse™ to realize the duration of field production. This may, or may not be the same as your Settlement Date.

These must be flagged in your Master Schedule Activities as a Milestone.  If you designate multiple Finish Activity codes, there must be a single designated code in a single unit schedule.

Settlement Activity Code - (???)    *Required Value

This Activity Code may be the same as the Schedule Finish Activity Code above if you do not include or use a specific Settlement Activity.

Expected Cost Activity Code Exclusion - (???)

Most builders utilize a default Activity Code for VPOs. The Activity Code here will be excluded from Expected Cost Calculations.

Construction Production Schedule Days - (###)    *Required Value

How many calendar days are included in your average unit cycle time?  This would be the typical number of days your Schedule Start Activity Code to your Schedule Finish Activity Code. This also sets the default window of time used for your Cash Flow dashboard.

Include Schedule Hold? - (Y/N)    *Required Value

Should your units that you have flagged to hold the schedule be included in your production count?  This flag impacts what is listed in these dashboards:

  • Scheduling - Current Production
  • Scheduling - Past 12 Months

If you to set this flag to 'N', any Units on hold would not be displayed in these dashboards.

    

Cash Flow Variables

Construction Costs Draw Type - (A,P, S, or W)    *Required Value

A - The total construction costs for each unit in each period make up the draw amount in the Cash Flow table. No loan ceiling check. The draw amount is the raw cost total. We do not consider any loan balance nor do we validate whether we would overdraw the loan. 

P - Progress draws indicate you have a Construction Loan amount set up for each Unit. The total construction costs for each unit in each period make up the draw amount in the Cash Flow table until you reach a $0 amount remaining for that Unit's loan amount.

S - Schedule driven draws indicate you use the Construction Loan system available within MarkSystems. You have Draw Schedules set up and connected to the Scheduling System for the Draw Dates.

W - Weekly draws indicate you have a Construction Loan amount set up for each Unit. The amount is divided by the number of weeks remaining on the schedule until you reach the Final Weekly Draw Activity Code.

Final Weekly Draw Activity Code - (???)    *Required Value if you chose 'W' above

You only need to provide this Activity Code if you selected "W" - Weekly Draws above.

This is your schedule activity code you recognize at the final ability to draw on your Construction Loan for a Unit. This may be the same as the Settlement Activity Code, the Schedule Finish Activity Code, or any other Activity Code you wish to use from your schedule system.

Draw Sworn Statement Signature Image - (?????.png)    

If you have subscribed to the Pulse™ Sworn Statement generation system, this will be the name of the image file you provide to the Pulse™ for us to upload to be used as a signature for yourteam member that manages your sworn statement process.


Finance Accountability Variables

Expense Monitor Alert - (##.##%)

An element of the Pulse™ Finance Accountability feature is to monitor all expense accounts daily of expenses month-to-date relative to that expense account's budget.  If the expenses for a given account are over the budget by the percentage you specify, the person you have elected as the Expense Monitor for that account is sent a notice of the over budget condition(s).

The default is 0%.

Starting General Ledger Expense Account to Monitor - (#########)    *Required Value

Specify the first GL Expense Account to be monitored.  This would typically exclude any Cost of Goods Sold GL accounts or other Cost of Sales GL accounts.

MarkSystem Username for Undefined Expense Account Monitors    (????????)   *Required Value

Each GL Expense Account needs an Expense Monitor assigned.  The value will be the MarkSystem login username.  The alerts will be sent to the email address of that user as defined in MarkSystem.

The username you specify for this value will receive the Pulse™ Alerts for any GL Expense account that does not have a specific monitor assigned.


Margin Variables

Gross Margin Target - (###%)    *Required Value

This is the percentage of revenue you consider as your target Gross Margin. It is used to highlight specific Units that may not be reaching that target in the Margins - Production Unit and Margins - Closed dashboards within Pulse™.

Include Promissory Amounts in Sales Price Calculations? - (Y/N)  *Required Value

Within the Sales portion of MarkSystems you can record sales discounts or rebates as Promissory amounts for sold units or discounts from Prospecting for Spec Units.  Some builders prefer these not reduce the Sales Price of a unit for Margin Computations.  A value of Y will include the amount(s) in the Sales price calculation. These are typically used in the Margins - Production Unit and Margins - Closed dashboards within Pulse™.

The default is 'Y'.

Cost Category Start (###) and Cost Category End for Gross Margin Computation - (###)

Some clients may want to exclude pre-construction and/or post-construction Cost Categories from the costs used to compute your Gross Margins. 

The Cost Category Start will exclude any Cost Categories below this Cost Category Number. The Cost Category End will exclude any Cost Categories equal to or higher than this Cost Category Number.

Default for Start is 000, for End is 999

Exclude Buyer Names that include this phrase  - (??????)

Some clients may want to exclude Units with a certain Buyer Name phrase from your Gross Margin dashboards. 

The actual phrase can be part of a Buyer name used to designate Units like Rental, Investment, Builder Owned.  The phrase actually used could be rent, invest, or build. 

For example, in the case of build as your designated phrase it would include all units with Buyer Names like Builder Owned, Builder inventory 1234, Handy Builder Owned.


VPO Variables

Variance Calculations (A or N)

True measure of the true impact of Variances on your operation is best defined when you consider the Absolute Gross Value of all VPOs and Back Charge Items as whole numbers.  In this way you are able to readily identify all miscalculations in budgets and items of rework regardless of cash change.  Any of these are detrimental to a healthy business operation.

Regardless of how you set these flags, Gross Margin and Profit will still be calculated using net value of VPOs and Back Charges. 

A - Absolute Gross Value 

Only whole numbers (0,1,2,3 etc.) will be used in calculating Variance and Back Charge sums in the Variance Dashboards group.

N - Net Value

All recorded integers (-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3 etc.) will be used in calculating Variance and Back Charge sums in the Variance Dashboards group.

The default is 'N' if you do not specify a value.

Default VPO Activity Code to Exclude(???)

Most builders utilize a default Activity Code for VPOs. The Activity Code here will be excluded from Margin Calculations

         Typically the default is 'VPO'.  You may make it any valid Activity Code.


Warranty Variable

Warranty List Type - (x,x)    
*Required Value if you have determined you want this item scheduled to be sent.

You may choose to have a dashboard of specific Warranty List Type(s) delivered at some frequency to various members of your team. This is a condensed version of the Warranty - Open Requests dashboard.  It includes the bottom table grid of open requests.

To define the specific List Types you want to include, specify each List Type Code.


Option Analysis Variables

Option Category Exclusions - (###, ###, ###)   

Many builders use Option Codes for things like Allowances or Schedule Only items.  You can any Option Category you may want excluded from you Option Analysis dashboards.

Inheritance Values - (###,??)    *Required Value 

Specify the Company Code and Community code you use in MarkSystems for your content inheritance chain.

 

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