OEM Case Study: Going Beyond Metrics in Residential Construction

Module Showcase

Various components of Style Intelligence are used to create these visualizations. In the first example, line charts and bar charts are among the most obvious, using the "show values" plot property to display data at various points. Each line and bar is individually colored from a selection of over 16 million color choices in order to differentiate one "case" or "cohort" from the next. Below, a crosstab is used to display detailed information that cannot be quickly displayed in a graph.

The second visualization uses Style Intelligence's embedded mapping system to create a visual representation of TB data that the user can sort and filter on a number of different levels. The drop-down menu, for example, gives users the option to display various diagnosis and notifications related to multi-drug resistant TB. The date slider allows users to further filter that data down to a relevant time frame.

Cash Flow: The Cash Flow dashboard provides a six-month forecast of the builder's cash position by week. Starting with the current cash on hand, it adjusts the balance by accounting for cash from draws and closings, AP costs, overhead expenses, and forecasts cash outlays for open Work Orders/Purchase Orders (WO/POs). Using the production schedule and vendor terms, it predicts when these open costs will impact cash flow, allowing builders to make informed decisions about land acquisitions and other significant expenses.

Margin Drift: The Margin Drift dashboard offers real-time gross margin forecasts for homes in production. It constantly scrubs the budgets, adjusting for any changes, and provides updated cost expectations for completed homes. The Margin Shift reports enable builders to see the original expected margins, the final outcomes, and the factors that influenced the changes. This transparency helps builders answer the crucial question, "What happened to our margin?" and take necessary actions to control costs.

Schedule Variance: The Schedule Variance dashboards analyze production schedules to identify where time is being lost, which trades are contributing to delays, and the specific schedule activities and cost codes involved. It also contrasts customer expectations with the final outcomes, highlighting variations by job. This insight helps builders pinpoint delays and implement corrective actions to stay on track.

Expense Controller: The Expense Controller dashboard monitors budgets in real-time, alerting specific account owners if they are over or trending over their budget. This proactive approach allows builders to manage expenses before they exceed budgets, avoiding end-of-month surprises. The system's "manage by exception" methodology ensures alerts are only sent when necessary, streamlining expense management.

Executive PULSE: The Executive PULSE™  delivers critical KPIs to builders' inboxes every morning, including current cash position, sales, starts, and closings compared to plan, gross margin actual vs. plan, open warranty requests, and the year's closing count and revenue opportunities. This daily update keeps executives informed and prepared to make timely decisions.

Warranty Overview: The Warranty Overview dashboard provides detailed insights into all open warranty requests, including aging, request types, accountable vendors, and more. This comprehensive view helps warranty teams quickly resolve issues and maintain high standards of customer satisfaction.

Additional Reports

• Daily (or weekly) variance report
• Consolidated income and balance sheet statements
• Spec homes aging report, showing the cost to carry completed specs and the impact on margins

Main Features

Operations Optimize your operations with The PULSE™. Experience real-time business analytics that illuminate margins, costs, variances, and spec inventory. Designed to streamline operations and boost efficiency, The PULSE™ is your solution to a smarter, more responsive business environment.

Production Elevate your production insights with The PULSE™. Bypass the hassle of data mining and information filtering. Access immediate statistics on production inefficiencies and warranty issues, pinpointing exactly where improvements are needed. Make today count with insights that drive action.

Executive Empower your decision-making with The PULSE™. Essential metrics, critical financial insights, and forward-looking forecasts are at your fingertips. From cash flow to net profit predictions, have the information you need to lead with confidence and foresight.

Style Intelligence Visualizations

Interactive Visuals: The PULSE™ integrates InetSoft Style Intelligence, transforming data into visually engaging, easily understandable dashboards. Users can drill down from high-level overviews to specific details, filter information, and customize their view to suit their needs.

Automated Reports: Generate and schedule pixel-perfect reports for automated delivery within the organization. Export reports in PowerPoint, Excel, or PDF formats to facilitate seamless sharing and presentation.

Predictive Analytics: Apply predictive algorithms over the data to forecast future trends and outcomes. This feature enables proactive decision-making and strategic planning based on anticipated developments.