Welcome to your ultimate guide on the WIP (Work in Progress) Report—your reliable partner for keeping everything in check as your agency’s jobs move forward. Think of it as your behind-the-scenes assistant, helping you keep a close eye on how time and money are being spent, so you can keep things running smoothly without breaking a sweat.
With the WIP Report, you’ll have all the key metrics you need right at your fingertips. Whether you’re making sure your team is working efficiently, keeping a tight grip on your budget, or staying ahead of potential issues, this report makes it easier to manage your agency like a pro. It’s all about helping you stay organised, informed, and ready to tackle any challenges that come your way.
Ready to dive in and see how it works? Let’s explore what the WIP Report can do for you and how it can keep your agency on the path to success.
🧐 Report Overview
The WIP (Work in Progress) Report is your reliable sidekick for keeping tabs on all the moving parts of your agency’s projects. It gives you a clear picture of how time and money are being spent, helping you keep everything on track without the usual stress.
❤️ Why You’ll Love It:
Smarter Resource Management: The WIP Report helps you see exactly where your team’s time is going. It’s like having a dashboard that shows you who’s working on what, making it easier to keep everyone productive and avoid burnout. No wasted time, just a balanced workload and a happier team.
Budget Control Made Easy: With the WIP Report, you can keep an eye on expenses—both the ones you’ve approved and the ones still in draft. This helps you stay within budget, so there are no nasty surprises that mess with your cash flow. It’s all about keeping your agency profitable, one project at a time.
Stay Ahead of the Game: Checking in on the WIP Report regularly lets you catch any issues before they become big problems. You’ll know exactly how things are progressing, allowing you to make quick adjustments, hit your deadlines, and keep your clients smiling. It’s a simple way to keep your projects running smoothly and your business growing.
In a nutshell, this report helps you manage your resources, stay on budget, and deliver your projects without a hitch. It’s all about keeping things running smoothly so your agency can thrive.
🕵️♂️ What Does It Show?
The WIP Report is like your agency’s dashboard, giving you a snapshot of where things stand with your projects. It breaks down the essentials: Logged Time Sell, Scheduled Time Sell, Approved Expenses, Unscheduled Time, Work In Progress, and Future Draft Expenses. With this, you get a clear view of both what’s been done and what’s coming up, making it easier to keep your resources and finances in check.
But the real magic happens in the Time Series View. Here, you can see how these key metrics change over time, giving you deeper insights into your projects’ progress and financial health. It’s not just about where you are now—it’s about understanding the bigger picture to keep everything on track.
📅 Time Period
The WIP Report lets you zoom in on the exact time period you want to focus on, making sure you’re seeing only the data that matters most right now. Whether you’re tracking what’s happening this week or taking a deep dive into last year’s performance, you’ve got the flexibility to choose the time frame that best fits your needs. Here’s how each option can help:
All Time: Want to see the big picture? This option gives you a full overview of all your projects, so you can spot long-term trends and see how far you’ve come.
This Week: Need to stay on top of what’s happening right now? This view focuses on the current week, helping you make quick adjustments as needed.
Last Week: Curious about how things went last week? This option lets you review recent work to ensure everything’s on track.
This Month: Keep an eye on how your projects are unfolding with data from the current month, perfect for mid-month check-ins.
Last Month: Reflect on the previous month’s activities to spot trends, learn what worked, and tweak what didn’t.
This Quarter: See how your projects are stacking up against your quarterly goals, giving you a solid sense of progress.
Last Quarter: Compare last quarter’s performance with the current one to see how you’re improving over time.
This Year: Track your annual targets and see how your projects are shaping up this year.
Last Year: Look back at last year’s performance for a year-over-year comparison—great for seeing growth and changes.
Custom Period: Have a specific time frame in mind? Set your own date range to focus on exactly what you want to analyse.
Picking the right time period is key to getting the most out of your WIP Report. Whether you’re digging into the details of this week or stepping back to see the big picture, the right time frame will give you the insights you need to keep things running smoothly.
🗂️ Grouping
The WIP Report gives you the power to group your data in two levels, making it easy to see the big picture and dive into the details. Here’s how each grouping option can help you get a better handle on your jobs, resources, and clients:
🏢 Company
Grouping by Company lets you see what’s happening with each client, so you can focus on where your attention is needed most.
Job: Looking at jobs within a client helps you see how each one is contributing to their overall workload. It’s all about making sure resources are used smartly, jobs are on track, and clients are happy with the results.
Job Branch: When you group by job branch within a company, you can easily check how different parts of your agency are handling a client’s jobs. This helps keep things consistent across the board and spreads the workload evenly.
Job Lead: This view highlights the performance of individual job managers within a company. It’s your chance to make sure they’re keeping jobs on schedule and within budget—essential for keeping clients satisfied.
Rate Card: Grouping by rate card helps you see how your pricing strategies are applied across different jobs for a client. This keeps your rates competitive while ensuring your margins are protected.
👥 Company Lead
Grouping by Company Lead gives you insights into how your leads are managing client relationships. It’s key for understanding who’s excelling and where more support might be needed.
Company: Looking at how each lead is managing their client portfolio helps you spot any areas that might need extra attention to keep relationships strong.
Job: Breaking it down by job under each company lead’s watch shows you how well jobs are being managed, which is crucial for delivering successful outcomes.
Job Branch: Viewing by job branch helps you see how different parts of your agency are contributing to jobs under each company lead, making resource management easier.
Job Lead: This grouping lets you track how individual job managers perform under each company lead. Getting the right people on the right jobs is key to delivering great work and meeting client expectations.
Rate Card: Grouping by rate card under each company lead helps you keep an eye on pricing across their accounts, ensuring consistency and profitability.
🛠️ Job
Grouping by Job gives you a straightforward view of each individual job. It’s perfect for job managers who need to stay on top of the details—like timelines and budgets—without any extra noise.
🌍 Job Branch
Grouping by Job Branch lets you compare how different branches within your agency are performing. This helps you manage resources effectively and ensure each branch is contributing to your agency’s overall success.
Company: Viewing by company shows which clients each branch is working with, making it easier to allocate resources strategically and keep all clients well-served.
Company Lead: Evaluating how account managers handle client relationships across different locations helps ensure consistent service and client satisfaction.
Job: Breaking down jobs within each branch gives you a clear view of how things are going, helping you catch and fix any issues before they escalate.
Job Lead: This view tracks the performance of job managers within each branch, ensuring they’re keeping things on time and within budget.
Rate Card: Grouping by rate card within a branch helps you ensure pricing is consistent across locations, which is key for maintaining profitability and client happiness.
👤 Job Lead
Grouping by Job Lead shines a spotlight on individual job managers, letting you see how they’re handling their jobs and teams.
Company: Viewing by company shows which clients each job lead is managing, helping you keep the workload balanced and ensure top-notch service for all clients.
Company Lead: Seeing how team members collaborate under a job lead gives you insight into how client relationships are managed and jobs are delivered.
Job: Assessing jobs under each job lead’s management ensures tasks are being handled efficiently and effectively.
Job Branch: Monitoring how different branches contribute to jobs managed by each job lead helps you understand resource allocation and team dynamics.
Rate Card: Grouping by rate card under each job lead helps you keep track of pricing, making sure everything aligns with your profitability goals.
💸 Rate Card
Grouping by Rate Card helps you evaluate how your pricing strategies play out across different jobs, so you can make sure your rates are consistent and your agency stays financially healthy.
Company: Organising by company lets you see which clients are linked to each rate card, helping you assess your pricing strategies for each client.
Company Lead: Checking how pricing is managed across teams within each rate card grouping helps you keep things consistent and profitable.
Job: Examining jobs within each rate card grouping ensures they’re priced correctly and are contributing positively to your bottom line.
Job Branch: Comparing pricing strategies across different locations helps you maintain a consistent approach wherever you operate.
Job Lead: Monitoring pricing under each job lead ensures all jobs are priced to support profitability.
These grouping options in the WIP Report are all about giving you flexibility. Whether you’re keeping an eye on clients, teams, or pricing, they help you stay organised, make better decisions, and ensure your jobs run smoothly. The way you group your data can really shape how effectively you manage resources and meet your targets.
The WIP Report is all about breaking down the key metrics that matter most to your agency’s ongoing jobs. Each column gives you valuable insights into different aspects of your work, helping you stay on top of things and keep your business healthy. Here’s a quick rundown of what each column means and how it can benefit your agency.
⏱️ Logged Time Sell
This column totals up the sell value of all the work your team has completed, marked as “Done.” It’s crucial for understanding the financial value of the work already delivered. By tracking this, you make sure all the hard work is reflected in your revenue, keeping your cash flow steady. Plus, it ensures every billable hour is captured and invoiced, which is key for maintaining your agency’s financial health.
📅 Scheduled Time Sell
Here, you see the total sell value of work that’s planned but not yet done—basically, your future income. This column helps you forecast revenue, manage your team’s workload, and make sure everyone’s time is being used wisely. It’s all about staying ahead, making sure upcoming jobs are on track, and keeping your financial goals in sight.
💰 Approved Expenses
This column shows all the costs that have been approved. Keeping an eye on this helps you stick to your job budgets, ensuring that everything is accounted for and that you’re not overspending. Regularly reviewing these expenses promotes financial discipline and keeps your agency profitable.
🚫 Unscheduled Time
Unscheduled Time highlights any time that hasn’t been assigned to a job yet. Spotting this early lets you plug gaps in your planning, making sure your team’s time is fully utilised and no billable hours are missed. This proactive time management boosts productivity and ensures a healthy balance between workload and revenue.
🔄 Work In Progress
This column pulls everything together—Logged Time Sell, Scheduled Time Sell, Approved Expenses, and Unscheduled Time—to give you a complete picture of the financial value of all your ongoing work. It’s your go-to for a quick health check on your jobs, helping you make informed decisions to keep everything on track and hitting revenue targets.
📝 Future Draft Expenses
Future Draft Expenses show you the total of all unapproved costs that might be coming your way. Keeping tabs on this helps you plan for future expenses and avoid surprises. By reviewing these before they’re approved, you can ensure they fit within your budget, helping prevent overspending and supporting your agency’s financial stability.
Each of these columns plays a key role in managing your agency’s work in progress. By understanding what they mean and how they contribute, you can make smarter decisions that keep your business running smoothly and profitably.
📅 Time Series View
The Time Series View is your go-to for getting a clear picture of how your agency’s key metrics change over time. It’s the default view in the WIP Report and arguably the most powerful. By using this view, you can see how your logged time, expenses, and work in progress evolve week by week, month by month, or over any period you choose. It’s perfect for spotting trends, comparing performance across different periods, and keeping tabs on how your jobs are progressing. Whether you’re looking to understand how resources are being used or how jobs develop over time, this view keeps you in the loop and helps you ensure your agency is on track to hit its goals.
🔍 How to Access the Time Series View
Here’s how you can dive into the Time Series View and make it work for you:
Click the 📈 Icon: Start by finding and clicking the 📈 icon in your WIP Report. This switches you to the Time Series View, where you can watch how your metrics shift over time.
Customise Your View
🗂️ Grouping Data in Time Series View
Grouping your data in the Time Series View works just like it does in the regular column view. You can group by Company, Job, Job Branch, Job Lead, Company Lead, or Rate Card. This lets you break down your metrics over time in a way that makes sense for your agency. Whether you want to drill into specific jobs or see how different parts of your business are performing, this flexibility gives you the insights you need to keep things running smoothly.
🧑💻 How Can I Use It?
The WIP Report is your go-to tool for managing your agency’s resources, keeping jobs on track, and staying on top of your finances. Here are some practical ways this report can help you streamline your day-to-day operations and keep your business thriving.
💸 Keeping an Eye on Job Profitability
When you’re juggling multiple active jobs, it’s crucial to make sure each one is hitting its financial targets. If a job isn’t monitored closely, it can easily go over budget or fall short on revenue, which can impact your agency’s overall profitability.
By focusing on the Logged Time Sell, Approved Expenses, and Work In Progress columns, you get a clear picture of how financially healthy your jobs are. The Work In Progress column, in particular, gives you a consolidated view of all ongoing work, helping you spot any jobs that might be veering off course. This way, you can make adjustments early on, ensuring that each job stays profitable and your agency remains financially stable. Keeping jobs on track not only supports sustainable growth but also makes sure your team’s hard work translates into financial success.
📅 Smart Resource Allocation and Planning
Managing your resources effectively is key to keeping jobs on schedule and your team running smoothly. If resources aren’t allocated properly, you can end up with bottlenecks, delays, and an overworked team—all of which can slow down progress and affect your team’s well-being.
The Scheduled Time Sell and Unscheduled Time columns are essential for planning and allocating resources the right way. By looking at scheduled time, you can see where your team’s efforts are focused and spot any areas that might need more support. The Unscheduled Time column helps you identify gaps in the schedule, so you can assign tasks to team members who have some availability. This ensures your resources are used efficiently, reduces downtime, and balances the workload across your team. A well-managed team is more productive and less likely to burn out, which leads to a happier, healthier workforce.
🔮 Forecasting Future Expenses
Getting a handle on future expenses is crucial for managing your cash flow and avoiding budget overruns. Without a clear view of what’s coming, your agency could face unexpected costs that disrupt job delivery and strain client relationships.
The Future Draft Expenses column gives you insights into potential upcoming expenses that haven’t been approved yet. By regularly checking this data, you can anticipate future costs and tweak job budgets as needed. This kind of proactive financial management helps you avoid budget surprises and keeps your jobs within financial limits. Protecting your cash flow in this way supports long-term business sustainability, making sure your agency stays profitable and resilient.
These examples show how the WIP Report can be a game-changer in monitoring job profitability, optimising resource allocation, and forecasting future expenses. By using these insights, you can manage your agency more effectively, keeping it healthy, productive, and financially stable.
The WIP Report is your go-to tool for getting a handle on your agency’s key metrics. It helps you manage resources wisely, keep jobs on track, and stay on top of your finances. By using the various columns, grouping options, and the Time Series View, you’ll be able to make better decisions, catch potential issues early, and keep everything running smoothly.
Take some time to explore the customisation options available—whether it’s tweaking the time periods, focusing on specific metrics, or grouping data in a way that suits your needs. Customising the WIP Report to fit your workflow can make a huge difference in how efficiently you manage your agency.
Give it a try and see how the WIP Report can help you streamline your processes and keep your agency moving forward.
🎓 Further Learning
Introducing our updated Reporting feature: This guide gives you a comprehensive overview of how reports work in Streamtime, showing you how to create custom reports based on your data in Jobs, Invoices, Expenses, Quotes, and Time. It’s a great starting point if you want to understand the full range of reporting capabilities available to you.
Report Template: Billing: The Billing Report Template is a perfect companion to the WIP Report. It helps you track invoices, manage cash flow, and analyse your agency’s financial performance. Together, these reports give you a full picture of both job progress and financial health.
How does the Dashboard work?: Your WIP Report data isn’t just limited to the report itself—it’s also visible on your Dashboard. This guide explains how the Dashboard works, helping you make the most of the quick insights it offers into your ongoing jobs and overall business performance.