{"id":50299,"date":"2024-08-19T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furious-squad.com\/?p=50299"},"modified":"2026-03-30T02:05:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T00:05:13","slug":"project-progress-rate-calculation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furious-squad.com\/en\/project-progress-rate-calculation\/","title":{"rendered":"Calculate project progress quickly and easily"},"content":{"rendered":"

70% of projects<\/strong> fail because of poor time and resource management, according to a study by PMI (Project Management Institute)*.<\/p>\n

Whether you’re a communications agency<\/a>, a fast-growing consultancy or a service company, this statistic is particularly worrying. It’s the profitability of these projects that influences your ability to generate profits and growth. <\/p>\n

Your ability to accurately calculate<\/strong> a project ‘ s rate of progress is therefore not just an asset, it’s a necessity to ensure the success and profitability of your business.<\/p>\n

Projects that rigorously track their progress<\/a> have 30% more chances of achieving their objectives within the allotted time and budget<\/strong> (McKinsey Report**).<\/p>\n

These statistics highlight the crucial importance of good project management<\/a> and accurateprogress monitoring.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBetter management of progress
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

What methods can be<\/strong> used to calculate this advancement rate? <\/p>\n

The importance of each method by business unit or team type? Come on board with us and discover how to<\/strong> integrate these practices into your performance and customer satisfaction.<\/p>\n

Calculating progress enables you to correlate the time spent on a project, invoicing and scheduling with the actual progress of the project. There are several methods for measuring progress, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. <\/p>\n

Understand the different types of project progress<\/h2>\n

Manual feed<\/h3>\n

The prerequisite for mastering manual progress is to have the resources – tools<\/strong> or files – needed to correctly track project-related attributes: estimated delivery dates at the outset, time sold per project and per skill, type of task to be accomplished, time consumed, etc. This is a prerequisite for mastering manual progress.<\/p>\n

Smaller structures (< 10 employees) manage to keep track of all this information fairly easily (internal information is often largely known by all team members). Once you have more than 15 employees, it becomes very difficult not to use a suitable tool, even to measure progress manually: each team starts to use a different tool, information crosses between employees, vacations intermingle with invoicing periods… At this point, it’s time to react! <\/p>\n

– Advantages and disadvantages of manual feed<\/h4>\n

In this case, project progress depends on the person who manually moves the estimated percentage<\/strong> ofcompletion gauge on the project.. The advantage of this mode is that theadvancement is totally independent of other project elements (dates, load, planned and billing). This enables a precise comparison of actual with all other indicators. <\/p>\n

– Practical example in the Furious tool<\/h4>\n

To indicate theproject’s progress, simply click on the gauge of the\u201cprogress\u201d<\/strong> item. Furious will then display the sold tariff lines of the quote concerned, and you can adjust the progress of each tariff line. For example, if you have a tariff line of 1500 euros at 100% progress, and another of 500 euros, the overall progress of the project will be 75%. <\/p>\n

Manual advancement based on price grids in Furious<\/h3>\n

To indicate theproject ‘s progress, click on the gauge of the “progress” element.”. Furious will then display the sold price lines of the quote concerned. You can adjust the progress of each tariff line.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/strong> I have two tariff lines for a total of 2000 euros: one for 1500 euros and one for 500 euros. If I indicate that my 1500 euro tariff line has a 100%progress, then theprogress of my project will drop to 75%.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Image\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Automatic feed based on load<\/h3>\n

The prerequisite for automatic project progressrate<\/strong> measurement is a suitable business tool. <\/p>\n

Your tool must be able to take into account all the basic elements: project start date, project end date, invoicing milestones set (at 30% project progress, at 60%, etc.), and be synchronized with the project schedule<\/a> (so that time spent on each task<\/strong> and time sold can be measured automatically).<\/p>\n

Use and benefits<\/b><\/p>\n

The load corresponds to the time spent by employees. This mode is preferred for projects where time spent corresponds to time sold. This means that when time is added, the percentage of project completion increases automatically.<\/p>\n

Beware of package sales<\/b><\/p>\n

CAUTION: never use this mode for fixed-price sales, as you will only see aprogress variance with the load once your entire project has been consumed.<\/p>\n

Automatic progress based on project dates<\/h3>\n

Operating principle<\/b><\/p>\n

The automatic progress based on start and end dates entered in the project configuration is simple and effective. For example, if a The project begins on January 1, 2022 and ends on January 30, 2022. By January 15, the project will have reached 50% completion.<\/p>\n

Automatic progress based on invoicing<\/h3>\n

Methodology and application<\/b><\/p>\n

In this mode, project progress increases with the number of invoices. For example, if you create an invoice for a project consisting of one schedule with one invoice, project progress will increase to 100%.<\/p>\n

Automatic advance based on units produced<\/h3>\n

Process and follow-up<\/b><\/p>\n

The actual progress of the project depends on the units produced. It is possible to indicate that a unit has been produced, which increases the progress when adding a time. For example, if you have two units to produce for a total of<\/strong> 10,000 euros (one unit at 9,000 euros and one unit at 1,000 euros) and you indicate that you have produced the unit at 1,000 euros, the advancement will be 10%.<\/p>\n

Impact of the choice of each type of advancement for agency teams<\/h2>\n

The choice of the type ofprogress for a project can have a significant impact on the different teams within an agency. <\/p>\n

Each team<\/strong> has its own needs and priorities, and the type ofadvancement chosen can influence their effectiveness and ability to achieve their goals.<\/p>\n

Project team (operational team)<\/h3>\n

For the project team , who are directly involved in the execution of tasks,manual progress based on price grids or automatic progress based on workload can be particularly beneficial. <\/p>\n

Theseprogress typologies enable the team to closely monitor the time and resources invested in each task, providing a precise view of the work<\/strong> remaining. <\/p>\n

This facilitates day-to-day management resource planning<\/a> and adjusting priorities. <\/p>\n

What’s more, for complex projects requiring continuous adaptation, manual advancement offers the flexibility needed to adjust estimates in line with the realities on the ground.<\/p>\n

Branch financial management<\/h3>\n

The finance department favors automatic progress measurement<\/strong> based on invoicing and units produced. <\/p>\n

These types ofadvancements enable precise accounting of<\/strong> revenues generated at each stage of the project, but also by business unit typology if necessary, aligning the team’s efforts with the agency’s financial objectives. <\/p>\n

Using these methods, the finance department can better anticipate cash flows, manage budgets and ensure optimum profitability. <\/p>\n

Accurate<\/strong> financial data in every project is crucial to reliable financial reporting and informed strategic decision-making.<\/p>\n

Agency production management <\/h3>\n

For production management,automatic progress based on project dates and milestones<\/strong> is particularly useful. <\/p>\n

These methods enableprogress to be tracked according to project milestones and deadlines. <\/p>\n

By using these types ofprogress measurement, production management can ensure that projects are progressing according to the original schedule, quickly identifying potential delays and obstacles. <\/p>\n

This enables proactive management<\/strong>, adjusting resources and priorities to keep the project on track.<\/p>\n

Branch management <\/h3>\n

General management, on the other hand, requires an integrated and precise overview of project progress. <\/p>\n

A progress based on a combination of methods, such as project dates, invoicing and workload, can provide a comprehensive picture of the agency’s performance. <\/p>\n

This hybrid approach enables senior management to compare operational, financial and time data, facilitating strategic decision-making. <\/p>\n

With access to reports<\/strong> management can better align agency objectives, optimize processes and ensure sustainable growth.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"David
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDavid A\u00eft-Ali – Co-founder of R\u00e9bellion<\/cite>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWith Furious, we’ve found a solution that allows us to track projects from A to Z, as well as the key indicators we need to manage the agency on a day-to-day basis.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Best practices for measuring agency progress<\/h3>\n

The choice of the type ofadvancement required to ensure the smooth running of agency projects must be adapted to the specific needs of each team, while taking into account the need for precise management and the issues linked to the management of the team. <\/p>\n

By understanding the impact of eachprogress method<\/strong> on the various functions, an agency can improve its project management .optimize performance and guarantee maximum customer satisfaction. In short, to avoid common agency mistakes<\/a>. Adapt theprogress in line with team requirements leads to better coordination, greater transparency and more efficient project management . This choice should of course be correlated with the right choice for selling your service: on a time-spent basis, fixed-price or time-and-a-half<\/a> ? <\/p>\n

Impact of the choice of each type of advancement for the teams of a consulting firm, ESN or design office
\n<\/h2>\n

In this type of business, you often sell your projects<\/strong> on a fixed-price or time-and-a-half basis. <\/p>\n

The choice of progress type for a project is therefore different, each team maintains its specific priorities, but it becomes easier to unify everyone’s needs.<\/p>\n

Progress for the operational team<\/h3>\n

For the operational team , the consultants who are directly involved in customer assignments,automatic progress is based on workload. is particularly beneficial. In a consulting firm or ESN, assignments may be extended over a long period, requiring precise management of resources<\/strong> and time. A customer can’t regularly ask a consultant to extend his or her presence or time if it isn’t recorded in a precise schedule. <\/p>\n

For the Finance Department<\/h3>\n

The finance department of a consulting or engineering firm benefits greatly fromautomatic progress based on invoicing and units produced. These types of progress enable precise accounting of revenue generated at each stage of the consultant’s mission, aligning the team’s efforts with the organization’s financial objectives. <\/p>\n

By using these methods, financial management can better anticipate cash flows, manage budgets, and ensure optimal profitability. The accuracy of financial data is crucial for establishing reliable financial reports and making informed strategic decisions. <\/p>\n

What’s more, in a consulting environment where margins can be tight, precise financial management is essential to maintain the company’s financial health.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Adrien
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAdrien Bosset – Co-founder of SMASH Group<\/cite>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBeing able to combine project management, finance and time tracking in the same tool is a strength: data talks to each other and links are made between all the sections.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

For the Operations Department<\/h3>\n

For the operations management<\/a>automatic progress based on mission dates and milestones isparticularly useful. <\/p>\n

These methods enable progress to be tracked according to project milestones and deadlines. <\/p>\n

By using these progress types, operations management can ensure that projects are progressing according to the original schedule, quickly identifying potential delays and obstacles. <\/p>\n

This enables proactive management, adjusting resources and priorities to keep the project on track. <\/p>\n

In a design office or ESN, where projects can have complex technical implications, this approach is essential to ensure that deadlines and technical requirements are met.<\/p>\n

And for general management…<\/h3>\n

To be profitable, the general management of a consulting or engineering firm needs to manage its teams, and in particular their staffing levels. <\/p>\n

A progress based on a combination of methods, such as project dates, invoicing and workload, can provide a comprehensive picture of their organization’s performance, and allow them to anticipate potential recruitment to meet growing client demand. <\/p>\n

With access to reports detailed and precise, senior management can better align the organization’s objectives, optimize processes and ensure sustainable growth. The ability to see the whole picture and their progress<\/strong> is crucial to meeting customer requirements and maintaining a competitive edge.<\/p>\n

Tips and tricks for optimum management of your promotions<\/h2>\n

Use industry ERP software such as Furious<\/h3>\n

For communications agencies, consultancies and service companies, a software package that ERP, an all-in-one co-pilot like Furious, is indispensable. Not only does it centralize all It not onlyenables you to manage your project data, but also to monitorprogress in real time<\/strong>, automate processes and generate precise, detailed reports.<\/p>\n