Overview
We’re excited to introduce Analytical Milestones (AMDs), a powerful update to our scheduling feature that allows users to track key project milestones consistently across multiple schedules. This update will soon allow for better reporting capabilities at a portfolio level and enables project managers (PMs) to set up project schedules without unnecessary roadblocks.
Prerequisites
You can only add AMDs to a Main Schedule so ensure the schedule you are trying to link them to is a Main Schedule.
Understanding AMDs and Their Purpose
Why AMDs Matter
If you’re an Owner Representative or General Contractor, you likely manage hundreds of projects—each with their own schedules. Every schedule has a start and end date, but tracking key milestones like design completion or construction commencement can be challenging because different projects may use different milestone names.
AMDs solve this problem by allowing admins to:
✅ Standardize milestone tracking across multiple projects.
✅ Ensure reporting consistency by linking AMDs to schedules.
✅ Quickly analyze schedules without needing manual updates.
Default vs. Custom AMDs
By default, every schedule will have two built-in AMDs:
Project Commencement Date (Start Date)
Project Completion Date (End Date)
Custom AMDs can be added based on your organization’s needs, such as:
Design Commencement
Construction Commencement & Completion
Building Permit Approval
These milestones will soon allow leadership to quickly see when projects are starting, ending, and progressing without manually pulling individual schedules.
1. Setting Up AMDs in Templates
Before you can use AMDs in project schedules, they need to be configured in your workspace List and Templates section.
How to Add a New AMD
1. Go to the Analytical Milestones tab in Lists and Templates.
2. Click "Add Milestone".
3. Enter:
Name (e.g., “Construction Completion”)
Description (Optional)
Required Toggle (Default is ON)
4. Click Create.
📌 Important:
If a milestone is marked as required, PMs must link it before publishing a schedule.
You can edit or archive custom AMDs anytime.
Archived AMDs are removed from schedules but can be restored.
2. Linking AMDs to Project Schedules
Once AMDs are set up in templates, they need to be linked to project schedules to be useful in reporting.
How to Link AMDs to a Schedule
1. Go to the project’s main schedule. AMDs only apply to Main Schedules, so ensure you’re working on the correct schedule.
2. Click Edit on a milestone.
3. Navigate to the Analytical Milestone tab.
4. Select an AMD from the dropdown.
5. Save and publish the schedule.
📌 Note:
If an AMD isn't linked to a milestone, a warning icon will appear.
AMDs must be linked to milestones (not activities).
If a project schedule already has pre-linked AMDs from a template, they will automatically pull in.
Example: Linking a Custom AMD
Let’s say you need to add Construction Commencement as an AMD:
1. Add a new milestone called “Construction Commencement.”
2. Click the milestone, go to the Analytical Milestone tab, and select “Construction Commencement.”
3. The milestone now transforms into an AMD-linked milestone, making it available for reporting.
3. Building a Schedule with AMDs
With AMDs created, you can build your schedule around them for better tracking and reporting.
Creating a Schedule with AMDs
1. Add key activities like:
Pre-Planning
Pre-Construction
Construction
Post-Construction
2. Link activities together using finish-to-start dependencies.
3. Drag AMDs into the appropriate positions in the schedule.
4. Publish the schedule to make AMDs active.
📌 Pro Tip: If your organization pre-links AMDs in the Schedule template, they will automatically map to schedules when that schedule template is used — saving time during setup!
4. Reporting & Insights
Once AMDs are implemented, the next phase will allow organizations to see AMDs within additional modules.
Current Reporting Capabilities
Currently you can track these in the Reporting module (if including in your subscription type) and we plan on expanding what these Analytical milestones sync with.
As a note you can currently only report on the system generated AMDs - Project Commencement & Project Completion Dates
Future Capabilities (Phase 2)
🔹 View AMDs across multiple projects in one dashboard.
🔹 Track scheduled vs. actual dates to monitor project health.
🔹 Forecast project timelines based on AMD trends.
Example: If you manage 100 projects, you can see:
How many projects are starting next month
Which projects are nearing completion
Milestones that are frequently delayed
This big-picture view enables better decision-making and resource allocation.
5. Managing Main Schedules & AMD Visibility
How AMDs Behave in Shared Schedules
AMDs are only visible in the Main Schedule of a project.
When a Main Schedule is shared internally, recipients can see linked AMDs.
When a Main Schedule is shared externally, recipients cannot see AMDs.
Switching the Main Schedule
1. Navigate to the schedule listing page.
2. Select a different schedule and click "Mark as Main Project Schedule."
3. Confirm the action (all AMD links will be removed and must be re-linked).
📌 Note: Changing the Main Schedule only affects the workspace making the change. Other workspaces will retain their Main Schedules and AMDs.
AMDs make milestone tracking, scheduling, and reporting more efficient for both admins and project managers. By standardizing key milestones across projects, users can:
Quickly track project start and end dates
Ensure consistency across schedules
Improve reporting at a portfolio level
As we continue to enhance this feature, Phase 2 will introduce even deeper insights, allowing users to monitor AMD trends across entire project portfolios.