Overview
Trend Analytics helps Finance and HR teams visualize workforce spending across time periods. It automatically compares planned vs. actual costs, highlights variances, and provides visual reports for better decision-making.
When and why it should be used
- Monitor how employee costs change month over month or year over year.
- Quickly detect deviations between planned and actual spending.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and cost control with accurate data.
- Save time preparing reports by exporting visual summaries directly.
How to use
- On your sidebar, go to Workspace
- Open the Employee costs tab
- Select the Trend Analytics view
- Choose the periods you want to compare (for example, month-over-month or year-over-year)
- Review the automatically generated charts and tables showing cost evolution
- Use filters to focus on specific data sources, teams, or cost categories
- Export the report to share it with Finance, HR, or management
Tips and Best Practices
- Use the “agreement line” to understand what was originally planned when hiring and compare it against actual payments.
- Combine labor + expenses to get the real total cost per employee.
- Schedule regular monthly reviews to catch deviations early and keep budgets aligned.
- Customize filters to analyze only the departments or teams that matter most to you.
Troubleshooting
- Charts or tables don’t display correctly: Refresh the page or check that the selected time periods include available cost data.
- Missing cost data: Verify that your data sources (e.g., payroll or expenses) are correctly connected in Financial Workspace.
- Export not working: Ensure you have the necessary permissions to export financial reports. If the issue persists, contact Factorial Support.
FAQ
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Can I compare costs across multiple years?
Yes, you can compare costs year over year by selecting the desired time range in Trend Analytics.
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Which costs are included in the “Employee costs” tab?
It includes both labor and expenses, giving you the full picture of total workforce spending.
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Can I share Trend Analytics reports with other departments?
Yes, you can export reports in ready-to-share formats for Finance, HR, or leadership teams.