WBS vs. Field Reality
The schedule can be current while actual progress, installed quantities, delays and field evidence remain in spreadsheets, calls and emails.
Dynamics 365 for Construction
Construction Project Controls Built Around Dynamics 365
Your project schedule may live in Microsoft Project or Dynamics 365 Project Operations. Your financials may live in Dynamics 365 Finance.
But contractor progress, field evidence, changes, commitments and forecast risk often live somewhere else.
The Construction Project Controls Accelerator from Managed ERP Services connects those pieces into one governed project-control layer.
- 01Schedule / WBS
- 02Contractor Execution
- 03Progress
- 04Cost
- 05Forecast
- 06Early Warning
In one sentence
What is the Construction Project Controls Accelerator?
The Dynamics 365 Construction Project Controls Accelerator is a construction-specific extension from Managed ERP Services that sits around Microsoft Dynamics 365 Project Operations and Dynamics 365 Finance.
Project Operations provides the project and WBS foundation. Dynamics 365 Finance provides the financial foundation. The accelerator connects contractor execution, field progress, changes, costs, EAC/ETC forecasts and early warnings around those systems — it does not replace either of them.
The problem
The Problem Isn't the Schedule. It's Everything Around It.
Contractors Are Outside the System
Contractors need visibility into assigned work without requiring broad access to the internal project system.
Cost Arrives Too Late
Financial actuals and commitments may be accurate but disconnected from current physical progress.
Changes Fragment Project Control
Scope, schedule and cost impacts can travel through separate processes, making the final forecast difficult to trust.
The solution
One Construction Control Layer Across the Project Lifecycle
Project Controls
- Budget
- Actual Cost
- Committed Cost
- ETC
- EAC
- VAC
- Schedule Variance
- Forecast Margin
Contractor WBS Portal
- Assigned projects
- Work packages
- WBS tasks
- Progress
- Installed quantities
- Manpower
- Photos/documents
- Delays/issues
Progress & Change Management
- Progress validation
- PM/Superintendent approval
- Change requests
- Cost impact
- Schedule impact
- Approval history
Early Warning
- Progress vs cost
- Schedule slippage
- EAC overrun
- Change exposure
- Commitment pressure
- Stale reporting
Contractor WBS Portal
Give Contractors Their Work Package — Not Your Entire ERP
Subcontractors see only the projects, work packages and WBS tasks assigned to them. From one secure external experience built on Power Pages, they update progress, submit installed quantities, log manpower and hours, attach photos, report delays and raise change requests.
Contractor submissions are captured in accelerator-controlled Dataverse records and validated before controlled project updates occur.
Contractors do not receive unrestricted Dynamics 365 access. External access and licensing are configured to your Microsoft licensing agreement and security requirements.
Contractor PortalIllustrative
- Project
- Plant Expansion — Phase 2
- Work Package
- Electrical — Level 03
- Cable Tray Rough-In65%
- Pull Feeder Cables30%
- Terminate Panels0%
Update ProgressSubmit QuantityEnter Manpower / HoursUpload PhotosReport DelayRaise IssueSubmit Change Request
How it works
From Field Update to Trusted Project Control
- Step 01WBS Assigned
- Step 02Contractor Executes
- Step 03Progress Submitted
- Step 04Superintendent / PM Validates
- Step 05Controlled Project Update
- Step 06EAC & Project Health Refresh
- Step 07Early Warning
EAC / ETC forecasting
Know Where the Project Is Going — Not Just What You've Spent
Budget
Approved project baseline
Actual Cost
Posted project cost
Committed Cost
Outstanding project commitments
ETC
Estimate to Complete
EAC
Actual Cost + ETC
VAC
Budget − EAC
- Physical Progress %
- Schedule Variance
- Forecast Finish
- Change Exposure
- Forecast Margin
- Data Freshness
Historical project-control snapshots show how the forecast changes from one reporting period to the next.
Early warning
See Project Risk Before It Becomes a Month-End Surprise
Alerts are transparent, configurable project-control rules — not a black-box AI prediction engine. Every threshold is visible and set by your project-controls team.
Progress / Cost Mismatch
Cost consumption is moving ahead of validated physical progress.
Schedule Slip
Forecast completion exceeds configured schedule tolerance.
EAC Overrun
Forecast project cost exceeds approved budget.
Change Exposure
Unapproved changes exceed configured value or aging thresholds.
Commitment Pressure
Actual plus committed cost is consuming too much of the work-package budget.
Stale Data
Field or financial information is too old for reliable project-health reporting.
Dynamics 365 integration
Built Around the Microsoft Platform You Already Use
Microsoft Project
Schedule / Dependencies
Dynamics 365 Project Operations
Project / WBS / Tasks
Construction Project Controls Accelerator
Managed ERP Services
Power PagesDataversePower AutomateProject ControlsChange ManagementEAC EngineEarly Warning
Dynamics 365 Finance
Actual Costs · Commitments · Project Accounting · Billing
Power BI / Dynamics Dashboards
Executive Project Health
The accelerator extends the Microsoft platform. It does not replace Project Operations or Dynamics 365 Finance.
Standard Microsoft functionality (Project Operations, Finance, Microsoft Project, Power Platform) is configured first; accelerator components add the construction-specific controls. See our Dynamics 365 integration services and Power Platform & Dataverse work.
Roles
The Right View for Every Project Role
Project Manager
WBS • Approvals • Changes • Forecast
Project Controller
Budget • Actual • Commitments • EAC • Variance
Superintendent / Site Manager
Field progress • Quantities • Delays • Evidence
Finance / Project Accountant
Project accounting • Billing • Reconciliation
External Contractor
Assigned WBS • Progress • Evidence • Issues • Change requests
Business value
What Changes for the Business
Less Manual Reconciliation
Structured submissions reduce disconnected email and spreadsheet updates.
Faster Field Validation
Progress and evidence are tied to specific work packages.
Earlier Cost Visibility
Progress, commitments and forecast can be evaluated together.
Controlled Contractor Access
Contractors see only information required for their assigned scope.
Traceable Changes
Scope, schedule and cost impacts retain their approval history.
Better Forecast Confidence
Management can understand what changed in the forecast and why.
Modular packaging
Start With the Control Gap. Expand From There.
Implement the complete accelerator or phase capabilities based on your existing Dynamics 365 environment and priorities. Pricing is scoped after discovery.
- 1Construction Project Controls
- 2Contractor WBS Portal
- 3Progress & Change Management
- 4Early Warning Engine
- 5Integration & Reconciliation
Implementation
A Practical Path From Dynamics 365 to Construction Project Control
01
Discover
Understand existing Project Operations, Finance, Microsoft Project and construction processes.
02
Prove
Validate critical technical and licensing assumptions.
03
Configure & Build
Configure standard Microsoft capabilities first and deploy accelerator IP where required.
04
Validate
Complete integration, security, process and user-acceptance testing.
05
Deploy
Release through controlled ALM and support adoption.
Configure first. Automate second. Customize only where business value justifies it.
Delivered alongside our Dynamics 365 implementation services and supported after go-live through Dynamics 365 managed services. Projects already in trouble can start with a Dynamics 365 program recovery sprint.
Who builds it
Built by Dynamics 365 Practitioners Who Understand Project-Based Operations
Managed ERP Services is a Houston, Texas-based Microsoft Dynamics 365 consultancy focused on project-based industries, including construction, EPC and specialty contractors, energy services and engineering and professional services.
The same consultants who scope the accelerator configure Dynamics 365 Project Operations, Dynamics 365 Finance and the Power Platform — and stay on for managed support.
Discovery
Start With a Construction Solution Review
If you already use Dynamics 365 Project Operations, Finance, Microsoft Project—or are planning to—let's identify where project execution and project control are breaking between systems, contractors and the field.
Talk to a Dynamics 365 Solution ArchitectPrefer to call? +1.832.449.1520
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dynamics 365 Construction Project Controls Accelerator?
It is a construction-specific extension around Dynamics 365 Project Operations and Finance that connects WBS, contractor execution, field progress, changes, costs, forecasting and project-health monitoring. It is delivered by Managed ERP Services.
Does it replace Dynamics 365 Project Operations?
No. Project Operations remains the project/WBS system of record. The accelerator adds construction execution and project-control capabilities around it.
Does it replace Dynamics 365 Finance?
No. Dynamics 365 Finance remains the financial system of record for accounting and supported project financial transactions.
Can subcontractors use the system?
Yes. A secure external experience can provide contractors access to assigned work packages and allow them to submit progress, quantities, evidence, delays, issues and change requests.
Do contractors need access to our entire Dynamics 365 environment?
The solution is designed to avoid exposing the entire internal project environment. External experiences and licensing must be configured according to the customer's Microsoft licensing agreement and security requirements.
Can it track EAC and ETC?
Yes. The project-controls layer can combine actual costs, commitments and forecast information to calculate and monitor Estimate to Complete and Estimate at Completion, where EAC = Actual Cost + ETC and VAC = Budget − EAC.
Can it integrate with Microsoft Project?
The architecture supports Microsoft Project and Project Operations scheduling patterns. The exact integration approach should be validated against the customer's existing Microsoft environment.
Can it manage construction changes?
Yes. Change requests can capture scope, schedule, cost and supporting evidence, with controlled review and approval.
Does the accelerator include AI?
The initial solution focuses on transparent, configurable project-control rules and early warnings. Predictive AI can be introduced as a later enhancement when sufficient quality historical data exists.
How long does implementation take?
Implementation depends on the existing Dynamics environment, integrations and selected modules. A reusable MVP can typically be planned as a phased implementation after discovery and technical validation.
Already on Dynamics 365? Extend it into construction project control.
Keep Project Operations and Dynamics 365 Finance. Add contractor execution, field progress, changes, EAC forecasting and early warnings around them.