Works with · job cost analysis from ERP export
Margin analysis from any ERP's CSV or Excel export
If your ERP can export a job list with revenue and costs to Excel, MarginGuard can analyze it, whether it's SAP Business One, NetSuite, Dynamics, Infor, Acumatica, Odoo, or a spreadsheet.
By the MarginGuard team · FactoryEdgeAI · Last reviewed
- One row per job, with job number and customer as the only required columns
- Revenue plus estimated and actual cost unlock full variance analysis
- Mappings are remembered per report, so the next upload is one click
- Named presets for JobBOSS², E2, Epicor, Global Shop, and ProShop
The problem
Most ERPs can show a single job's cost. Few make it easy to see every job's estimate-vs-actual margin side by side, ranked by dollars, without a BI project. The data is already in the export; the analysis layer is what's missing.
What to measure
Per job: revenue, estimated cost, actual cost, estimated vs actual margin, and the dollar gap. Optional category columns (labor, setup, burden, material, outside processing) show where the gap came from.
How MarginGuard helps
Choose “Other / Generic CSV” in the import wizard. MarginGuard detects common header names, asks before guessing about money columns, blocks operation-level files that would double-count, and saves the mapping for that report's column layout.
Next step: sign up, load the demo, or compare plans.
How to get started
- Step 1Export a job-level report
From your ERP, export completed and active jobs with revenue and estimated and actual costs. Excel or CSV both work.
- Step 2Upload and map
Confirm Job Number and Customer, then revenue and cost columns. Category columns are optional.
- Step 3Review and repeat
See erosion by job, customer, and category. Re-upload weekly; the saved mapping applies automatically.
Systems shops use this with
SAP Business One, NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and GP, Infor SyteLine and VISUAL, Acumatica, Sage X3, Odoo, Fishbowl, Katana, MRPeasy, M1, JobManager, and plain Excel. If your system isn't listed, the rule is the same: one row per job, with revenue and costs.
| Column | Required? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Job Number | Yes | Unique key; re-imports update the same job |
| Customer | Yes | Customer-level rollups |
| Revenue (quoted, sold, or billed) | For margin | Margin needs revenue |
| Estimated cost (total or by category) | For variance | The baseline |
| Actual cost (total or by category) | For variance | What really happened |
| Labor · Setup · Burden · Material · Outside | Recommended | Shows where the gap came from |
| Part · Quantity · Work center · Dates · Status | Optional | Filters and part-family views |
| Line | Estimated | Actual | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | $2,800 | $3,100 | $300 |
| Setup | $600 | $650 | $50 |
| Machine / burden | $1,900 | $2,100 | $200 |
| Material | $3,200 | $3,350 | $150 |
| Outside processing | $400 | $420 | $20 |
| Total cost | $8,900 | $9,620 | $720 |
| Margin | $3,600 (28.8%) | $2,880 (23.0%) | −$720 erosion |
Revenue $12,500. Positive variance = cost overrun. Margin erosion = estimated margin − actual margin.
Downloads
- Minimal template (CSV)
12 columns, the fastest way to start.
- Full template (CSV)
Every supported column.
FAQ
- My ERP isn't listed. Will it work?
- If it can export a job list with revenue and costs to Excel or CSV, yes. Choose Other / Generic CSV and map the columns once.
- Can I use a spreadsheet we maintain by hand?
- Yes. Use the minimal template or your own headers; MarginGuard maps them.
- What file types are supported?
- CSV, XLSX, and XLS. Title rows above the header (common in ERP exports) are detected and skipped.
- What if my file has one row per operation?
- MarginGuard detects repeated job numbers with totals and blocks the import so costs aren't double-counted. Export a job-level summary instead.
Related MarginGuard pages
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Act on job cost analysis from ERP export
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