Look-Ahead: spot the slip before it costs you

4 min read · Updated 30 May 2026

Look-Ahead is a rolling 1–6 week view of every activity coming up that isn't finished yet — with the at-risk ones flagged before they cost you. It reads straight from your live WBS and earned value, so there's nothing to maintain.

What Look-Ahead shows

For each upcoming Activity (L4) it shows percent complete, the baseline finish, a projected finish from the crew's recent productivity, the current SPI, and how many crew are planned on it this window. Two flags surface the trouble:

  • Amber — the projected finish has drifted past the baseline finish.
  • Red — SPI has fallen below 0.85. When both apply, the worse signal wins and the activity shows red.
Upcoming activities on track amber — past baseline red — SPI < 0.85

Open a look-ahead

1
Go to Planning → Look-ahead

From a project, choose Planning → Look-ahead. It opens on a two-week window by default.

2
Set the window and grouping

Pick anything from 1 to 6 weeks ahead, and group by location, discipline, or location → discipline to match how you walk the site. Filter to a single discipline, or to at-risk only, when you want to zero in.

3
Save it — and get it Monday morning

Save the window, grouping and filters as a named view you can reopen any time. Switch on the weekly digest and WBSync emails that view to you every Monday morning, so the look-ahead reaches you before the week starts.

Look-Ahead is for project staff — PMs, planners, engineers, commercial, supervisors and foremen. Operatives don't see it.

How the flags are calculated

Projected finish comes from a rolling 14-day average of approved hours on the activity, so it reflects how the crew is actually performing rather than a static plan. Only approved hours count — draft and submitted entries never move the numbers, which keeps the flags honest.

What next?

See a slip coming? Get ahead of it with tomorrow's crew. Daily plans →

Frequently asked

Where does the projected finish come from?

A rolling 14-day average of approved hours on each activity, projected against the work remaining. It updates as the crew logs hours and the foreman approves them.

What do amber and red mean?

Amber means the projected finish is later than the baseline finish. Red means SPI is below 0.85. If both apply, the activity shows red.

Can I get the look-ahead without logging in?

Yes. Save a view with the weekly digest switched on and it lands in your inbox every Monday morning.

Who can see Look-Ahead?

Project staff: PMs, planners, engineers, commercial, supervisors and foremen. Operatives don't have access.

Is Look-Ahead on my plan?

Yes — planning is included on every WBSync tier.

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