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Rates management ​

This guide explains how to manage user rates within Consult, including how to export, import, and update rates across different time periods.

Overview ​

Rates in Consult are managed over time using date-based columns. Each column represents the rate applicable from a specific date onward.

This allows you to:

  • Track historical rate changes.
  • Update past rates when needed.
  • Introduce new rates effective from a specific date.

Exporting rates ​

You can export current rates as an Excel file for review or bulk updates.

How to export rates ​

  1. Navigate to the project schedule view.
  2. Click the Actions dropdown.
  3. Select Export Rates.

What the export contains ​

The Excel file includes:

Rates export

  • Project Resource
  • Workstream
  • Employee Email
  • Date columns indicating when rates became effective. Each date column represents a time when the rate was defined or updated.
  • Corresponding rate values per date.

Importing rates ​

Rates can be updated in bulk by importing a modified Excel file.

How to import rates ​

  1. Click the Actions dropdown.
  2. Select Import Rates.
  3. Upload the updated Excel file.

Managing rates ​

Changing rates configured in the past ​

You can update previously defined rates by modifying the value under the date column in the Excel file and re-importing it. This will overwrite the historical rate from that date onward.

Changing the effective date of a past rate ​

If a rate was applied from the wrong date:

  1. Adjust the date column header in the Excel file.
  2. Ensure the rate value aligns with the corrected date.
  3. Re-import the file.

This effectively shifts when that rate becomes valid.

Adding a new rate change ​

To introduce a new rate:

  1. Add a new column in the Excel file.
  2. Set the column header as the effective date.
  3. Enter the new rate values for each of the project resources.
  4. Re-import the file.

On import, the system will treat this as a new rate change starting from that date.

Making rate changes from today onwards ​

To update current rates:

  1. Add a column with today’s date as the header.
  2. Provide the updated rate values.
  3. Re-import the file.

This ensures:

  • Historical data remains unchanged.
  • New rates apply from today forward.