Fast - Load Benefits

Once the initiatives are created and configured, you can fast-load benefits. Fast-loading benefits need two rounds of integrations.

• Create Benefit definitions in the first integration, and
• Upload benefit or measure values in the second integration.

This article describes the benefits definition upload process using the following sections.

• Integration Steps Overview
• Prerequisites
• Data Preparation
• How-to Steps
• Mapping Errors and Solutions

Overview of Steps Involved

1. Prepare the Microsoft Excel template with data. 
2. Identify the initiative where you want to run the integration.
3. Enable Integrations for this initiative's classification.
4. Enable Local benefits for pertinent initiatives.
5. Create a new integration and select Import Data Type as Benefits.
6. Upload the Microsoft Excel sheet into Amplify.
7. Map columns in the Microsoft Excel sheet to corresponding benefit attributes.
8. Process the mapping.

When the integration is complete, all benefits included in the Microsoft Excel sheet are created in Amplify at the hierarchical level that you specified. Now, you can create a new integration to load the actuals or measures using similar steps.

Prerequisites

Following configuration settings need to be enabled for the classification where you want to apply integration.

• Enable Integrations -  enable this setting for the classification to see the Integrations sub-menu.
• Enable Local Benefits- this setting should be enabled, and the allowed benefit classification types have to be specified for any initiative classification where you want to fast-load benefits. All classification types included in your Microsoft Excel should be present in the respective initiative's allowed list. Ensure that the pertinent initiative classifications are defined, and a hierarchy is created up to the level where you want to fast-load items.

Data Preparation

For data preparation:

Use the Configuration and FastLoad Spreadsheet as a template.  Add the following column information into the Benefit FastLoad Sheet and save the template for creating the benefits. Note: If you are uploading values or measures, use Benefit Value FastLoad Sheet and follow the sheet's instruction.

• Parent ID 
• Name 
• Classification
• Owner 
• Start Date 
• End Date 
• Benefit Resolution (should be MONTH, QUARTER, or FINANCIAL_YEAR. Please make sure that Financial Year is added in the format 'FINANCIAL_YEAR')
• Benefit Unit
• Dis-benefit

Please refer to the attached template to find information on other columns that can be included.

Steps

To fast load benefits:

1. Locate the parent initiative and click Integrations from the hamburger menu.
2. Click New Integration.
   The New Integration form displays.
   
   
   
3. Type in a relevant name for this integration in the Name field.
4. Select Import Data Type as Benefit. Note: If you are uploading actuals/plan/forecast, select Benefit Values (Time Phased)here.
5. Click Save.
   Click Run. Note: Ensure that the Microsoft Excel template is ready with valid data. All required columns should be present and filled with data before uploading. 
   
6. Select Upload New.
7. Click Choose file and select the Microsoft Excel file containing the benefits data. 
   • Select Use Previous if you have the used the spreadsheet previously for this integration. When you select an existing file for the same integration instance, you do not need to map the attributes again; Amplify remembers the previous mapping done for this file. However, if you have included additional columns in the spreadsheet template since last integration, it is best to select Upload New.
8. Select the Header option if you want to see the first row values in your Microsoft Excel file displayed as headers on the mapping interface. 
9. In the Sheet drop-down field, select the sheet within the template where benefit data is stored. 

10. Click Continue to proceed. Clicking Cancel will cancel the entire operation.
    The integration interface displays. The first row in the spreadsheet displays as the header row on the interface. Values included in your spreadsheet are listed below the header row. Your next step would be to map each header to a corresponding benefit attribute. 
    

    
    
    

11. Click Edit Mapping.
    The fields to be mapped display. Refer to Data Mapping Specifications for more information.

12. Click Preview when done. The preview shows mapping mismatches if any. Hover over the error icon to view the error text.

Mapping Errors

Most mapping errors are caused due to mismatches between values present in the spreadsheet and values expected by the database. Here are two examples of mapping issues you may encounter.

Remap faulty columns and preview until all mappings are correct. The Import button will not be enabled until all errors are corrected. In addition to errors, you may see warnings. Warnings do not block the import process; you can proceed if you are ready to overlook them. 

1. Click Import...when all mismatches are corrected, and the green tick mark shows against all mapped rows.
2. Click Confirm on the confirmation message that displays.
   
   
3. Click End Session when the message All rows successful is displayed at the top of the interface. All benefits in your spreadsheet will be created at their respective initiative levels.