Welcome back to Autodesk's ERP Integration Series, where we're exploring how Cost Management in Forma Build and Agave help construction teams connect project and financial workflows.
In the first two installments, we introduced the value of ERP integrations and explored the core capabilities of Cost Management in Forma Build. Now it's time to see those concepts in action.
In this installment, Ryan Ward, Customer Solutions Engineer at Agave, demonstrates how Forma Build and Sage 300 work together to keep project and accounting data aligned. You’ll see what setup looks like to sync information flows between these systems.
This walkthrough highlights what data flows between systems, how workflows operate in both directions, and what teams can expect in real-world scenarios.
Watch the video below to see how Autodesk Forma and Sage 300 connect through Agave, including live demos of commitment and job cost syncing.
This session explores three key areas:
Agave enables bi-directional data syncing between Cost Management and Sage 300, so both systems stay connected and there’s no double-entry.
In most cases, foundational records such as vendors, customers, jobs, and estimates can flow between systems to establish consistency across project and financial workflows. Teams can then manage information in the system that makes the most sense for a given process while maintaining alignment across both platforms.
As Ryan explains, "wherever you see the arrow in either direction, we can go both ways."
One of the biggest advantages of integration is that each team can continue working in the system best suited to their role.
Project teams often manage contracts, subcontract change orders, and pay applications workflows within Cost Management. This allows them to fully leverage built-in approval workflows.
Meanwhile, on the accounts receivable side, prime contracts are typically created in Sage 300 and pushed into Cost Management. From there, project managers handle owner change orders, pay applications, and budget transfers in before syncing those updates back to Sage 300.
Rather than forcing teams into a single system, the integration helps ensure information stays synchronized between both environments.
The result is greater efficiency, improved collaboration, and increased confidence in project financial data.
In the video, Ryan highlights two of the most common integration workflows: commitments and job costs.
For commitments, typically project teams create and manage commitment (contracts) within Cost Management, leveraging built-in approval workflows for review and approval. Once approved, the information is synchronized to Sage 300. When the commitment appears in Sage 300, all key details are included, including the schedule of values line items, budget code associations, descriptions, and retainage information.
On the job cost side, actual costs recorded in Sage 300—including payroll, equipment, and other expenses—can automatically flow into Cost Management. This gives project teams access to current financial information without waiting for manual updates or month-end reporting.
In the demo, Ryan posts a job cost for tools and equipment totaling $500. The record is pulled into Agave and then pushed to Forma, where it appears in the Job Cost module.
Together, these workflows help bridge the gap between project execution and financial management.
The integration supports more than just commitments and job costs. Agave also supports syncing for owner contracts, owner change orders, and accounts receivable invoices.
Prime contracts created in Sage 300 are pushed into Cost Management, where schedules of values mirror exactly what exists in the ERP. Project managers can then manage the full owner change order process in Forma before syncing finalized changes back into Sage 300.
Accounts receivable invoices are typically drafted in Forma, using approval workflows, and then synced into Sage 300, where they reference the appropriate contract line items. Retention values are carried over during this process.
In installment three Ryan dives into some FAQs and sheds light on the things people usually ask.
How does general ledger information sync for commitments?
General ledger accounts are defined at the line-item level in Sage 300, and these configurations determine how commitments are recorded when synced.
How often can data sync between Forma and Sage 300?
Agave supports multiple sync cadences. Common options include syncing every hour, every three hours, daily, or weekly. Sync frequency can also be configured to meet specific business needs.
Can budget line items be linked to a prime contract schedule of values after syncing?
Yes. Teams can keep the prime contract schedule of values unlocked after it syncs to Forma. This allows project teams to associate budget line items with the appropriate prime contract schedule of values and maintain flexibility in how project financials are structured.
The integration between Forma Build and Sage 300 helps connect the people, processes, and systems involved in construction financial management.
Project teams can continue managing day-to-day workflows in Cost Management within Forma Build while finance teams maintain Sage 300 as their financial system of record. Meanwhile, both groups benefit from more accurate, consistent data flowing between systems automatically.
By reducing manual effort and improving visibility across project and financial operations, organizations can spend less time managing data and more time making informed decisions.
Now that you've seen how Cost Management in Forma Build and Sage 300 work together, we'll continue exploring ERP integrations in the next installment of the series.
Next up, we'll take a closer look at the Viewpoint Vista integration, highlighting additional workflows, data synchronization scenarios, and best practices.
Watch the full video above to see the Sage 300 integration in action and follow the series for more deep dives into ERP integrations powered by Agave. To learn more about how our latest releases can benefit your teams, reach out and schedule a demo to learn more.
