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Learn how to automate campaign schedules using Forecaster - PubSuite’s dynamic scheduling tool. This guide explains how it helps your team stay in control of timeline from start to finish.
What is Forecaster?
What is Forecaster?
Forecaster is a dynamic scheduling tool within Campaign Manager that replaces manual campaign production worksheets or project timelines. It automatically creates and updates campaign timelines based on your Product SLAs, internal workflows, and Advertiser Feedback settings.
Do I have to use Forecaster?
Do I have to use Forecaster?
No, using Forecaster is not mandatory, although we highly recommend you use it for every campaign.
If you do not wish to use Forecaster for your campaign, you can turn the toggle off within the relevant Campaign Form under the ‘Campaign Setup’.
What does SLA mean?
What does SLA mean?
SLA translates to ‘Service Level Agreement’. When it comes to Forecaster, there is a set suite of SLAs that are needed to be answered in order for Forecaster to populate and continually update.
For example, ‘Content Review Feedback Time’ allows you to set how many days you want to allow for users to review content. This will apply to all content review tasks and allows your To-Do's to automatically generate and alert your team members when they need to action a task in order to stay on track.
How do I change SLAs for Forecaster?
How do I change SLAs for Forecaster?
Your Forecaster uses default SLAs to begin with. These come from the Workspace Settings in your Management Console. However, you can edit and update these SLAs at any time in your Campaign.
Your first opportunity to update Forecaster SLAs is within the Campaign Form. Both internal and external users will have the opportunity to adjust the SLAs to fit your specific campaign needs.
From there, you, the Publisher, can edit these SLAs by heading to the Forecaster Tab and clicking the 'Edit' icon. You’ll be taken to the Forecaster Set Up Page, where you can adjust all SLAs. If and when you edit these, your Forecaster will automatically re-populate with your changes.
For more information, visit our Forecaster guide.
What is the difference between a Restricted and a Flexible setting?
What is the difference between a Restricted and a Flexible setting?
When configuring your campaign timeline in Forecaster, you’ll be asked to select between two scheduling modes: Restricted or Flexible. Each determines how delays are handled across your workflow.
Restricted:
The timeline is locked to your original live date.
The system calculates the time needed for each task and assumes that deadlines must be met.
If a To-Do's is delayed and there’s not enough time left, Campaign Managers will receive a critical alert.
This allows you to manually review and adjust the workflow.
Best used when your campaign has a firm, non-negotiable go-live date.
Flexible:
The timeline is dynamic.
If a To-Do's runs late, Forecaster automatically shifts the schedule to the next available day.
All future To-Do's are moved accordingly.
This creates more breathing room, but may impact your final delivery date.
Best used when timing can move and collaboration is the priority.
Does Forecaster update if I change a Content live date in the Edit form?
Does Forecaster update if I change a Content live date in the Edit form?
Yes. If you update a content or distribution live date, this data will be sent back to the Forecaster immediately, and your timeline will change accordingly.
This means that any dependent tasks will also have their dates changed. For example, if you update a Content live date to an earlier date, and your content is in production, then all the next actions, including review dates, will update based on your input SLAs.
What happens when I change a date in Forecaster?
What happens when I change a date in Forecaster?
If you change any date in Forecaster, then you’ll notice that Forecaster updates all related and dependent dates. For example, if you change ‘Draft Content’ from the 10th to the 12th, then the following ‘Review Draft’ To-Dos will update forward as well.
How do I make a Content piece go live earlier than the scheduled date?
How do I make a Content piece go live earlier than the scheduled date?
You can do so by updating the status of the Content Distribution or updating the Live Date in Forecaster. For more information, visit our Forecaster guide.
Why can’t I see the new dates I set in Forecaster?
Why can’t I see the new dates I set in Forecaster?
If your new dates are not showing in Forecaster, you may be experiencing a system bug. Please reach out to your PubSuite Client Success Manager, and we’ll get that sorted for you as soon as possible.
Can I delete a Distribution or Content piece from Forecaster?
Can I delete a Distribution or Content piece from Forecaster?
No, your Forecaster is a representation of everything that is occurring in your Campaign. If you do not wish for a Distribution or a Content piece to be a part of your Forecaster, then you need to delete that distribution from your Content Tab.
Please note, if you delete a Distribution or Content piece from your Content Tab, then it is no longer active in your Campaign at all.
Can I change the granularity view of Forecaster?
Can I change the granularity view of Forecaster?
Yes, you have the option to change the view of your Forecaster on four different levels:
Campaign: Only shows the topline steps
Phase: Shows the steps for your topline campaign and phase steps
Content: Shows the above levels as well as the content workflow
Distribution: Shows all levels, including the detailed distribution workflow
If we have a set live date and there are multiple delays, what is the Email Notification process? What if it exceeds that?
If we have a set live date and there are multiple delays, what is the Email Notification process? What if it exceeds that?
When using the Restricted setting in Forecaster, delays are managed using a three-step Task Absorption Algorithm. This ensures your campaign remains on track to meet its fixed live date, even when tasks run late.
Slack Absorption Algorithm: Absorbs delays using any available buffer (or "slack") time between tasks.
How it works:
The system checks for slack between tasks.
If more than 1 day is available, the delay is absorbed into this buffer.
If there’s exactly 1 day of slack, the algorithm moves to Step 2.
Proportional Time Deduction Algorithm: Redistributes any remaining delay proportionally across upcoming tasks, based on their original durations (SLAs)
How it works:
The system identifies all remaining tasks after slack has been used.
Each task is weighted according to its SLA (e.g. a 3-day task = weight of 3).
The delay is split proportionally, so longer tasks absorb more of the delay.
Formula:
Adjusted Time = Original SLA − (Delay × (Task Weight ÷ Total Weights))
Rules:
Tasks cannot be reduced below 1 day unless manually overridden.
Rounding:
0.6 or more → round up
Below 0.5 → round down
Negative durations are never permitted
No Slack or Time Remaining: If neither Step 1 nor Step 2 can ensure the campaign hits its live date:
The system triggers an urgent alert to both the Campaign Manager and Commercial Manager.
A notice appears in both the Publisher and Advertiser campaign views.
Forecaster updates are paused until someone adjusts the timeline.
A To-Do is generated for the Campaign Manager to update the content accordingly.
Can I add new milestones to my Forecaster?
Can I add new milestones to my Forecaster?
You can add a limited amount of milestones to Forecaster at this time. These include things like:
Adding or removing internal or external kick off meetings
Adding or removing IO sign date
Using a Content Plan.
Additional functionality for adding and removing milestones to Forecaster is planned to be added in the future.
In Forecaster, my content live date is after content production. How do I change the live date?
In Forecaster, my content live date is after content production. How do I change the live date?
This is a common occurrence when timelines shift (e.g. client approvals are delayed or production runs late). If the distribution live date is flexible, you can adjust it by updating the Strict live date setting.
Option 1: Update via Forecaster
In Forecaster, locate the distribution you want to update
Navigate to “Content Set Live and POPs Sent to Advertiser"
Click Edit
Locate the checkbox “Make Live/Completion Date Strict"
If ticked → The live date is locked and cannot move. All prerequisite tasks must be completed before the set live date
If unticked → The content live date will automatically adjust based on the task dependencies above it
Option 2: Update via Content Tab
Go to Content Tab > Manage Content
Click the “Production Items and Content Placement” tab
Click Edit on the relevant distribution
Untick “Strict Live Date” to allow the live date to shift based on dependencies
Important notes:
This adjustment currently needs to be made individually for each distribution
The ability to apply this setting across an entire campaign is on the product roadmap
What’s the difference between Strict and Non-Strict Live Date in Forecaster?
What’s the difference between Strict and Non-Strict Live Date in Forecaster?
1. Strict Live Date
The live date is locked and will not move
All dependent tasks (e.g. production, approvals, POPs) must be completed before that set live date
If timelines shift, the system will not adjust the live date
Best used when the go-live date is contractually fixed or cannot change
In short: Use when when the campaign has a fixed launch date that must be met
2. Non-Strict Live Date
The live date is flexible
If production or other dependencies are delayed, the live date will automatically shift based on those task dependencies
Useful when distribution timing is adaptable or dependent on production realities
In short: Use when timelines may change and the live date should adjust accordingly (the more common, recommended use case)
Need more help?
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