PwC Shift | IndrajeetChandrachud

PwC Shift Cash Forecaster

Driver-based forecasting UX that’s editable, explainable, and confidence-building for SMBs.

Role: Product Designer (UX + Visual)

People won’t act on a forecast they don’t understand

Many forecasting tools still ask for lots of data entry without offering much guidance, use language that feels made for accountants, and output results without clearly explaining what changed or why, so users lose confidence and drop off before they ever reach the key stages where the tool becomes actionable.

A guided journey that turns business levers into cash outcomes

Built on a clear sequence of stages (from historical baseline and goals through forecasting, review, scenarios, and planning). Step-by-step progression reduces overwhelm by helping users tackle one decision at a time, while consistent UI and interaction patterns make the system scalable as new drivers, industries, or modules are added.

Users edit drivers, not formulas.

Users should edit the parts of the business they understand, not hidden formulas. The experience is built around clear levers like price, volume, customers, and products so changes are made in familiar terms and reflected in the forecast. Each lever can be adjusted month by month or applied across a time range, supporting quick tweaks and longer-term planning. Notes are included so users can capture assumptions and make the forecast easier to review and refine.

The “Why View” that explains cash like a story

Instead of showing a single number, the forecast breaks cash movement into a clear story using a waterfall view. It shows what changed and which drivers caused the change, so the user can connect decisions to outcomes. The experience also makes the before-and-after explicit by showing the opening balance, the closing balance, and the net difference, which builds trust and makes the forecast easier to validate and act on.

Benchmarks and guidance that build confidence and momentum

Forecasting often involves judgment calls, so the experience uses benchmarks to reduce uncertainty and help users keep going. Peer norms provide a reality check that validates whether an assumption feels reasonable, especially for users who do not forecast often. Alongside that, short micro tips offer just enough guidance at the moment it is needed, helping users avoid common mistakes and move through the flow with more confidence.

Working capital made understandable and usable

Working capital is usually buried in finance jargon, so the experience translates it into a clear, visual view of what is changing over time. Users can see the trend, then adjust the specific levers that influence it in practical terms, which makes the model feel controllable instead of abstract. To keep the forecast honest, the flow also asks users to mark how confident they are in their projections using simple options like Very, Somewhat, or Not sure, which helps set expectations and encourages better decision making.

Start with goals so the forecast has a purpose

Before asking users to adjust numbers, the experience starts by clarifying intent so the forecast is grounded in what the business is trying to achieve. Users prioritize their primary objective, such as growth, profitability, or stability, which helps frame the decisions that follow. They then choose a cash goal mode for the forecast period, like holding steady, increasing reserves, or targeting a specific balance, so the forecast becomes a plan aimed at a clear outcome rather than a generic projection.