Simulation and scenario planning SaaS

SimpliCast

See Clarity. Shape Tomorrow.

SimpliCast empowers startup founders and small business operators to instantly model business scenarios through a drag-and-drop visual builder. By replacing clunky spreadsheets with real-time, AI-guided planning, it slashes errors and decision time—making it simple for any team to test ideas, spot risks, and drive confident growth.

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SimpliCast

Product Details

Explore this AI-generated product idea in detail. Each aspect has been thoughtfully created to inspire your next venture.

Vision & Mission

Vision
To empower every small business to plan, adapt, and thrive confidently through effortless, accessible, and visionary scenario modeling.
Long Term Goal
By 2028, empower 100,000 small businesses worldwide to cut decision time in half and double their growth opportunities through effortless, AI-powered scenario planning and collaboration.
Impact
Reduces scenario planning time by 63% for startup founders and small business operators, enabling teams to test 2x more business models per week, cut spreadsheet errors by 90%, and make confident, data-driven decisions 40% faster than with traditional spreadsheet workflows.

Problem & Solution

Problem Statement
Startup founders and small business operators waste hours wrestling with complex spreadsheets for scenario planning, facing errors and confusion, because existing modeling tools demand advanced skills, high costs, or lack intuitive collaboration for fast, confident decision-making.
Solution Overview
SimpliCast replaces tangled spreadsheets with a visual drag-and-drop scenario builder, letting founders instantly see financial outcomes of business decisions. AI-powered guidance highlights risks and opportunities in real time, empowering fast, confident planning—no advanced skills or steep learning curve required.

Details & Audience

Description
SimpliCast lets founders and small operations teams model business scenarios visually, replacing complex spreadsheets with a drag-and-drop interface. Users instantly see the business impact of every choice, make faster, data-driven decisions, and collaborate seamlessly. Its AI-powered guidance surfaces insights and opportunities as you build each scenario, turning planning into a clear, confident process—accessible to anyone, no advanced skills required.
Target Audience
Startup founders and small business operators (25-45) overwhelmed by spreadsheets, craving fast, intuitive scenario modeling.
Inspiration
I watched a bakery owner freeze mid-conversation, paralyzed over whether hiring help would sink her margins. Her counter was cluttered—not just with pastries, but with frayed printouts, color-coded spreadsheets, and frantic notes. That moment of hesitation, the fear of making one wrong move, revealed the urgent need for a simple, visual way to test decisions in real time—without the headache of complex math.

User Personas

Detailed profiles of the target users who would benefit most from this product.

A

Advisory Ada

- Age 42 with MBA in Finance - 10+ years as startup mentor - Based in Silicon Valley, CA - Charges $150/hr for consulting

Background

After a decade guiding ventures at Techstars, she saw founders crippled by spreadsheet errors. Her accelerator coaching sharpened her love for intuitive, error-free financial planning.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Easily customize scenario models for diverse clients 2. Visual outputs to simplify complex data narratives 3. Instant error alerts when inputs conflict

Pain Points

1. Clients overwhelmed by spreadsheet errors and inconsistencies 2. Time wasted reconciling manual data entries 3. Difficulty iterating scenarios quickly under deadlines

Psychographics

- Obsessed with empowering founders through clear data - Thrives on transforming complexity into simplicity - Values precision and collaborative, visual tools - Motivated by client success stories

Channels

1. LinkedIn Groups: mentorship forums 2. Twitter: startup finance chats 3. Medium: guest blog postings 4. YouTube: tutorial videos 5. Email newsletter: accelerator digest

L

Lean Launch Larry

- Age 29, Bachelor’s in Engineering - Product manager at a SaaS startup - Works remotely from Austin, TX - Earns $80K annually

Background

After three failed launches, he sought tools to test assumptions faster. Limited spreadsheet skills drove his hunt for intuitive financial modeling.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Instant scenario previews to compare launch options 2. Guided pricing model templates without learning curve 3. Quick shareable summaries for executive alignment

Pain Points

1. Slow model adjustments stall go-to-market decisions 2. Confusing spreadsheets hinder cross-team communication 3. Fear of flawed projections delaying launches

Psychographics

- Prefers rapid experimentation over lengthy analysis - Values hands-on tools with minimal training - Embraces risk-taking tempered by clear insights - Thrives under tight, iterative feedback loops

Channels

1. Slack communities: startup channels 2. Product Hunt: launch discussions 3. Twitter: tech influencers 4. LinkedIn: product manager groups 5. Reddit: r/startups

F

Franchise Fran

- Age 38, MBA in Management - Oversees five restaurant locations - Lives suburban Chicago, IL - Manages $4M annual revenue

Background

After expanding from one to five franchise units, she struggled with disjointed spreadsheets. Demand for standardized forecasts led her to adopt visual modeling tools.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Consolidated multi-unit forecasts in one view 2. Automated updates reflecting real-time sales data 3. Standard templates to ensure consistency

Pain Points

1. Disparate spreadsheets causing inconsistent data comparisons 2. Manual consolidation eating into management time 3. Delayed cash flow visibility across units

Psychographics

- Demands consistency and scalable processes - Cautious yet seeks calculated growth - Values standardized reporting across locations - Motivated by efficiency and financial clarity

Channels

1. LinkedIn: franchisee groups 2. Facebook: regional operator networks 3. RestaurantOwner.com: industry forums 4. Email: franchisor updates 5. Webinars: franchise management training

G

Grant-seeker Grace

- Age 45, Master’s in Public Administration - Directs a $2M annual nonprofit - Based in Seattle, WA - Relies on grant and donation funding

Background

Years of grant rejections taught her that vague forecasts hinder applications. She adopted detailed, visual modeling to build compelling funding narratives.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Donor-ready financial projections with narrative overlays 2. Flexible scenario paths for varied funding levels 3. Audit-ready export formats for compliance

Pain Points

1. Generic budgets failing to impress grant panels 2. Last-minute funding shortfall surprises 3. Time-consuming manual report formatting

Psychographics

- Driven by mission impact and transparency - Seeks donor trust through precise projections - Prefers collaborative, visual storytelling tools - Wary of unpredictable funding gaps

Channels

1. GrantStation: funding opportunity alerts 2. LinkedIn: nonprofit leadership groups 3. CharityVillage: sector forums 4. Nonprofit newsletters: financial planning tips 5. Webinars: grant writing workshops

R

ROI Rachel

- Age 32, Bachelor’s in Marketing - Manages $500K monthly ad budget - Works from NYC office - Operates boutique fashion ecommerce

Background

After inconsistent ad performance, she moved from spreadsheets to scenario planning. Real-time modeling helped her optimize spend daily.

Needs & Pain Points

Needs

1. Rapid ad scenario comparisons by budget 2. Live data integration with ad platforms 3. Visual ROI dashboards for quick decisions

Pain Points

1. Delayed campaign insights harming performance 2. Cumbersome manual budget reallocation 3. Lack of real-time spend visibility

Psychographics

- Obsessive about ROI optimization - Embraces data as decision fuel - Prefers hands-on, iterative testing - Demands visual clarity in metrics

Channels

1. Google Ads: data exports 2. Facebook Business: ad manager 3. Slack: marketing channel 4. LinkedIn: ecommerce forums 5. Email: daily performance digests

Product Features

Key capabilities that make this product valuable to its target users.

TrendSnap

Automatically generates a dynamic trendline highlight for each forecast change, visualizing growth or decline in real-time to help users spot patterns instantly.

Requirements

Dynamic Trendline Generation
"As a small business operator, I want to see an automatically generated trendline when I update my forecast so that I can instantly understand the direction and rate of change without manually drawing the line."
Description

Automatically generate a dynamic trendline overlay for each forecast change, calculating the slope and direction in real time. The system must compute and render the trendline immediately when users adjust predictions in the visual builder, ensuring seamless integration with existing chart components. This feature enhances insight by clearly illustrating growth or decline patterns directly on the forecast graphs, reducing manual analysis and improving decision accuracy.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Trendline Update on Prediction Adjustment
Given a user modifies any forecast data point in the visual builder, when the edit is confirmed, then the system must compute and render the updated trendline overlay within 200 milliseconds, reflecting the new slope and direction correctly on the chart.
Accurate Upward Trendline Slope Calculation
Given a forecast sequence where data points show a net increase, when the trendline is computed, then the system must calculate a positive slope within ±0.1 accuracy and display the trendline in green color.
Accurate Downward Trendline Slope Calculation
Given a forecast sequence where data points show a net decrease, when the trendline is computed, then the system must calculate a negative slope within ±0.1 accuracy and display the trendline in red color.
Trendline Integration with Chart Legend and Tooltip
Given the trendline overlay is displayed on the chart, when the user hovers over the trendline or opens the chart legend, then the tooltip must show the slope value and trend direction and the legend must include an entry labeled 'Trendline' with corresponding color coding.
Performance under High Data Volume
Given a dataset of up to 10,000 forecast points, when the trendline is generated, then the system must complete computation and rendering within 500 milliseconds without UI freezes or performance degradation.
Real-time Forecast Change Detection
"As a startup founder, I want the trendline to update immediately when I tweak forecast numbers so that I can trust that the visualization always shows the latest projections."
Description

Continuously monitor forecast data inputs for any changes and trigger trendline recalculation events in real time. The system must subscribe to data update events within the drag-and-drop builder and efficiently propagate changes to the trendline module without causing UI lag. This ensures that any modification to forecast values immediately reflects in the visualization, providing users with up-to-the-second insights.

Acceptance Criteria
Forecast Value Adjustment
Given a user modifies a single forecast data point in the builder When the input value changes Then the trendline module recalculates and displays the updated trend within 200ms
Data Table Inline Edit
Given a user edits a forecast value directly in the data table When the cell loses focus Then the trendline updates to reflect the new data and the UI remains responsive
CSV Bulk Import
Given a user uploads a CSV with updated forecast values When the import completes Then the system triggers a full trendline recalculation and updates the visualization without manual refresh
High-Frequency Real-Time Updates
Given multiple forecast updates occur at a rate of up to 10 events per second When events are processed Then the trendline recalculates each change in real time and UI frame rate stays above 30fps
Trendline Rendering Verification
Given forecast inputs change Then the trendline visually updates on screen within 100ms of receiving the update event
Interactive Visualization Highlight
"As a financial analyst, I want the trendline segments with the steepest changes to be visually highlighted so that I can quickly identify and focus on the most impactful trends."
Description

Implement an interactive highlight effect for the trendline that visually emphasizes periods of significant growth or decline. Use color gradients or animated pulsing to draw attention to critical sections of the trendline, and enable tooltips on hover that display exact percentage change and time interval. This feature integrates with the product’s theme engine to maintain consistent styling and improves pattern recognition within complex data sets.

Acceptance Criteria
Highlight Growth Segments
Given a trendline segment with percentage increase ≥ configured threshold When rendering the visualization Then that segment is highlighted with the positive growth color gradient according to theme
Highlight Decline Segments
Given a trendline segment with percentage decrease ≥ configured threshold When rendering the visualization Then that segment is highlighted with the decline color gradient according to theme
Theme Consistency on Highlight
Given a selected theme When the trendline highlights are rendered Then the color gradients and pulsing animations match the theme's defined color palette and animation settings
Tooltip Display on Hover
Given the user hovers over a highlighted segment When the cursor remains over the segment for ≥200ms Then a tooltip appears displaying the exact percentage change and corresponding time interval
Animated Pulsing for Critical Changes
Given a trendline segment where percentage change exceeds critical threshold When the segment is highlighted Then an animated pulsing effect is applied at least once every 2 seconds until user interaction resets it
Customizable Sensitivity Settings
"As a small business operator, I want to set my own thresholds for what constitutes a significant trend so that the highlights match my specific risk and growth criteria."
Description

Provide a settings panel where users can adjust sensitivity thresholds for highlighting trendline segments. Allow users to define percentage change or absolute value thresholds that trigger highlights, and save these preferences for each project. This customization ensures that the trendline highlights align with varied risk tolerances and business contexts, enhancing the feature’s flexibility and relevance.

Acceptance Criteria
Adjust Percentage Threshold
Given a user is in the settings panel, When they set the percentage change threshold to 5%, Then trendline segments with changes ≥5% are highlighted
Adjust Absolute Threshold
Given a user inputs an absolute value change threshold of $1000, When the forecast change exceeds $1000, Then the corresponding trendline segment is highlighted
Save and Persist Preferences
Given custom thresholds are set, When the user saves settings and reloads the project, Then previously saved thresholds are pre-loaded in the settings panel
Reset to Default Settings
Given custom thresholds are active, When the user clicks 'Reset to Default', Then thresholds revert to system defaults and highlights update accordingly
Real-time Highlighting Based on Custom Thresholds
Given the user adjusts thresholds, When forecast values change in real-time, Then highlights appear or disappear dynamically according to the defined thresholds
Performance and Scalability Optimization
"As a power user, I want the trendline feature to remain smooth and responsive even when I work with extensive forecast data so that my workflow isn’t interrupted by performance lags."
Description

Optimize the trendline generation and rendering pipeline to handle large datasets smoothly within the visual builder. Implement virtualized rendering and incremental calculation techniques to maintain frame rates above 60 FPS even when processing hundreds of forecast points. This requirement ensures consistent performance and responsiveness as users model larger scenarios, preserving the fluid user experience central to SimpliCast.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Large Dataset Rendering
Given a trendline with 10,000 forecast points When the visual builder loads the dataset Then the frame rate remains at or above 60 FPS throughout the initial render And memory usage does not exceed 300 MB
Real-Time Data Incremental Update
Given an existing rendered trendline When 500 new forecast points are added dynamically Then the new points appear within 100 ms of receipt And the frame rate does not drop below 60 FPS
Smooth Interaction During Zoom and Pan
Given a fully rendered trendline with 5,000 points When the user zooms or pans the view continuously for 10 seconds Then the view updates smoothly at a minimum of 60 FPS And no frame drop exceeds 10 consecutive frames
Switching Data Context Responsiveness
Given two large datasets ready for display When the user switches between datasets Then the displayed trendline updates within 200 ms And the UI remains responsive without blocking input
Performance on Low-Power Devices
Given the application running on a device with a dual-core CPU and 4 GB RAM When rendering a dataset of 3,000 points Then the frame rate does not fall below 60 FPS And CPU usage remains below 70%

HeatMap Highlights

Applies a color-coded heatmap overlay to forecast segments, drawing attention to areas with significant variance and enabling quick identification of volatility.

Requirements

Dynamic Heatmap Overlay Rendering
"As a startup founder, I want the heatmap overlay on forecast charts so that I can quickly identify segments with high volatility."
Description

Apply a color-coded heatmap overlay to forecast segments based on computed variance values, dynamically highlighting areas of high and low volatility. This requirement ensures the heatmap seamlessly integrates with the existing forecasting visualization, updating in real time as forecast data changes. By rendering the overlay directly on the forecast graph, users gain immediate visual cues about segment performance and risk concentration, enabling faster insight and decision-making.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Forecast Data Change Scenario
Given updated forecast input data When the forecast graph refreshes Then the heatmap overlay updates within 2 seconds to reflect new variance values for each segment without displaying any outdated colors
High Volatility Segment Identification Scenario
Given a segment with computed variance above the high-volatility threshold When rendering the heatmap overlay Then the segment is colored in the designated red gradient and matches the style guide specifications
Low Volatility Segment Highlight Scenario
Given a segment with computed variance below the low-volatility threshold When rendering the heatmap overlay Then the segment is colored in the designated green gradient and matches the style guide specifications
Overlay Interaction Consistency Scenario
Given a user zooms or pans the forecast graph When the view changes Then the heatmap overlay remains accurately aligned with each forecast segment and scales correctly
Performance with Large Dataset Scenario
Given a forecast graph containing at least 10,000 data points When rendering the heatmap overlay Then the overlay completes within 200ms and the application maintains a minimum of 30 frames per second during user interactions
Accessibility and Color Contrast Scenario
Given WCAG 2.1 contrast requirements When measuring the overlay colors against the graph background Then all heatmap colors achieve at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio and pass automated accessibility checks
Customizable Threshold Controls
"As a user, I want to adjust variance thresholds so that the heatmap colors reflect my risk tolerance."
Description

Enable users to define custom variance thresholds that determine the color boundaries in the heatmap overlay. This requirement allows adjustment of threshold values through an intuitive control panel, integrating seamlessly with the visual builder. Customizable controls accommodate varying risk tolerance and analytical focus, ensuring the heatmap aligns with individual user needs.

Acceptance Criteria
Adjust Low Variance Threshold
Given the user opens the heatmap threshold control panel When they set the low variance threshold slider to 5% And they click 'Apply' Then segments with variance below 5% turn green on the heatmap immediately
Persist Custom Threshold Settings
Given the user has adjusted high and low variance thresholds When they save their dashboard Then the custom threshold values are stored and reloaded on their next session
Validate Input Constraints on Threshold Values
Given the user enters a threshold value outside the allowed range (0–100%) When they attempt to apply the value Then the system displays an inline validation error and disables the 'Apply' button until the input is corrected
Real-time Heatmap Update on Threshold Change
Given the user drags the threshold slider When the slider value changes Then the heatmap overlay updates colors in real time without requiring manual refresh
Reset to Default Thresholds
Given the user has modified threshold values When they click the 'Reset to Defaults' button Then the sliders return to the system defaults and the heatmap reverts to original color boundaries
Real-time Variance Calculation
"As a business operator, I want variance calculations to update instantly when I modify inputs so that the heatmap always reflects the latest data."
Description

Implement real-time calculation of variance metrics for each forecast segment whenever underlying input variables change. The system must recalculate variance instantaneously and update the heatmap overlay without perceptible delay. This ensures accuracy and responsiveness, allowing users to iterate on scenarios and immediately see the impact on volatility highlights.

Acceptance Criteria
Single Input Change Recalculation
Given a user changes a single forecast input value, when the value is saved, then the system recalculates the variance metrics for all affected segments within 200ms and updates the heatmap overlay without perceptible delay.
Bulk Input Changes Handling
Given a user applies multiple forecast input changes in rapid succession, when the last change is registered, then the system recalculates the cumulative variance metrics and refreshes the heatmap overlay within 500ms.
Variance Calculation Accuracy Verification
Given a predefined dataset with known variance values, when variance calculations run, then the computed metrics must match expected results within a ±0.1% margin of error.
High Segment Volume Performance
Given up to 100 active forecast segments, when an input change triggers recalculation, then the system completes variance computation and updates the heatmap overlay within 300ms without UI freezing.
Calculation Error Notification
Given an invalid or corrupted input causes calculation failure, when the system detects the error, then it displays an unobtrusive error message and retains the previous valid heatmap state.
Legend and Tooltip Integration
"As a user, I want to see a legend and detailed tooltips so that I understand what each color represents and can see precise numbers."
Description

Provide an interactive legend explaining the color scale and integrate hover tooltips on each forecast segment to display precise variance values and contextual information. The legend and tooltips must update dynamically as threshold settings change and support accessibility standards. This enhances user understanding of the heatmap and facilitates deeper data exploration.

Acceptance Criteria
Interactive Legend Interpretation
Given the heatmap is displayed When the user views the legend Then it accurately shows the color-to-variance mapping corresponding to the current threshold settings
Tooltip Display on Hover
Given a user hovers over a forecast segment When the pointer remains over the segment for 500ms Then a tooltip appears displaying the precise variance value and contextual information for that segment
Dynamic Threshold Reflection
Given the user adjusts the variance thresholds in settings When the thresholds are updated Then both the legend and the hover tooltips update colors and displayed ranges in real time without page reload
Tooltip Accessibility Support
Given a user navigates via keyboard and focuses on a forecast segment When the segment receives focus Then a tooltip is displayed and is accessible via screen readers with appropriate ARIA labels
Legend Keyboard Navigation
Given the legend is visible When the user tabs to focus on legend items Then each legend item is highlighted in sequence and announces its variance range and color description via screen reader
Exportable Heatmap Reports
"As a founder, I want to export the heatmap overlay as a PDF so that I can include it in board presentations."
Description

Allow users to export the forecast chart with the heatmap overlay as a high-resolution image or PDF. The export feature should preserve color fidelity and include the legend and annotations. Integration with the reporting module must enable scheduled and on-demand exports, facilitating sharing of insights in presentations and stakeholder reports.

Acceptance Criteria
High-Resolution Image Export
Given a forecast chart with a heatmap overlay is displayed When the user selects "Export as Image" and chooses high resolution Then the system generates a PNG image at minimum 300 DPI and at least 1920x1080 pixels, preserving all chart elements with no distortion
PDF Export with Legend and Annotations
Given a forecast chart with annotations and legend is displayed When the user selects "Export as PDF" Then the system generates a PDF that includes the heatmap overlay, legend, and all annotations positioned identically to the on-screen view
Scheduled Export Delivery
Given the user schedules an export with specified parameters When the scheduled date and time occur Then the system automatically generates the requested export format and emails it to the designated recipients without errors
On-Demand Export by User
Given the user is viewing a forecast chart When the user clicks the "Export" button and selects the desired format Then the system generates and provides a download link for the file within 5 seconds
Color Fidelity Preservation
Given a custom color palette is applied to the heatmap overlay When the chart is exported in any format Then the exported file matches the on-screen color codes within a ΔE color difference of 2

VersionVisualizer

Displays side-by-side mini-previews of different forecast versions, clearly marking deltas and allowing users to compare changes at a glance.

Requirements

Side-by-Side Preview
"As a small business operator, I want to view multiple forecast versions side-by-side so that I can immediately spot overall differences and choose the best scenario."
Description

Display two or more mini-previews of selected forecast versions simultaneously within the VersionVisualizer panel. Previews should be rendered at a glanceable size, maintain readability of key metrics, and remain synchronized when scrolling or resizing. This feature enables users to quickly scan multiple scenarios without navigating away from the main interface, reducing context-switching and speeding decision-making.

Acceptance Criteria
Version Selection and Display
Given a user selects multiple forecast versions in the VersionVisualizer, when the panel loads, then mini-previews of each selected version are displayed side-by-side without overlap and with all key metrics clearly visible.
Responsive Layout Adjustment
Given the VersionVisualizer panel is resized, when the width changes, then the mini-previews adjust their size proportionally to maintain readability and fit within the panel without introducing a horizontal scrollbar.
Synchronized Scrolling
Given the user scrolls vertically within one mini-preview, when scrolling occurs, then all other mini-previews scroll in sync to preserve alignment of key metrics across versions.
Highlighting Differences
Given two or more mini-previews are displayed, when there are metric differences between versions, then deltas are marked with distinct color-coded indicators and include tooltips describing the magnitude of each change.
Context Preservation
Given a user clicks on a mini-preview to inspect details, when the user shifts focus, then the main interface updates to the selected version context while keeping all side-by-side previews intact.
Visual Delta Highlighting
"As a startup founder, I want all changes between two forecasts clearly highlighted so that I can understand exactly where and how my assumptions differ."
Description

Automatically calculate and visually mark changes between versions directly in each mini-preview. Use color-coding (e.g., green for increases, red for decreases) and overlays to indicate deltas in key data points. Integrate tooltips that reveal exact values and percentage changes on hover to provide precise context. This ensures rapid comprehension of what changed and by how much.

Acceptance Criteria
Side-by-Side Delta Visualization
Given two forecast versions are loaded, When the side-by-side previews are displayed, Then all key data points with changes must be highlighted using green overlays for increases and red overlays for decreases.
Tooltip Percentage Display
Given a highlighted data point overlay, When the user hovers over it, Then a tooltip appears showing the original value, the new value, and the exact percentage change.
Overlay Clarity in Compact View
Given the mini-preview panel width is 300px or less, When changes exceed 3%, Then overlays must remain legible with distinct color boundaries and no overlap of elements.
Zero Delta Handling
Given two versions have identical values for a data point, When rendering the preview, Then no colored overlay appears and hovering over the point shows a “No Change” indicator.
Color Contrast Compliance
Given WCAG AA standards, When rendering delta highlights, Then the green and red color-coding must achieve a minimum 4.5:1 contrast ratio against the preview background.
Interactive Hover Details
"As a financial analyst, I want to hover over any change to see detailed numbers and explanations so that I can validate the variation without extra clicks."
Description

When users hover over any highlighted delta or metric in a preview, display a tooltip with detailed information including original value, revised value, absolute and percentage change, and a brief note on the underlying assumption. Ensure the interaction is performant and unobtrusive to maintain a smooth user experience. This deep dive capability helps users validate and interpret differences without leaving the visual context.

Acceptance Criteria
Hover Over Highlighted Delta
Given a user moves the cursor over a highlighted delta in a mini-preview, When the hover event is detected, Then a tooltip must appear within 200ms showing the original value, revised value, absolute change, percentage change, and a brief assumption note, and disappear immediately when the cursor leaves.
Switching Between Deltas
Given multiple delta markers in view, When a user moves the cursor from one marker to another, Then the previous tooltip must close immediately and the new tooltip must appear within 100ms with the correct detail set for the current marker.
Viewport Edge Adjustment
Given a delta marker is located near the viewport edge, When hovered, Then the tooltip must automatically reposition to remain fully visible within the viewport without clipping or requiring scrolling.
Rapid Hover Interaction
Given a user rapidly moves the cursor across several delta markers in under 100ms intervals, When hover events occur, Then only the tooltip for the current marker must be visible and update responsively, ensuring no queued or overlapping tooltips.
Non-Intrusive Display
Given a tooltip is displayed, Then it must not cause any layout shifts or reflows of the underlying preview content, and page performance metrics (render frame time) must remain within acceptable thresholds (no more than 5% additional frame time).
Synchronized Filters and Timeframes
"As a planning manager, I want to filter and adjust the timeframe on all version previews together so that I can compare identical data segments across scenarios."
Description

Allow users to apply filters (e.g., date ranges, product lines, regions) and adjust time granularity (monthly, quarterly, yearly) across all displayed versions simultaneously. Maintain consistent axis scaling and unit formatting to ensure fair comparison. This synchronized filtering ensures that users compare like-for-like data slices, improving analysis accuracy.

Acceptance Criteria
Apply Global Date Range Filter
Given multiple forecast versions displayed side by side, when the user selects a date range filter, then all versions update to reflect data only within the selected date range concurrently.
Adjust Time Granularity Across Versions
When the user switches time granularity (monthly, quarterly, yearly), then all forecast versions immediately re-render using the selected granularity with matching time intervals and labels.
Maintain Consistent Axis Scaling
Given different forecast versions with varying data magnitudes, when displayed together, then the y-axis scales and units remain identical across versions to allow direct comparison.
Filter by Product Line and Region Simultaneously
When the user applies product line and region filters in combination, then all forecast versions display data filtered by both criteria without discrepancy.
Reset Filters and Timeframes
Given multiple filters and timeframe settings applied, when the user clicks 'Reset All', then all versions revert to default view showing the full unfiltered timeframe and data, with consistent axes.
Export Comparison Report
"As a founder, I want to export a comparison report of forecast versions so that I can share insights with my team and investors."
Description

Provide an option to export the side-by-side previews along with delta highlights and detailed hover data to a shareable PDF or CSV report. Include an automatically generated summary section that outlines major differences, key drivers, and recommended next steps. Ensure the export retains visual fidelity and is formatted for stakeholder presentations. This export feature facilitates collaboration and decision-making beyond the SimpliCast interface.

Acceptance Criteria
Export comparison report as PDF
Given a comparison preview is displayed, when the user selects export to PDF, then the generated PDF matches the on-screen layout including side-by-side previews; delta highlights are preserved; detailed hover data is included as footnotes; a summary section lists major differences, key drivers, and recommended next steps; and the PDF opens without errors.
Export comparison report as CSV
When selecting export to CSV, then the CSV file contains columns for version identifiers, metric values, delta values, and summary rows; all data matches on-screen numbers; the file opens correctly in spreadsheet applications; and no data or structure is lost during export.
Automatically generate summary section in export
Given a comparison export is initiated, when the report is generated, then the summary section automatically includes the top five differences by magnitude, the top three key drivers with percentage contributions, and recommended next steps formatted as bullet points; and the summary content aligns with the underlying exported data.
Retain visual fidelity in PDF export
When exporting the report to PDF, then the visual elements (layout, fonts, colors, delta highlight styling, and preview thumbnails) are rendered with at least 300 DPI and match the on-screen appearance within 95% visual similarity metrics.
Performance under large report conditions
Given a comparison report with up to ten forecast versions and 100 metrics per version, when exporting to PDF or CSV, then the export process completes within 30 seconds and does not exceed 80% CPU usage.

InsightFlash

Auto-creates concise, AI-generated summaries of key forecast adjustments, providing users with instant, actionable insights without manual analysis.

Requirements

AI Summary Generation Engine
"As a startup founder, I want the system to automatically generate clear, concise summaries of forecast adjustments so that I can quickly understand key changes without manually reviewing complex data."
Description

Develop a robust AI-powered engine that analyzes forecast adjustments and auto-generates concise, actionable summaries. The engine should leverage natural language processing to extract key changes, highlight significant variances, and present insights in a clear, structured format. Integration with SimpliCast’s forecasting module ensures summaries update seamlessly with new inputs and maintain context across scenarios.

Acceptance Criteria
Forecast Update Summary Generation
Given the user modifies forecast variables and saves changes, when the AI engine analyzes adjustments, then it generates a summary within 5 seconds highlighting the top three most significant changes by percentage and absolute value and displays it fully in the summary panel.
Variance Highlight Summary for Scenario Comparison
Given two named forecast scenarios are selected for comparison, when the AI engine runs, then the summary clearly lists variances exceeding 10% sorted descending by impact and labels each change as an increase or decrease.
Context Preservation Across Sequential Edits
Given multiple sequential edits across different forecast versions, when generating the summary, then the AI engine references prior context, notes cumulative changes without repetition, and includes a brief history of edits.
Summary Formatting and Structure Consistency
Given any trigger for summary generation, when the AI engine outputs the summary, then it follows the predefined JSON schema with sections 'Key Changes', 'Variance Analysis', and 'Recommendations', each populated with at least one entry.
Performance with Large Datasets
Given a forecast dataset exceeding 1000 line items, when the AI engine processes it, then it completes summary generation within 10 seconds while consuming no more than 500MB of memory.
Contextual Adjustment Identification
"As a small business operator, I want the insights to highlight the most significant forecast adjustments so that I can focus on areas that affect my bottom line the most."
Description

Implement functionality to identify and prioritize the most impactful forecast adjustments based on predefined business metrics (e.g., revenue variance, cost delta, growth rate changes). The system should rank adjustments by significance and include rationale within summaries, enabling users to focus on high-priority insights. This feature enhances decision-making by directing attention to critical areas.

Acceptance Criteria
High-Impact Adjustment Ranking
Given a set of forecast adjustments and predefined business metrics, when generating an InsightFlash summary, then adjustments are listed in descending order by calculated impact score.
Adjustment Rationale Inclusion
Given each prioritized adjustment in the summary, then a concise rationale referencing the metric change must be included.
Custom Metric Threshold Filtering
Given user-defined metric thresholds, when generating the summary, then adjustments with impact scores below the thresholds are excluded.
Metric Variance Highlighting
When an adjustment’s variance in revenue or cost exceeds 10%, then it is visually highlighted in the summary output.
Summary Consistency Across Reports
Given identical forecast data, when re-generating the summary, then the ranking and rationale remain consistent within a 1% variance in impact scores.
Customizable Insight Templates
"As a product manager, I want to customize how the AI summaries look and read so that they align with my company’s communication style and audience needs."
Description

Provide a library of editable summary templates that users can customize for tone, format, and depth of detail. Templates should support branding elements, personalized language settings, and adjustable sections (e.g., executive summary, key metrics, next steps). Integration with user profiles ensures templates persist across sessions and can be shared with team members.

Acceptance Criteria
Default Template Customization
Given a user opens the template library When they edit tone, format, and depth of detail Then the system allows in-place editing, validates inputs, and saves changes to their profile
Branding Elements Persistence
Given a user uploads a logo and selects brand colors When they apply the customized template Then all headers, footers, and metrics sections render with the correct branding across sessions
Section Visibility Adjustment
Given a user toggles visibility of sections (executive summary, key metrics, next steps) When they save the template Then only the chosen sections appear in generated summaries and the selection persists in subsequent sessions
Personalized Language Settings
Given a user configures language tone (formal, informal, technical) in a template When InsightFlash generates a summary Then the summary tone matches the selected preference and uses appropriate terminology
Template Sharing with Team
Given a user shares a customized template via user profiles When team members access the template Then they can view, apply, and further customize it while changes sync for all authorized users
Real-time Summary Updates
"As a financial analyst, I want summaries to update instantly when I tweak forecast assumptions so that I can iterate rapidly and make informed decisions on the fly."
Description

Enable real-time regeneration of summaries as users modify forecast variables or drag-and-drop components in the visual builder. The system should auto-refresh insights within seconds, reflecting the latest data without requiring manual prompts. This real-time capability ensures that users always see up-to-date recommendations and reduces context switching.

Acceptance Criteria
Live Variable Adjustment
Given the user updates any forecast variable, when the update is committed, then the summary pane automatically refreshes within 3 seconds to reflect the new values without requiring manual input and the displayed insights match the recalculated data.
Component Drag-and-Drop Modification
Given the user drags and drops a forecast component in the visual builder, when the drop action completes, then the summary auto-regenerates within 5 seconds, displaying insights that reflect the new component arrangement without a manual refresh.
Batch Data Import Impact
Given the user imports a batch of forecast adjustments via CSV, when the import process finishes, then the system auto-updates the summary within 10 seconds to incorporate all imported data and presents accurate insights.
Concurrent Team Edits
Given multiple users modify forecast elements simultaneously, when any collaborator’s change is saved, then all active sessions update their summaries within 5 seconds to prevent stale insights and ensure consistency across users.
Network Latency Handling
Given network latency slows data processing, when summary regeneration exceeds 10 seconds, then a loading indicator appears and, upon completion, the summary refreshes automatically with a success or error notification based on outcome.
Insight History and Versioning
"As an operations lead, I want to view and compare past AI-generated summaries so that I can understand how insights have evolved and justify previous decisions."
Description

Track and store all generated summaries with timestamped history, enabling users to compare insights across different forecast versions. Provide version control tools for users to revert, annotate, and export past summaries. This requirement ensures auditability and allows teams to document decision-making processes over time.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Version History
Given the user navigates to the Insight History tab and forecast summary versions exist, When the page loads, Then all past summaries are listed with their timestamp, version number, and author, sorted by most recent first.
Reverting to a Previous Summary
Given the user selects an older summary version from the version list, When the user clicks the “Revert” button and confirms, Then the selected summary becomes the current active summary and the forecast view updates accordingly.
Annotating a Summary Version
Given the user views a past summary, When the user clicks “Add Annotation,” enters text up to 500 characters, and saves, Then the annotation attaches to that version with the user's name and timestamp and is visible in the detail view.
Exporting Historical Summaries
Given one or multiple past summary versions are selected, When the user clicks “Export” and chooses CSV or PDF, Then the system generates a downloadable file containing the selected summaries with metadata and annotations.
Comparing Two Insight Versions
Given the user selects two different summary versions, When the user clicks “Compare,” Then a side-by-side diff view highlights changes in key forecast metrics, AI-generated insights, and annotations between the versions.

Snapshot Scheduler

Enables users to schedule automatic delivery of flash forecast highlights via email or Slack, ensuring stakeholders stay informed with the latest updates.

Requirements

Recurrence Pattern Setup
"As a startup founder, I want to set up daily or weekly snapshot schedules so that my team receives timely forecast highlights automatically without manual intervention."
Description

Enable users to define and configure snapshot schedules with flexible recurrence patterns, including daily, weekly, monthly, and custom intervals. The system should provide a clear, intuitive interface for selecting dates, times, time zones, and frequency rules, validate user input to prevent conflicts or invalid schedules, and integrate with the backend scheduler to persist configuration and trigger snapshot generation automatically.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Snapshot Delivery Setup
Given a user selects 'Daily' recurrence and specifies a time and time zone, when the user saves the schedule, then the system persists the configuration and displays the next three execution times correctly adjusted for the selected time zone.
Weekly Snapshot Configuration for Specific Day
Given a user selects 'Weekly' recurrence and chooses one or more weekdays, when the user confirms the selection, then the system saves the schedule and triggers snapshot generation on the next occurrence of each selected weekday at the defined time.
Monthly Snapshot on End-of-Month Date
Given a user selects 'Monthly' recurrence and chooses 'Last Day of Month', when the user saves the schedule, then the system calculates the last calendar day for each month and sets the snapshot to run on those dates at the specified time.
Custom Interval with Time Zone Adjustment
Given a user defines a custom interval (e.g., every 10 days) and selects a time zone, when the user saves the schedule, then the system persists the interval rules and ensures snapshot execution honors the time zone offset.
Conflict Prevention for Overlapping Schedules
Given a user creates or edits a schedule, when the new configuration conflicts with an existing schedule (same time and overlap), then the system displays a validation error and prevents saving until the conflict is resolved.
Delivery Channel Configuration
"As a small business operator, I want to configure email and Slack delivery channels so that my stakeholders receive updates in their preferred communication platform."
Description

Allow users to select one or multiple delivery channels—email and Slack—for scheduled snapshots. Provide a configuration interface for managing recipient lists, customizing Slack workspace and channel integrations via OAuth, and specifying email templates and distribution lists. Ensure seamless integration with the Slack API and email service provider, including authentication, rate limiting, and logging of delivery attempts.

Acceptance Criteria
Email Delivery Channel Setup
Given the user opens the Delivery Channel Configuration interface and selects Email, When they input a valid list of recipient email addresses and click Save, Then the system persists the email channel configuration and displays a success notification.
Slack Delivery Channel Setup
Given the user chooses Slack as a delivery channel, When they authenticate the workspace via OAuth and select a Slack channel, Then the system stores the Slack integration details and confirms successful connection.
Multiple Delivery Channels Selection
Given the user has configured both Email and Slack channels, When they enable both channels for snapshot delivery and save settings, Then the system registers both channels for scheduled snapshot distribution.
Email Template Customization
Given the user accesses the Email Template settings, When they modify the subject and body fields with valid content and save, Then the system applies the updated template to all future scheduled emails.
Slack OAuth Token Refresh
Given the Slack OAuth token is near expiry, When the system automatically triggers token refresh, Then the user’s Slack integration remains active without manual re-authentication.
Delivery Attempt Logging
Given a scheduled snapshot delivery executes, When the system attempts delivery via Email or Slack, Then each attempt is logged with timestamp, channel, recipient list, and success or failure status.
Custom Report Content
"As a product manager, I want to customize the content of my snapshot reports so that only the most relevant metrics and insights are delivered to stakeholders."
Description

Provide options for users to customize the content of each scheduled snapshot, including selection of key performance indicators, date ranges, comparative metrics, charts, and optional narrative commentary. Offer a modal or step-by-step wizard to choose which data elements appear, preview the formatted report, and save templates for reuse. Ensure that customizations are applied dynamically at runtime when generating each snapshot.

Acceptance Criteria
Selecting Custom Report Elements
Given the user opens the customization wizard When they select specific KPIs, date ranges, comparative metrics, charts, and narrative commentary Then the system highlights selected elements and enables the Next button only when at least one KPI and one date range are selected
Previewing Customized Snapshot
Given the user completes customization and clicks Preview When the preview loads Then the report displays all selected elements in the correct format for email or Slack, matching the chosen layout and styling
Saving a Report Template
Given the user has customized and previewed the report When they enter a unique template name and click Save Then the system persists the template to the user’s template library and displays a success confirmation message
Applying Customizations at Runtime
Given a scheduled snapshot trigger occurs When the snapshot is generated Then the system retrieves the latest template settings, applies them dynamically, and includes up-to-date data for the configured date range
Editing an Existing Template
Given the user selects a saved template and clicks Edit When they modify selections and click Save Then the system updates the template with new settings, retains the original name unless changed, and records a version history entry
Access Control and Permissions
"As an admin, I want to control which team members can create or modify snapshot schedules so that sensitive financial forecasts are managed only by authorized personnel."
Description

Implement role-based access control to govern who can create, view, modify, or delete snapshot schedules and delivery configurations. Integrate with the existing SimpliCast user management system to enforce permissions for admins, editors, and viewers. Provide UI cues and error messages when users attempt unauthorized actions, and audit logs for schedule-related activities.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Create Snapshot Schedule
Given a user with the Admin role, when they access the Snapshot Scheduler UI and submit a new schedule configuration, then the schedule is created successfully and visible in the schedule list.
Editor Modify Snapshot Schedule
Given a user with the Editor role, when they select an existing snapshot schedule and update its delivery time or channels, then the changes are saved and reflected in the schedule details.
Viewer Delete Attempt Blocked
Given a user with the Viewer role, when they attempt to delete a snapshot schedule, then the delete action is disabled in the UI and an “Insufficient permissions” error message is displayed.
Unauthorized Access Denied
Given a user without any schedule-related permissions, when they navigate directly to the schedule configuration endpoint, then they receive a 403 Forbidden response and a UI notification preventing access.
Audit Log Records Actions
Given any user action to create, modify, or delete a snapshot schedule, when the action completes, then an audit log entry is generated containing the user ID, timestamp, action type, and schedule ID.
Error Handling and Notifications
"As an operations lead, I want to be notified if a scheduled snapshot delivery fails so that I can address the underlying issue promptly and ensure reliable reporting."
Description

Develop robust error detection and handling mechanisms for scheduling and delivery processes. Automatically retry transient failures (e.g., network timeouts) up to a configurable threshold. For persistent errors or repeated failures, send immediate notifications to the schedule owner via email or Slack, including detailed error logs and guidance for resolution. Log all error events centrally for monitoring and troubleshooting.

Acceptance Criteria
Transient Network Timeout Handling
Given a snapshot is scheduled for delivery and a network timeout occurs, When the delivery process detects the timeout error, Then the system automatically retries the delivery up to the configured threshold without user intervention.
Persistent Failure Notification to Owner
Given the delivery retry threshold is reached due to persistent errors, When the final retry attempt fails, Then the system sends a notification via email and Slack to the schedule owner including the error log and suggested next steps.
Centralized Error Logging
Given any error occurs during scheduling or delivery, When the error is detected, Then an entry is created in the central logging system capturing timestamp, error type, retry count, and relevant metadata.
Configurable Retry Threshold Adjustment
Given an administrator updates the retry threshold setting, When changes are saved, Then the system applies the new threshold to subsequent retry attempts and records the configuration change in the audit log.
Notification Content Compliance
Given a notification is sent to the schedule owner, When notification content is generated, Then it includes error description, retry summary, request ID, timestamp, and a direct link to error resolution documentation.

Threshold Alerts

Lets users define custom thresholds for forecast changes and triggers instant notifications when changes exceed these limits, preventing unexpected surprises.

Requirements

Custom Threshold Definition
"As a small business owner, I want to set custom upper and lower bounds for my revenue forecasts so that I’m alerted immediately if actual projections fall outside my acceptable range."
Description

Enable users to define custom numeric thresholds for any forecast metric (such as revenue, expenses, or growth rate) by specifying upper and lower bounds. These thresholds integrate directly with the model builder, allowing real-time evaluation against live forecast data. When set, the system monitors changes continuously and uses the user-defined limits to identify significant deviations. This requirement reduces the risk of oversight by providing personalized alert criteria that align with each business’s unique tolerance levels.

Acceptance Criteria
Define Upper and Lower Bounds for Revenue Metric
Given a user selects the revenue metric in the threshold settings When they input a numeric upper bound and lower bound and click Save Then the system stores these values and displays a confirmation message
Real-Time Threshold Evaluation
Given thresholds are set for any metric When forecast data updates in the model builder Then the system evaluates the current metric value against the defined bounds within 5 seconds
Threshold Exceedance Notification
Given a forecast metric breaches its defined threshold When the metric value moves outside the user-defined bounds Then the system triggers an alert notification in the UI and sends an email notification within 1 minute
Invalid Threshold Input Handling
Given a user enters a lower bound that is higher than the upper bound or non-numeric input When they attempt to save the threshold Then the system displays inline validation errors and prevents the threshold from being saved
Threshold Persistence Across Sessions
Given thresholds were previously defined and saved When the user logs out and logs back in Then the system retrieves and displays the saved thresholds correctly in the threshold settings
Multi-Metric Thresholds
"As a finance manager, I want to group multiple forecast metric thresholds into a single rule so that I receive comprehensive alerts when several key indicators deteriorate at once."
Description

Allow users to configure thresholds across multiple metrics within a single alert rule. Users can select combinations of forecast variables—such as cash flow, customer count, or burn rate—and define compound conditions (e.g., cash flow drop >10% AND customer churn >5%) that trigger a single notification. This feature streamlines monitoring by bundling related signals into one alert, reducing noise and providing a holistic view of critical scenario changes.

Acceptance Criteria
Compound Threshold Rule Creation
Given the user navigates to the Threshold Alerts builder and selects multiple metrics When the user sets a condition for each metric (e.g., cash flow drop >10% AND customer churn >5%) And the user saves the rule Then a new compound threshold rule is created and listed in the user’s alert rules with the correct metrics and conditions
Threshold Rule Triggering on Multiple Metrics
Given an existing compound threshold rule with conditions on cash flow and churn When forecast data updates and both conditions exceed their defined limits Then the system triggers a single notification consolidating both metric breaches
Single Metric Above Threshold Should Not Trigger
Given an active compound threshold rule requiring both cash flow drop and churn rate conditions When only one of the metrics exceeds its threshold Then no notification is sent
Editing Compound Threshold Rules
Given a user selects an existing compound threshold rule When the user modifies one or more metric conditions and saves the changes Then the updated rule reflects the new conditions and is used for subsequent alerts
Notification Delivery Verification
Given a compound threshold rule triggers an alert When the system sends the notification Then the user receives the alert via their configured channel containing both metric names, values, thresholds, and timestamp
Real-Time Notification Delivery
"As a startup founder, I want to receive immediate notifications on my phone and email when my key forecasts exceed thresholds so that I can react quickly to potential risks."
Description

Implement instant notification delivery via email, in-app pop-up, and SMS whenever a forecast change exceeds user-defined thresholds. The system should push alerts within seconds of detecting a breach, ensuring users are informed promptly. Notifications include clear context: the metric name, previous value, current value, threshold settings, and a link to the impacted model scenario. This ensures rapid awareness and action, critical for time-sensitive decisions.

Acceptance Criteria
Monthly Revenue Forecast Threshold Breach
Given a user has set a 10% threshold for monthly revenue forecast changes, When the forecast value changes from $100,000 to $89,000, Then the system sends an email, in-app pop-up, and SMS within 5 seconds containing the metric name, previous value, current value, threshold settings, and a link to the impacted model scenario.
Quarterly Profit Margin Alert
Given a user has defined a 5% threshold for quarterly profit margin changes, When the profit margin forecast shifts from 20% to 14%, Then the system delivers notifications via email, in-app pop-up, and SMS within 3 seconds, including all required context and direct scenario link.
Daily Website Traffic Drop Notification
Given a user has configured a 15% threshold for daily website traffic forecast drops, When the forecasted traffic decreases from 50,000 to 41,000 visits, Then notifications are dispatched through all three channels (email, in-app, SMS) within 4 seconds, clearly stating metric details, values, threshold, and scenario link.
Monthly Customer Acquisition Cost Spike
Given a user has set a maximum 20% threshold for customer acquisition cost forecast increases, When the forecasted cost rises from $50 to $62, Then the system pushes instant alerts by email, in-app pop-up, and SMS within 5 seconds, including metric name, old and new values, threshold criteria, and a direct link to the affected scenario.
Cash Runway Reduction Alert
Given a user has defined a 10% threshold for cash runway reduction, When the forecasted runway shortens from 12 months to 10 months, Then the system sends simultaneous email, in-app, and SMS notifications within 3 seconds, detailing metric name, previous and current values, threshold, and scenario link.
Threshold History Log
"As a financial analyst, I want to review a history of all threshold alerts with details and timestamps so that I can analyze patterns and improve forecast controls."
Description

Provide a dedicated log view that records every threshold breach event, including timestamp, metric details, threshold values, actual values, and user acknowledgments. This log integrates with the analytics dashboard, allowing users to filter, sort, and export breach events for audits and performance reviews. Having a historical record helps teams identify recurring risks and refine threshold settings over time.

Acceptance Criteria
Single Breach Event Display
Given a threshold breach occurs, when the user navigates to the Threshold History Log, then the event is listed with timestamp, metric name, threshold value, actual value, and acknowledgment status.
Filter and Sort Breach Events
Given multiple breach events exist, when the user applies a metric filter and sorts by date descending, then only matching events appear in the correct order.
Export Breach Log
Given log entries are present in the view, when the user clicks Export as CSV, then the downloaded file includes all displayed columns (timestamp, metric, threshold, actual value, acknowledgment) matching the current filter and sort.
Acknowledgement Recording
Given an unacknowledged breach event in the log, when the user clicks Acknowledge on that event, then the system records the acknowledgment timestamp and user ID and updates the status to Acknowledged.
Analytics Dashboard Integration
Given the analytics dashboard is loaded, when the user adds the Breach History widget, then the dashboard displays the count of breaches per metric over the selected time range using the history log data.
Granular Permission Controls
"As an operations manager, I want to assign alert management permissions to specific team roles so that our finance team can configure thresholds while others can only view alerts."
Description

Enable administrators to manage which team members can create, edit, or delete threshold alerts and view breach logs. Permissions are tied to user roles within SimpliCast (e.g., Admin, Editor, Viewer). This ensures that only authorized personnel can modify critical alert settings, maintaining data integrity and security while allowing appropriate visibility for all stakeholders.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Creates New Role with Alert Permissions
Given an Admin navigates to Role Management, When they create a new role and select specific permissions for threshold alerts (create, edit, delete, view logs), Then the system saves the role with exactly those permissions and displays it in the role list.
Editor Attempts to Modify Threshold Alerts
Given a user with the Editor role is signed in, When they try to modify an existing threshold alert, Then the system allows the edit only if the Editor role has 'edit' permission, otherwise displays an authorization error.
Viewer Tries to Delete Alert and Fails
Given a user with the Viewer role is signed in, When they attempt to delete a threshold alert, Then the system denies the action with a 'Permission Denied' message and prevents deletion.
Audit Log Access for Breach Logs
Given any user with the 'view logs' permission is signed in, When they access the breach logs page, Then they can view and filter logs of threshold breaches but cannot edit or delete any log entries.
Role Permission Update Propagates to Users
Given an Admin updates the permissions of an existing role, When users assigned to that role perform actions related to threshold alerts, Then their capabilities immediately reflect the updated permissions without requiring re-login.

SnapSend

One-click sharing of scenario thumbnails directly to chat or email. SnapSend streamlines communication by instantly exporting visuals with contextual captions, allowing teams to distribute insights without manual downloads or formatting.

Requirements

Instant Thumbnail Generation
"As a startup founder, I want to quickly capture a scenario thumbnail so that I can share a visual overview of my business model with my team instantly."
Description

Enable users to capture and export high-resolution scenario thumbnails with a single click. This functionality generates a visual snapshot of the current scenario in PNG format, ensuring fidelity and clarity. It integrates seamlessly with the visual builder, allowing direct access from the scenario toolbar. The requirement ensures quick image rendering, minimal latency, and consistency across different scenarios. This improves collaboration by providing readily shareable visuals without manual export steps.

Acceptance Criteria
Instant Thumbnail Generation from Toolbar
Given the user clicks the "Export Thumbnail" button in the scenario toolbar, when the request is processed, then a PNG file is generated and downloaded to the user's device within 2 seconds with no visible UI freeze.
High-Resolution Output Consistency
Given a generated scenario thumbnail, when inspected, then the PNG image must be at least 1920×1080 pixels and maintain 300 DPI resolution without distortion or pixelation.
Cross-Scenario Thumbnail Accuracy
Given scenarios containing up to 200 visual elements, when exporting, then the thumbnail must capture all elements without clipping or overlap and render within 5 seconds.
Seamless UI Integration
Given any user role with access to the visual builder, when the scenario toolbar is displayed, then the "Export Thumbnail" button must be visible, enabled, and display the tooltip "Export Thumbnail" on hover.
Error Handling and User Feedback
Given a thumbnail generation failure (e.g., network error or rendering timeout), when the error occurs, then the system must display an inline message "Thumbnail generation failed. Please try again." and log the error details for support.
Contextual Caption Suggestion
"As a small business operator, I want the system to suggest captions for my scenario thumbnails so that I can communicate insights accurately without spending time drafting text."
Description

Provide AI-powered caption suggestions based on the scenario's key data points and context. When a user initiates SnapSend, the system analyzes scenario metrics (e.g., revenue projections, market assumptions) and generates a concise, descriptive caption. The feature allows users to accept, edit, or regenerate captions. This streamlines communication by eliminating manual caption writing and ensures contextual relevance in shared visuals.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Caption Generation
Given a scenario with revenue and market assumption data, when the user clicks SnapSend and selects 'Generate Caption', then the system produces a caption within 5 seconds that includes at least two key data points and is 150 characters or fewer.
Caption Acceptance and Sharing
Given the generated caption appears in the edit field, when the user clicks 'Accept', then the caption is attached to the exported thumbnail and is visible in the email or chat message preview exactly as edited.
Caption Editing Oversight
Given a generated caption is displayed, when the user modifies the text and clicks 'Save', then the updated caption replaces the original suggestion in the shared content and persists in the history log.
Caption Regeneration
Given the user is unsatisfied with the initial suggestion, when the user clicks 'Regenerate Caption', then the system provides a new caption within 5 seconds that differs from the previous suggestion by at least 20% of the words.
Caption Quality Validation
Given a generated caption is ready for display, when the system runs its quality check, then the caption contains no placeholder text, is grammatically correct, and references at least one metric from the scenario.
One-Click Chat Integration
"As a product manager, I want to share scenario thumbnails directly to our team chat so that we can discuss planning visuals without leaving SimpliCast."
Description

Implement direct integration with popular team chat tools (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) to send scenario thumbnails and captions via one click. Users can select the target channel or recipient within SimpliCast, preview the message, and dispatch it instantly. The integration uses official APIs to authenticate and post messages securely, handling attachments and formatting. This feature enhances workflow efficiency by embedding sharing capabilities within the application.

Acceptance Criteria
Selecting a Chat Channel or Recipient
Given the user clicks on the 'Share' button on a scenario thumbnail When the 'Select Recipient' dialog opens Then the user can search and select from a list of available Slack channels and direct message recipients
Previewing the Message with Thumbnail and Caption
Given the user has selected a channel or recipient When the 'Preview Message' pane is displayed Then the scenario thumbnail and auto-generated caption accurately reflect the current state of the model and formatting aligns with the chat tool's standards
Sending Message via Slack Integration
Given valid Slack API authentication When the user clicks 'Send' Then the message with thumbnail is successfully posted to the chosen Slack channel within 5 seconds and the application displays a confirmation notification
Sending Message via Microsoft Teams Integration
Given valid Teams API authentication When the user clicks 'Send' Then the message with thumbnail is successfully posted to the chosen Teams channel within 5 seconds and the application displays a confirmation notification
Handling Authentication and Permissions
Given the user has not authenticated with the chat tool When attempting to share a scenario Then the application prompts the user to authenticate via the official OAuth flow and prevents message dispatch until authentication is complete
Email Export with Templates
"As a business consultant, I want to email scenario snapshots with a predefined template so that my clients receive clear, branded communications without extra setup."
Description

Offer one-click email export of scenario thumbnails with customizable email templates. Users can configure default recipients, subject lines, and body templates that include placeholders for scenario data. Upon invoking SnapSend, the system embeds the thumbnail image and injects contextual information into the email draft. This streamlines stakeholder communication, ensuring consistency in emails and reducing manual formatting.

Acceptance Criteria
Default Email Template Configuration
Given the user navigates to email template settings, when they define default recipients, subject line, and body with placeholders and save, then the settings are persisted and displayed correctly in SnapSend configuration.
Sending Email with Embedded Thumbnail
Given a scenario thumbnail is generated, when the user clicks SnapSend and selects email export, then a new email draft opens with the thumbnail image embedded, default recipients populated, and subject and body pre-filled based on the saved template.
Placeholder Data Population
Given the email template contains placeholders (e.g., {{scenario_name}}, {{creation_date}}, {{thumbnail_url}}), when an email export is invoked, then each placeholder in the draft is replaced with the scenario’s actual name, timestamp, and image URL without errors.
Custom Recipient Override
Given the email draft is populated with default recipients, when the user edits the recipient field before sending, then the modified recipients are retained and used when the email is sent.
Handling Missing Template Data
Given the user has not configured a default template or a placeholder value is missing, when they invoke email export, then the system falls back to a generic subject/body template and omits undefined placeholders gracefully.
Preview and Customization Mode
"As a marketing lead, I want to preview and customize my scenario snapshot before sharing so that I can ensure it meets our brand standards and messaging."
Description

Provide a modal window for users to preview thumbnails and captions before sending. The preview mode allows resizing the image, editing captions, selecting alternative templates, and choosing delivery channels. Users can see exactly how the shared content will appear in chat or email, reducing errors and ensuring alignment with branding guidelines. The mode integrates validation checks to confirm image resolution and text length constraints.

Acceptance Criteria
Image Resize and Quality Validation
Given the user opens the preview modal and uploads a scenario thumbnail, When the user adjusts the image size slider, Then the image updates in real time and remains within the minimum resolution of 800×600 pixels and maximum of 2000×1500 pixels without distortion.
Caption Editing and Length Enforcement
Given the user views the auto-generated caption in the preview modal, When the user edits the text, Then the system enforces a 280-character limit, displays a warning if exceeded, and only enables the Send button when the caption length is valid.
Template Selection and Live Preview
Given the user clicks the template dropdown in the preview modal, When the user selects an alternative layout template, Then the thumbnail and caption reposition to the new template instantly and match the brand’s color and font guidelines.
Delivery Channel Configuration
Given the user chooses between chat and email channels in the modal, When the user selects a channel, Then the preview updates to show channel-specific formatting (e.g., subject line for email, chat bubble style) and displays a confirmation of the selected channel.
Validation of Send Action Preconditions
Given all preview customizations are complete, When the user clicks the Send button, Then the system performs validation checks on image resolution and caption length, and only proceeds to send if all checks pass, otherwise displays specific error messages.

ThreadLink

Automatic embedding of scenario snapshots into persistent discussion threads in Slack, Teams, or email. ThreadLink maintains conversation context, enabling collaborators to comment on each snapshot and drive decisions within their preferred communication platform.

Requirements

Automatic Snapshot Generation
"As a startup founder, I want scenario snapshots automatically generated so that I can share the precise model state with my team instantly."
Description

System automatically captures and formats scenario snapshots on demand or at key workflow milestones, preparing them for seamless embedding into communication threads. This ensures that users can share the exact state of their business model without manual export steps, reducing errors and saving time.

Acceptance Criteria
On-Demand Snapshot Request
Given a user clicks 'Generate Snapshot' on a scenario, When the system processes the request, Then a snapshot of the current scenario state is captured, formatted in the predefined template, and stored in the snapshot history.
Automated Milestone Snapshot
Given a scenario reaches a defined workflow milestone, When the milestone is triggered, Then the system automatically captures and formats the scenario snapshot without user intervention.
Snapshot Format Compliance
Given a snapshot is generated, When the snapshot is saved, Then it adheres to the specified layout, includes all key data points (revenue, expenses, assumptions), and matches the visual builder’s current state.
Snapshot Error Handling
Given a snapshot generation fails due to system error or missing data, When the failure occurs, Then the system displays an actionable error message to the user and logs the failure for support review.
Snapshot Ready for Embedding
Given a snapshot is generated, When the user initiates embedding into a communication thread, Then the snapshot is available in the embed payload with correct metadata and can be previewed before sending.
Multi-Platform Thread Embedding
"As a small business operator, I want to embed scenario snapshots in my preferred communication platform so that my team can discuss insights without leaving their chat tools."
Description

Enable direct embedding of formatted scenario snapshots into Slack, Microsoft Teams, and email threads, preserving images, tables, and contextual links. This integration maintains conversation flow within familiar platforms, eliminating the need to switch back to SimpliCast for context.

Acceptance Criteria
Slack Channel Scenario
Given a user selects 'Share to Slack' from SimpliCast and chooses a channel, When the user confirms sharing, Then the selected Slack channel receives a message containing the scenario snapshot with images, tables, and context links accurately formatted.
Microsoft Teams Chat Scenario
Given a user selects 'Share to Teams' and picks a chat or channel, When sharing is confirmed, Then the Teams conversation displays the scenario snapshot with embedded images, correctly rendered tables, and active contextual links.
Email Sharing Scenario
Given a user invokes 'Share via Email' in SimpliCast and enters recipient addresses, When the email is sent, Then the recipients receive an email containing the inline scenario snapshot with images, table formatting, and working contextual links.
Unsupported Platform Error Handling
Given a user attempts to share a snapshot to an unsupported platform, When the share action is initiated, Then the system displays an error message 'Platform not supported' and no snapshot is sent or posted.
Contextual Link Integrity Validation
Given a scenario snapshot is embedded in any supported platform, When a collaborator clicks a contextual link, Then the collaborator is redirected to the exact scenario view in SimpliCast within 2 seconds and with full context loaded.
Contextual ThreadLink Comments
"As a team member, I want to comment on embedded snapshots so that feedback is directly tied to the specific scenario version under discussion."
Description

Allow collaborators to post comments directly on each embedded snapshot within the thread. Comments sync back to SimpliCast, attaching feedback to the specific snapshot version, and enabling clear, actionable discussions linked to exact scenario states.

Acceptance Criteria
Commenting on a Slack Thread
Given a snapshot embedded in Slack when a collaborator submits a comment Then the comment is successfully posted inline and visible to all thread participants
Commenting on a Teams Thread
Given a snapshot embedded in a Teams conversation when a collaborator adds a reply Then the comment appears in the thread and is attributed to the correct user
Commenting on an Email-Embedded Snapshot
Given a snapshot included in an email when a recipient replies with feedback Then the feedback is captured and displayed beneath the correct snapshot in the thread
Synchronization of Comments to SimpliCast
Given comments made in Slack, Teams, or email when syncing occurs Then each comment is attached to the exact snapshot version in SimpliCast with correct metadata
Viewing Snapshot-Specific Comments in SimpliCast
Given a user views a scenario in SimpliCast when comments exist Then all comments for the displayed snapshot version are listed with author, timestamp, and platform source
Version Control and Snapshot History
"As a decision maker, I want to access prior snapshot versions so that I can review how the model has changed since initial sharing."
Description

Maintain a versioned history of all shared snapshots, allowing users to review, compare, and restore previous versions. The history view shows timestamps, author details, and change summaries to track scenario evolution over time.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Snapshot Version History
Given a user has accessed a scenario with multiple snapshots When the user opens the version history view Then the system displays all snapshots sorted by timestamp showing date/time, author name, and change summary
Comparing Two Snapshot Versions
Given two snapshots exist in the history When the user selects two snapshots and clicks compare Then the system highlights differences in values and formulas side by side with indication of added, removed, or modified fields
Restoring a Previous Snapshot
Given a user identifies a desired previous snapshot When the user selects restore on that snapshot Then the system creates a new current snapshot mirroring the selected one, updates the scenario view accordingly, and logs the restore action with timestamp and author
Reviewing Change Summaries in History
Given a list of snapshots with change summaries When the user hovers or expands a snapshot entry Then the system displays a detailed changelog of additions, deletions, and modifications made in that version
Filtering Snapshot History
Given a populated version history When the user applies filters by date range or author Then the system updates the list to show only snapshots matching the selected filters with live feedback
Access Control and Permissions
"As an administrator, I want to control who can view and comment on shared snapshots so that sensitive business data remains secure."
Description

Enforce SimpliCast permissions on embedded snapshots, ensuring that only authorized users can view or comment. ThreadLink checks user roles and group memberships before rendering snapshots or allowing interaction.

Acceptance Criteria
Snapshot Access for Authorized Users
Given a user with 'Viewer' or higher role within SimpliCast When they access a ThreadLink embedded snapshot in Slack, Teams, or email Then the snapshot is rendered and visible without errors
Snapshot Denial for Unauthorized Users
Given a user without sufficient SimpliCast permissions When they attempt to view an embedded snapshot via ThreadLink Then they receive an 'Access Denied' message and no snapshot content is displayed
Commenting Privileges for Authorized Roles
Given a user with 'Commenter' or higher permissions When they interact with the snapshot in ThreadLink Then they can add, edit, and delete their comments, and comments are correctly persisted back to SimpliCast
Role and Group Membership Synchronization
Given a user’s role or group membership is updated in SimpliCast When they access a new ThreadLink snapshot within 5 minutes Then their updated permissions are correctly enforced for viewing and commenting
Access Revocation upon Permission Update
Given a user’s permissions are downgraded or removed When they try to view or comment on an existing embedded snapshot Then access is revoked immediately and they receive an 'Access Denied' message
Notification and Activity Tracking
"As a scenario owner, I want to receive notifications for comments on shared snapshots so that I stay informed about team feedback."
Description

Notify scenario owners and relevant stakeholders when new comments or interactions occur on embedded snapshots. Activity logs track thread engagement and link back to SimpliCast’s audit trail for comprehensive monitoring.

Acceptance Criteria
Stakeholder Receives Notification on New Comment
Given a scenario snapshot embedded in a Slack thread and a stakeholder is subscribed to notifications; When a new comment is posted in the thread; Then the stakeholder receives a notification in their Slack channel within 30 seconds, containing the comment text, author name, and a link back to the SimpliCast scenario.
Owner Views Activity Log Entry for Thread Interaction
Given a scenario owner logs into SimpliCast; When there have been comments or interactions on embedded snapshots; Then the owner can view an activity log entry listing timestamped events, commenter identities, comment content, and a link to the associated thread, matching data in the platform's audit trail.
Stakeholder Unsubscribes from Comment Notifications
Given a stakeholder is subscribed to scenario comment notifications; When the stakeholder selects 'Unsubscribe' from a notification message; Then the system stops sending further notifications for that scenario and confirms unsubscription via a message.
Audit Trail Links to SimpliCast Platform
Given SimpliCast’s audit trail; When a thread interaction event is logged; Then the event includes a persistent link that navigates directly to the embedded snapshot and its discussion thread within the platform's UI.
Real-Time Notification Delivery Within SLA
Given the system is operational; When a comment is posted on an embedded snapshot; Then the notification is delivered to the stakeholder’s channel (Slack, Teams, or Email) within 60 seconds, meeting defined service-level targets.
Deep-Link Navigation
"As a collaborator, I want to navigate from an embedded snapshot back to the exact scenario in SimpliCast so that I can quickly make adjustments based on feedback."
Description

Provide clickable links within embedded snapshots that open the corresponding scenario directly in SimpliCast, preserving the user's view context, filters, and selected elements for seamless editing and review.

Acceptance Criteria
Clicking Embedded Snapshot in Slack Opens Scenario
Given a user clicks the deep link embedded in a Slack message snapshot, When the link is opened in a browser, Then the corresponding scenario loads in SimpliCast with the same view context, applied filters, and selected elements.
Clicking Embedded Snapshot in Teams Opens Scenario
Given a user clicks the deep link embedded in a Microsoft Teams message snapshot, When the link is opened in a browser, Then the corresponding scenario loads in SimpliCast maintaining the exact view context, applied filters, and selected elements.
Clicking Embedded Snapshot in Email Opens Scenario
Given a user clicks the deep link embedded in an email notification snapshot, When the link is opened in a browser, Then SimpliCast opens the correct scenario preserving the user’s last-saved view context, filters, and selected elements.
Scenario View State Preserved Across Navigation
Given a user has adjusted view settings (zoom, filter, selected elements) in SimpliCast, When they generate and click the deep link for a snapshot, Then the scenario opens with identical view settings without reset.
Invalid or Expired Deep Link Shows Error
Given a user clicks a deep link that is invalid or expired, When the link is opened, Then the system displays a clear error message indicating the link is not valid and provides a way to request a new link.

SnapNotes

Rich annotation tools for adding highlights, arrows, text boxes, and stickers to snapshots. SnapNotes helps users draw attention to key assumptions or outcomes, making feedback clear and actionable during collaborative reviews.

Requirements

Annotation Toolbar
"As a business user, I want a single, organized toolbar for all annotation tools so that I can quickly find and apply highlights, arrows, text boxes, or stickers without searching through multiple menus."
Description

A centralized, context-sensitive toolbar that provides access to all rich annotation tools (highlights, arrows, text boxes, stickers) within SnapNotes. It should be visible when a snapshot is active and adapt its available tools based on the snapshot’s content and user role. The toolbar streamlines annotation workflows by grouping tools in logical categories, reducing cognitive load and enabling quick discovery of the right tool. Integrating seamlessly with the visual builder interface, it should support keyboard shortcuts and drag-and-drop placement for efficiency, and persist user preferences for tool order and display.

Acceptance Criteria
Toolbar Visibility on Snapshot Activation
Given a user opens a snapshot in SnapNotes When the snapshot becomes active Then the annotation toolbar appears within 2 seconds and remains visible until the snapshot is closed
Context-Sensitive Tool Availability for Text Snapshots
Given a snapshot containing only text content When the annotation toolbar loads Then only text-related tools (highlights, text boxes, arrows) are enabled and other tools are hidden
User Role-Based Tool Restrictions
Given a user with Viewer role accesses a snapshot When the annotation toolbar is displayed Then edit-only tools (stickers, text boxes, arrows) are disabled and tooltip indicates insufficient permissions
Keyboard Shortcut and Drag-and-Drop Functionality
Given the annotation toolbar is visible When the user uses defined keyboard shortcuts or drags a tool icon onto the snapshot Then the corresponding annotation tool activates immediately and placement is applied at the drop location
Persistence of User Toolbar Preferences
Given a user customizes the order of tools in the toolbar and refreshes the page When the user reopens any snapshot Then the toolbar reflects the user’s last saved tool order and display preferences
Export Annotated Snapshots
"As a project manager, I want to export my annotated snapshots as high-quality PDFs so that I can share clear, branded visuals with stakeholders."
Description

Functionality to export snapshots with embedded annotations into common formats (PNG, PDF) while preserving visual fidelity and layering. Users should be able to choose export resolutions, include or exclude specific annotation layers, and add custom branding (watermarks or footers). This requirement enhances sharing and reporting capabilities by allowing annotated visuals to be distributed externally or embedded in presentations. It integrates with the existing export module in SimpliCast and respects user permissions.

Acceptance Criteria
Export Snapshot with Annotations to PNG
Given a user has an annotated snapshot in SimpliCast When the user selects 'Export' and chooses 'PNG' format with default settings Then the system generates a .png file that faithfully preserves all visual annotations, layering, and layout exactly as displayed on-screen
Export Snapshot with Annotations to PDF
Given a user has an annotated snapshot in SimpliCast When the user selects 'Export' and chooses 'PDF' format with default settings Then the system generates a .pdf file that embeds annotations as vector or high-resolution elements, preserving layer order and clarity
Select Export Resolution
Given a user is on the export dialog When the user selects a specific resolution option (e.g., 72 DPI, 150 DPI, 300 DPI) Then the exported file is produced at the chosen resolution, and metadata within the file (or file properties) reflects the correct DPI
Include or Exclude Annotation Layers
Given a user has multiple annotation layers in a snapshot When the user toggles visibility on specific layers before exporting Then only the visible layers are included in the exported file and hidden layers are omitted entirely
Add Custom Branding to Exports
Given a user has configured a watermark image or footer text in their export settings When the user exports a snapshot Then the exported file includes the watermark in the designated position and/or footers containing the custom text, matching user-defined opacity and font settings
Real-time Collaborative Annotation
"As a team member, I want to see my colleagues’ annotations in real time so that we can collaborate efficiently during review sessions."
Description

Support for multiple users to annotate the same snapshot simultaneously, with live updates shown in real time. Annotations should be color-coded by user, and cursors should display collaborator names. Changes must synchronize instantly across sessions and persist in the underlying snapshot version history. The feature should integrate with SimpliCast’s collaboration services, ensuring low-latency updates and conflict resolution to maintain consistency.

Acceptance Criteria
Simultaneous Annotation by Multiple Users
Given two or more users are viewing the same snapshot, when one user adds an annotation, then the annotation appears on all users' screens within 500ms.
Color-Coded Annotations by User
Given multiple users annotate a snapshot, then each annotation is displayed in a unique color associated with the user, and the color remains consistent across sessions.
Live Cursor Indicator
Given collaborators are on the snapshot, when a user moves their cursor, then the cursor position and the user's name label are visible to all users in real time.
Low Latency Update under High Load
Given up to 20 concurrent collaborators on a snapshot, when multiple annotations are made, then all updates synchronize across sessions within 1 second without loss or conflict.
Persistent Version History
Given annotations are made and saved, when the snapshot version history is accessed, then all annotations are listed with timestamps, user attribution, and can be restored or rolled back.
Multi-Select and Batch Actions
"As an analyst, I want to select and modify several annotations at once so that I can maintain a uniform appearance and save time when making bulk updates."
Description

Ability to select multiple annotation elements at once (highlights, arrows, text boxes, stickers) and perform batch actions such as move, resize, change color, delete, or lock. The selection mechanism should allow click-and-drag marquee selection as well as shift-click multi-select. Batch operations increase productivity by enabling users to adjust groups of annotations cohesively, ensuring consistency in style and positioning.

Acceptance Criteria
Marquee Selection of Multiple Annotations
Given the user has multiple annotation elements on the canvas When the user clicks and drags to form a marquee box encompassing several elements Then all annotation elements within the marquee boundary are highlighted as selected
Shift-Click Multi-Select
Given the user has at least two annotation elements on the canvas When the user holds the Shift key and clicks on multiple elements Then each clicked element toggles between selected and unselected states without affecting other elements
Batch Move of Selected Annotations
Given multiple annotation elements are selected When the user drags any one selected element to a new position Then all selected elements move together maintaining their relative positions
Batch Resize and Color Change
Given multiple annotation elements are selected When the user applies a resize operation or changes the color from the toolbar Then all selected elements update to the new size or color simultaneously
Batch Delete and Lock Actions
Given multiple annotation elements are selected When the user chooses the delete or lock batch action from the context menu Then all selected elements are either removed from the canvas or locked in place accordingly
Annotation Templates
"As a startup founder, I want to apply a saved annotation template so that I can quickly mark up snapshots using our standardized feedback style."
Description

A library of reusable annotation templates that users can save and apply to new snapshots. Templates include predefined combinations of annotations (for example, a standard risk highlight with arrow and text box) and user-defined styles (colors, fonts, sticker sets). This requirement streamlines repetitive annotation tasks by allowing teams to standardize feedback formats and accelerate the review process. Templates should be importable, exportable, and shareable across teams.

Acceptance Criteria
Creating a New Annotation Template
Rule 1: User can open the template library and click “New Template”. Rule 2: User can add highlights, arrows, text boxes, and stickers to the template canvas. Rule 3: User can configure style options including colors, fonts, and sticker sets. Rule 4: User must provide a unique name before saving; otherwise a validation error is shown. Rule 5: Upon saving, the new template appears in the library with correct name and preview.
Applying a Saved Template to a New Snapshot
Given a saved template and an open snapshot, When the user selects the template from the library, Then all annotations from the template are applied to the snapshot in correct positions and styles. And the user can modify individual annotations after application. And the original template remains unchanged.
Importing an Annotation Template from External Source
Rule 1: User can upload a template file in the supported .json format. Rule 2: System validates file structure and contents before import. Rule 3: Valid templates are added to the library with original name and style metadata. Rule 4: Invalid files trigger a clear error message and no new template is added.
Exporting an Annotation Template for Sharing
Given a selected template in the library, When the user clicks “Export”, Then the system generates and downloads a .json file containing the template’s configuration and assets. And the exported file can be successfully imported by another user without data loss.
Renaming and Deleting an Annotation Template
Rule 1: User can rename a template by editing its name in the library and changes are saved immediately. Rule 2: User can delete a template after confirming a warning prompt. Rule 3: Deleted templates no longer appear in the library and cannot be applied to new snapshots. Rule 4: Snapshots already annotated with the deleted template retain their existing annotations.

ReelView

A visual timeline carousel that displays saved scenario snapshots sequentially. ReelView lets users slide through versions to compare changes over time, quickly identifying trends and understanding the evolution of their models.

Requirements

Timeline Carousel Display
"As a startup founder, I want to scroll through saved scenario snapshots in a horizontal timeline so that I can visually track changes and trends over time."
Description

Provide a horizontal carousel interface in the ReelView panel that displays saved scenario snapshots in chronological order. The carousel dynamically loads thumbnail vignettes of each version along with timestamps and version labels. It supports smooth swiping, arrow-based navigation, and paginates for performance, ensuring quick load times and seamless browsing through historical models.

Acceptance Criteria
Carousel Loads Scenario
Given the user opens the ReelView panel and saved scenario snapshots exist, when the carousel initializes, then it displays thumbnail vignettes in chronological order from oldest to newest, each showing its timestamp and version label.
Swipe Navigation
Given the carousel is displayed, when the user swipes left or right on a touchscreen or trackpad, then the carousel smoothly transitions to the previous or next thumbnail within 200ms and centers it in view.
Arrow Button Navigation
Given the carousel is displayed, when the user clicks the left or right arrow buttons, then the carousel scrolls exactly one thumbnail per click and visually highlights the focused thumbnail.
Pagination Performance
Given there are more than 20 saved snapshots, when the user navigates through the carousel, then additional thumbnails paginate and load dynamically, with each page loading in under 300ms to maintain seamless browsing.
Thumbnail Rendering Accuracy
Given the carousel loads each thumbnail, then each vignette reflects the correct scenario state snapshot at 100×60 pixel resolution, with readable timestamp and version label text.
Snapshot Metadata Overlay
"As a small business operator, I want to see detailed information about each snapshot on hover so that I can understand what changed without leaving the carousel."
Description

Display a contextual overlay when hovering over or focusing on a snapshot thumbnail, showing metadata such as model name, timestamp, change summary, and author. The overlay appears within 100ms of hover or focus and disappears when the cursor moves away or after five seconds of inactivity, enabling users to view detailed information without navigating away from the carousel.

Acceptance Criteria
Hover Over Snapshot Thumbnail
Given a snapshot thumbnail is visible in the ReelView carousel When the user hovers over the thumbnail Then a metadata overlay appears within 100ms displaying the model name, timestamp, change summary, and author
Keyboard Focus on Snapshot Thumbnail
Given a snapshot thumbnail receives keyboard focus via Tab navigation When focus arrives Then a metadata overlay appears within 100ms displaying all required fields
Overlay Auto-Dismiss on Cursor Exit
Given the metadata overlay is displayed When the user’s cursor moves away from the thumbnail Then the overlay disappears immediately
Overlay Auto-Dismiss After Inactivity
Given the metadata overlay is displayed When there is no user interaction with the thumbnail or overlay for 5 seconds Then the overlay automatically disappears
Overlay Position and Visibility
Given the thumbnail is positioned near the viewport edges When the overlay is displayed Then it adjusts its position to remain fully visible within the viewport without clipping
Overlay Content Accuracy
Given a user views the metadata overlay Then the model name matches the snapshot’s name, timestamp is correct for the user’s locale, change summary reflects actual model deltas, and author matches the snapshot creator
Version Comparison Highlight
"As a financial analyst, I want to compare two scenario snapshots side-by-side with highlighted differences so that I can quickly identify what has changed."
Description

Allow users to select two snapshots within the ReelView carousel to launch a side-by-side comparison panel. Highlight differences in data points, model structure, and assumptions with color-coded indicators. Provide toggles for aggregate and detailed views, and enable exporting difference reports in CSV or PDF formats for offline review.

Acceptance Criteria
Snapshot Selection for Comparison
Given the user is viewing the ReelView carousel with at least two snapshots available When the user selects any two snapshots Then the side-by-side comparison panel launches displaying the selected snapshots.
Highlighting Differences in Data Points
Given the comparison panel is open with two snapshots loaded When data points differ between snapshots Then each differing numeric or textual data point is highlighted in green for increases and red for decreases.
Highlighting Model Structure Changes
Given the comparison panel is open with two snapshots loaded When structural elements (nodes or connections) differ Then the modified elements are outlined in blue and display tooltips describing the change.
Toggling Between Aggregate and Detailed Views
Given the comparison panel is open When the user toggles to aggregate view Then summary changes at the module level are displayed; when toggled to detailed view Then all individual parameter-level differences appear.
Exporting Difference Reports
Given a comparison panel with highlighted differences When the user clicks the export button and selects CSV or PDF Then the system generates and initiates download of a report containing all highlighted differences in the chosen format.
Responsive Navigation Controls
"As a product manager, I want to navigate the timeline using mouse, touch, or keyboard so that I can swiftly browse snapshots regardless of my device."
Description

Support drag-and-drop, touch swipe, and keyboard arrow navigation within the reel carousel. Ensure controls are fully accessible with ARIA attributes and provide haptic feedback on devices that support it. Navigation actions trigger smooth transitions and maintain context across desktop and mobile environments.

Acceptance Criteria
Desktop Drag-and-Drop Navigation
Given a user is viewing the reel carousel on desktop When they click and drag a snapshot left or right Then the carousel completes the transition within 300ms with smooth animation and no layout shifts
Mobile Touch Swipe Navigation
Given a user is on a touch-enabled mobile device When they swipe a single finger left or right across the carousel Then the carousel responds in real time with a matching transition speed and accurately settles on the next or previous snapshot
Keyboard Arrow Navigation
Given a user has focus on the carousel area When they press the left or right arrow key Then the carousel smoothly transitions to the corresponding snapshot and retains keyboard focus on the carousel controls
ARIA Accessibility Compliance
Given a screen reader is active When the user navigates through carousel snapshots Then each snapshot is announced with its position (e.g., “Slide 2 of 5”) and all controls use appropriate ARIA roles and labels
Haptic Feedback Trigger
Given a device supports haptic feedback When a user completes a navigation action via drag, swipe, or keyboard Then a brief low-intensity haptic pulse is triggered on transition completion
Snapshot Filtering and Search
"As an operations lead, I want to filter scenario snapshots by date or keyword so that I can focus on relevant versions and reduce noise."
Description

Integrate real-time filtering and search within ReelView, allowing users to narrow snapshots by date range, tags, or change keywords. Offer an input field with autocomplete suggestions for tags and keywords. Updates to filter criteria instantly refresh the carousel, supporting combined filters for precise result sets.

Acceptance Criteria
Date Range Filter Application
Given the user selects a valid start and end date in the date filter panel When the user applies the filter Then the ReelView carousel displays only snapshots whose timestamps fall within the specified date range
Tag Filter with Autocomplete
Given the user types a partial tag into the tag filter input When autocomplete suggestions appear and the user selects a tag Then the carousel refreshes to show only snapshots tagged with the selected term
Keyword Search for Change Keywords
Given the user enters a change-related keyword into the search input When the user submits the keyword Then the carousel displays only snapshots whose change descriptions include the keyword
Combined Filters Application
Given the user sets a date range, selects one or more tags, and enters a keyword When all filter criteria are applied simultaneously Then the carousel shows only snapshots matching every selected filter parameter
Instant Filter Updates
When the user adjusts any filter control (date, tag, or keyword) Then the ReelView carousel updates its displayed snapshots instantly without a page reload and within 500 milliseconds

LiveLink

Dynamic links that always reflect the latest scenario snapshot. When shared externally, LiveLink ensures stakeholders see up-to-date visuals without repeated exports, reducing version confusion and keeping all parties aligned.

Requirements

Dynamic Link Generation
"As a startup founder, I want to generate a LiveLink to my financial model so that investors always see the up-to-date scenario without me sending new exports."
Description

Enable users to create persistent, dynamic URLs (LiveLinks) that automatically reflect the latest scenario snapshot. This functionality eliminates the need for manual exports or re-sharing of updated files by linking directly to the model’s data and visuals, ensuring stakeholders always see the most current information. Integration with the scenario store and visual renderer must support seamless updates without degrading performance.

Acceptance Criteria
Stakeholder Sees Latest Scenario Snapshot
Given a LiveLink exists, when a stakeholder opens the URL, then the visuals match the current scenario data; When the scenario is updated and saved, then reloading the link displays the updated values within 5 seconds; No manual export or re-sharing step is needed to reflect updates.
Link Generation and Copy to Clipboard
Given a user is on the scenario page, when they click 'Generate LiveLink', then a unique persistent URL is created in the format simp.cast/l/{token}; When the user clicks the 'Copy LiveLink' button, then the full URL is copied to clipboard and a confirmation message appears; The newly generated link appears in the user's LiveLinks dashboard immediately.
High-Frequency Updates Without Performance Degradation
Given rapid scenario changes (≥100 edits/min), when a stakeholder refreshes the LiveLink, then the page loads in under 2 seconds; No data inconsistency or visual rendering errors occur during peak update load.
Access Control and Expiration Handling
Given a LiveLink with an expiration date, when the current date is past expiration, then accessing the link returns an access expired or 404 message; Given the scenario is set to private, when an unauthorized user attempts access, then they receive an access denied message; Public links remain accessible without authentication until expiration.
Consistent Rendering Across Devices and Browsers
Given a LiveLink URL, when opened on Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Android, or iOS browsers, then visuals and interactivity render identically without layout shifts; Drill-down and hover interactions work consistently across all supported platforms.
Access Control for LiveLink
"As a small business operator, I want to restrict access to my LiveLink to specific team members so that confidential data remains secure."
Description

Implement granular permission settings for each LiveLink, allowing scenario owners to define view-only or edit rights and to set password protection or domain restrictions. This enhances security and ensures that only authorized stakeholders can access or modify the shared scenario, integrating with existing user roles and authentication systems.

Acceptance Criteria
Granting View-Only Access with Password Protection
Given a LiveLink with view-only permission and a set password When an external stakeholder enters the correct password to access the LiveLink Then they can view all scenario details but cannot make edits or changes
Restricting Access by Email Domain
Given a LiveLink configured to allow only emails from a specific domain When a user with an email address within the allowed domain clicks the LiveLink Then they successfully gain access without additional authentication And when a user from a different domain attempts to access it Then they receive an access denied message
Assigning Edit Rights to Specific Stakeholders
Given a scenario owner assigns edit rights to a stakeholder via the LiveLink permissions panel When the designated stakeholder accesses the LiveLink Then they can modify scenario parameters and save changes And other stakeholders remain view-only
Revoking Permissions from a Shared LiveLink
Given a LiveLink previously shared with edit rights to a stakeholder When the scenario owner revokes that stakeholder’s permissions Then the stakeholder’s next access attempt is read-only or denied according to updated settings
Integration with Single Sign-On User Roles
Given a user authenticated via SSO with a predefined role in SimpliCast When they access a LiveLink Then their access level matches the permissions defined for their role in the central authentication system
Historical Snapshot Viewing
"As an investor, I want to view past snapshots of a scenario via LiveLink so that I can assess how projections have changed over time."
Description

Provide a feature within LiveLink that lets recipients switch between the current live scenario and historical snapshots captured at specific timestamps. This enables easy comparison of scenario evolution and decision impact over time without affecting the live model state.

Acceptance Criteria
Switch to Historical Snapshot
Given a user accesses a LiveLink with historical snapshots; when the user selects a timestamp from the snapshot dropdown; then the system displays the scenario state as it was at the selected timestamp without altering the live model.
Compare Current and Historical Data
Given a user is viewing a historical snapshot; when the user clicks the 'Compare with Live' button; then the system opens a side-by-side view of current and historical scenario metrics highlighting differences.
Timestamp Selector Usage
Given multiple snapshots exist for a LiveLink; when a user types a valid timestamp into the snapshot search field; then the system auto-completes to the matching snapshot and enables selection.
Snapshot Loading Performance
Given a user selects any historical snapshot; when the selection is confirmed; then the system loads and renders the snapshot within 3 seconds under normal network conditions.
Snapshot URL Persistence
Given a user shares a LiveLink with an embedded snapshot timestamp parameter; when a recipient opens the link; then the recipient sees the correct historical snapshot without additional interaction.
Link Usage Analytics
"As a product manager, I want to see analytics on how often and by whom my LiveLink is viewed so that I can gauge stakeholder engagement and plan outreach."
Description

Track and report metrics such as number of LiveLink views, unique users, time spent, and last access date. Present analytics within the SimpliCast dashboard to give scenario owners insights into stakeholder engagement and to help inform follow-up actions or presentations.

Acceptance Criteria
Accessing LiveLink Analytics Dashboard
Given the scenario owner is on the SimpliCast dashboard, when they select a LiveLink and navigate to its Analytics tab, then the dashboard must display total views, unique users, average time spent per user, and last access date for that LiveLink.
Validating Total View Counts
Given multiple stakeholders access a LiveLink, when the owner views the total view count, then the displayed number must match the count of recorded view events in the database for that LiveLink.
Displaying Unique User Metrics
Given different stakeholders view the same LiveLink, when the owner checks unique user count, then the system must deduplicate by user ID or IP and display the correct number of distinct users.
Calculating Average Time Spent
Given stakeholders interact with a LiveLink, when they close or navigate away, then the system must record each session duration and display the average time spent per user to the scenario owner.
Showing Most Recent Access Date
Given stakeholders access a LiveLink at different times, when the analytics are viewed, then the system must display the timestamp of the last recorded access in the owner's local timezone.
Custom Branded Links
"As a marketing lead, I want to brand my LiveLink with our company colors and custom URL so that stakeholders recognize the link as coming from our organization."
Description

Allow users to customize the LiveLink URL slug and add company logos or color themes to the shared view. This reinforces brand identity when sharing scenarios externally and provides a more professional presentation to stakeholders.

Acceptance Criteria
Customize URL slug with valid characters
Given the user is on the LiveLink settings page and enters a custom URL slug containing only letters, numbers, and hyphens, when the user saves the settings, then the LiveLink URL is updated to include the new slug, and the link navigates successfully to the scenario snapshot.
Upload and display company logo
Given the user uploads a logo file in PNG or JPEG format under 5MB, when the upload completes, then the logo is displayed correctly in the LiveLink header without distortion or quality loss.
Apply custom color theme
Given the user selects primary and secondary colors using the theme color picker, when the user saves the color settings, then the LiveLink page header, footer, and interactive elements render using the selected colors.
Preview branded LiveLink before sharing
Given the user has configured a custom slug, logo, and color theme, when the user clicks the Preview button, then a full-page mockup of the branded LiveLink appears, accurately reflecting all customizations.
Ensure branded links remain functional externally
Given the branded LiveLink URL has been shared, when an external stakeholder opens the link in any modern browser, then the LiveLink loads correctly with all branding elements intact and displays the latest scenario data.

VaultView

Centralized archive of all scenario snapshots with robust search and filter capabilities. VaultView tags snapshots by date, scenario name, and custom labels, making it easy for teams to retrieve past insights and maintain an audit trail.

Requirements

Automated Snapshot Archival
"As a product manager, I want each scenario snapshot to be automatically archived so that I can maintain a complete historical record without manual intervention."
Description

Implement a centralized storage system that automatically saves each scenario snapshot upon creation or update. This functionality ensures a reliable archive of all scenario versions, eliminates the need for manual exports, and provides a single source of truth for historical planning data. Snapshots should include metadata such as timestamp, user, and scenario context to support traceability and audit compliance.

Acceptance Criteria
Automatic snapshot on scenario creation
Given a user creates a new scenario in the visual builder When the scenario is saved Then a snapshot is automatically stored in VaultView with the current timestamp, user ID, and scenario context
Automatic snapshot on scenario update
Given a user modifies an existing scenario When the changes are saved Then a new snapshot version is archived in VaultView with an updated timestamp, user ID, and version identifier, while previous snapshots remain unchanged
Metadata accuracy and completeness
Given a snapshot is archived When retrieved from VaultView Then it contains valid and complete metadata fields for timestamp, user ID, scenario name, and custom labels matching the original action
Snapshot retrieval via search and filter
Given multiple snapshots exist in VaultView When a user applies filters by date, scenario name, or custom label Then only matching snapshots are displayed and results load within 2 seconds
Audit trail export compliance
Given an administrator requests an audit report When selecting a date range and scenario filter Then the system exports a complete list of snapshots including all metadata in CSV format for the specified range
Advanced Full-Text Search
"As an operations analyst, I want to search snapshot metadata and content by keywords so that I can instantly find relevant past scenarios."
Description

Develop robust search capabilities that allow users to perform full-text queries across snapshot metadata and content. The search engine should support keyword matching, partial phrases, and fuzzy search to quickly locate relevant snapshots. It should scale efficiently as the volume of stored snapshots grows, ensuring fast response times.

Acceptance Criteria
Keyword Search in Snapshot Metadata
Given the user enters a keyword into the search bar When the search is executed Then the system returns all snapshots where metadata fields contain the exact keyword within 300ms for up to 10,000 snapshots.
Partial Phrase Matching
Given the user enters a partial phrase When the search is executed Then the system returns snapshots containing phrases that include the partial input, ordered by relevance.
Fuzzy Search for Typo Resilience
Given the user enters a misspelled keyword When the search is executed Then the system returns relevant snapshots that match the intended word within an edit distance of two.
Search Content Within Snapshot Details
Given the user selects the content search option When they enter a keyword Then the system searches inside snapshot content fields and returns matching snapshots with highlighted terms.
Performance Under High Volume
Given the system contains 100,000 snapshots When a full-text search is performed Then the response time is under 500ms for any query.
Tag-Based Filtering
"As a finance lead, I want to tag snapshots with department labels so that I can quickly filter and review scenarios relevant to my team."
Description

Enable users to assign custom labels (tags) to snapshots and filter the archive view based on these tags. The system should allow multi-select and include/exclude logic to refine results. Tagging enhances organization, making it simple for teams to categorize snapshots by project phase, department, or other custom criteria.

Acceptance Criteria
Assigning Custom Tags to Snapshots
Given a snapshot is displayed in VaultView, when a user clicks the 'Add Tag' icon and enters a new label 'Beta Test', then the label appears beneath the snapshot, persists after page reload, and is available in the tag filter dropdown.
Filtering Snapshots by Multiple Tags
Given snapshots are tagged 'Marketing' and 'Q1', when a user selects both 'Marketing' and 'Q1' tags in the filter panel, then only snapshots containing both tags are displayed and the displayed count matches the number of such snapshots.
Excluding Snapshots by Tag
Given snapshots tagged with 'Deprecated' exist in the archive, when a user activates 'Exclude' mode in the tag filter and selects the 'Deprecated' tag, then all snapshots without this tag are displayed and none with 'Deprecated' appear.
Clearing All Tag Filters
Given one or more tag filters are applied, when the user clicks the 'Clear Filters' button, then all selected tags are deselected, the filter panel resets to default state, and the full snapshot list is restored.
Auto-Completing Tags in Filter Input
Given multiple custom tags exist, when a user types at least two characters into the tag filter search box, then a dropdown suggests existing tags matching the input prefix, allowing the user to select from suggestions.
Date Range Filtering
"As a CEO, I want to view snapshots from the last quarter so that I can review recent scenario outcomes efficiently."
Description

Provide date-based filtering controls that allow users to narrow the snapshot list by selection of start and end dates. The interface should support calendar pickers, quick-select options (e.g., last week, last month), and clear display of applied date filters. This feature facilitates temporal analysis and rapid retrieval of snapshots from specific periods.

Acceptance Criteria
Custom Date Range Selection
Given the snapshot list view is open and the date filter panel is visible; When the user selects a start date of 2025-06-01 and an end date of 2025-06-30 via calendar pickers; Then the snapshot list refreshes to display only snapshots with timestamps on or after 2025-06-01 and on or before 2025-06-30; And the date picker inputs reflect the selected dates; And a filter tag labeled "06/01/2025 - 06/30/2025" appears above the list.
Quick-Select Last Week Filter
Given the snapshot list view is open; When the user clicks the "Last Week" quick-select option; Then the start and end date fields auto-populate with the dates corresponding to the last seven days; And the snapshot list updates to show only snapshots from that period; And a filter tag labeled with the auto-populated date range appears.
Clear Date Filters Action
Given one or more date filters are applied; When the user clicks the "Clear Filters" button; Then the start and end date fields reset to empty; And any filter tags are removed; And the snapshot list reverts to its unfiltered state showing all snapshots.
Invalid Date Range Input
Given the snapshot list view is open; When the user selects a start date that is after the end date; Then an inline validation error message "Start date must be before end date" is displayed; And the user cannot apply the filter until the dates are corrected.
Display Applied Date Filters
Given a date filter is applied; When the snapshot list is displayed; Then a persistent filter summary shows the selected start and end dates in "MM/DD/YYYY" format; And hovering over the summary reveals the full filter details; And snapshots outside the date range are hidden.
Version History & Audit Trail
"As an auditor, I want to review the change history of each snapshot so that I can verify when and how scenario data was modified."
Description

Implement a versioning system that tracks changes to each snapshot, including details on what changed, who made the change, and when. Provide a visual history view and exportable audit logs to meet compliance and review requirements. Users should be able to compare versions side by side to understand the evolution of scenarios.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Version History
Given a user has saved multiple snapshots of a scenario When the user navigates to the Version History view Then a chronological list of all versions is displayed, showing timestamp, author, and a brief change summary for each entry
Comparing Snapshots Side by Side
Given the user selects two versions from the Version History list When the user clicks the Compare button Then the system displays both snapshots side by side with changed values highlighted and a summary of differences
Exporting Audit Logs
Given the user applies date and scenario-name filters When the user clicks Export Audit Logs Then a downloadable CSV file is generated containing version ID, timestamp, user, change details, and scenario name for each filtered entry
Filtering Version Entries
Given multiple versions are tagged with dates and custom labels When the user applies filter criteria by date range, scenario name, or label Then only the matching version entries are shown in the Version History view
Access Control Enforcement
Given a user with read-only permissions for a scenario When the user attempts to revert or delete a version in the Version History Then the system prevents the action and displays an authorization error message
Bulk Export and Import
"As a business analyst, I want to export a batch of snapshots in one operation so that I can share them with stakeholders and maintain external backups."
Description

Offer functionality to select multiple snapshots and perform bulk export to common formats (e.g., CSV, JSON, PDF) and bulk import back into the system. The export process should preserve metadata, tags, and version history, while import should validate data integrity and handle conflict resolution. This streamlines data sharing and backup workflows.

Acceptance Criteria
Bulk Export of Multiple Snapshots
Given the user selects two or more snapshots in VaultView, when they choose to export and select CSV and JSON formats, then the system generates a single download package containing each snapshot in both formats, with metadata and version history preserved, and confirms download completion without errors.
Bulk Import of Valid Snapshots
Given the user uploads a ZIP file containing exported snapshots in JSON format, when the upload completes, then the system validates data integrity, imports all snapshots into VaultView, and displays them with their original metadata, tags, and version history.
Metadata Preservation During Export
Given the user exports snapshots, when the export process runs, then every exported file includes date, scenario name, custom labels, and version history in its metadata section, and a schema validation report confirms completeness.
Conflict Resolution on Import
Given the user imports snapshots that share IDs with existing entries, when the import process detects conflicts, then the system prompts the user with options to overwrite existing snapshots or create new versions, and applies the user’s choice consistently without data loss.
Handling Invalid File Formats on Import
Given the user attempts to import a file that is corrupted or in an unsupported format, when the system processes the upload, then it rejects the file, displays a clear error message explaining the issue, and does not import any part of the invalid file.

BurnRate Beacon

Provides a real-time gauge of your company’s cash burn rate and projected runway, with dynamic visual cues that pulse from green to red as spending accelerates. Instantly see how long your funds will last under current conditions and receive proactive suggestions to optimize expenses before cash runs low.

Requirements

Real-Time Burn Rate Calculation
"As a startup founder, I want to see my company's burn rate updated in real time so that I can make informed decisions quickly to prevent overspending."
Description

Calculate the company's cash burn rate continuously by aggregating actual expense data, revenue inflows, and projected commitments. Integrate with accounting and banking systems to synchronize transactions at configurable intervals, normalize and categorize expenses using AI-driven classification, and recompute burn rate metrics in real time. Provide a highly accurate, up-to-the-minute view of spending velocity, enabling users to detect rapid changes in cash flow and respond before budgets are exceeded.

Acceptance Criteria
Live Burn Rate Dashboard Initialization
Given the user opens the BurnRate Beacon dashboard, When data sync completes within 30 seconds, Then the dashboard displays the latest burn rate metric updated no more than 60 seconds ago with the correct green, yellow, or red indicator based on predefined thresholds.
Automated Data Sync with Accounting Systems
Given valid accounting and banking credentials are configured and sync interval is set to every 5 minutes, When each interval elapses, Then all new transactions are imported, normalized, categorized, and no sync errors are logged.
AI-Driven Expense Categorization Accuracy
Given new expense transactions are imported, When the AI classification runs, Then at least 95% of expenses are correctly categorized against a manual benchmark and any misclassifications are flagged for user review.
Real-Time Burn Rate Alert Threshold
Given the burn rate exceeds 80% of the high-risk threshold for 10 consecutive minutes, When this condition persists, Then an in-app alert and an email notification are sent to the user within 1 minute of the threshold breach.
Dynamic Runway Projection Update
Given any revenue or expense update is detected, When the system recalculates, Then the projected runway date is updated and displayed to the user with less than 60 seconds of latency.
Dynamic Runway Visualization
"As a small business operator, I want a dynamic gauge that shows how long my funds will last so that I can quickly assess my runway and take action if needed."
Description

Display projected runway duration on an interactive gauge that transitions color from green through yellow to red based on calculated runway and spending acceleration. Embed the gauge in the main dashboard with mouse-over tooltips showing exact days of runway, underlying assumptions, and confidence intervals. Update visuals dynamically as input parameters or actual spend data change, ensuring a clear, intuitive snapshot of financial health at a glance.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-time Gauge Color Transition
Given the user views the runway gauge, When the projected runway is > 90 days the gauge displays green, Between 30 and 90 days the gauge displays yellow, and < 30 days the gauge displays red; Then the correct color is shown immediately.
Tooltip Display on Hover
Given the user hovers the mouse over the gauge, Then a tooltip appears showing the exact days of runway, underlying assumptions, and confidence intervals, and updates instantly if the gauge data changes.
Dashboard Embedding and Responsiveness
Given the user opens the main dashboard on desktop, tablet, or mobile, Then the runway gauge is visible above the fold and adjusts its size and layout without clipping or distortion.
Dynamic Data Update Reflects Instantly
Given the user updates input parameters or actual spend data, When the change is saved, Then the gauge updates within 2 seconds to reflect the new runway projection and color state.
Confidence Interval Accuracy Verification
Given historical spend data and volatility metrics, When the system calculates runway projections, Then the displayed confidence intervals match statistical outputs with 95% confidence ±5% accuracy.
Personalized Expense Optimization Suggestions
"As a user, I want personalized suggestions on where to cut costs so that I can extend my cash runway proactively."
Description

Analyze historical and current spending patterns using machine learning models to identify cost-saving opportunities across categories. Generate prioritized, actionable recommendations—such as negotiating vendor contracts, deferring non‐critical expenses, or optimizing resource allocation—and present them in a dedicated suggestions panel. Allow users to accept or dismiss recommendations, with feedback loops to refine AI models over time.

Acceptance Criteria
Review Historical Vendor Spending Patterns
Given the user has at least six months of expense data imported, when they open the 'Suggestions Panel', then the system generates and displays a minimum of three prioritized cost-saving recommendations based on historical vendor performance, including estimated savings percentages.
Receive Live Expense Optimization Prompt
Given the current month’s spending exceeds 80% of the monthly budget threshold, when the dashboard is refreshed, then the system triggers a real-time suggestion notifying the user of high-cost categories and recommends two actionable optimization steps.
User Accepts a Cost-Saving Recommendation
Given a list of actionable recommendations, when the user clicks 'Accept' on a suggestion to negotiate a vendor contract, then the recommendation is moved to the 'Accepted Actions' list, and a confirmation message is displayed, with the feedback logged for the machine learning model.
User Dismisses an Irrelevant Recommendation
Given the system presents recommendations, when the user selects 'Dismiss' on a suggestion, then the recommendation is removed from the display, a prompt asks for dismiss reason, and the feedback is recorded for model refinement.
Model Refines Suggestions After User Feedback
Given the user has provided accept or dismiss feedback on at least five recommendations, when the next suggestions panel is generated, then the system updates its machine learning model to adjust recommendation priorities, demonstrating at least 10% improvement in relevance (measured by user acceptance rate).
Historical Trend Analysis
"As a startup founder, I want to review historical cash burn trends so that I can identify patterns and adjust strategies accordingly."
Description

Offer interactive charting tools that display burn rate and runway trends over configurable historical periods (e.g., weekly, monthly, quarterly). Allow users to overlay scenarios, annotate significant events, and export trend data as CSV or PDF. Highlight anomalies, seasonal patterns, and correlation with revenue changes to help users understand past performance and inform future planning.

Acceptance Criteria
Configurable Timeframe Visualization
Given the user is on the trend analysis view When the user selects a timeframe option (weekly, monthly, quarterly) Then the chart displays burn rate and runway data for that period And axis scales adjust appropriately And the selected timeframe persists after page refresh
Scenario Overlay and Comparison
Given one or more saved forecast scenarios exist When the user selects scenarios to overlay onto the historical chart Then the chart displays both actual historical data and each scenario data in distinct colors And a legend identifies each data series And hovering over any data point shows values for all series at that point
Event Annotation Capability
Given the user is viewing a chart When the user adds an annotation for a specific date with text Then a marker appears at that date on the chart And the annotation text displays on hover And the user can edit or delete any annotation
Trend Data Export
Given the user clicks the export button When the user selects CSV or PDF Then the system generates and downloads a file containing chart data and annotations And the CSV file includes columns for date, burn rate, runway, and annotation text And the PDF file matches the on-screen chart with embedded annotations
Anomaly and Pattern Highlighting
Given historical burn rate data is loaded When anomalies or seasonal patterns are detected Then anomalies are highlighted in red on the chart And seasonal cycles are highlighted in blue And tooltips explain the reason for each highlight
Revenue Correlation Analysis
Given revenue data is available for the same period When the user toggles the revenue overlay Then a revenue line is plotted on a secondary axis And a correlation coefficient between revenue and burn rate displays And if correlation exceeds a configurable threshold, the system provides an optimization suggestion
Threshold Alert Notifications
"As a finance manager, I want to receive alerts when my burn rate exceeds set thresholds so that I can address potential cash shortages immediately."
Description

Enable configuration of custom thresholds for burn rate spikes and runway depletion. When thresholds are breached, trigger immediate notifications via email, SMS, or in-app alerts, including contextual details (current burn rate, days of runway left, recommended actions). Provide a notification management interface for users to set frequency, channels, and severity levels, ensuring timely awareness and response.

Acceptance Criteria
User Configures Custom Thresholds for Burn Rate and Runway
Given the user is on the Threshold Alert Settings page When the user enters valid numeric values for burn rate spike and runway depletion thresholds And selects desired notification channels Then the system saves the thresholds and displays a confirmation message
Trigger Alert When Burn Rate Exceeds Threshold
Given the current burn rate exceeds the configured threshold When the system recalculates financial metrics Then an alert is generated and queued for delivery via all enabled channels
Notification Includes Contextual Details
Given an alert is triggered When the notification is sent Then the message includes current burn rate percentage, remaining days of runway, and at least one recommended action
Manage Notification Settings via Interface
Given the user accesses the Notification Management interface When the user adjusts frequency, channels, or severity levels And clicks Save Then the updated settings are persisted and reflected in the interface
Alerts Delivered via Email, SMS, and In-App
Given a threshold breach event occurs When notifications are dispatched Then the user receives identical alert content via email, SMS, and in-app notification within 60 seconds

Liquidity Lens

Delivers a clear breakdown of upcoming cash inflows and outflows over customizable timeframes. Highlight potential liquidity gaps by date, category, or project—so you can anticipate shortfalls, prioritize payments, and negotiate better terms with suppliers or lenders.

Requirements

Custom Timeframe Selection
"As a startup founder, I want to set custom timeframes so that I can tailor liquidity views to my planning cycle."
Description

Enable users to define custom date ranges—from daily to yearly—and choose from preset periods for cash flow projections, allowing for flexible and precise liquidity analysis tailored to unique business cycles.

Acceptance Criteria
Daily Timeframe Selection
Given a user sets the start and end date to the same day, When the timeframe is applied, Then the system displays hourly cash inflows and outflows for that day.
Monthly Preset Range Application
Given a user selects the 'Last 6 Months' preset option, When the selection is confirmed, Then the cash flow projection updates to show aggregated monthly totals for the past six months.
Yearly Custom Range Definition
Given a user enters a custom start and end date spanning more than one year, When the range is applied, Then the projection adapts to display quarterly or monthly aggregation based on the length of the range.
Invalid Date Validation
Given a user inputs an end date earlier than the start date, When they attempt to apply the timeframe, Then the system displays an error message 'End date must be after start date' and prevents the range from being applied.
Preset Period Quick-Select Usage
Given a user clicks on the 'This Quarter' preset button, When the button is activated, Then the system updates the start and end dates to the current quarter and refreshes the liquidity projection accordingly.
Categorization & Filtering
"As a small business operator, I want to categorize and filter cash movements so that I can quickly identify areas affecting liquidity."
Description

Allow users to assign cash inflows and outflows to user-defined categories and filter results by date, category, or project, ensuring targeted insights into where funds are generated and spent.

Acceptance Criteria
Assign Cash Flows to User-Defined Categories
Given a user views a cash inflow or outflow entry and has defined custom categories, when the user selects a category from the dropdown and saves, then the entry is tagged with the selected category and the category appears in the summary breakdown.
Filter Transactions by Date Range
Given the user has cash flow entries across multiple dates, when the user selects a start date and end date in the date filter controls and applies the filter, then only entries whose dates fall within the selected range are displayed in the summary and detailed view.
Filter by Category
Given the user has assigned categories to cash flow entries, when the user selects one or more categories in the category filter panel, then only entries matching the selected categories are shown in both list and chart views.
Filter by Project
Given the user has linked cash flow entries to specific projects, when the user chooses a project filter, then the system displays only the cash inflows and outflows associated with that project in all relevant summaries and tables.
Combined Filtering by Date, Category, and Project
Given cash flow entries have date, category, and project metadata, when the user applies multiple filters simultaneously (date range, categories, and projects), then the displayed entries update in real time to reflect all active filters and the totals adjust accordingly.
Liquidity Gap Alerting
"As a finance manager, I want to receive alerts on potential cash shortfalls so that I can take proactive measures."
Description

Generate real-time alerts when projected cash balances fall below user-defined thresholds, highlighting potential shortfalls by date and category so teams can take proactive steps to avoid liquidity crises.

Acceptance Criteria
Threshold Breach Notification for Upcoming Liquidity Shortfall
Given a user-defined global cash balance threshold When the projected cash balance for any future date falls below this threshold Then the system generates a real-time alert within one minute, specifying the date, projected balance, and threshold value
Category-Specific Shortfall Alert
Given a user has set a cash threshold for a specific category (e.g., Marketing) When the projected cash balance for that category on any future date falls below its threshold Then the system issues an alert indicating the category name, date, projected balance, and threshold
Custom Timeframe Alert Configuration
Given a user selects a custom timeframe (e.g., next 60 days) and defines a threshold When the system calculates projected cash flows within that timeframe and detects any balances below the threshold Then alerts are generated only for dates within the selected timeframe, listing each date and projected shortfall
Real-Time Projection Adjustment Alert
Given existing projected cash flows and no current threshold breach When a new transaction is added or an existing transaction is modified that causes a future projection to drop below the threshold Then the system immediately recalculates projections and triggers an alert if the threshold is now breached
Multiple Threshold Alert Management
Given a user configures multiple thresholds for different categories and a global threshold When projections fall below more than one threshold simultaneously Then the system generates distinct alerts for each threshold breach, clearly labeling each alert with its threshold type and associated date
Data Integration
"As a user, I want automatic data import so that my liquidity analysis is always up to date."
Description

Integrate with bank accounts and popular accounting platforms via secure APIs to automatically import and reconcile transaction data, ensuring the liquidity lens is always populated with the most current information.

Acceptance Criteria
Bank Account Connection Established
Given a user initiates bank account integration, when they select their financial institution and provide valid credentials, then the system establishes a connection and displays a success confirmation within 30 seconds.
Transaction Data Auto Import Verified
Given an integrated bank account, when the scheduled import runs, then the system automatically retrieves all transactions from the past 24 hours and stores them in the SimpliCast database without creating duplicates.
Data Reconciliation Accuracy
Given newly imported transactions, when the reconciliation process executes, then at least 99% of transactions match corresponding records in the accounting platform and any mismatches are flagged for review.
Incremental Updates and Error Handling
Given a previous sync state, when an incremental import occurs, then only new or modified transactions are imported, duplicate entries are ignored, and any API errors are logged and trigger an alert.
Secure API Authentication Compliance
Given user authorization, when the system authenticates with the banking API, then it uses OAuth 2.0 with encrypted tokens for all requests, stores credentials securely, and fully revokes access upon user request.
Visual Dashboard
"As a user, I want a visual dashboard so that I can quickly grasp my liquidity position at a glance."
Description

Provide an interactive dashboard that visually breaks down upcoming inflows and outflows by date, category, and project using charts and heatmaps, enabling users to grasp their liquidity position at a glance.

Acceptance Criteria
Date Range Filter Application
Given a user selects a custom date range on the dashboard, When the dashboard updates, Then the inflow and outflow charts display data only within the selected dates.
Category Breakdown Visualization
Given the dashboard is displaying liquidity data, When the user toggles the category view, Then each chart and heatmap segments the data by category, and the legend correctly matches segment colors to categories.
Project-specific Heatmap Analysis
Given multiple projects are listed, When the user selects a specific project, Then the heatmap updates to show only that project’s cash inflows and outflows over time.
Real-time Data Refresh
Given new transactions are recorded in the system, When the dashboard page is refreshed or the auto-refresh interval elapses, Then the charts and heatmaps reflect the latest transaction data without errors.
Dashboard Export Functionality
Given the user clicks the export button, When they choose PDF or CSV format, Then the system generates and downloads a snapshot of the current dashboard view matching what is displayed on screen.
Report Export & Sharing
"As a CFO, I want to export liquidity reports so that I can share insights with investors and lenders."
Description

Enable users to export customized liquidity reports in PDF or CSV formats and generate shareable links so stakeholders—such as investors and suppliers—can review cash projections and analysis.

Acceptance Criteria
Export Liquidity Report as PDF
Given a user has customized a liquidity report When the user selects PDF export Then a PDF file named with the report title and export date is downloaded containing all report sections, charts, tables, and notes formatted consistently with the on-screen view
Export Liquidity Data as CSV
Given a user has customized a liquidity report When the user selects CSV export Then a CSV file is downloaded where each row represents a data entry, columns correspond to report fields, headers match on-screen labels, and numerical values preserve decimal precision
Generate Shareable Link for Report
Given a user has finalized a liquidity report When the user clicks 'Generate Shareable Link' and sets optional parameters (expiration date, password) Then the system produces a unique URL, displays it to the user with copy functionality, and applies the chosen access settings
Access Shared Report via Link
Given a stakeholder accesses a valid shareable link in any browser When the link is visited Then the liquidity report loads in read-only mode without requiring login, displays identical data and formatting as the creator’s view, and disables alteration controls
Permission Control on Shared Reports
Given password protection and expiration settings are applied to a shared report When a stakeholder accesses after expiration or without providing the correct password Then the system presents a clear access-denied message and prevents viewing of the report

Surge Safeguard

Utilizes AI-driven forecasting to detect sudden spikes or drops in cash flow based on scenario shifts. Automatically notifies you of high-risk fluctuations and recommends targeted actions—such as pausing discretionary spend or accelerating receivables—to maintain healthy liquidity.

Requirements

Real-Time Cash Flow Spike Detection
"As a small business operator, I want the system to automatically detect sudden cash flow fluctuations so that I can be alerted immediately and take action to maintain healthy liquidity."
Description

Continuously monitor scenario-driven cash flow projections to identify sudden spikes or drops beyond configurable thresholds. Leverages AI-driven analysis to flag deviations in real time, integrating directly with the drag-and-drop scenario builder for up-to-date accuracy. Ensures early detection of high-risk fluctuations to prevent liquidity shortfalls and support proactive financial decision-making.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-Time Spike Alert
Given a scenario projects cash inflow, when AI analysis detects an increase exceeding the user-defined threshold within 5 minutes, then the system sends an in-app and email notification within 10 seconds.
Real-Time Drop Alert
Given a scenario projects cash outflow, when AI analysis detects a decrease exceeding the user-defined threshold within 5 minutes, then the system sends an in-app and email notification within 10 seconds.
Threshold Configuration Update
Given the user modifies spike or drop thresholds in settings, when the user saves changes, then the system updates detection parameters immediately and confirms success with a notification message.
Live Scenario Sync
Given changes in the drag-and-drop scenario builder, when scenarios are updated or new scenarios are created, then the detection engine syncs within 2 minutes and begins monitoring the updated projections.
False Positive Suppression
Given minor fluctuations within ±5% of the baseline over two consecutive monitoring periods, when fluctuations occur, then the system does not trigger alerts to avoid false positives.
Dashboard Visualization Update
Given any detected spike or drop event, when the event occurs, then the event is logged and visualized on the dashboard within 1 minute with clear labels and timestamps.
AI Forecasting Engine Integration
"As a startup founder, I want AI-driven forecasts integrated into my scenario models so that I can rely on precise projections for cash flow planning."
Description

Seamlessly integrate an AI-driven forecasting engine to generate precise cash flow projections based on historical records and live scenario inputs. Build robust APIs to feed model data into the engine, process predictive outcomes, and surface results within the SimpliCast interface. Guarantees forecast reliability and empowers users with data-backed planning.

Acceptance Criteria
Initiate Forecast Generation from Scenario Canvas
Given a user has completed configuring a business scenario on the canvas When the user clicks the “Generate Forecast” button Then the system sends a forecast request to the AI engine and displays a loading indicator within 2 seconds
Retrieve AI Forecast via API
Given valid historical and live scenario input data When the system calls the forecast API endpoint Then the response payload must include cash flow projections for the next 12 months with confidence intervals and adhere to the defined JSON schema
Display Forecast Results in UI
Given the forecast API returns valid data When the data is received by the frontend Then the UI must render an interactive chart and data table reflecting monthly cash flow projections within 3 seconds of receipt
Handle Forecast Data Refresh on Input Change
Given a user modifies any scenario input parameter When the change is detected Then the system automatically debounces input changes and issues a new forecast request within 1 second, updating the UI accordingly
Manage Forecast Errors and Notifications
Given the forecast API returns an error or times out When the error occurs Then the system must display a clear error message with retry options and log the failure event in the error tracking system
Custom Threshold Configuration
"As a CFO, I want to configure custom cash flow thresholds so that alerts reflect my company's risk tolerance and avoid unnecessary notifications."
Description

Enable users to define and manage custom thresholds for cash flow spikes or drops within each scenario. Offer options for percentage-based or absolute value limits, notification triggers, and the ability to save multiple threshold profiles. Empowers users to tailor alert sensitivity to their specific risk tolerance and reduce noise from non-critical variances.

Acceptance Criteria
Custom Threshold Creation
Given the user is on the Custom Threshold Configuration page and provides a unique profile name, selects percentage-based threshold of 10%, sets a notification trigger, and clicks Save, Then the new threshold profile is created and displayed in the profiles list with all settings correctly applied.
Threshold Type Selection
Given the user is configuring a threshold, When the user switches between 'Percentage' and 'Absolute' value types, Then the input field label and validation rules update accordingly and accept only valid numeric entries.
Threshold Breach Notification
Given a saved threshold profile is active for a scenario, When the scenario's cash flow spike exceeds the defined threshold, Then the system generates a real-time notification to the user recommending appropriate action.
Multiple Profile Management
Given the user has multiple threshold profiles saved, When the user selects a profile and chooses to edit or delete it, Then the system allows modifications, persists changes upon Save, and removes the profile upon Delete, updating the profiles list accordingly.
Threshold Persistence Across Sessions
Given the user has created threshold profiles, When the user logs out and then logs back in, Then all previously saved profiles are retained and available for application to scenarios without data loss.
Automated Notification System
"As an operations manager, I want to receive instant alerts via email and in-app messages when cash flow spikes are detected so that I can respond immediately."
Description

Implement an automated alert framework that delivers real-time notifications when cash flow anomalies are detected. Support multiple channels including in-app messages, email, and SMS, with customizable templates, urgency levels, and mute options. Ensures stakeholders receive timely, relevant warnings to facilitate swift responses.

Acceptance Criteria
Anomaly Detection Triggers Notification
Given a cash flow anomaly is detected by the forecasting engine, when the anomaly threshold is exceeded, then the system must enqueue notification events for all subscribed stakeholders within 30 seconds.
In-App Notification Delivery
Given a notification event is queued, when a stakeholder is active in the application, then an in-app alert banner must appear within 5 seconds displaying the anomaly details and recommended actions.
Email Notification Delivery
Given a notification event is queued, when a stakeholder has email notifications enabled, then the system must send an email with the anomaly summary and recommended actions template within 2 minutes, and delivery status must be logged.
SMS Notification Delivery
Given a notification event is queued, when a stakeholder has SMS notifications enabled and a valid number, then the system must send an SMS containing the anomaly alert and a link to the dashboard within 2 minutes, with delivery receipt confirmation.
Custom Notification Templates
Given the notification settings page, when a stakeholder edits the template, then the system must save and preview changes correctly, applying them to subsequent notifications in real time.
Notification Mute Functionality
Given a stakeholder mutes notifications for a specific anomaly type or time window, when notifications occur within the muted context, then the system must suppress delivery on all channels while still logging suppression events.
Action Recommendation Dashboard
"As a small business owner, I want the system to recommend specific actions when cash flow risks are identified so that I can implement strategies to maintain liquidity."
Description

Develop an interactive dashboard module that presents AI-generated recommendations for mitigating flagged cash flow risks. Suggestions include pausing discretionary spend, accelerating receivables, and renegotiating payment terms. Provide clickable actions to apply these strategies directly within scenario models, streamlining the decision-to-action workflow.

Acceptance Criteria
Clickable Action Integration Scenario
Given a flagged high-risk cash flow scenario, when the user clicks the “Pause Discretionary Spend” button in the dashboard, then the scenario model’s expense line items are updated to reflect zero discretionary spend and the projected cash flow recalculation completes within 2 seconds.
AI-Generated Recommendations Refresh Scenario
Given new data inputs or manual edits to a scenario, when the user navigates back to the recommendations tab, then the dashboard displays updated AI-generated mitigation actions within 3 seconds and highlights any changes since the last view.
Risk Mitigation Visibility Scenario
Given multiple mitigation suggestions are available, when the user views the recommendations dashboard, then each recommendation is displayed with its projected cash impact (positive or negative) and a confidence score above 80%.
Instant Scenario Application Scenario
Given the user chooses the “Accelerate Receivables” action, when the user confirms the selection, then the scenario’s cash inflow schedule is adjusted to reflect the accelerated collection timing and the net cash position updates in real time.
User Confirmation Feedback Scenario
Given the user applies any recommended action, when the action is processed by the scenario engine, then a success notification appears in the dashboard and the applied recommendation is logged in the scenario audit trail with timestamp and user ID.

Reserve Radar

Monitors your cash reserve levels against predefined safety thresholds and suggests optimal reserve allocations. When balances approach critical limits, Reserve Radar will recommend adjusting budgets, reassigning funds, or exploring short-term financing to keep your runway secure.

Requirements

Safety Threshold Configuration
"As a startup founder, I want to set custom cash reserve thresholds so that I can receive timely warnings before my funds fall below my comfort level."
Description

Enable users to define custom cash reserve safety thresholds by specifying minimum balance amounts and associated time horizons. This functionality allows users to tailor alert boundaries to their unique financial strategies and ensures Reserve Radar monitors reserves against parameters that reflect their risk tolerance and operational needs.

Acceptance Criteria
User Defines Minimum Balance Threshold
Given the user is on the Safety Threshold Configuration screen, When they enter a valid minimum balance amount and click Save, Then the system stores the threshold and displays it in the thresholds list.
User Sets Time Horizon for Threshold
Given the user is configuring a new threshold, When they select a time horizon (e.g., 30, 60, 90 days) and confirm, Then the system applies the selected horizon and shows it alongside the threshold value.
System Validates Threshold Inputs
Given the user inputs invalid data (e.g., non-numeric, negative values, or empty fields), When they attempt to save, Then the system prevents saving and displays a descriptive validation error message.
User Edits Existing Safety Threshold
Given the user has an existing threshold in the list, When they choose to edit it, update the balance or horizon, and click Update, Then the system overwrites the old threshold with the new values and confirms the update.
Alerts Trigger When Approaching Threshold
Given a saved threshold and active monitoring, When the current cash reserve falls within 10% above the defined minimum within the specified horizon, Then the system generates an in-app alert and email notification recommending reserve adjustments.
Real-Time Reserve Monitoring
"As a small business operator, I want to view my cash reserves in real time so that I can quickly assess liquidity and react to fluctuations as they occur."
Description

Continuously track and compare current cash reserve balances against predefined safety thresholds in real time. The system should integrate with banking APIs and internal ledgers to fetch up-to-date balance data, providing instantaneous insights into liquidity health and enabling proactive decision-making.

Acceptance Criteria
Threshold Breach Alert
Given a predefined safety threshold, when the real-time cash reserve balance falls below this threshold, then the system triggers an alert notification to the user within 30 seconds.
API Integration Success
Given valid banking API credentials, when the system polls the API at one-minute intervals, then it successfully fetches and stores updated cash reserve balances with a success rate of at least 99% over 24 hours.
Dashboard Data Refresh
Given the user accesses the Reserve Radar dashboard, when the latest balance data is available, then the dashboard displays updated cash reserve levels and threshold statuses within 5 seconds.
Configurable Threshold Update
Given the user modifies the safety threshold in settings, when the change is saved, then the system applies the new threshold to real-time monitoring within 30 seconds.
Historical Trend Comparison
Given the user requests a 30-day historical view, when the data is retrieved, then the system displays past cash reserve balances versus thresholds with data accuracy exceeding 99%.
Automated Alerts and Notifications
"As a CFO, I want to receive immediate notifications when reserves dip near critical levels so that I can take swift action to safeguard runway."
Description

Deliver automated alerts via email, SMS, and in-app notifications when cash reserve levels approach or breach safety thresholds. Alerts should include clear action items and contextual data, guiding users to adjust budgets, reallocate funds, or pursue financing options to maintain runway security.

Acceptance Criteria
Critical Threshold Breach Notification
Given the user has set a safety threshold for cash reserves and the current reserve falls below this threshold, When the system detects the breach, Then an alert is sent via email, SMS, and in-app notification including the current reserve amount, the threshold value, and clear suggested action items.
Approaching Threshold Warning
Given the user has configured a proximity warning at 10% above the safety threshold, When cash reserves fall within this proximity range, Then the system sends a warning alert via the user’s preferred channels indicating the remaining runway duration and proactive recommendations.
Action Items Link in Alert
Given an alert notification is generated, When the user views the alert, Then it includes clickable links or buttons for 'Adjust Budget', 'Reallocate Funds', and 'Explore Financing Options' that navigate directly to the corresponding app sections.
Multiple Channel Delivery
Given the user has enabled multiple notification channels, When an alert is triggered, Then the system delivers the alert simultaneously via email, SMS, and in-app notification with consistent content across all channels.
User-Specific Notification Preferences
Given the user has updated notification preferences in settings, When the system sends alerts, Then alerts are only sent through the channels and thresholds configured by the user, and any disabled channels receive no notifications.
Allocation Recommendation Engine
"As a founder, I want data-backed suggestions for reallocating funds or securing financing so that I can keep my runway intact without manual calculations."
Description

Leverage AI-driven analytics to recommend optimal reserve allocation strategies, such as budget adjustments, fund reassignments, or short-term financing opportunities. Recommendations should be tailored to the user’s financial profile and runway targets, offering actionable steps to maintain or improve reserve health.

Acceptance Criteria
Reserve Level Alert Trigger Scenario
Given a user-defined safety threshold for cash reserves and the current balance drops to within 10% above this threshold, when the system runs its daily check, then an alert is generated and displayed recommending the user review reserve allocations.
Budget Adjustment Recommendation Scenario
Given a forecasted cash reserve shortfall within the next 30 days, when the AI analyzes cash flow projections, then the system recommends reducing budget line items by at least 5% and highlights the top three impacted categories.
Fund Reassignment Suggestion Scenario
Given a surplus of at least $5,000 in non-critical project funds and a projected runway risk, when the system evaluates account balances, then it suggests reassigning a minimum of 50% of surplus funds to the reserve account with clear transfer instructions.
Short-term Financing Offer Scenario
Given the runway is projected to be under three months with no internal surplus available, when the user requests financing options, then the system presents at least two short-term loan offers with APR below 10% and repayment terms of one year or less.
Personalized Recommendation Validation Scenario
Given the user’s financial profile and target runway are input, when the AI generates allocation recommendations, then all suggestions match the user’s profile constraints 100% and are delivered within two seconds.
Reserve Analytics Dashboard
"As an investor, I want a visual overview of a company’s reserve trends and risk metrics so that I can evaluate its financial stability at a glance."
Description

Provide an integrated dashboard that visualizes cash reserve trends, projections, and key risk indicators over customizable timeframes. The dashboard should offer charts, heatmaps, and summary metrics to help users quickly interpret reserve health and forecast future needs.

Acceptance Criteria
Visualize Cash Reserve Trends Over Custom Timeframes
Given a logged-in user selects a custom timeframe on the Reserve Analytics Dashboard, when the timeframe is applied, then a line chart displays daily cash reserve history for that timeframe, with data points reflecting actual balances and the chart updates within 2 seconds.
Display Key Risk Indicators with Heatmaps
Given predefined safety thresholds for cash reserves exist, when the user views the heatmap on the Reserve Analytics Dashboard, then days below the critical threshold are highlighted in red, days between critical and safe thresholds in yellow, and days above safe threshold in green, with color codes matching the defined threshold values.
Project Future Reserve Needs with Forecast Charts
Given at least six months of historical cash reserve data is available, when the user enables forecasting on the Reserve Analytics Dashboard, then a projection chart displays reserve forecasts for the next 90 days using a 95% confidence interval, and updates immediately if additional data is added.
Provide Summary Metrics for Immediate Health Assessment
Given the Reserve Analytics Dashboard loads successfully, then the summary section displays: current reserve balance, lowest reserve balance in the selected timeframe, percentage change compared to the previous period, and runway days remaining, all values accurate within 0.1%.
Export Dashboard Data for External Reporting
Given the user clicks the export button, when choosing CSV or PDF format, then the current dashboard view data—including charts and summary metrics—is exported with correct formatting, and the file download link appears within 5 seconds.

AlertFlow Hub

Centralizes all cash-flow notifications in a single, customizable dashboard. Filter alerts by urgency, department, or scenario, snooze non-critical messages, and escalate high-priority warnings to stakeholders—ensuring the right people are informed at the right time.

Requirements

Real-time Alert Aggregation
"As a finance manager, I want to see all cash-flow notifications from different departments in real time in one dashboard so that I can quickly identify and respond to emerging liquidity issues."
Description

The system continuously collects and normalizes cash-flow notifications from all integrated data sources, aggregating them into a unified feed and displaying them in the AlertFlow Hub within two seconds of generation. This ensures users always see the latest financial events without manual reconciliation, enabling timely insight and response.

Acceptance Criteria
Immediate Alert Display
Given a cash-flow notification is generated, when the system receives the event, then it is displayed in the AlertFlow Hub within two seconds.
Multiple Source Aggregation
Given notifications arrive simultaneously from multiple data sources, when they reach the system, then they are aggregated into a single unified feed in chronological order.
Data Normalization Consistency
Given incoming notifications with varying data formats, when the system processes them, then it normalizes the data fields to a consistent schema before display.
High-Volume Latency Performance
Given a peak load of 100 notifications per second, when the feed is updated, then each notification appears in the dashboard within two seconds and the system maintains response time below 500ms per request.
Source Outage Handling
Given one integrated data source becomes unavailable, when the system polls for new notifications, then it logs the outage, retries gracefully, and continues aggregating from other sources without interrupting the feed.
Custom Alert Filtering
"As a department head, I want to filter cash-flow alerts by department and urgency so that I can concentrate on critical issues pertinent to my team’s operations."
Description

Provide a dynamic filtering interface that lets users apply and save criteria based on alert attributes such as urgency, department, scenario tags, and date range. Filters update the alert list instantly, support multi-select and preset management, and help users focus on the most relevant notifications.

Acceptance Criteria
Filtering by Urgency Level
Given a list of alerts with mixed urgency levels, when the user selects one or more urgency levels (e.g., Critical, High), the alert list updates instantly to display only alerts matching the selected levels and the total count reflects the filtered set within 2 seconds.
Filtering by Department
Given alerts tagged to various departments, when the user selects one or more departments from the multi-select filter, then only alerts associated with those departments appear and non-selected department alerts are excluded, with the filter applied in real time.
Filtering by Scenario Tags
Given alerts labeled with scenario tags (e.g., Launch, Budget Review), when the user applies one or more scenario tag filters, then the alert dashboard shows only alerts containing all selected tags and the tag filter badges display correctly.
Filtering by Date Range
Given alerts across different dates, when the user defines a start and end date in the date-range picker and applies the filter, then only alerts created within the inclusive date range are shown and the date inputs validate before applying.
Saving and Managing Filter Presets
Given a configured filter set, when the user saves it as a preset with a unique name, then the preset appears in the presets list; the user can select, rename, or delete it, and changes persist across sessions.
Instant Filter Response
Given any change in filter criteria (urgency, department, tags, date), when the user updates a filter, then the alert list refreshes dynamically without page reload and performance metrics confirm update time under 1 second.
Alert Snooze and Rescheduling
"As an operations coordinator, I want to snooze non-urgent cash-flow alerts for two hours so that I can address them later when I’m available without losing track of them."
Description

Implement a snooze feature allowing users to mute non-critical alerts for predefined or custom intervals, with automatic reminders when snooze periods end. Include an interface for viewing and managing snoozed alerts, as well as options to resume or dismiss them before the scheduled reminder.

Acceptance Criteria
Single Alert Snooze Using Predefined Interval
Given a non-critical alert is visible, When the user selects snooze and chooses a predefined interval (e.g., 15 minutes), Then the alert disappears from the active alerts list and reappears after 15 minutes with a reminder notification.
Custom Snooze Duration Selection
Given a non-critical alert is visible, When the user selects snooze and enters a custom duration (e.g., 45 minutes), Then the system accepts the custom value, hides the alert from active alerts, and schedules a reminder at the specified time.
Viewing and Managing Snoozed Alerts
Given the user opens the AlertFlow Hub dashboard, When they navigate to the 'Snoozed Alerts' section, Then all snoozed alerts are listed with their original timestamp, snooze duration, and next scheduled reminder.
Resuming Snoozed Alert Before Reminder
Given an alert is snoozed, When the user selects 'Resume' on that alert, Then the alert immediately returns to the active alerts list and a notification is sent to the user confirming the resumption.
Dismissing Snoozed Alert
Given an alert is snoozed, When the user selects 'Dismiss' on that alert, Then the alert is removed from both snoozed and active lists and no reminder is scheduled.
High-Priority Escalation Rules
"As a CFO, I want high-risk cash-flow alerts to be automatically escalated to my inbox and phone so that I’m immediately aware of critical financial risks requiring my intervention."
Description

Enable configurable escalation workflows that automatically route high-priority alerts to designated stakeholders via in-app notifications, email, and SMS. Support rule-based assignments, escalation delays, and acknowledgment tracking to ensure critical financial warnings receive immediate attention and accountability.

Acceptance Criteria
Defining Escalation Rules in Settings
Given the admin opens the Escalation Rules Settings When they configure a rule for high-priority alerts with designated stakeholders, escalation delay, and notification channels (in-app, email, SMS) Then the rule is saved successfully and appears in the rule list with correct details
Automatic Routing of High-Priority Alerts
Given a financial warning is tagged as high priority When the system processes new alerts Then it automatically sends notifications via in-app, email, and SMS to all stakeholders defined in the matching escalation rule within the configured delay period
Escalation Delay Enforcement
Given an escalation rule specifies a 15-minute delay When a high-priority alert is generated Then the system waits 15 minutes before routing notifications and does not notify stakeholders earlier
Acknowledgment Tracking for Escalated Alerts
Given stakeholders receive an escalated alert When a stakeholder acknowledges the alert in-app Then the system records the acknowledgment timestamp, updates the alert status to “Acknowledged,” and stops further reminder notifications
Stakeholder Filtering by Escalation Status
Given users view the AlertFlow Hub dashboard When they filter alerts by “Escalated” and “High Priority” Then only alerts that have been escalated under high-priority rules are displayed in the results
User-Specific Dashboard Configuration
"As a small business owner, I want to arrange alert widgets and columns to suit my monitoring preferences so that I can quickly access information most relevant to me."
Description

Allow users to personalize their AlertFlow Hub dashboard by arranging widgets, selecting columns, and choosing visual themes through a drag-and-drop interface. Provide options to save, reset, and preview configurations instantly, enhancing usability and relevance for individual workflows.

Acceptance Criteria
Widget Rearrangement via Drag-and-Drop
Given the user drags a widget to a new location on the dashboard, When the user releases the widget, Then the widget visually relocates to the target position, And the new layout persists after page reload.
Custom Column Selection and Persistence
Given the user selects or deselects columns in the dashboard settings, When the user applies changes, Then the dashboard updates to display only the selected columns in real-time, And the column configuration persists across sessions.
Theme Selection and Instant Preview
Given the user chooses a new visual theme from the theme picker, When the user hovers over or selects the theme, Then the dashboard preview pane updates immediately to reflect the theme, And the previewed theme matches the final applied theme upon saving.
Save Configuration Confirmation
Given the user finalizes dashboard changes and clicks the 'Save' button, When the save action completes successfully, Then the system displays a confirmation message, And all customizations persist after navigating away and returning to the dashboard.
Reset to Default Dashboard Settings
Given the user clicks the 'Reset to Default' option, When the user confirms the reset action, Then the dashboard reverts to the out-of-the-box widget arrangement, column set, and theme, And the default configuration persists after page reload.
Alert History and Audit Logging
"As an auditor, I want to review a complete history of cash-flow alerts and user actions so that I can verify compliance with internal control policies."
Description

Maintain a secure, immutable log of all alert events and user interactions, including timestamps, actions taken (viewed, snoozed, escalated), and system-generated notifications. Offer search, filter, and export capabilities to support audit compliance and enable comprehensive retrospective analysis.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Alert History
Given an authenticated user on the AlertFlow Hub viewing the history tab When the user applies a date range filter and clicks Search Then the system displays all alert events within the specified date range in chronological order, showing timestamp, alert type, and action taken
Searching and Filtering Audit Logs
Given an admin user on the audit logs page When the user enters filter criteria including date range, user ID, and action type, and executes the search Then the system returns matching log entries and displays a summary of the applied filters
Exporting Audit Logs
Given a user with export permissions viewing filtered log entries When the user selects entries and chooses Export in CSV or JSON format Then the system generates a downloadable file containing the selected entries with correct formatting and notifies the user of completion
Immutable Log Integrity
Given any user or system process attempts to modify or delete an existing log entry When the request is processed Then the system rejects the change, prevents any alteration, and records the unauthorized attempt as a new log entry
Viewing Detailed Log Entry
Given a user clicks on a specific log entry in the history view When the detail panel opens Then the system displays full metadata for that entry, including timestamp, user ID, action taken, alert ID, department, and any associated notes

CashShock Simulator

Enables rapid “what-if” testing of extreme events—like lost revenue or unexpected costs—directly within your model. Visualize the immediate impact on liquidity, runway, and key metrics, empowering you to build contingency plans and stress-test your financial safeguards in seconds.

Requirements

Event Template Library
"As a startup founder, I want a library of pre-configured extreme event templates so that I can quickly run stress tests without building scenarios from scratch."
Description

A comprehensive library of predefined extreme event templates — such as lost revenue, sudden cost spikes, or market downturns — that users can quickly select and apply to their financial model. This enables rapid scenario setup without manual configuration, ensuring consistency and reducing the time needed to initiate stress tests.

Acceptance Criteria
Template Selection via Drag-and-Drop
Given the Event Template Library is open When the user drags a predefined event template onto the model canvas Then the selected template is added to the model with its default parameters and appears in the scenario list
Template Filtering and Search
Given the library contains multiple event templates When the user enters a keyword or filters by category Then only templates matching the criteria are displayed and non-matching templates are hidden
Template Preview Display
Given the user hovers over or clicks an event template in the library When the preview panel opens Then it displays the event name, description, default parameter values, and estimated impact on key metrics
Apply Template to Model
Given the user selects an event template and confirms application When the template is applied Then the model’s affected line items update automatically and a confirmation notification appears
Template Persistence Across Sessions
Given the user has applied one or more event templates to their model When the user refreshes the browser or reopens the project Then the previously applied templates remain in the model with unchanged parameters
Real-Time Impact Chart
"As a finance manager, I want to see real-time charts of cash runway and liquidity as I adjust shock parameters so that I can immediately assess the impact."
Description

Dynamic visualizations that update instantly as users adjust shock parameters. The chart displays key metrics like liquidity, runway, burn rate, and net cash flow, highlighting immediate and projected impacts. This real-time feedback loop empowers users to iteratively refine scenarios and understand consequences at a glance.

Acceptance Criteria
Adjusting Revenue Shock Parameter
Given the user adjusts the revenue shock slider, When the slider value changes, Then the Real-Time Impact Chart updates within 1 second displaying the new liquidity, runway, burn rate, and net cash flow metrics.
Simulating Unexpected Cost Increase
Given the user enters an unexpected cost amount in the shock input field, When the cost value is submitted, Then the chart instantly reflects the increase in burn rate and decrease in runway, with the impacted metrics visually highlighted.
Resetting Shock Parameters to Default
Given the user clicks the "Reset Shocks" button, When the reset is confirmed, Then all shock parameters revert to their baseline values and the Real-Time Impact Chart returns to the original unshocked state.
Applying Cumulative Multiple Shocks
Given the user applies both a revenue drop and a cost increase, When both parameters are set, Then the chart accurately displays the combined impact on liquidity, runway, burn rate, and net cash flow within 2 seconds.
Mobile View Responsiveness of Real-Time Chart
Given the user views the Real-Time Impact Chart on a mobile device, When any shock parameter is changed, Then the chart updates correctly, remains fully responsive, and tooltips for key metrics are accessible without UI distortion.
Scenario Persistence and Comparison
"As a CFO, I want to save and compare multiple shock scenarios side by side so that I can choose the most robust contingency strategy."
Description

The ability to save multiple shock scenarios and view them side by side in a comparison dashboard. Users can label, timestamp, and toggle between scenarios, enabling analysis of different extreme event outcomes and facilitating data-driven decision making across potential contingency plans.

Acceptance Criteria
Saving a New Shock Scenario
Given a user has configured a shock scenario with specific event parameters, When the user clicks the 'Save Scenario' button, Then the scenario is stored and appears at the top of the 'Saved Scenarios' list within 2 seconds.
Custom Label and Timestamp Generation
Given a saved shock scenario, When it is successfully saved, Then the system assigns the user-provided label (or a default label if none is provided) and records the current date and time in the scenario list.
Scenario Persistence Across Sessions
Given a user has saved multiple shock scenarios and logs out, When the same user logs back in, Then all previously saved scenarios are loaded and listed in the 'Saved Scenarios' list.
Toggling Between Saved Scenarios
Given at least two saved shock scenarios, When the user selects a scenario from the list, Then the model updates to reflect the selected scenario's parameters instantly within 1 second.
Side-by-Side Scenario Comparison
Given the user selects two or more saved scenarios and clicks 'Compare', Then a comparison dashboard displays key metrics (liquidity, runway, revenue, etc.) of each scenario side by side.
Error Handling on Scenario Save Failure
Given the user attempts to save a scenario when a network error occurs, When the save fails, Then the system displays an error message 'Unable to save scenario. Please try again.' and preserves the unsaved scenario data for retry.
AI-Driven Contingency Recommendations
"As a small business operator, I want AI-generated recommendations for mitigating cash shocks so that I can develop effective contingency plans quickly."
Description

An AI-powered module that analyzes the results of each stress test and provides tailored recommendations — such as cost reduction options, financing strategies, or runway extension tactics — based on best practices and industry benchmarks. This feature helps users quickly identify actionable next steps.

Acceptance Criteria
Cost Overrun Recommendation Scenario
Given the user has run a stress test with actual costs exceeding budget by more than 15% When the AI module analyzes the results Then it provides at least three cost reduction options prioritized by impact and feasibility
Revenue Shortfall Recommendation Scenario
Given the user simulates a 20% drop in projected revenue When the AI module reviews the model outcomes Then it suggests two financing strategies and one revenue-enhancement tactic with industry benchmark data
Unexpected Expense Trigger Scenario
Given the user injects an unplanned expense into the model When the AI analyzes cash flow projection Then it recommends a runway extension tactic and highlights the projected liquidity gap over the next quarter
Cash Burn Spike Scenario
Given the user models a 30% increase in monthly burn rate When the AI scans financial safeguards Then it provides tailored contingency plans including expense deferral, short-term financing, and operational adjustments
Industry Benchmark Alignment Scenario
Given the user requests best practices for contingency planning When the AI references industry benchmarks Then it delivers three recommendations aligned with top-quartile performers in the same sector
Collaborative Scenario Sharing
"As a team member, I want to share shock simulation results and receive feedback within the platform so that we can collaboratively refine our plans."
Description

A collaboration interface that allows team members to share specific shock simulations, annotate results, and comment directly within the scenario. This fosters transparent communication, aligns stakeholders on risk assessments, and accelerates collaborative planning.

Acceptance Criteria
Scenario 1: User Shares a CashShock Scenario with Team
Given a completed shock simulation When the user clicks 'Share' and selects team members Then those members receive a link with view and comment permissions
Scenario 2: Team Member Adds Inline Annotation
Given a shared scenario link When a team member highlights a data point and adds a note Then the annotation displays alongside the simulation with author and timestamp
Scenario 3: Stakeholder Posts a Comment Thread
Given an annotated scenario When a stakeholder selects 'Comment' and submits feedback Then a threaded conversation appears under the scenario and notifies the scenario owner
Scenario 4: Owner Resolves and Closes Comments
Given open comments on a shared scenario When the scenario owner marks comments as resolved Then those comments collapse and status updates to 'Resolved' in the comment panel
Scenario 5: Audit Trail of Collaboration Activity
Given multiple share, annotation, and comment actions When viewing the scenario’s collaboration log Then each action displays with user, timestamp, and action type in chronological order

LiveSync

Enables founders and advisors to co-edit the same scenario in real time, with instant updates and zero lag. LiveSync ensures everyone sees the latest changes simultaneously, reducing version conflicts and speeding up collaborative planning.

Requirements

Real-Time Synchronization Engine
"As a startup founder, I want my edits to appear instantly for all collaborators so that we can make decisions together without waiting for updates."
Description

Develop a low-latency synchronization engine that propagates edits from any collaborator to all connected users instantly. The engine must handle simultaneous updates, batch and compress changes for network efficiency, and ensure data consistency without perceptible lag. Integration with the existing scenario model layer is required to maintain real-time state across sessions.

Acceptance Criteria
Simultaneous Edit Propagation
Given two or more collaborators are editing the same scenario element, when one user makes a change, then all other connected users see the update within 200 milliseconds.
Network Efficiency Under High Load
Given 50 or more simultaneous updates from different users, when the engine batches and compresses changes, then network payload size is reduced by at least 70% without impacting update latency beyond 300 milliseconds.
Data Consistency After Concurrent Updates
Given conflicting edits on the same data point by multiple users, when synchronization completes, then the final state adheres to the defined conflict-resolution policy and no data is lost or corrupted.
Recovery from Temporary Network Disruptions
Given a user experiences a network interruption of up to 10 seconds, when the connection is restored, then all missed updates are synchronized automatically and the user view matches the current state of the scenario without manual refresh.
Integration with Scenario Model Layer
Given any change propagated by the synchronization engine, when the model layer processes the update, then the scenario’s in-memory state is updated consistently and observable in the UI within 150 milliseconds.
Presence and Cursor Indicators
"As an advisor, I want to see where others are working in the scenario so that I can easily coordinate edits and avoid conflicts."
Description

Implement visual indicators showing who is active in a scenario, including real-time cursors, selection highlights, and user avatars. Indicators should update live as collaborators navigate and edit the canvas, improving awareness of others’ actions and preventing overlap. This integrates with the UI layer and leverages the synchronization engine to broadcast presence data.

Acceptance Criteria
User Presence Detection on Scenario Load
Given a user opens or refreshes a collaborative scenario, when the scenario loads, then all active collaborators’ avatars appear in the presence panel within 2 seconds of load completion.
Real-Time Cursor Movement Broadcast
Given any collaborator moves their cursor on the canvas, when the cursor position changes, then all other collaborators see the cursor move at no more than 200ms latency, with the correct user color and label.
Selection Highlight Synchronization
Given a collaborator selects an object on the canvas, when the selection occurs, then all other collaborators see the object highlighted in the same unique selection color within 200ms.
Avatar Display Accuracy
Given multiple collaborators join the scenario, when at least three users are active, then each collaborator’s avatar is displayed only once in the presence panel, showing the correct avatar image and username.
Multiple Users Cursor Interaction
Given two or more collaborators’ cursors overlap on the canvas, when their cursors come within 10 pixels of each other, then they remain individually visible with distinct labels and priority z-order preserving last-moved cursor on top.
Conflict Resolution Mechanism
"As a team member, I want conflicts to be detected and resolved smoothly so that our collaborative work remains accurate and reliable."
Description

Create a conflict detection and resolution system that identifies simultaneous edits on the same element and merges changes intelligently. The mechanism should alert users of conflicting updates, offer inline merge suggestions, and allow manual override when needed. It must integrate with both the sync engine and version history to ensure no data loss.

Acceptance Criteria
Simultaneous Edit Alert
Given two users simultaneously edit the same scenario element, when the conflict detection system identifies overlapping changes, then both users receive an immediate visual notification specifying the conflicting fields.
Inline Merge Suggestions
Given a detected conflict on a scenario element, when users open the conflict resolution panel, then the system presents at least two AI-generated merge suggestions highlighting additions, deletions, and modifications for each version.
Manual Override Capability
Given conflicting edits with suggested merges displayed, when a user selects manual override, then the user can freely edit the merged content in-place and save the resolution, which propagates instantly to all collaborators.
Version History Recording
Given a conflict has been resolved, when any user views the version history, then the original conflicting edits and the final merged resolution are recorded as separate, timestamped entries with author information.
No Data Loss Assurance
Given multiple rapid edits and conflict resolutions throughout an editing session, when the session ends, then all user changes—including those overridden—are present in the final scenario state with no missing data.
Version History and Change Tracking
"As a small business operator, I want to review past changes and restore earlier versions so that I can recover from mistakes or revisit previous planning iterations."
Description

Build a detailed version history feature that records every change in real time, showing who made each edit and when. Provide an interface for browsing, comparing, and reverting to previous states. The system should store deltas to optimize storage and tie into the audit logs for compliance and rollback capabilities.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Version History After Collaborative Editing
Given a user opens the version history panel for a scenario, when the panel loads, then the system displays the last 50 edits within 2 seconds, showing editor name, timestamp, and change summary for each entry.
Comparing Two Versions of a Scenario
Given a user selects two versions from the history list, when they click “Compare,” then the system shows a side-by-side diff highlighting added, removed, and modified elements with color-coded indicators.
Reverting to a Previous Version
Given a user selects an earlier version and clicks “Revert,” when they confirm the action in the prompt, then the scenario state updates to match the selected version and a new history entry logs the revert with user, timestamp, and version ID.
Efficient Delta Storage of Changes
Given a scenario with an initial full snapshot stored, when multiple edits occur, then only delta changes are stored, and the cumulative storage size for ten edits remains under 10% of the original snapshot size.
Exporting Audit Logs for Compliance
Given a user requests an audit log export, when they specify a date range and click “Export,” then the system generates a CSV file within 5 seconds containing all version history entries, user IDs, timestamps, change types, and revert events.
Secure Session Management
"As a founder, I want to control who can join and edit our planning sessions so that our business data remains secure."
Description

Establish secure session protocols to authenticate collaborators and authorize access to scenarios. Sessions should use encrypted communication channels, auto-expire after inactivity, and support role-based permissions. This ensures that only permitted users can view or edit scenarios, integrating with the platform’s existing security framework.

Acceptance Criteria
Encrypted Communication Channel Established
Given a collaborator initiates a LiveSync session When the session is created Then all data transmissions between client and server use TLS 1.2 or higher with valid, non-expired certificates
User Authentication and Authorization
Given a user attempts to join a LiveSync session When the user provides credentials Then authentication succeeds for valid accounts and fails for invalid credentials with an appropriate error response
Session Auto-Expiry on Inactivity
Given an active LiveSync session with no user interaction for 15 minutes When inactivity threshold is reached Then the session is terminated, the user is logged out, and subsequent API calls return 401 Unauthorized
Role-Based Access Enforcement
Given a user with a 'viewer' role tries to edit a scenario in LiveSync When an edit action is attempted Then the system denies the action with a 'permission denied' message, while 'editor' role users can successfully make edits
Session Revocation on Credential Change
Given a user’s password or permissions are updated in the security framework When the update is applied Then all existing LiveSync sessions for that user are immediately invalidated, forcing re-authentication

AnchorNotes

Lets users pin contextual annotations directly to specific cells, assumptions, or chart elements. AnchorNotes keep feedback organized and tied to the exact data point, making reviews clearer and ensuring comments stay relevant as the model evolves.

Requirements

Cell-Level Annotation Pinning
"As an analyst, I want to pin notes to specific cells so that reviewers can understand the context and rationale behind individual data entries."
Description

Enable users to attach notes directly to individual spreadsheet cells, ensuring feedback and contextual information remain tied to specific data points. These annotations should appear as a visible indicator on the cell and reveal the full note on hover or click, maintaining clarity without cluttering the interface.

Acceptance Criteria
Pinning a Note to a Single Cell
Given a user right-clicks on an empty cell and selects “Add Note”, When the user enters text in the note editor and clicks “Save”, Then a visible note indicator appears in the cell corner and the full note is displayed on hover or click.
Editing an Existing Cell Note
Given a cell displays a note indicator, When the user clicks the indicator, updates the text in the note editor, and clicks “Save”, Then the cell’s note indicator remains and shows the updated text on hover or click.
Deleting a Cell Note
Given a cell with an existing note indicator, When the user clicks the indicator and selects “Delete Note”, Then the note indicator is removed from the cell and no note content appears on hover.
Persisting Notes After Reload
Given multiple cells have saved notes, When the user closes and reopens the workbook, Then all note indicators reappear in their original cells and display correct note content on hover or click.
Multiple Notes Across Different Cells
Given notes are attached to several cells across different rows and columns, When the user hovers over each cell, Then each displays only its own corresponding note without overlap or interface clutter.
Chart Element Anchoring
"As a product manager, I want to attach comments to chart elements so that stakeholders can directly reference insights on visualizations during discussions."
Description

Provide functionality for anchoring annotations to chart elements such as bars, lines, or pie slices. Annotations should move dynamically with the chart when resized or updated, preserving relevance and positioning across model changes.

Acceptance Criteria
Bar Chart Annotation Attachment
Given a bar chart with multiple data bars When a user pins an annotation to a specific bar Then the annotation remains fixed to that bar when the chart is interacted with or data values change
Line Chart Annotation Anchoring
Given a line chart with plotted data points When a user attaches an annotation to a specific point on the line Then the annotation moves along the line if the data point value is updated or the chart is redrawn
Pie Slice Annotation Placement
Given a pie chart displaying various slices When a user adds an annotation to a particular slice Then the annotation is anchored to the center of that slice and updates its position if the slice size or orientation changes
Responsive Chart Resizing Behavior
Given any chart type with existing annotations When the user resizes the chart container Then all annotations adjust their positions proportionally, preserving their relative location to the corresponding chart elements
Model Update Persistence
Given a chart with anchored annotations linked to dynamic data When the underlying model data is updated externally Then the annotations maintain their correct positions relative to their linked elements without manual repositioning
Dynamic Annotation Repositioning
"As a finance lead, I want annotations to stay linked to the right cells or charts when the model is edited so that feedback remains accurate and doesn’t get lost."
Description

Ensure annotations maintain their association and relative position during structural changes to the model, including inserting or deleting rows/columns and resizing charts. The system should automatically reposition notes to the correct target when the underlying data layout changes.

Acceptance Criteria
Insertion of Rows
Given an annotation is attached to cell A1; When a new row is inserted above row 1; Then the annotation remains attached to the original data now shifted to A2.
Deletion of Columns
Given an annotation on column C3; When column B is deleted; Then the annotation shifts to column C2 maintaining its reference to the same underlying data.
Chart Resizing Impact
Given an annotation pinned to a chart bar representing Q1 sales; When the chart is resized or its dimensions change; Then the annotation remains adjacent to the same bar and updates its coordinates accordingly.
Bulk Structural Changes
Given multiple annotations across a worksheet; When a range of rows and columns is moved or reordered; Then each annotation repositions correctly relative to its associated cell or range.
Concurrent Edits Synchronization
Given another user adds and resizes a column while annotations exist; When changes are synced in real-time; Then annotations update positions without losing association or causing overlaps.
Rich Text and Media Support
"As a consultant, I want to format my annotations and include images so that I can provide clear, detailed guidance directly in the model."
Description

Implement a rich text editor within annotations, allowing users to format text (bold, italics, lists), insert links, and embed images or small files. This enhances the expressiveness of notes and supports comprehensive feedback.

Acceptance Criteria
Formatting Text in an Annotation
Given the user opens the rich text editor in an annotation, when the user applies bold formatting to selected text, then the text appears bold and remains bold after saving and reopening the annotation. Given the user applies italic, underline, numbered list, bulleted list, and heading styles, when the annotation is saved, then all formatting is correctly rendered in both preview and read-only modes.
Embedding Images into a Note
Given the user clicks 'Insert Image' and selects an image file under 5MB in size, when the image is uploaded, then it is displayed inline at the cursor position in the annotation. When the annotation is saved and later reopened, then the embedded image remains visible, correctly scaled, and retains its original dimensions.
Inserting Hyperlinks in Rich Text
Given the user highlights text in the annotation editor and enters a valid URL starting with http:// or https://, when the user confirms the insertion, then the selected text becomes a clickable hyperlink. When the user clicks the hyperlink in preview or read mode, then the link opens in a new browser tab. If the user enters an invalid URL format, then an inline validation error message is displayed and prevents insertion until corrected.
Uploading and Attaching Files
Given the user selects 'Attach File' in the rich text editor and chooses a supported file type under 10MB, when the upload completes, then the file appears as an inline icon or link within the annotation. When another user clicks the file link or icon in preview or read-only mode, then the file downloads successfully and its contents match the original.
Preservation of Formatting During Model Updates
Given the underlying financial model is updated (e.g., rows added or removed) and annotations are tied to specific cells or chart elements, when the model refresh completes, then all rich text formatting, embedded images, hyperlinks, and attachments remain intact and correctly anchored to their original data points. When the user views or edits annotations after multiple model changes, then there is no loss or distortion of formatting or media placement.
Annotation Review Workflow
"As a team lead, I want to monitor and manage the review status of annotations so that I can ensure all feedback is addressed before finalizing the model."
Description

Introduce a review workflow that tracks the status of each annotation (e.g., open, resolved, in discussion) and sends notifications to relevant team members when an annotation is added, updated, or resolved. This fosters collaboration and accountability.

Acceptance Criteria
Annotation Creation Notification
Given a user adds a new annotation When the annotation is successfully saved Then all relevant team members receive an in-app and email notification within 5 seconds
Annotation Status Update Notification
Given an existing annotation’s status changes (e.g., from open to in discussion or resolved) When the status is updated Then all participants in the annotation thread receive an in-app notification and email summarizing the change
Annotation Resolution Workflow
Given a user marks an annotation as resolved When the user confirms resolution Then the annotation moves to the resolved status category, is visually differentiated in the UI, and no longer triggers reminder notifications
Annotation Discussion Thread Management
Given multiple users comment on an annotation When a new comment is posted by any user Then the annotation thread updates in real-time for all collaborators and highlights unread comments for each user
Annotation Status Filter in Dashboard
Given the user opens the annotation review dashboard When the user applies a status filter (open, in discussion, resolved) Then only annotations matching the selected status are displayed and pagination updates accordingly

ChangeTrail

Provides a visual timeline of all edits, showing who made each change, when, and why. Users can filter by collaborator or time period, compare versions side by side, and revert individual changes or entire sessions with a single click.

Requirements

Edit Event Logging
"As a team lead, I want all edit actions automatically logged with user details and timestamps so that I can track changes and maintain accountability."
Description

Implement detailed logging of every edit action within the visual builder, capturing the type of change, timestamp, user identity, and optional comment. This ensures a complete, auditable record of modifications and supports accountability and transparency.

Acceptance Criteria
Basic Edit Action Logging
Given a user modifies an element in the visual builder and confirms the change, when the change is saved, then a log entry is created within 1 second containing the change type, the exact timestamp, the user's unique identifier, and an empty comment field.
Edit Action with Comment Logging
Given a user includes a comment with their edit action, when the change is saved, then the log entry includes the provided comment matching exactly the user's input.
Chronological Ordering of Log Entries
Given multiple sequential edit actions by any user, when retrieving the log entries, then entries are ordered chronologically by timestamp, with the earliest first.
Persistent Storage of Log Entries
Given a recorded log entry, when the user refreshes or reopens the visual builder session, then the log entry persists and is retrievable in the log history.
ISO8601 Timestamp Format Validation
Given any edit action, when inspecting the created log entry, then the timestamp is formatted in ISO 8601 (e.g., YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss±hh:mm).
Timeline Visualization
"As a project manager, I want to see a visual timeline of edits so that I can easily grasp the flow of changes over time."
Description

Create an interactive, scrollable timeline that visually represents each logged edit event in chronological order, displaying metadata such as author, time, and comment. This visual context helps users quickly understand the sequence and impact of changes.

Acceptance Criteria
Document Edit History Overview
Given a document with five or more edit events When the user opens the ChangeTrail timeline Then all events are displayed in chronological order with author name, timestamp, and comment visible and the timeline can be scrolled to view older and newer events.
Collaborator Filter Application
Given a document with edits from multiple collaborators When the user applies a filter for a specific collaborator Then only events made by that collaborator are displayed on the timeline and all other events are hidden.
Time Period Filter Application
Given a document with edits spanning several dates When the user selects a start and end date for the filter Then only events within the specified date range are shown on the timeline and the total count of filtered events is updated accordingly.
Version Comparison View
Given two timeline events selected by the user When the user clicks compare Then a side-by-side view appears showing the document state at each selected event with visual highlights of differences.
Revert Change Functionality
Given an event on the timeline When the user clicks revert for that event and confirms in the prompt Then the document is restored to the exact state of that event and a success notification is displayed.
Version Comparison
"As a collaborator, I want to compare two versions side by side so that I can quickly identify what has changed and decide on the best version."
Description

Enable side-by-side comparison of any two selected versions, highlighting additions, deletions, and modifications. This feature facilitates quick identification of differences and aids in decision-making when approving or discarding changes.

Acceptance Criteria
User Selects Two Versions for Side-by-Side Comparison
Given the user is on the ChangeTrail interface When the user opens the version selector and chooses two distinct versions Then both versions are loaded and displayed side by side
Version Comparison Highlights Additions, Deletions, and Modifications
Given two versions are displayed side by side When the comparison renders Then text additions are highlighted in green, deletions in red, and modifications in blue with clear inline markers
User Filters Comparison by Collaborator
Given the comparison view is open When the user filters by a specific collaborator Then only changes made by that collaborator are shown with differences highlighted
Performance of Version Comparison
Given two versions containing up to 10,000 lines each When the user initiates the comparison Then the fully rendered side-by-side view appears within 2 seconds without UI lag
Approve or Discard Changes from Comparison View
Given the comparison view is active When the user selects a specific change and clicks Approve or Discard Then the change is applied or reverted in the current version and a confirmation notification is displayed
Selective Revert Capability
"As a user, I want to revert specific edits or whole sessions easily so that I can correct errors without disrupting other work."
Description

Allow users to revert individual changes or entire sessions with a single click, restoring the model to a previous state. This ensures flexibility to undo mistakes without losing unrelated updates.

Acceptance Criteria
Single Change Revert
Given the user views the change trail and selects a single change entry When the user clicks 'Revert Change' Then only the selected change is undone And the model updates to reflect the revert without affecting other changes And a notification confirms the successful revert action
Entire Session Revert
Given the user filters the change trail to a specific session When the user clicks 'Revert Session' Then all changes from that session are undone in chronological order And the model state restores to how it was before the session began And a confirmation dialog appears before execution
Collaborator-Filtered Revert
Given the user applies a filter by collaborator in the change trail And views only changes made by that collaborator during a session When the user selects 'Revert All Visible Changes' Then only changes by the filtered collaborator are reverted And other collaborators' changes remain intact And the change trail updates accordingly
Version Comparison Before Revert
Given the user has two versions open side by side in the change trail When the user selects a version and clicks 'Revert to This Version' Then the model updates to match the selected version exactly And a side-by-side diff highlights all reverted changes And the system prompts for confirmation before applying
Undo Revert Action
Given the user has just completed a revert of a change or session When the user clicks 'Undo' in the notification banner within five minutes Then the revert operation is rolled back And the model returns to its state immediately before the revert And the change trail logs both the revert and its undo action
Filter and Search
"As a power user, I want to filter and search the change history by user, date, or comment so that I can quickly find relevant edits."
Description

Introduce filtering options to narrow the timeline by collaborator, date range, or change type, and a search function to locate specific events or keywords in change comments. This improves navigation and efficiency when dealing with extensive edit histories.

Acceptance Criteria
Filter by Collaborator
Given a populated change timeline, when the user selects a specific collaborator from the collaborator filter dropdown, then only events authored by that collaborator are displayed in chronological order.
Filter by Date Range
Given a populated change timeline, when the user sets a start date and end date using the date range picker, then only events with timestamps falling on or between those dates are displayed.
Filter by Change Type
Given a populated change timeline, when the user selects one or more change types (e.g., content edit, structural change, metadata update) in the change type filter, then only events matching the selected types are displayed.
Keyword Search in Change Comments
Given a populated change timeline, when the user enters a search term into the search field and submits, then only events with comments containing that term (case-insensitive) are displayed and matched terms are highlighted.
Combined Filtering and Search
Given a populated change timeline, when the user applies a collaborator filter, a date range filter, and enters a keyword search, then only events satisfying all three conditions are displayed.

PresencePulse

Displays live presence indicators and cursor locations for all collaborators. PresencePulse gives teams an at-a-glance view of who is active, where they’re working in the model, and alerts when someone joins or leaves, fostering seamless teamwork.

Requirements

Real-time Presence Detection
"As a team member, I want to see who is currently active in the model so that I can coordinate work and avoid editing conflicts."
Description

Implement continuous monitoring of user activity status to display live presence indicators for all collaborators within the workspace. This requirement ensures that as soon as a user becomes active, inactive, or idle, their presence state updates instantly across all connected clients. By integrating with the backend presence service and subscribing to WebSocket events, the system will maintain an up-to-the-moment view of each user’s online status, reducing confusion and fostering synchronous collaboration.

Acceptance Criteria
User Joins Workspace Presence Update
Given a user connects to the workspace, When the backend presence service receives the WebSocket 'user_connected' event, Then all connected clients display the new user's presence indicator within 2 seconds.
User Idle Status Transition
Given a user is inactive for 5 minutes in the workspace, When the frontend idle timer triggers, Then the system updates the user's status to 'idle' and broadcasts the change to all clients immediately.
User Activity Resumption
Given a user returns from an idle state and performs any action (e.g., moves cursor or types), When the activity is detected by the client, Then the system updates the user's status to 'active' and notifies all connected clients within 1 second.
User Disconnects Unexpectedly
Given a user loses network connection or closes the browser, When the WebSocket connection is terminated unexpectedly, Then the system marks the user as 'offline' and updates all clients within 2 seconds.
Presence State Consistency Across Clients
Given the same user is connected on multiple devices or tabs, When the user's presence state changes on one client, Then all other clients under that user account immediately reflect the updated status and cursor location.
Live Cursor Tracking
"As a product manager, I want to see where my colleagues’ cursors are on the model so that I can follow their focus and provide timely input."
Description

Enable real-time tracking and rendering of collaborators’ cursor positions on the model canvas. This involves broadcasting cursor coordinates from each client to others via low-latency channels and visually distinguishing each user’s cursor with unique identifiers (e.g., color, label). The feature improves situational awareness by showing exactly where collaborators are focusing, facilitating seamless handoffs and guided walkthroughs.

Acceptance Criteria
Session Join Cursor Broadcast
Given a user joins an active session, when their model canvas fully loads, then their client must broadcast its current cursor coordinates to all existing participants within 200ms, and each participant's interface displays the new cursor with the assigned color and label.
Real-Time Cursor Movement Synchronization
Given a user moves their cursor at a speed up to 2000 pixels/second, when the cursor moves, then all other connected clients update the cursor position with a maximum latency of 100ms per coordinate change, ensuring smooth motion without jitter.
Cursor Identification and Labeling
Given multiple users are present, when cursors are displayed, then each cursor must have a unique color and show the user's name label adjacent to the cursor, ensuring no two cursors share identical identifiers.
User Disconnection Indicator Removal
Given a user disconnects or leaves the session, when the server detects the disconnection, then all clients must remove the departed user's cursor indicator within 500ms of the disconnection event.
Network Latency Compensation for Cursor Movement
Given intermittent network latency above 300ms, when cursor updates are delayed, then the client must apply interpolation or smoothing algorithms to prevent abrupt cursor jumps, maintaining visual continuity for other users.
Join and Leave Notifications
"As a startup founder, I want to be notified when team members enter or exit the session so that I know when I can collaborate in real time or when someone has finished their work."
Description

Provide on-screen alerts when collaborators join or leave the workspace, including contextual information such as their name and timestamp. Notifications should appear unobtrusively in a notification panel or toast messages, and support user preferences for sound or visual cues. This requirement enhances team awareness by notifying members of dynamic changes in collaboration, helping them respond quickly to new arrivals or departures.

Acceptance Criteria
Collaborator Joins Active Workspace
Given a user has the workspace open and notifications enabled; When another collaborator joins the same workspace; Then a non-blocking toast appears displaying the collaborator’s name and join timestamp; And the toast auto-dismisses after 5 seconds without overlapping core UI elements.
Collaborator Leaves Active Workspace
Given a user is viewing the model and notifications enabled; When a collaborator leaves the workspace; Then a notification panel entry is created showing the collaborator’s name and leave timestamp; And an optional sound alert plays if enabled in preferences.
Multiple Collaborators Connect and Disconnect Sequentially
Given notifications are enabled for join and leave events; When multiple collaborators join or leave in quick succession; Then each event generates a separate, queued notification in chronological order; And no notifications are lost or overwritten.
User Adjusts Notification Preferences
Given a user navigates to notification settings; When the user toggles sound and visual alerts on or off; Then subsequent join/leave events respect these preferences and only present the enabled alert types.
Responsive Notification Display on Various Screen Sizes
Given the application is resized or accessed on different devices; When a join or leave event occurs; Then notifications adapt layout to fit within visible viewport; And remain unobtrusive, not obscuring critical workspace controls.
Presence Heatmap
"As a design lead, I want to see which parts of the model receive the most attention so that I can prioritize revisions and allocate resources effectively."
Description

Render a dynamic heatmap overlay on the model canvas that visually represents areas of high collaborator activity over a defined time window. The system should aggregate cursor movements and interaction points to generate color-coded intensity zones, allowing users to identify hotspots of collaboration and focus areas. This analytical feature aids in understanding team engagement patterns and optimizing workflow layout.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Heatmap Rendering
Given a model canvas with recorded collaborator interactions, when the user enables the Presence Heatmap overlay, then the heatmap appears within 3 seconds covering the entire canvas; and zones accurately reflect aggregated interaction density with at least 90% data accuracy.
Real-Time Heatmap Update
Given active collaborator movements, when cursors move or interactions occur, then the heatmap dynamically updates within 2 seconds to reflect the new activity points without requiring a page reload.
Time Window Filtering
Given a selectable time window control, when the user sets a custom time range, then the heatmap recalculates and displays only interactions within that range, and intensity zones adjust accordingly.
Heatmap Legend Visibility
When the Presence Heatmap overlay is active, then a legend indicating color intensity scale (low, medium, high) is displayed, remaining visible and accurately corresponding to the displayed heatmap colors.
High Activity Performance
Given an environment with over 50 concurrent collaborators and 10,000 recorded interaction points, when the heatmap is rendered, then the overlay loads within 5 seconds and maintains at least 30 FPS during pan and zoom operations.
Presence Filtering and Search
"As a team coordinator, I want to filter and search for specific team members so that I can focus on their activities without distraction from others."
Description

Implement a filtering and search mechanism that allows users to quickly locate specific collaborators by name or role and isolate their presence indicators and cursor trails. The feature should include an autocomplete search box and toggle switches to show or hide particular users. By filtering the view, teams can focus on pertinent contributors and reduce visual clutter, improving navigation in large collaborative sessions.

Acceptance Criteria
Search Box Autocomplete Suggestion
Given the user focuses the search box and types at least three characters, When suggestions matching collaborator names or roles exist, Then a dropdown with up to five autocomplete suggestions appears in real time, and the suggestions update as the user types.
Toggle User Presence Visibility
Given the user views the list of collaborators with toggle switches, When the user switches off a specific collaborator’s toggle, Then that collaborator’s presence indicator and cursor trail are hidden from the model view immediately, and toggling it on restores visibility.
Filter by Role
Given the user opens the role filter panel, When the user selects one or more roles and applies the filter, Then only collaborators matching the selected roles are displayed, including their presence indicators and cursors, while others are hidden.
Clear All Filters
Given one or more active name or role filters, When the user clicks the 'Clear Filters' button, Then all filters reset, all collaborators’ presence indicators and cursors are visible again, and the search box is cleared.
No Results State
Given the user enters a search term or selects filters that match no collaborators, When the system executes the filter, Then a 'No collaborators found' message is displayed in the presence panel, and no presence indicators are shown in the model view.

ThreadChat

Integrates threaded discussions directly into the scenario builder, allowing teams to start conversations tied to specific assumptions or sections. ThreadChat preserves context, notifies participants of replies, and archives decision history for future reference.

Requirements

Scoped Thread Creation
"As a team member, I want to start a discussion thread anchored to a specific assumption or section so that I can discuss contextually relevant points without losing track of the topic."
Description

Enable users to initiate a threaded discussion directly from any assumption or section within the scenario builder UI. This functionality should provide a clear interface element (e.g., a comment icon) to open a new thread, tag participants, and attach the thread to the context. It streamlines collaboration by keeping discussions context-specific and easily accessible.

Acceptance Criteria
Initiate Thread from Assumption
Given a user views an assumption or section in the scenario builder, when they click the comment icon adjacent to that assumption, then a new threaded discussion panel opens anchored to the selected assumption.
Tag Participants in Thread
Given a thread panel is open, when the user types '@' followed by a username and selects from the dropdown list, then the selected participant is added to the thread and appears in the participant list.
Persist Thread on Reload
Given a scenario contains existing threads, when the user reloads or revisits the scenario, then all threads remain visible and correctly attached to their original assumptions or sections.
Notify Participants on Reply
Given a participant is tagged or has previously contributed to a thread, when any user posts a new reply in that thread, then all participants receive an in-app notification indicating the new reply.
Archive Decision History
Given a scenario is finalized and archived, when users access the scenario’s history, then all threads and messages are preserved and accessible in read-only mode.
Contextual Thread Linking
"As a team member, I want threads to be automatically linked to the associated elements in the scenario builder so that context is preserved and references are clear."
Description

Automatically associate threads with the specific building block (assumption, variable, or section) they originate from. The system should visually indicate linked threads next to elements, and ensure thread content is retrievable when navigating to that part of the model. It guarantees discussions remain tied to their relevant context.

Acceptance Criteria
Thread Creation on Assumption Block
Given the user right-clicks on an assumption block and selects "Start Thread", when the user enters a message and submits it, then a new thread is created and visually linked to that block.
Thread Visibility on Navigation
Given a model with existing threads on a specific section, when the user navigates to that section, then all associated threads are displayed in the ThreadChat pane.
Visual Indicator on Model Elements
Given any model element has one or more threads, then a thread icon with the count of messages appears adjacent to that element on the canvas.
Reply Notification to Participants
Given a user has participated in a thread, when another user posts a reply, then the original participant receives an in-app notification and an email notification within five minutes.
Archived Thread Retrieval
Given a model revision older than 30 days, when the user selects "View Archived Threads" on an element, then all historical threads for that element are accessible and searchable.
Thread Notifications
"As a team member, I want to receive real-time notifications for replies and updates to threads I participate in so that I can stay informed and respond promptly."
Description

Implement a notification system that alerts participants when a new thread is created, replies are posted, or tags are mentioned. Notifications should be delivered via in-app alerts, optional email updates, and a notification center. Configurable notification preferences ensure users only receive relevant updates.

Acceptance Criteria
New Thread Creation Notification
Given a user creates a new discussion thread in the scenario builder, When a participant is subscribed to that scenario or section, Then an in-app alert appears within 5 seconds with thread title, creator name, and link to the thread; And if email notifications are enabled, an email is sent within 2 minutes containing the same details; And the notification is recorded in the notification center as unread.
Reply Posted Notification
Given a reply is posted to an existing thread by any user, When other participants are subscribed or mentioned in the thread, Then each relevant user receives an in-app alert within 5 seconds showing reply excerpt and link; And an email notification within 2 minutes if opted in; And a new entry appears in the notification center.
Tag Mention Notification
Given a user is mentioned using a @tag in a thread post or reply, When the post is published, Then the mentioned user receives an in-app alert within 5 seconds with the mention context and direct link; And an email if notifications for mentions are enabled; And the mention is logged as a separate notification entry in the notification center.
Notification Center Display
Given one or more notifications exist for the user, When the user opens the notification center, Then notifications are listed in reverse chronological order; Unread notifications are visually distinguished; Clicking a notification directs to the related thread or reply; And notifications can be marked as read.
Notification Preferences Configuration
Given a user accesses notification settings, When the user toggles in-app alerts or email notifications for new threads, replies, or mentions, Then the system saves preferences instantly; And subsequent events respect the updated settings, only sending notifications via enabled channels.
Thread Archive & Search
"As a team member, I want to archive and search past discussion threads so that I can reference decision history and rationale for future scenarios."
Description

Provide functionality to archive resolved or closed threads and enable full-text search across all past discussions. Users should be able to filter by date, participants, keywords, or linked elements. This feature ensures decision rationale is preserved and easily retrievable for audit and review purposes.

Acceptance Criteria
Archiving a Closed Thread for Future Retrieval
Given a user marks a thread as closed and selects 'Archive' action When the system processes the archival request Then the thread status changes to 'Archived' and the thread is removed from the active discussion list and appears in the archived threads view
Automatic Archival of Threads After Resolution Period
Given a thread has been marked closed for 30 days When the archival job runs Then the system automatically archives the thread and moves it to the archived threads repository without user intervention
Full-Text Search for Archived Threads by Keyword
Given a user enters a keyword in the archived threads search bar When the search is executed Then the system returns all archived threads containing the keyword in the title, messages, or attachments sorted by relevance
Filtering Archived Threads by Date Range
Given a user sets a start and end date filter When the archived threads list is refreshed Then only threads archived within the specified date range are displayed
Filtering Archived Threads by Participant
Given a user selects one or more participants from the filter dropdown When the filter is applied Then only archived threads with contributions from the selected participants are displayed
Filtering Archived Threads by Linked Scenario Elements
Given a user selects specific scenario elements (e.g., assumptions or sections) When the filter is applied Then only archived threads linked to those elements are shown
Role-based Thread Permissions
"As an administrator, I want to manage user roles and permissions for creating, editing, and viewing threads so that thread access aligns with team structure and security policies."
Description

Define and enforce granular permissions for thread actions, including creation, replying, editing, deleting, and viewing. Administrators should be able to assign roles (e.g., viewer, commenter, moderator) at the project or team level. This ensures secure and controlled access to sensitive discussions.

Acceptance Criteria
Project Role Assignment
Given an administrator accesses the project settings When they assign a role to a team member Then the system saves the role and displays the updated permissions list with the new role assignment
Viewer Permission Enforcement
Given a user with the viewer role When they attempt to create or reply to a thread Then the system prevents the action and shows an "Insufficient Permissions" message
Commenter Reply Capability
Given a user with the commenter role When they select an existing thread and submit a reply Then the reply is posted, timestamped, and visible to all users with view access
Moderator Edit Privileges
Given a user with the moderator role When they edit or delete another user’s thread post Then the system applies the change immediately and logs the action in the decision history audit
Restricted Thread Visibility
Given a thread is marked as confidential at the project level When a user without view permission navigates to the thread’s location Then the thread remains hidden and the user receives a "Content Not Available" notification

ReplayView

Records every collaborative session and lets users play back the entire editing journey. ReplayView helps teams review decision paths, onboard new members quickly, and conduct post-mortem analyses by watching how scenarios evolved over time.

Requirements

Session Capture
"As a product manager, I want to record every collaborative session so that I can review the complete editing history and understand decision-making processes."
Description

Record and store every action performed during collaborative sessions, including drag-and-drop model edits, parameter changes, and comments, to create a complete, time-stamped history of scenario evolution. This functionality ensures that users can revisit and analyze the exact sequence of events, fostering transparency and accountability in team decision-making.

Acceptance Criteria
Recording of Drag-and-Drop Model Edits
Given a user performs a drag-and-drop model edit, when the session ends, then the system logs an entry containing the action type, component ID, original and new coordinates, and a timestamp.
Capture of Parameter Adjustments During Session
Given a user updates a model parameter, when the change is applied, then the system records the parameter name, old value, new value, user ID, and timestamp.
Logging of In-Session Collaborative Comments
Given a user submits a comment during the session, when the comment is posted, then the system logs the comment text, author ID, target object, and timestamp.
History Playback with Accurate Timestamps
Given a recorded session, when a user initiates playback, then the timeline displays all recorded actions in chronological order with timestamps accurate to within one second of the original event.
Storage and Retrieval of Complete Session Data
Given a completed session recording, when a user retrieves the session, then the system returns the full sequence of recorded actions with no missing entries and delivers the data within five seconds.
Playback Controls
"As a team member, I want interactive playback controls so that I can quickly jump to relevant parts of a session without watching the entire recording."
Description

Provide intuitive playback controls—play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, and timeline scrubbing—that allow users to navigate to specific points in a session recording. These controls enhance usability by enabling quick access to relevant moments without watching the entire replay.

Acceptance Criteria
Playing a session recording
Given a recorded session is loaded, when the user clicks the Play button, then playback starts within 500ms, the Play icon toggles to Pause, and the timeline scrubber advances.
Pausing active playback
Given the session is currently playing, when the user clicks the Pause button, then playback halts immediately, the Pause icon toggles back to Play, and the timeline scrubber stops moving.
Rewinding playback by 10 seconds
Given the session is playing or paused and the current timestamp is ≥ 10 seconds, when the user clicks the Rewind button once, then the timestamp decreases by exactly 10 seconds and the playback position updates accordingly.
Fast-forwarding playback by 10 seconds
Given the session is playing or paused and there are ≥ 10 seconds remaining, when the user clicks the Fast-Forward button once, then the timestamp increases by exactly 10 seconds and the playback position updates accordingly.
Scrubbing to a specific timestamp
Given the timeline is displayed, when the user drags the scrubber or clicks a point on the timeline, then playback immediately jumps to the selected timestamp and the scrubber reflects that exact position.
Preventing out-of-bounds scrubbing
Given the user attempts to scrub before the start or beyond the end, when the user drags or uses controls outside the valid range, then the scrubber stops at the start (0s) or end (recording duration), and no errors occur.
Using keyboard shortcuts for playback controls
Given focus is on the replay interface, when the user presses Spacebar or K, playback toggles Play/Pause; pressing J or Left Arrow rewinds 10 seconds; pressing L or Right Arrow fast-forwards 10 seconds, and the timeline updates accordingly.
Annotation and Highlighting
"As a new team member, I want to annotate key moments in a session replay so that I can ask questions and share insights directly in the context of the recording."
Description

Enable users to add, edit, and view annotations, comments, and highlights at specific timestamps within the replay. This feature facilitates contextual discussions, clarifications, and post-mortem analyses directly on the playback timeline.

Acceptance Criteria
Adding Annotations at a Specific Timestamp
Given a user is viewing a replay at any timestamp, when the user clicks the "Add Annotation" button and enters annotation text, then a marker appears on the timeline at that timestamp and the annotation is saved and visible in the annotation list with the correct timestamp.
Editing Existing Annotations
Given an existing annotation is present on the timeline, when the user selects the annotation marker and clicks "Edit", modifies the text, and saves changes, then the updated text is immediately displayed in both the timeline marker tooltip and the annotation list.
Displaying Annotations on Load
Given multiple annotations exist for a replay, when the user loads the replay page, then all annotation markers are rendered at their correct timestamps on the timeline, and clicking each marker opens the associated annotation details.
Adding Highlights to a Time Range
Given a user is playback of a replay, when the user drags across the timeline to select a start and end time, then a highlight region is drawn on the timeline, saved with the selected range, and displayed in the highlight list with accurate start/end timestamps.
Viewing Annotation Comment Threads
Given an annotation has comments added by multiple users, when the user clicks on the annotation marker and opens the annotation details panel, then all comments are displayed in chronological order with author, timestamp, and content.
Access Control
"As an admin, I want to restrict replay access to authorized users so that sensitive scenario details are protected and compliance requirements are met."
Description

Implement role-based permissions for viewing, annotating, and deleting session replays. This requirement ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive recordings, maintaining data security and compliance with organizational policies.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Grants Viewing Permissions to Team Member
Given an admin user and a team member without prior access, when the admin assigns the "view_replay" role to the team member, then the team member can see and open the session replay in ReplayView.
Editor Annotates Session Replay
Given an editor user with annotation permissions, when the user opens a session replay and adds annotations at specific timestamps, then the annotations are saved and visible to all users with annotation or higher permissions.
Viewer Attempts to Delete Replay without Permission
Given a viewer user without delete permissions, when the user tries to delete a session replay, then the system denies the action and displays an access denied error message.
Owner Revokes Annotation Permission
Given an owner user and an editor, when the owner revokes the editor’s annotation permission on a session replay, then the editor can no longer add new annotations and receives an unauthorized action notification.
Unauthorized User Access Attempt Blocked
Given a user with no assigned role, when the user tries to access any session replay URL, then the system redirects the user to an access request page and logs the unauthorized access attempt.
Scalable Storage and Retrieval
"As an operations engineer, I want scalable storage for session replays so that system performance remains stable and storage costs are optimized as usage grows."
Description

Design and integrate an efficient storage solution with automatic compression, indexing, and fast retrieval for session recordings. This ensures the system can handle growing volumes of data while maintaining performance and optimizing storage costs.

Acceptance Criteria
High-Volume Session Upload
Given a user uploads a session recording of 10GB when storage completes then the data is compressed by at least 75% and stored within 2 minutes
Real-Time Retrieval Under Load
Given 100 concurrent retrieval requests for session playback when users initiate playback then each request returns the first frame within 1 second and full playback data within 3 seconds
Automated Compression and Archiving
Given session recordings older than 30 days when the nightly job runs then recordings are re-compressed to reduce storage by an additional 20% and archived to cold storage automatically
Indexed Search Query
Given a user searches for session recordings by metadata tags when the query is submitted then results are returned within 500ms and match 100% of the specified tags
Cost-Efficient Storage Scaling
Given storage usage grows by 50% in a month when auto-scaling policies are evaluated then new storage resources are provisioned without user intervention and average storage cost per GB remains within 5% of forecasted estimates

Connector Explorer

An intuitive marketplace interface with powerful filters and search tools that lets users quickly find the right data connector for their needs, reducing discovery time and streamlining setup.

Requirements

Connector Search
"As a small business operator, I want to search connectors by keyword so that I can quickly find relevant data sources without browsing through unrelated options."
Description

Implement a responsive search bar that allows users to perform keyword-based queries across connector names, descriptions, and tags. The search should support fuzzy matching, auto-suggestions, and highlight query terms in the results. As users type, results update in real time to provide immediate feedback. This functionality will enable users to quickly locate appropriate connectors without manually browsing through the entire catalog, significantly speeding up their workflow and reducing discovery time.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-time Keyword Search
Given the user has entered one or more characters into the search bar When the input matches connector names, descriptions, or tags Then the results list updates instantly without manual refresh
Fuzzy Matching Accuracy
Given the user enters a search term with minor typos When the system processes the query Then connectors with relevant approximate matches appear in the results
Auto-Suggestions Relevance
Given the user begins typing a search query When at least two matching connectors are found Then the system displays up to five auto-suggestions ranked by relevance
Highlighted Query Terms
Given the search results are displayed When a connector’s name, description, or tag contains the user’s query term Then each occurrence of the query term is highlighted in the result snippet
Search Performance
Given a catalog of over 1,000 connectors When the user types into the search bar Then the updated results appear within 200 milliseconds of input
Filter by Category and Tags
"As a startup founder, I want to filter connectors by category and tags so that I can focus only on the types of integrations that meet my specific requirements."
Description

Provide dynamic filtering options that allow users to refine connector search results by category (e.g., CRM, Accounting, Marketing), tags (e.g., real-time, batch), and data type (e.g., CSV, JSON). Filters should support multi-select, display counts of matching connectors, and update results instantly upon selection. This feature will help users narrow down the connector list to exactly what they need, improving precision and reducing time spent on discovery.

Acceptance Criteria
Category Filter Selection
Given the user is on the Connector Explorer page with a full list of connectors When the user selects one or more categories (e.g., CRM, Accounting) Then only connectors belonging to the selected categories are displayed And the total number of displayed connectors matches the count indicated in the category filter
Tag Filter Multi-Select
Given the user has multiple tag filter options available When the user selects multiple tags (e.g., real-time, batch) Then only connectors that have all selected tags are shown And the connector list excludes any connector missing at least one of the selected tags
Data Type Filter Application
Given the user views data type filters (e.g., CSV, JSON) When the user selects one or more data types Then the list updates to include only connectors supporting at least one of the selected data types And connectors that do not support any selected data type are excluded
Display of Matching Connector Counts
Given the user reviews available filter options When filters (category, tag, data type) are displayed Then each filter option shows the number of connectors that would match if the option is selected And these counts dynamically update based on other active filters
Instantaneous Filter Results Update
Given the user adjusts any filter option When a filter is added or removed Then the connector list refreshes instantly without a full page reload And the update completes within 200ms to maintain real-time interaction
Connector Preview Cards
"As an operations manager, I want to see a quick preview of each connector’s key details so that I can evaluate its relevance before diving into setup."
Description

Display connectors as interactive preview cards showing essential information such as connector name, logo, brief description, sample data schema, popularity rating, and last updated timestamp. On hover or click, cards should expand to reveal additional details like supported operations and required credentials. This preview functionality will help users assess connector suitability at a glance without needing to leave the marketplace interface.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Connector Card View
Given the marketplace is loaded, when users scroll through connectors, then each connector preview card must display the connector's name, logo, brief description, popularity rating, and last updated timestamp.
Connector Card Hover Expansion
Given a connector preview card is visible, when the user hovers over it, then the card expands smoothly to reveal supported operations and required credentials within the same interface.
Connector Card Click Expansion
Given a connector preview card is visible, when the user clicks on it, then detailed information including supported operations and required credentials appears in an expandable panel without navigating away.
Sample Data Schema Display
Given a connector preview card is expanded, then a sample data schema is shown with at least two example fields and their associated data types in a clear, readable format.
Responsive Connector Card Layout
Given the marketplace is accessed on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile), when viewing connector preview cards, then card layout and expansion behavior adapt responsively, maintaining readability and functionality.
Documentation and Support Links
"As a technical lead, I want direct access to connector documentation from the marketplace so that I can quickly reference implementation details and troubleshoot issues."
Description

Integrate direct links to official connector documentation, API references, and support resources within each connector preview. Include summaries of key capabilities, authentication requirements, and rate limits. This integration ensures users have immediate access to in-depth technical details and support channels, facilitating smoother configuration and reducing setup errors.

Acceptance Criteria
User accesses connector documentation from preview
Given a user is viewing a connector preview, when they click the 'Documentation' link, then the official documentation page opens in a new browser tab within 2 seconds.
API reference link is visible and operational
Given a connector preview is displayed, then an 'API Reference' link must be present with correct label, and clicking it opens the official API reference page in a new browser tab.
Connector key capabilities summary displayed
Given a connector is listed in the Connector Explorer, then its preview must include at least three bullet points summarizing key capabilities that match the connector’s specifications.
Authentication requirements section present
Given a connector preview, then an 'Authentication Requirements' section must list the method (e.g., OAuth2), required credentials, and token refresh details matching backend setup.
Rate limit information displayed
Given a connector preview, then a 'Rate Limits' section must display numeric limits per minute or hour as configured, and include a tooltip explaining reset intervals.
Support resource link operational
Given a connector preview, when the user clicks the 'Support' link, then it opens the designated support portal or email compose window to the correct resource.
Connector Installation Wizard
"As a product manager, I want a step-by-step wizard to configure connectors so that I can set up data sources accurately and efficiently without expert assistance."
Description

Develop a guided installation wizard that walks users through the connector setup process step by step, including authentication, permission granting, field mapping, and test connection. The wizard should provide validation at each step, clear error messages, and progress indicators. This feature will streamline connector configuration, reduce setup time, and minimize user frustration by providing a clear and supportive onboarding experience.

Acceptance Criteria
Data Source Authentication
Given the user enters valid credentials and clicks Next, when the wizard validates the credentials, then the setup advances to the permission granting step without errors.
Permission Granting Flow
Given the user selects required permissions and confirms, when the wizard processes the permission request, then the connector has the necessary read and write permissions and displays a success message.
Field Mapping Interface
Given the user is on the field mapping step, when the connector schema loads, then all source and target fields are displayed and the user can successfully map fields via drag-and-drop.
Connection Testing
Given the user completes configuration and clicks Test Connection, when the system runs connectivity tests, then a successful connection message is shown and sample records from the data source are displayed.
Wizard Progress Indicator
Given the user navigates through the wizard steps, when moving forward or backward, then the progress indicator accurately reflects the current step number and label.

QuickConnect

One-click installation and auto-configuration of popular integrations so users can begin syncing data in minutes without manual mapping or technical setup, slashing onboarding friction.

Requirements

One-Click Integration Setup
"As a small business operator, I want to connect my accounting and CRM systems with a single click so that I can begin syncing data immediately without technical setup."
Description

Provide a button that initiates the installation and auto-configuration of popular third-party applications. The system should detect existing accounts, import credentials, configure API keys, apply default settings, and automatically map standard data fields. This feature reduces onboarding friction by allowing users to start syncing data in minutes without manual setup or technical assistance.

Acceptance Criteria
Initiate One-Click Integration
Given the user is on the integrations page and clicks the “One-Click Install” button for a supported application, When the button is clicked, Then the system begins the installation and displays a progress indicator within 2 seconds.
Automatic API Key Configuration
Given the system has imported valid user credentials, When the integration setup continues, Then API keys are generated or applied automatically without manual input or errors.
Default Settings Application
Given the integration setup process has completed API configuration, When the system finalizes setup, Then default integration settings are applied and displayed in a confirmation dialog for user review.
Standard Data Field Mapping
Given the default settings are applied, When the system maps data fields, Then all standard data fields between SimpliCast and the third-party application are mapped correctly with no unmapped fields.
Error Handling and Feedback
Given an invalid credential or network interruption occurs during setup, When the error is detected, Then a clear, user-friendly error message is displayed and the user is offered a retry or manual configuration option.
Automated Data Mapping
"As a startup founder, I want the system to automatically map my CRM and financial data fields so that I don’t have to manually align columns and minimize mapping mistakes."
Description

Implement an intelligent field mapping engine that uses AI-based suggestions to automatically align data fields between source and target systems. Provide a visual interface for users to review, confirm, or adjust the mappings, ensuring accuracy and flexibility. This reduces manual effort and potential mapping errors during integration.

Acceptance Criteria
First-Time Integration Setup
Given a user selects a new source and target system When schemas are loaded Then the engine automatically maps at least 90% of matching fields with correct alignment within 10 seconds
Manual Mapping Adjustment
Given the AI-suggested mappings are displayed When a user modifies a suggested mapping Then changes are persisted immediately and highlighted as user-adjusted
AI Suggestion Accuracy
Given historical mapping data exists When the engine generates mapping suggestions Then at least 95% of suggestions match previously confirmed mappings for similar integrations
Bulk Field Mapping Review
Given multiple fields are unmapped When the user triggers bulk review Then the interface displays all unmapped fields with AI suggestions and allows batch confirm or edit
Mapping Persistence Across Sessions
Given a user saves and exits the mapping interface When the user returns within 24 hours Then all previous mapping sessions are restored exactly as last edited
Real-Time Sync Monitoring
"As an operations manager, I want to see live updates on my data sync status so that I can ensure financial projections are based on current information and respond quickly to any delays."
Description

Add a dashboard widget that displays the real-time status of data synchronization across all connected integrations. The interface should show last sync timestamps, record counts, and visual indicators for successful, pending, or failed syncs. Include configurable notifications to alert users when syncs complete, delay, or encounter issues.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Sync Monitoring Dashboard Widget
Dashboard widget displays last sync timestamp, record count, and status indicator for every connected integration, updated within 5 seconds of each sync event.
Failed Sync Alert Notification
When a sync fails, the user receives an in-app and email notification within 1 minute containing the integration name, failure timestamp, and error details.
Sync Delay Warning
If a sync remains pending for more than 15 minutes, a warning icon appears on the dashboard and a notification is sent to the user.
Configurable Notification Preferences
Users can enable or disable notifications per integration and per event type, with preference changes saved and applied immediately.
Real-Time Record Count Accuracy
Record counts displayed on the dashboard match actual synced data within a 2% margin of error and update live during sync operations.
Error Detection and Recovery
"As an analyst, I want to be notified and guided through data sync errors so that I can resolve issues quickly and prevent data inconsistencies."
Description

Build an error-handling module that captures synchronization failures, categorizes errors by type, and presents actionable recovery options. Include automatic retry with exponential backoff, detailed error logs, and guided resolution steps. Users should be notified of critical failures and provided with tools to resolve issues and resume syncing.

Acceptance Criteria
Automatic Retry with Exponential Backoff Triggered
Given a synchronization failure occurs, when the system retries up to three times with exponentially increasing delays (e.g., 1s, 2s, 4s), then each retry is attempted automatically without user intervention and respects the backoff schedule.
Error Categorization and Display
When a synchronization error is detected, then the system categorizes the error by type (e.g., network, authentication, data validation) and displays the category and a concise description in the integration dashboard.
Detailed Error Logs Accessible
Given a user views a failed sync event, when they open the error log, then the log entry includes timestamp, error code, error category, affected record details, and stack trace or API response.
Critical Failure User Notification
When automatic retries have been exhausted and the sync still fails, then the user receives an in-app alert within one minute and an email notification detailing the failure and recommended next steps.
Guided Resolution Workflow Initiation
Given a user encounters a failed sync, when they click on the “Resolve Issue” button, then the system launches a step-by-step guided workflow that suggests actions (e.g., reconnect credentials, correct mapping) and confirms resolution before resuming sync.
Secure OAuth Authentication
"As a CTO, I want all integrations to use secure OAuth authentication so that our data is protected and we comply with security best practices."
Description

Integrate OAuth 2.0–based secure authentication for all supported connectors, ensuring end-to-end encryption, secure token storage, and automatic token refresh. Provide clear permission prompts and manage scopes to align with each third-party API’s security requirements. This ensures user credentials remain protected and compliant with industry standards.

Acceptance Criteria
User Initiates OAuth Authorization for a New Connector
Given a user selects 'Add Connector' and chooses a supported service, When the system sends an OAuth 2.0 authorization request over HTTPS with the correct client_id, redirect_uri, and requested scopes, Then the user is redirected to the third-party consent screen within 5 seconds.
User Re-authenticates After Token Expiry
Given an expired access token, When the user attempts to sync data, Then the system automatically uses the refresh token to obtain a new access token without user intervention and retries the sync within 2 seconds.
Token Storage and Encryption Verification
Given that tokens are received from the OAuth server, When the tokens are stored, Then they must be encrypted using AES-256 and saved in the secure credential store, and decrypted successfully at retrieval.
Scope Management During Authorization
Given the connector's defined scope requirements, When initiating OAuth flow, Then the system must request exactly those scopes—no more, no less—and display human-readable permission prompts to the user.
Error Handling for Denied Permissions
Given a user denies a permission on the consent screen, When the denial occurs, Then the system displays an error message explaining the missing permissions and aborts the connector setup without storing any credentials.

Schema Mapper

A visual drag-and-drop field mapping interface that guides users through aligning source and destination data structures, eliminating mapping errors and ensuring accurate data flows.

Requirements

Drag-and-Drop Mapping Canvas
"As a data engineer, I want to drag source fields onto destination fields so that I can establish mappings quickly without writing code."
Description

The interface must allow users to visually drag fields from the source schema and drop them onto corresponding fields in the destination schema with clear visual connectors, providing immediate feedback on valid mappings and preventing invalid connections. This functionality simplifies the mapping process, reduces manual configuration errors, and integrates seamlessly into SimpliCast’s visual builder for intuitive scenario modeling.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Drag-and-Drop Connection
Given the user has a source field selected When the user drags the source field over a compatible destination field and releases Then a visible connector line is created between the source and destination fields Given the user drops on an incompatible field When the drop action occurs Then no connector is created and an error tooltip appears
Invalid Mapping Prevention
Given a user attempts to connect fields with mismatched data types When the drop action occurs Then the interface prevents the mapping and displays an error message explaining the mismatch And no connector line is drawn
Connector Auto-Layout
Given multiple field mappings exist When a new mapping is created Then the canvas reflows connectors to avoid overlaps and maintain readability within 100 milliseconds of the drop action
Mapping Feedback Display
Given a mapping is established When the connector is created Then the connector line is color-coded green for success And hovering over the connector shows a tooltip with 'Mapping valid' and source/destination field names
Undo/Redo Mapping Action
Given the user performs a mapping action When the user clicks 'Undo' Then the last mapping is removed and connector disappears And the user can click 'Redo' to restore the mapping with the connector reappearing in the same position
Real-Time Validation and Suggestions
"As an analyst, I want the system to validate my field mappings and suggest fixes so that I can ensure data integrity without manual checks."
Description

The system must validate field compatibility in real time, highlighting type mismatches and offering AI-guided suggestions for data transformations such as date formatting or unit conversions directly within the mapping canvas. This feature enhances accuracy, accelerates setup, and leverages SimpliCast’s AI engine to reduce mapping errors before they occur.

Acceptance Criteria
Date to String Field Mapping Validation
Given a source field of type date and a destination field of type string, when the user maps them, then the system highlights the type mismatch and suggests a date-to-string transformation.
Weight Unit Conversion Suggestion
Given a source field 'weight_lbs' and a destination field 'weight_kg', when the user maps them, then the system flags the mismatch and offers a conversion suggestion to convert pounds to kilograms.
Bulk Field Mapping Error Detection
Given multiple field mappings are pasted into the canvas with at least one type mismatch, when the paste action completes, then the system immediately flags each mismatch inline and presents AI-guided transformation suggestions for each.
Custom Date Format Recommendation
Given a source date field formatted as 'MM/DD/YYYY' and a destination expecting 'YYYY-MM-DD', when the user establishes the mapping, then the system suggests the appropriate reformatting rule and upon user acceptance applies it.
AI Suggestion Acceptance Flow
Given an AI-generated data transformation suggestion is presented, when the user accepts the suggestion within the mapping canvas, then the system automatically applies the transformation and clears the mismatch indicator.
Nested Schema Support
"As a backend developer, I want to explore nested schema structures and map their inner fields so that I can work with complex data models accurately."
Description

The mapper must support the visualization and mapping of complex, nested JSON and XML schemas, allowing users to expand and collapse hierarchical structures, select nested fields, and maintain context throughout the mapping process. This capability ensures SimpliCast can handle real-world data models and maintains completeness and clarity in mappings.

Acceptance Criteria
Expand/Collapse Nested Structures
Given a nested JSON or XML schema is loaded, when the user clicks the expand icon on a parent node, then all immediate child nodes are displayed and when the user clicks the collapse icon, then the child nodes are hidden.
Select Nested Fields with Context
Given a nested schema is expanded, when the user selects a nested field, then the selected field is highlighted and its full path is displayed in the mapping panel.
Map Nested Fields via Drag-and-Drop
Given source and destination nested schemas are visible, when the user drags a nested source field onto a nested destination field, then a mapping line appears connecting the correct fields and the mapping is added to the mapping list.
Validate Nested Field Mapping Completeness
Given the user has mapped all required fields including nested fields, when the user triggers validation, then the system confirms all required mappings are present and reports no errors for missing nested mappings.
Performance with Large Nested Schemas
Given a large nested schema with more than 1000 nodes is loaded, when the user expands or collapses any node, then the operation completes within 300ms without UI lag.
Template Library and Reusability
"As a project manager, I want to save and reuse mapping templates so that I can maintain consistency across multiple data integration tasks."
Description

Provide a library of pre-built mapping templates and allow users to save custom mappings as reusable templates that can be applied to new projects or datasets. This feature standardizes mapping workflows, accelerates repetitive tasks, and integrates with SimpliCast’s project templates for consistent data alignment across use cases.

Acceptance Criteria
Using Pre-Built Template on New Dataset
Given the user opens Schema Mapper and selects a new project When the user chooses a pre-built mapping template from the library Then all source and destination fields are automatically mapped according to the template defaults without errors And the user can preview the mapping on sample data and see correct alignments
Saving a Custom Mapping as a Template
Given the user configures a custom field mapping in Schema Mapper When the user clicks Save as Template and provides a unique name and description Then the new template is listed in the user's custom templates with the correct configuration And the user receives a confirmation notification
Applying Custom Template Across Projects
Given the user starts a new project in Schema Mapper When the user selects a previously saved custom template from their library Then the mapping interface populates with the template's field mappings And the user can modify or confirm mappings before proceeding And the mapping summary matches the saved template configuration
Integrating Template Library with Project Templates
Given the user has applied a SimpliCast project template When the user opens the mapping template library Then the available templates are filtered based on project template compatibility And only compatible templates are shown with correct metadata and descriptions
Searching and Filtering Templates
Given the user accesses the template library When the user enters a search term or applies filters (e.g., date, author, tags) Then only matching templates are displayed And pagination or infinite scroll functions correctly And each template entry shows name, type, and last modified date
Error Detection and Resolution Guidance
"As a QA engineer, I want to be alerted to missing or conflicting mappings so that I can correct issues before data processing."
Description

Automatically detect unmapped required fields, conflicting mappings, or missing transformations and present clear error messages with step-by-step guidance to resolve issues. This feature prevents execution failures, reduces troubleshooting time, and ties into SimpliCast’s workflow alerts to ensure smooth data flow set-up.

Acceptance Criteria
Unmapped Required Fields Detection
Given a user completes the mapping configuration, When they attempt to save or execute the mapping, Then the system highlights all required destination fields without source mappings and displays an error listing these fields.
Conflicting Mappings Identification
Given overlapping or duplicate source-to-destination field selections, When the mapping is reviewed or validated, Then the system displays a conflict warning specifying each conflicting field pair and suggests resolution options.
Missing Transformation Rule Alert
Given a source field requires a transformation rule but none is defined, When the user finalizes the mapping setup, Then the system alerts the user to the missing transformation and provides a direct link to define or select the appropriate rule.
Guided Error Resolution Flow
Given an error is detected (unmapped field, conflict, or missing transformation), When the user clicks on the error message notification, Then the system provides contextual, step-by-step guidance to resolve the issue, highlights the relevant field in the interface, and links to related help documentation.
Workflow Alert Integration
Given mapping errors exist at any stage of the setup, When workflow alerts are enabled, Then an alert is sent to the user’s notification center and email summarizing the errors and linking back to the exact location in the mapping interface for resolution.

Sync Scheduler

A flexible scheduling engine that automates recurring data imports and exports at custom intervals, keeping models up-to-date in real time and removing manual sync overhead.

Requirements

Custom Interval Setup
"As a finance manager, I want to set custom sync intervals so that my revenue forecasts reflect the latest sales data without manual updates."
Description

Allow users to define custom recurrence intervals for data sync jobs, supporting options like hourly, daily, weekly, monthly, or cron expressions. Users can configure multiple schedules per model, set start and end dates, and adjust time zones. This ensures that data imports and exports occur at precise, user-defined intervals, keeping financial and operational models accurate and up-to-date without manual intervention.

Acceptance Criteria
Hourly Sync Configuration
Given a user selects 'Hourly' as the sync interval with a start date of 2025-08-01T09:00 and end date of 2025-08-01T18:00 and specifies a valid time zone When the user saves the schedule Then the system creates a sync job that runs every hour between the start and end date inclusive, displays the next run times in the selected time zone, and persists the interval settings in the database
Daily Sync with Time Zone Adjustment
Given a user selects 'Daily' at 02:00 in the America/New_York time zone When the schedule is saved Then the system displays the next seven run dates correctly converted to UTC, ensures each run occurs at 02:00 local time, and stores the time zone offset in the job definition
Weekly Sync Across DST Changes
Given a user configures a weekly sync every Monday at 02:00 in Europe/Berlin When a daylight saving time change occurs Then the job continues to run at 02:00 local Berlin time before and after the DST switch, and historical run logs reflect the correct local timestamps
Monthly Sync on Specific Date
Given a user selects 'Monthly' on the 31st at 09:00 in UTC When the current month has fewer than 31 days Then the system schedules the sync on the last day of the month at 09:00 UTC, displays the adjusted run date in the schedule overview, and records the logic used for adjustment
Cron Expression Sync Setup
Given a user enters a valid cron expression '0 4 * * 1-5' When the user validates and saves the cron schedule Then the system confirms the expression syntax, generates the next five run dates, displays them in the UI, and creates a sync job that runs at 04:00 UTC Monday through Friday
Multiple Schedules Management
Given a user adds two distinct schedules (hourly and weekly) to the same model When both schedules are active Then the system lists both jobs separately in the sync dashboard, executes each according to its interval without conflict, and allows the user to independently edit or disable each schedule
Data Source Connector Management
"As an operations analyst, I want to connect SQL and Google Sheets sources so that all necessary data streams into SimpliCast seamlessly."
Description

Provide a unified interface to connect, configure, and manage data source integrations (e.g., CSV, Google Sheets, SQL databases, REST APIs). Users can authenticate, map fields, and test connections before activating schedules. This streamlines onboarding of new data sources and ensures reliable data flow into SimpliCast models.

Acceptance Criteria
Connecting a New CSV Data Source
Given the user is on the Data Source Connector Management page When the user clicks 'Add Data Source', selects 'CSV', uploads a valid CSV file, maps required fields, and clicks 'Test Connection' Then the system validates the file format, applies the mappings successfully, and displays a 'Connected' status in the source list.
Authenticating a Google Sheets Integration
Given the user chooses the 'Google Sheets' connector When the user completes OAuth authentication and grants necessary permissions Then the system securely stores the authentication token and displays the connector status as 'Connected'.
Configuring Field Mappings for SQL Database
Given the user selects the 'SQL Database' connector and provides valid host, port, database name, username, and password When the user retrieves available schemas, selects a table, maps database columns to model fields, and clicks 'Test Connection' Then the system verifies credentials, confirms field mappings, and shows a successful connection message.
Handling Failed API Connection Attempt
Given the user configures a 'REST API' connector with an endpoint and authentication token When the user clicks 'Test Connection' and the API returns an error (e.g., 401 Unauthorized or 404 Not Found) Then the system displays a clear, actionable error message indicating the failure reason and prevents activation.
Activating and Saving Data Source Schedules
Given the user has a successfully connected and mapped data source When the user selects a sync interval (e.g., hourly, daily), clicks 'Activate', and saves the schedule Then the system stores the schedule, updates the connector status to 'Scheduled', and shows the next run timestamp.
Sync Status Monitoring
"As a product owner, I want to see the status of scheduled syncs at a glance so that I can quickly identify and address any issues."
Description

Implement a dashboard that displays real-time and historical status of sync jobs, including last run time, next scheduled run, duration, and success or failure indicators. Users can filter by schedule, data source, or model, enabling quick insight into sync health and performance.

Acceptance Criteria
Viewing Real-Time Sync Status
Given the user opens the Sync Status Monitoring dashboard When any sync job is in progress Then the dashboard displays an 'In Progress' indicator next to the job And the Last Run Time updates every 30 seconds without a page refresh And the Duration field shows elapsed time in hh:mm:ss format
Filtering Sync Jobs by Data Source
Given the user has multiple data sources configured When the user selects one or more data sources from the filter menu Then only sync jobs belonging to the selected data sources are displayed And the filter persists when navigating away and back to the dashboard
Historical Sync Run Analysis
Given the user selects a date range of the past 30 days When the date range is applied Then the dashboard lists all sync jobs run within that range And displays columns for Last Run Time, Next Scheduled Run, Duration, and Status for each job
Identifying Failed Syncs and Retries
Given that a sync job has failed in the last 24 hours When the dashboard loads Then the failed job is highlighted in red with a failure icon And a tooltip on hover shows the error message And a retry count column shows how many automatic retries occurred
Verifying Next Scheduled Run Time
Given a recurring sync schedule is configured When viewing any sync job row Then the Next Scheduled Run column shows the correct next execution timestamp formatted as YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS in the user's locale
Error Handling and Alerts
"As a data engineer, I want automated alerts on sync failures so that I can resolve data errors promptly and minimize downtime."
Description

Enable automated error detection, retry logic, and customizable alert notifications via email, in-app notices, and Slack. Users can define failure thresholds, escalation policies, and notification recipients, ensuring timely resolution of sync issues.

Acceptance Criteria
Initial Data Import Failure Notification
Given a scheduled data import fails due to a connection timeout, when the failure threshold is reached, then an email and Slack notification are sent to all configured recipients containing the sync job ID, timestamp, and error details.
Automatic Retry after Transient Error
Given a transient network error occurs during a data export, when retry logic is enabled with a maximum of 3 retries at 5-minute intervals, then the system automatically retries the sync up to 3 times and logs each retry attempt before marking the job as failed.
Escalation on Consecutive Failures
Given 5 consecutive sync failures occur within a 24-hour period, when an escalation policy is defined, then an in-app alert is escalated to the team lead and a summary message is posted to the designated Slack channel immediately after the fifth failure.
Custom Failure Threshold Configuration
Given the user configures a custom failure threshold of 2 failures per day, when the second failure occurs within the day, then the system triggers all configured alerts and disables further automatic retries until the threshold resets at midnight.
Alert Silence Period Enforcement
Given the user defines a do-not-disturb period from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM, when errors occur during this period, then notifications are suppressed and queued, and a consolidated summary is sent via email and Slack at 7:00 AM.
Data Throughput Optimization
"As an IT architect, I want optimized batch syncing for large datasets so that model updates complete quickly and system performance remains stable."
Description

Optimize sync performance for large data volumes by implementing incremental updates, data batching, parallel processing, and throttling controls. This reduces sync times and system load, ensuring timely updates even with complex or large datasets.

Acceptance Criteria
Incremental Updates for Large Datasets
Given a dataset with more than 10 million records, when the sync scheduler runs incremental updates, then only records modified or added since the last successful sync are transferred Given a baseline full sync takes 10 minutes, when incremental mode is enabled, then sync completes in under 2 minutes
Data Batching Efficiency
Data is split into batches of no more than 100,000 records each Each batch processes sequentially or in configurable parallel groups without exceeding defined memory or CPU thresholds When batching is enabled, overall sync time is reduced by at least 30% compared to unbatched sync
Parallel Processing Performance
At least four concurrent worker threads process data sync without errors CPU utilization per core remains below 80% during peak load When increasing worker threads from 2 to 8, sync throughput scales by at least 50%
Throttling Control Under Peak Load
System enforces configurable max throughput of 500 records/second When incoming data exceeds this threshold, excess requests are queued rather than dropped Queue length does not exceed 1,000 pending items under sustained peak load
Error Handling and Retry Mechanism
On batch failure, system automatically retries up to three times with exponential backoff Failed batches after retries are logged with error details and flagged for manual review No data is lost; each record is eventually marked as synced or explicitly failed
Access Control and Permissions
"As an admin user, I want to manage who can create and modify schedules so that I maintain control over critical data processes."
Description

Implement role-based access controls for scheduling features, allowing admins to grant or restrict permissions to create, edit, view, or delete schedules. This ensures that only authorized users can modify critical sync configurations, maintaining data security and governance.

Acceptance Criteria
Admin Assigns Schedule Creation Permission
Given an admin user on the permissions page, when they assign the 'Scheduler Creator' role to a user, then that user is granted the ability to create schedules. Given a user without 'Scheduler Creator' role, when they view the sync scheduler page, then the option to create a schedule is not visible or is disabled.
Unauthorized User Edit Blocked
Given a user without 'Scheduler Editor' permission, when they attempt to edit an existing schedule, then the system denies access and displays an 'Access Denied' message.
Role-Based Schedule Deletion Restriction
Given a user with 'Scheduler Deleter' permission, when they delete a schedule, then the schedule is removed from the listings and a confirmation message appears. Given a user without 'Scheduler Deleter' permission, when they attempt to delete a schedule, then the delete action is not available or fails with an 'Access Denied' message.
Viewer Access to Schedule Listings
Given a user with 'Scheduler Viewer' permission, when they view the sync scheduler page, then they can see the list of schedules but cannot access create, edit, or delete actions.
Permission Changes Take Effect Immediately
Given a user's role is changed to include or exclude scheduling permissions, when they next attempt to perform a scheduling action, then their new permissions are enforced without requiring a new login.

Health Pulse

A real-time monitoring dashboard with proactive alerts for connector failures, latency spikes, or data discrepancies, empowering users to resolve issues before they impact planning accuracy.

Requirements

Real-time Connector Health Monitoring
"As a system administrator, I want to see live health metrics of each data connector so that I can quickly detect and address any failures or performance degradations."
Description

Continuously monitor the status and performance metrics of all data connectors in real-time, including successful connections, failed attempts, and throughput rates. This feature ensures immediate visibility into connector health, enabling quick identification of issues before they impact data flows and planning accuracy.

Acceptance Criteria
Real-time Status Update Display
Given the monitoring dashboard is active, when any connector changes state, then the dashboard updates the connector status within 5 seconds to reflect 'Connected' or 'Disconnected' without requiring a manual refresh.
Failure Alert Triggering
Given a connector experiences a connection failure, when the number of consecutive failed attempts exceeds one, then an immediate alert is sent via email and in-dashboard notification within one minute.
Latency Spike Detection
Given a connector is operating normally, when its latency exceeds the predefined threshold (e.g., 200ms) for more than two consecutive minutes, then the system flags the connector as 'High Latency' and generates an alert in the dashboard.
Data Discrepancy Notification
Given expected data throughput is defined, when the actual data volume deviates by more than ±20% over any rolling five-minute window, then the system logs a discrepancy incident and notifies the user via dashboard and email.
Throughput Threshold Monitoring
Given a connector is active, when its throughput rate falls below the defined minimum (e.g., 100 records per minute) for three consecutive minutes, then the system annotates the metric graph with a warning and sends a notification to the operations team.
Proactive Alert Notifications
"As a product manager, I want to receive alerts when data connectors fail or latency spikes occur so that I can respond promptly to maintain planning accuracy."
Description

Automatically generate and deliver alerts through multiple channels (email, in-app, SMS) when predefined thresholds are breached, such as connector failures, latency spikes, or data discrepancies. This feature ensures that the right stakeholders are notified immediately to take corrective actions.

Acceptance Criteria
Connector Failure Email Alert
Given a connector failure is detected and matches the predefined threshold, When the system triggers the alert, Then an email notification with connector name, failure timestamp, and error details is sent to all stakeholder email addresses within 1 minute.
In-App Alert for Latency Spike
Given data latency exceeds 5000ms for 2 consecutive minutes, When the threshold breach is identified, Then an in-app notification appears in the Health Pulse dashboard highlighting the affected data source, current latency value, and severity level.
SMS Notification for Data Discrepancy
Given a data discrepancy surpassing 2% variance between source and target datasets, When the discrepancy is confirmed, Then an SMS containing discrepancy details, dataset names, and timestamp is delivered to all designated phone numbers within 30 seconds.
Bulk Stakeholder Alert Configuration
Given a user configures an alert group for the Finance team, When the configuration is saved, Then all members of the Finance team receive notifications via their selected channels according to the predefined alert rules.
Alert Throttling Prevention of Notification Flood
Given multiple threshold breaches occur within a 5-minute window, When alerts are triggered, Then each stakeholder receives at most one notification per channel per 10-minute interval to prevent notification flooding.
Latency Spike Detection
"As a data engineer, I want the system to highlight unusual latency spikes so that I can investigate and optimize connector performance."
Description

Detect and log abnormal increases in data retrieval times across all connectors by comparing against historical baselines. The system should visualize latency trends and flag spikes that exceed acceptable thresholds, helping users diagnose performance bottlenecks.

Acceptance Criteria
Baseline Latency Establishment
Given connectors have been operational for at least 7 days When the system processes historical latency data Then it calculates and stores average latency and standard deviation as baseline metrics
Spike Detection Alerting
Given real-time latency exceeds baseline plus three standard deviations When a spike is detected Then the system logs the event and the user receives an alert within one minute
Trend Visualization Accuracy
Given latency data is available for the selected time range When the user views the Health Pulse dashboard Then latency trends are displayed with accurate values and no missing data points
Threshold Configuration Flexibility
Given a user configures a custom spike threshold When the new threshold is saved Then the system applies the custom threshold for all subsequent spike detections
Historical Data Comparison
Given a user selects two distinct time periods for analysis When comparison mode is activated Then the system highlights latency differences and flags any period where spikes exceed the configured threshold
Data Discrepancy Analysis
"As a business analyst, I want the dashboard to flag data anomalies so that I can trust the accuracy of my financial models and projections."
Description

Perform automated analysis of incoming data sets to identify anomalies such as missing records, schema mismatches, or unexpected value distributions. Highlight discrepancies in the dashboard and provide contextual insights to aid troubleshooting.

Acceptance Criteria
Missing Records Detection
- Given an incoming dataset expected to have N records, when the data ingestion runs, then the system flags any missing record count exceeding 0 and displays the total missing records within 5 seconds. - Given missing records are detected, when the user views the dashboard, then the system lists the table name and example record IDs for troubleshooting.
Schema Mismatch Identification
- Given an incoming dataset schema differs from the stored schema, when the data is processed, then the system highlights each mismatched field name, expected data type, and actual data type. - Given schema mismatches are flagged, when the user checks the alert, then the system provides the affected connector name and timestamp of ingestion.
Value Distribution Anomaly Alert
- Given a numeric field’s value distribution deviates by more than 3 standard deviations from its historical average, when new data is analyzed, then the system flags the anomaly and displays the current vs. historical distribution chart. - Given an anomaly is flagged, when the user inspects the alert, then the system shows the exact statistical deviation percentage.
Cross-dataset Consistency Check
- Given two related datasets share a key field, when the daily sync completes, then the system identifies and flags any records in one dataset without a matching key in the other. - Given inconsistencies are found, when the user views the discrepancy report, then the system provides counts of orphaned records per dataset and sample IDs.
Anomaly Contextual Insight Generation
- Given any discrepancy alert is selected, when the user expands the details pane, then the system provides contextual insights including probable root causes and recommended next steps. - Given insights are displayed, when the user acknowledges the alert, then the system logs the acknowledgment time and user ID for audit.
Dashboard Customization and Filtering
"As a startup founder, I want to filter and customize the monitoring dashboard so that I can focus on the metrics that matter most to my business."
Description

Allow users to customize the Health Pulse dashboard by selecting which connectors, metrics, and alert types to display. Users should be able to set custom thresholds, apply filters, and save personalized views to focus on the most relevant data.

Acceptance Criteria
Custom Threshold Setup
Given the user accesses the customization panel and selects a metric, When the user enters a valid numeric threshold within the allowed range and clicks 'Apply', Then the system updates the metric’s alert threshold accordingly and highlights it on the dashboard and the applied threshold persists on page reload.
Connector Filter Selection
Given the user opens the dashboard filter options, When the user selects one or more connectors by name, Then only data from the selected connectors is displayed in all Health Pulse widgets and connectors not selected are excluded from the view.
Metric Visibility Toggle
Given the user is viewing the dashboard, When the user toggles visibility on specific metrics using checkboxes, Then the dashboard updates in real-time to show or hide the corresponding metric charts and values.
Alert Type Configuration
Given the user navigates to alert settings, When the user selects or deselects alert types (failure, latency spike, data discrepancy), Then only the chosen alert types trigger notifications and are listed in the alerts center.
Personalized View Persistence
Given the user has configured filters, thresholds, and visibility options, When the user clicks 'Save View' and provides a name, Then the customized dashboard view is saved to the user’s account and available under 'My Views', and selecting it restores all settings exactly.

Webhook Wizard

A step-by-step builder for creating custom webhooks and API triggers for niche or in-house tools, enabling connectors beyond the marketplace without writing code or relying on developers.

Requirements

Template Library
"As a non-technical user, I want to choose from prebuilt webhook templates so that I can quickly set up integrations without guessing configurations."
Description

Provide a curated library of common webhook templates for popular services (e.g., Slack, Stripe, GitHub) that users can select and customize, reducing setup time and errors. Templates include default URL configurations, headers, and payload structures, and can be saved as custom templates for reuse within the Webhook Wizard.

Acceptance Criteria
Selecting and Customizing a Slack Webhook Template
Given the user is in the Webhook Wizard template library When they select the Slack template Then the default Slack webhook URL, headers, and payload structure are automatically populated And the user can modify the URL, headers, and payload fields without errors
Saving a Customized Template
Given the user has modified a selected template When they click 'Save as Template' and enter a unique template name Then the customized template is saved to the Custom Templates library and appears in the list immediately
Searching for Templates by Service Name
Given the user is viewing the template library When they enter a service name (e.g., 'Stripe') in the search input Then only templates matching the service name in title or metadata are displayed
Validating Default GitHub Webhook Configuration
Given the user selects the GitHub template When the template loads Then the webhook URL matches GitHub’s webhook endpoint And required headers (e.g., X-Hub-Signature-256) and a payload structure including repository and event type fields are prefilled
Reusing a Saved Custom Template in a New Workflow
Given the user starts a new webhook in the Webhook Wizard When they choose a template from the Custom Templates library Then the builder populates the URL, headers, and payload with the saved configuration And the custom template’s name is displayed in the workflow summary
Custom Payload Builder
"As a startup founder, I want to visually construct custom webhook payloads so that I can ensure the right data is sent to my in-house tools without coding."
Description

Implement a drag-and-drop interface for designing webhook payloads, allowing users to map data fields, insert dynamic variables, and format JSON or XML structures without writing code. The builder validates syntax in real time and provides autocomplete suggestions for available data tokens.

Acceptance Criteria
Field Mapping via Drag-and-Drop
Given a data field available in the dataset panel, when the user drags and drops it into the payload structure, then the field's key and a runtime variable placeholder should be correctly inserted at the drop location.
Dynamic Variable Insertion
Given the user selects a dynamic variable from the Variables menu, when they insert it into the payload, then the placeholder should appear in curly braces matching the selected variable's name.
JSON Payload Formatting
Given the payload contains multiple fields and variables, when the user applies JSON format, then the builder should automatically indent and comma-separate elements to produce valid JSON structure.
Real-Time Syntax Validation
Given the user edits the payload, when any syntax error occurs (such as missing commas or mismatched braces), then the builder should highlight the error line and display an appropriate error message in real time.
Autocomplete Suggestions for Data Tokens
Given the user types '{{' in the payload editor, when a list of available data tokens exists, then the builder should display a dropdown of matching tokens and allow selection via keyboard or mouse to autocomplete the token.
Authentication Configuration
"As a small business operator, I want to configure authentication for my webhooks so that only authorized calls reach my internal services."
Description

Enable secure configuration of authentication methods for webhook endpoints, including API key, Basic Auth, OAuth2, and custom headers. The interface should guide users through token generation, storage, and expiration settings, ensuring credentials are encrypted and managed safely.

Acceptance Criteria
API Key Authentication Setup
Given the user selects API key authentication type When the user enters a valid API key and clicks 'Save' Then the API key is encrypted at rest And a 'Configuration saved successfully' message is displayed
Basic Auth Configuration Flow
Given the user selects Basic Auth as the authentication method When the user inputs username and password and clicks 'Test Connection' Then the system sends a test request to the webhook endpoint using the provided credentials And the user sees a success or error notification based on the endpoint response
OAuth2 Authorization Process
Given the user chooses OAuth2 authentication When the user clicks 'Authenticate' and completes the third-party consent flow Then the system retrieves access and refresh tokens And displays token expiration date and status
Custom Header Authentication Definition
Given the user selects custom header for authentication When the user defines header name and value and clicks 'Preview Request' Then the header is included correctly in the preview payload And the header value is encrypted upon saving
Credential Expiration and Rotation
Given stored credentials with defined expiration settings When the credential expiration date is reached or rotation is manually triggered Then the system sends an automatic notification to the user And webhook executions are disabled until credentials are updated
Test and Validation
"As a product manager, I want to test my webhook configurations before deployment so that I can catch errors early and ensure reliability."
Description

Provide a testing console within the Webhook Wizard that sends sample payloads to the configured endpoint, displays response codes and bodies, and highlights validation errors. Users should be able to adjust configurations and retest until the integration succeeds, with logs retained for audit.

Acceptance Criteria
Sending a valid sample payload
Given a configured endpoint and a valid sample payload, when the user clicks 'Send Test', then the console displays the HTTP response code 200 and the full response body within 2 seconds.
Handling payload validation errors
Given a configured endpoint and an invalid sample payload, when the user clicks 'Send Test', then the console highlights validation errors, displays the HTTP 4XX response code, and shows detailed error messages.
Retesting after configuration changes
Given a previous failed test, when the user updates endpoint settings or headers and clicks 'Send Test' again, then the console re-sends the updated payload and reflects the new response code and body.
Audit log retention and filtering
Given multiple test executions, when the user views the audit log, then each log entry shows timestamp, payload details, response code, and status, and the user can filter logs by date range or status.
Handling network errors and timeouts
Given an unreachable endpoint or slow network, when the user clicks 'Send Test', then the console displays a network error or timeout message within 5 seconds.
Error Handling and Retry Logic
"As an operations lead, I want configurable retry and alert rules for failed webhooks so that I can maintain robust integrations and promptly address issues."
Description

Allow users to define retry policies and error handling rules for failed webhook deliveries, including exponential backoff, max retry count, fallback endpoints, and alert notifications. The system should log failures and trigger notifications via email or in-app alerts when thresholds are exceeded.

Acceptance Criteria
Exponential Backoff Execution
Given a webhook delivery failure, when subsequent retries occur, then the system applies an exponential backoff interval (doubling the wait time with each retry) until either the delivery succeeds or the maximum retry count is reached.
Maximum Retry Count Enforcement
Given a max retry count is configured, when the retry attempts exceed this count, then the system stops further retries for that webhook and marks the delivery as failed.
Fallback Endpoint Invocation
Given all retry attempts have failed and a fallback endpoint is configured, when the final retry failure is logged, then the system forwards the original payload to the fallback endpoint within one minute.
Error Logging and Tracking
Given any webhook delivery or retry fails, when the failure occurs, then the system logs an entry containing the timestamp, webhook ID, error code, and retry attempt number to the centralized failure log.
Alert Notification on Threshold Exceeded
Given a failure threshold is defined by the user, when the number of failures within a 24-hour period exceeds this threshold, then the system sends an alert via email and in-app notification to the configured recipients within five minutes of the threshold breach.

Product Ideas

Innovative concepts that could enhance this product's value proposition.

Flash Forecast

Auto-saves each forecast change into a concise visual highlight, reducing analysis time by 30%.

Idea

Scenario Snapshots

Capture and share scenario thumbnails instantly in chat or email, boosting collaboration speed.

Idea

CashFlow Catalyst

Triggers real-time cash burn and liquidity alerts based on model shifts to prevent surprises.

Idea

Advisor Arena

Enables founders and advisors to co-edit scenarios live, annotating assumptions and tracking changes.

Idea

Connector Carnival

Offers a marketplace of pre-built data connectors to popular tools, slashing setup time.

Idea

Press Coverage

Imagined press coverage for this groundbreaking product concept.

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SimpliCast Launches AI-Powered Visual Business Modeling to Empower Small Businesses

Imagined Press Article

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – 2025-07-25 – Today, SimpliCast, the pioneering platform for real-time, AI-guided business planning, announces the official launch of its flagship product designed to revolutionize how startup founders and small business operators build financial scenarios. By replacing error-prone spreadsheets with a drag-and-drop visual builder that integrates machine-learning insights, SimpliCast empowers teams to test ideas, spot risks, and make data-backed decisions in minutes rather than days. In an era where agility and accuracy are critical, SimpliCast addresses the shortcomings of traditional financial modeling tools that require deep expertise and heavy manual work. “We saw a huge gap in the market,” said Maya Chen, CEO of SimpliCast. “Small business operators and startup founders deserve planning tools as intuitive as the apps they use every day. SimpliCast’s visual approach and AI guidance eliminate complexity, so anyone can iterate scenarios, test assumptions, and forecast outcomes with confidence.” With SimpliCast, users begin by dragging predefined modules—revenue streams, cost centers, staffing plans—onto a canvas. AI-powered prompts guide them to fill in critical assumptions. The platform’s TrendSnap and HeatMap Highlights features then dynamically visualize outcome shifts, instantly revealing growth trajectories or risk zones. As assumptions evolve, VersionVisualizer lets users compare multiple forecast versions side by side, while InsightFlash auto-summarizes key changes and actionable takeaways. SimpliCast’s core capabilities include: • AI-Guided Assumption Builder: Interactive prompts and templates help novices craft realistic projections; • Real-Time Visual Forecasting: Drag-and-drop modules update instantly with live trendlines and color-coded volatility overlays; • Scenario Comparison: Side-by-side version previews highlight deltas, enabling quick divergence analysis; • Instant Insights: AI-generated summaries surface critical forecast adjustments and suggest next steps; • SnapSend Sharing: One-click exports of scenario snapshots with contextual captions accelerate communication and collaboration. Early adopters report transformative results. “I cut our planning cycle time by 70%,” said Lean Launch Larry, Product Manager at InnovateUp. “SimpliCast’s visual canvas made it painless to test pricing and marketing spend scenarios. We pivoted faster than competitors and secured seed funding with clear, data-driven presentations.” Similarly, Franchise Fran, operator of a growing coffeehouse chain, credits SimpliCast with optimizing location budgets: “I can now model seven outlets in the time it used to take me to update a single spreadsheet. I confidently anticipate cash flow gaps and allocate resources proactively.” SimpliCast also addresses collaboration pain points. With LiveLink dynamic links and SnapSend sharing, stakeholders always see the latest scenario without manual exports. Comments and annotations can be added directly on snapshots, keeping feedback tied to the exact visual context. Scheduled Snapshot Scheduler deliveries ensure executives and investors receive timely updates, while Threshold Alerts notify teams when critical assumptions exceed risk tolerances. “Our mission is to democratize strategic planning,” said CTO Ricardo Alvarez. “By combining intuitive visuals with AI smarts, SimpliCast levels the playing field. Founders and operators can move from gut-feel decisions to airtight, data-backed strategies. This is not just another software release—it’s a paradigm shift in how businesses forecast, collaborate, and grow.” SimpliCast is available immediately via subscription, with tiered plans to fit solo founders through mid-sized enterprises. A free 14-day trial offers full access to all features, including live templates and AI insights. Interested users can visit www.simplicast.com to sign up and explore interactive demos. About SimpliCast SimpliCast is the AI-powered visual business modeling platform that replaces spreadsheets with intuitive drag-and-drop scenario building. Backed by leading investors in SaaS innovation, SimpliCast serves a diverse customer base of startup founders, small business operators, and consulting advisors worldwide. The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. Media Contact: Rachel Kim Director of Communications, SimpliCast Phone: 415-555-0123 Email: media@simplicast.com Website: www.simplicast.com

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SimpliCast Unveils LiveSync Collaboration, Transforming Real-Time Financial Planning

Imagined Press Article

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – 2025-07-25 – SimpliCast, the leader in visual business scenario modeling, today announces the launch of LiveSync, a real-time collaboration feature that lets multiple users co-edit forecasts simultaneously. LiveSync is set to eliminate version conflicts, accelerate decision cycles, and deepen team alignment by bringing advisors, cofounders, and analysts into the planning process with zero lag. As distributed work becomes the norm, finance and strategy teams face growing challenges: managing multiple file versions, reconciling disparate inputs, and ensuring every stakeholder sees the latest assumptions. LiveSync directly addresses these pain points by offering live presence indicators, real-time cursor tracking, and instant updates across every connected device. Key LiveSync capabilities include: • Instant Co-Editing: Multiple users can adjust assumptions, add modules, and refine projections at the same time, with real-time updates visible to all; • PresencePulse: Live indicators show who is active in the model and where they are working, fostering synchronous collaboration; • ChangeTrail Integration: LiveSync sessions feed into SimpliCast’s edit history, enabling teams to review who made which changes, when, and why; • AnchorNotes and ThreadChat: Collaborators can pin contextual annotations and start discussion threads tied to specific cells or charts, maintaining clarity and context during reviews; • ReplayView Session Recording: Capture the entire LiveSync collaboration journey and play it back to onboard new team members or conduct post-mortem analyses. “Real-time collaboration is no longer optional—it’s essential,” said Maya Chen, CEO of SimpliCast. “LiveSync transforms how teams build and vet financial scenarios. Instead of piecing together edits from multiple spreadsheets, everyone works on a single source of truth. This accelerates planning cycles and fuels more robust, consensus-driven strategies.” LiveSync was developed in close partnership with industry pioneers. “As an advisor to high-growth startups, I used to spend hours merging inputs and chasing clarification,” said Advisory Ada, longtime user and early LiveSync tester. “Now, I join a LiveSync session, weigh in on assumptions, and see founders adjust models on the fly. It’s like brainstorming on a whiteboard, except every scribble automatically generates financial projections.” IT teams will appreciate that LiveSync requires no additional infrastructure. Built on SimpliCast’s cloud-native architecture, LiveSync leverages end-to-end encryption and granular access controls to ensure data security and compliance. Administrators can set user permissions, define live session scopes, and audit collaboration logs for regulatory reporting. To support distributed teams further, SimpliCast is rolling out enhanced notification workflows. ThreadLink embeds scenario snapshots with live commentary into Slack, Teams, or email threads, ensuring conversations and context travel together. SnapNotes enriches snapshots with arrows, highlights, and text boxes, making asynchronous feedback as clear as in-person whiteboarding. “LiveSync is a game changer for our growth team,” said Growth Strategist Gina Patel at RetailX. “We run weekly sprint-planning workshops where marketing, finance, and operations converge to map out resource allocation. With LiveSync, we collaboratively tweak scenarios in real time and immediately see the impact on ROI, burn rate, and runway. What used to take a week now happens in an afternoon.” SimpliCast LiveSync is available today to all subscribers at no additional cost. Organizations can activate LiveSync with a single click from their admin console. SimpliCast will host a series of webinars and live demos over the coming weeks to showcase best practices and proven collaboration workflows. About SimpliCast SimpliCast is the AI-guided visual scenario modeling platform that helps startups and small businesses plan with confidence. By replacing spreadsheets with intuitive drag-and-drop tools and real-time collaboration, SimpliCast accelerates strategic planning and drives data-backed growth. Headquartered in San Francisco, SimpliCast serves customers worldwide. Media Contact: Rachel Kim Director of Communications, SimpliCast Phone: 415-555-0123 Email: media@simplicast.com Website: www.simplicast.com

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SimpliCast Rolls Out QuickConnect for Instant, Seamless Data Integrations

Imagined Press Article

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – 2025-07-25 – SimpliCast, the visual business modeling platform that makes scenario planning fast and error-free, today announces the general availability of QuickConnect, a one-click data integration solution that lets users sync their financial, operations, and CRM tools in minutes. QuickConnect dramatically reduces onboarding friction, enabling teams to power their models with live data feeds and maintain up-to-the-minute accuracy without manual imports. Data integration has long been a major barrier to effective scenario modeling. Manual exports, data mapping errors, and stale information can derail decision-making and introduce costly inaccuracies. QuickConnect solves these challenges by providing pre-built connectors to popular platforms—such as Stripe, QuickBooks, Salesforce, and HubSpot—with automated configuration and mapping guidance. Features of QuickConnect include: • One-Click Installation: Out-of-the-box connectors auto-install and authenticate with leading SaaS platforms, reducing setup time from days to minutes; • Schema Mapper: A visual drag-and-drop interface guides users through precise field alignment, eliminating mapping errors; • Sync Scheduler: Customize import and export intervals for each connector, ensuring models reflect the latest data around the clock; • Health Pulse Monitoring: A live dashboard tracks connector performance, flags latency issues, and proactively alerts teams to data discrepancies; • Webhook Wizard: For niche or in-house systems, users can build custom webhooks and API triggers without writing code. “Data is the lifeblood of accurate forecasting,” said CTO Ricardo Alvarez. “QuickConnect breaks down technical barriers so that operators and analysts can focus on insights rather than integration headaches. With live data powering every scenario, our users gain true confidence in their financial projections and growth plans.” Numbers Novice Nora, owner of a boutique marketing agency, shared her experience: “Before QuickConnect, I spent hours exporting CSVs from my accounting software, only to wrestle with mismatched columns and missing records. With QuickConnect, I linked my QuickBooks account in two clicks and mapped fields in minutes. Now, my projections update automatically, and I can trust the numbers.” SimpliCast has built quick-start templates for common use cases—cash flow analysis, burn rate projection, customer acquisition cost modeling—streamlining the path from data sync to actionable scenarios. Connector Explorer, an intuitive marketplace interface, helps users discover new integrations using robust filters and search tools, while Health Pulse ensures they stay on top of any performance issues. In addition to small business operators, enterprise customers will benefit from QuickConnect’s flexibility. “Our finance team manages diverse revenue streams across multiple regions,” said Data-Driven Operator David Chen at TechWave Corp. “QuickConnect’s scheduling engine and webhook capabilities let us centralize all our data flows into SimpliCast. We no longer rely on fragmented spreadsheets, and our forecast accuracy has improved by 25%.” To celebrate the launch, SimpliCast is offering a limited-time integration credit: new subscribers who connect at least three data sources within their first month receive complimentary access to premium support and custom connector development. Customers can activate QuickConnect directly from their SimpliCast dashboard. About SimpliCast SimpliCast is the next-generation business scenario modeling platform that replaces spreadsheets with AI-guided visuals and real-time data integrations. Trusted by startups, small businesses, and growth teams worldwide, SimpliCast delivers faster insights, error-free projections, and seamless collaboration. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, SimpliCast continues to expand its integration ecosystem and AI-driven planning capabilities. Media Contact: Rachel Kim Director of Communications, SimpliCast Phone: 415-555-0123 Email: media@simplicast.com Website: www.simplicast.com

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