Automation can save time—but control drives insight. For finance leaders managing unpredictable sales cycles, project-based billing, or multi-entity operations, Dryrun’s powerful manual control offers unmatched flexibility and precision when it matters most.

The Limits of Rigid Automation

Many forecasting platforms boast plug-and-play automation. And while that might work for businesses with highly predictable, recurring revenue, it quickly breaks down when reality hits:

• A key client delays payment
• A new project lands—then changes scope
• A price increase disrupts demand
• A division expands into a new region with different costs

In these moments, the ability to adjust your forecast manually and immediately becomes critical.

Most tools bury you in locked fields, rigid rules, or hidden formulas. That’s when finance teams revert to spreadsheets—giving up security, collaboration, and efficiency just to get their hands back on the steering wheel.

Dryrun keeps you in control without compromise.

What Manual Control Looks Like in Dryrun

Dryrun doesn’t force you into a predefined model. It gives you a clean, intuitive workspace where you can manipulate your cash flow forecast with precision. You can:

• Manually add, remove, or edit individual revenue and expense items
• Adjust the value, frequency, and timing of entries
• Simulate different payment terms or delays in receivables
• Reforecast quickly when a deal moves, a project scope changes, or a supplier renegotiates
• Model impact of headcount changes, delayed CAPEX, or short-term loans
• See changes reflected instantly across your forecast

It’s like a financial whiteboard that updates in real time and never loses fidelity.

Use Cases Where Manual Control Matters

Forecasting isn’t one-size-fits-all. In the real world, cash flow is influenced by unpredictable clients, shifting timelines, and complex operational dependencies. That’s why manual control in forecasting is more than a nice-to-have—it’s essential in many industries. 

Here’s where Dryrun gives finance teams a real edge:

1. Project-Based Businesses

Industries like architecture, engineering, construction, and consulting thrive on milestone-based billing. Cash doesn’t flow in regularly—it hits when work is completed, invoices are approved, and clients pay (sometimes late).

• Example: A construction firm may receive 30% upfront, 40% at mid-project, and 30% upon final inspection. With Dryrun, you can model these exact cash inflows and shift them if delays occur.
  
  
• Client behavior: Let’s say a key client is historically late by 15–30 days—Dryrun allows you to account for that, so your forecast reflects likely, not ideal, outcomes.
  
  
• Outcome: You stay on top of your burn rate, anticipate shortfalls, and avoid overcommitting resources when cash hasn’t yet landed.

2. SaaS with Lumpy Sales

SaaS businesses often see inconsistent cash inflows, especially when tied to annual billing, enterprise deals, or end-of-year pushes.

• Example: A SaaS company closes most of its deals in Q4, but customer payments come in waves—some upfront, others net-60. Instead of a smooth MRR curve, you have cash spikes and dry spells.
  
  
• Renewals and churn: Dryrun enables you to model expected churn at the account level, or simulate upsell revenue for strategic accounts.
  
  
• Outcome: Instead of relying on generalized MRR assumptions, you forecast actual cash behavior—crucial for runway planning and funding strategy.

3. Manufacturing with Complex Supply Chains

In manufacturing, costs are volatile, and vendor terms can vary wildly—from prepayment for overseas suppliers to net-90 for local vendors. Unexpected delays in the supply chain can ripple across your forecast.

• Example: You may need to pay for raw materials months before production begins. If a shipment is delayed or a price change occurs, Dryrun lets you adjust the cash outflow for that vendor without starting from scratch.
  
  
• Outcome: You maintain an accurate forecast that reflects the real impact of supplier issues or raw material cost spikes, helping you manage working capital more precisely.

4. Multi-Entity Forecasting

For companies operating in multiple regions or with several legal entities, consolidated forecasting becomes a minefield of different tax laws, currency conversions, and intercompany loans or transfers.

• Example: Your Canadian entity pays a licensing fee to the U.S. entity quarterly, while your UK branch faces a VAT bill every other month. Dryrun lets you manually build each forecast according to local conditions, and then consolidate at the group level.
  
  
• Transparency: Unlike spreadsheets or black-box systems, all adjustments are visible, auditable, and easily edited.
  
  
• Outcome: You gain full control over your global cash position, with localized insight and high-level visibility.

5. Scenario Planning for CFOs

CFOs are often tasked with modeling what-if situations—fast. Waiting on IT or rebuilding your model in spreadsheets isn’t efficient when leadership needs answers now. Dryrun lets you build a scenario in minutes, manually adjusting key drivers to explore best- and worst-case outcomes side-by-side.

• Example: The CEO asks, “What happens if we hire a new sales team in Q3?” Dryrun lets you manually add salary expenses, onboarding costs, and expected revenue impact with a few clicks.
  
  
• Marketing delays: Want to see the impact of shifting a $250k campaign from Q3 to Q1? Adjust and view the cash implications instantly.
  
  
• Outcome: You can present best-, expected-, and worst-case scenarios side by side in board meetings or strategy sessions—arming your leadership team with data to make confident decisions.

In all of these use cases, Dryrun’s flexible, manual modeling approach gives you real-world accuracy and speed, without the overhead of clunky spreadsheets or rigid software. Forecasting becomes a proactive tool—not just a static report.

Built for Strategic Finance

Dryrun isn’t just about managing cash—it’s about enabling proactive, strategic finance. By giving you full manual control over your forecasts, you can:

• Respond faster to change
• Present tailored, board-ready models
• Stress-test ideas before they hit the ground
• Collaborate with clarity and confidence

You retain the option to use automation for recurring items or baseline forecasts, but you’re never locked in. Every item in Dryrun is fully editable. Every forecast reflects your thinking—not just the data sync.

Final Thoughts

Dryrun gives finance leaders precision without friction, helping them stay ahead of complexity. When the stakes are high and the path isn’t straight, manual control isn’t just a convenience—it’s a competitive edge.

Why settle for a rigid forecast when you can drive it?

‍

________

Dryrun delivers real-time, dynamic cash flow and revenue forecasts with complete manual control and unlimited scenario modeling.

Book your DISCOVERY CALL to learn about the Dryrun advantage or START YOUR TRIAL today!