> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.tiny.plus/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.tiny.plus/guides/getting-started/designing-your-project-pipeline.md).

# Designing your project pipeline

Customise your firm's project pipeline.

{% hint style="success" %}
tl;dr - add your own *phases* under the proposed, won and active *statuses* to make the project pipeline match how your firm wins work.
{% endhint %}

## What is a project pipeline?

How do you talk about winning a project at your firm? Each firm is different, and tiny+ lets you design your project pipeline to match how your firm already thinks about proposed projects.

Why configure it? It's the fundamental structure for your project-based business development. Once you get it right, every pipeline view, report and scheduled email follows it, and your whole firm has a shared language for the process of winning a project.

## Statuses and phases

Every project is always in one of six *statuses*:

* **Proposed** - We have not yet been awarded the project.
* **Won** - We have been awarded this project. Work has not yet commenced.
* **Active** - The project is currently being delivered.
* **Completed** - The project is complete.
* **Lost** - We were not awarded the project.
* **Cancelled** - The project was cancelled or did not proceed.

The six statuses are fixed. You can rename them, give each a colour and a description, and the Won status can be switched off with its **In use** switch under **Account Settings -> Pipelines**.

Under each status you can define any number of *phases* to suit your business development process and reporting. Together, the statuses and phases are your *project pipeline*. On the Projects page, the **Pipeline** view shows them as a board, with a column for each status or phase and a card for each project that you can drag from one column to the next.

## How to configure your project pipeline

{% hint style="info" %}
You must be an Account Admin to configure the pipeline.
{% endhint %}

Navigate to [**Account Settings -> Pipelines**](https://crm.tiny.plus/account/pipelines/projects) and open the project pipeline.

<figure><img src="https://1957838173-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-LnoXYnzHXoSKmkXmIHw%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1aa17e05b2ae0274fba2bfc89e0bb030cc7c6ae2%2Fpipelines-project.png?alt=media" alt="The Pipelines screen with the project pipeline open: the seven statuses across the top, and Proposed split into Lead, Shortlisted, Submitted and Awaiting decision" width="979"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Each status is listed with its phases. You can:

* **Add phase** under a status, rename a phase by clicking it, drag phases to reorder them, and delete one once nothing is in it. Under Proposed, **Add the recommended phases** gives you Long Term, Short Term, Submission and Waiting as a start.
* Give a status or phase a **colour** and a **description**, which shows under its column heading.
* **Turn a status off** to take it out of every list and form, or hide its column from the pipeline view.
* **Lock a column**, so that only Records Admins and the people you choose can move projects in or out of it.
* Set **health** rules, so that a project in that phase goes amber and red after so many days without an update, and choose a **form** to fill in when a project enters or leaves the phase. Forms are made in the Form Designer.

The pipeline's **Fees** card chooses which fee fields its columns add up, and whether fees are hidden from standard users or from everyone in the pipeline views. Under **Options** you choose how every pipeline is shown: phase names alone or with their status, colour bands on the column headings, and the project number beside the name.

On the Pro plan you can also add **filtered views** of the pipeline for the whole team, and **additional pipelines** that follow the tags of a category instead of the project status.

## Some example configurations

Looking for inspiration? Here are two common project pipeline configurations.

#### Example #1 - Very simple

| Phase                 | Description                                                    |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Proposed - Lead       | A potential project starting at least three months from now.   |
| Proposed - Submission | A potential project which will start in the next three months. |
| Won                   | (no phases reqd)                                               |
| Active                | (no phases reqd)                                               |

#### Example #2 - More complex

| Phase                 | Description                                                    |
| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Proposed - Long Term  | A potential project starting at least three months from now.   |
| Proposed - Short Term | A potential project which will start in the next three months. |
| Proposed - Bidding    | We are currently preparing a Proposal for this project.        |
| Proposed - Submitted  | We have submitted our Proposal and are awaiting feedback.      |
| Won                   | (no phases reqd)                                               |
| Active - Delivering   | Currently delivering the project.                              |
| Active - On Hold      | On hold at client request.                                     |