AI-Powered Narratives & Streamlined Activity-to-Entry Workflow🚀📝

Version: 2024.3.1 Release Date: September 12, 2024

We're thrilled to introduce a major update that revolutionizes the timekeeping process in Laurel. This release introduces AI-powered narratives and significantly enhances the activity-to-entry workflow, making your timekeeping faster and more intuitive than ever before.

🌟 New Features

GenAI Narratives

• Automatic Generation: AI instantly drafts narratives when creating new entries.
• Smart Contextual Analysis: Considers activity details, past entries, and compliance rules.
• Instant Application: AI-crafted narratives are automatically applied to new entries.
• Flexible Editing: Users can easily modify AI-generated narratives if needed.

Revamped Work Activities Panel

• New Work Groups Tab: Dedicated view for easier work group management.
• Enhanced Visual Hierarchy: Cleaner, more intuitive activity view.
• Improved Organization: Reduce overwhelm with a more approachable layout.

Lightning-Fast Entry Creation

• Multi-Select Functionality: Choose multiple work groups and activities at once.
• Bulk Entry Management: Create new entries or add to existing ones in bulk.
• Shift + Click Selection: Quickly select a range of items.

Advanced Search and Sort

• Quick Search: Easily find specific activities or work groups.
• Create from Search: Select search results to create or add to entries.
• Customizable Sorting: Options for work groups include AI rank, duration, start time, and initiative prediction.

Focused Timesheet Mode

• Collapsible Left-Hand Navigation: Maximize screen space for your timesheet.
• Distraction-Free Environment: Focus solely on your time entries.

📘 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I select multiple activities or work groups?

A: Use Shift + click to select a range, or simply click the checkboxes to select multiple individual items. The new selection action bar will appear for further actions.

Q: What does the GenAI narrative consider when predicting the narrative?

A: Three main things:

1. The metadata of all activities either from work groups or selected activities
2. The user's past released entries
3. Any compliance rules set by the customer

Q: What happens if I try to assign to an entry in a restricted state?

A: Entries in states such as validation-pending, release-pending, etc., cannot have any more activities or work groups assigned to them.

Q: How do I use the new search to create an entry?

A: You can search both work groups and activities. In the new paradigm, select activities to create/update entries by checking the 'select all' checkbox or individual activities. Then, either add to existing entries or create a new entry. You can perform multiple searches to find and select more activities.

Q: What sorting options are available for work groups?

A: You have the following options:

• AI Rank (default): Confidence in work group correctness, driven by AI team WG confidence
• Predicted Project: Any WG with an initiative prediction will be at the top
• Start Time: Sorted by the start time of the first activity within the work group (options: first to last or last to first)
• Duration: Sorted by duration (options: ascending or descending)

Q: What actions can I take on work groups?

A: You have several options:

• Remove WG: Removes the work group from the list
• Remove activity from a WG: Removes an activity from a work group, but it persists on the timeline
• Delete activity from a WG: Deletes the activity entirely

Q: What happens if I shift-select activities that include open time?

A: We will select the open time and add it as an activity in the entry.

Q: Is the 'All' tab defaulting to show only unaccounted time?

A: Yes, we're defaulting to showing unassigned time to speed up the workflow of assigning activities. This approach aims to streamline the process and provide a sense of accomplishment. Users can always change the view to see all activities if needed.

Thank you for your continued support and feedback. We're excited for you to experience the power of AI-driven narratives and our new streamlined workflow!

Thank you for your continued support and feedback.

We're excited for you to experience the power of AI-driven narratives and our new streamlined workflow!

For any questions or support, please contact our help desk at help@laurel.ai