Resourcing Mechanics in Ayora Quote Builder

Ayora Quote Builder links scope-item fees, fee earner or grade allocations, and implied hours. This allows users to see not only what is being quoted, but also how the quoted value is distributed across the delivery team.

The core mechanic is simple:

1. Each scope item has a fee.
2. Each fee earner or grade can be allocated a percentage of that scope item.
3. Ayora Quote Builder converts that percentage into an allocated fee value.
4. Ayora Quote Builder derives implied hours from the allocated fee value and the relevant charge-out rate.
5. Those values roll up into workstream-level and quote-level totals.

Scope-Item Fees

A scope item can carry a fee range, usually shown as a minimum and maximum fee. These item-level fees are the starting point for resourcing calculations.

When users edit an absolute scope-item fee, Ayora Quote Builder updates the item fee and can recalculate the quote-level fee totals by summing the scope items.

Where scope-item fees are expressed as a percentage of the quote total, Ayora Quote Builder calculates the item fee from the quote-level total and the item's percentage contribution.

For fixed-fee style items, Ayora Quote Builder can show the fixed value and derive the item's contribution to the wider quote total.

Percentage Allocations

Fee earner or grade columns represent who is expected to contribute to each scope item. Each allocation cell stores a percentage contribution for that scope item.

For example, if a scope item has a median fee of 10,000 and a Senior Associate is allocated 40 percent, Ayora Quote Builder treats 4,000 of that item's fee as allocated to that Senior Associate.

The allocation is item-specific. A fee earner or grade can have one percentage on one scope item and a different percentage on another. This is what lets users model different delivery shapes across different parts of the matter.

The allocation input accepts values between 0 and 100. A zero allocation means the fee earner or grade is not contributing to that item.

Implied Hours

Ayora Quote Builder derives implied hours from the allocated fee value and the relevant charge-out rate.

The basic calculation is:

Allocated fee value = scope-item fee x percentage allocation
Implied hours = allocated fee value / adjusted charge-out rate

For quote views that use a fee range, Ayora Quote Builder calculates minimum and maximum hour values separately from the minimum and maximum fees.

In some resourcing views, the charge-out rate is adjusted for billing realisation and discount before hours are calculated. This means a change to billing realisation or discount can change the implied hours shown for the same fee and allocation.

If a required charge-out rate is missing or zero, hours cannot be calculated reliably for that allocation. In the Analysis modal, Ayora Quote Builder shows that hours visualisation is unavailable when the required rate data is not present.

Workstream And Quote Rollups

Scope-item allocations roll up into wider totals.

At workstream level, Ayora Quote Builder can total the allocated fees and implied hours for each fee earner or grade across the items in that workstream.

At quote level, Ayora Quote Builder can total scope-item fees and resourcing across the full quote. These totals support the Analysis modal, Maximise Profitability, and scenario modelling.

Because allocations are calculated per scope item, small changes to a high-value scope item can have a larger effect than the same percentage change on a lower-value item.

Grade Mix And Scenario Modelling

Scenarios can model changes to the fee earner or grade mix without immediately changing the live quote.

In scenario modelling, users can test grade reallocation globally or by practice area. A global target mix applies across pricing lines, while practice-area targets allow more specific modelling. Scenario grade targets are intended to sum to 100 percent.

Scenarios can also model workstream overruns. These allow users to test how additional hours against the baseline may affect the quote.

Use scenarios when the team wants to test resourcing assumptions before applying them to the live quote.

Maximise Profitability And Resourcing

Maximise Profitability uses resourcing mechanics to compare the current quote against profitable precedent patterns.

In Resource Optimisation, Ayora Quote Builder evaluates fee earner or grade allocations from similar won precedents. Where supported by the available data, it suggests a more profitable allocation for the current quote.

In Time Optimisation, Ayora Quote Builder looks at the current quote's fees, hours, billing realisation, discount, rates, and profitability target to suggest whether the quote may need more quoted hours or reduced time spent assumptions.

Practical Workflow

1. Set or review the scope-item fees.
2. Add the fee earners or grades that are expected to work on the quote.
3. Allocate percentages for each scope item.
4. Check the derived fee value and implied hours shown in the allocation cells.
5. Review workstream and quote-level analysis.
6. Use scenarios or Maximise Profitability if the resourcing shape needs testing before changes are applied.

Common Issues

If implied hours look too high or too low, check the scope-item fee, allocation percentage, charge-out rate, billing realisation, and discount.

If a fee earner or grade shows no hours, check whether its allocation is zero or whether the required rate is missing.

If workstream totals do not match expectations, review each scope item separately. The rollup is driven by item-level fees and item-level percentage allocations.

If the team refers to "grades" but the interface shows fee earner names, align the terminology before sharing the article with users.