Blackwood Seven Support

The Simulate feature enables “What-if” testing to predict the impact of adjusting media and non-media driver budgets for a selected time period.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1. Running a Simulation
• 2. Reviewing Simulation Reports
  • 2.1 Viewing High-Level Report:
  • 2.2 Granularity and Filtering
  • 2.3 Export Options
  • 2.4 Refining Simulation 
• 3. Viewing a Detailed Report
  • 3.1 Exploring Detailed Results
  • 3.2 Analyse the Evolution Over Time Graph:
  • 3.3 Explore Media and Non-Media Data Tables
  • Use the following controls:
• 4. Saving the Simulation
  • 4.1 Enter Simulation Details
  • 4.2 Choose Saving Options

1. Running a Simulation

1. Navigate to the Simulate tile. Right next to the Optimise tab.

2. Click the Simulate button

3. Choose the time period for simulation.

4. Adjust budgets for drivers:

   • Media drivers can be adjusted by absolute values or percentages.

   • Non-media drivers may only be adjusted via percentage change.

5. Click into individual drivers for deeper granularity by campaign, channel, or publisher.

   • Example: Reduce Paid Television investment by 5%, increase Paid search investment by 20%.

6. Once adjustments are complete, click Simulate.

7. Select the result type:

   • High-Level Result – Quicker, for faster iterations.

   • Detailed Result – More in-depth analysis, takes longer to compute.

8. A blinking icon will indicate that processing is underway.

Note that even if you select Detailed results, High-level results will be available to you first wherein you can analyse it and modify the scenarios before you move to detailed results. You can also opt for Detailed result after chosing High-level results in the first iteration.

2. Reviewing Simulation Reports

Once the simulation completes you will be notified via mail, you can navigate to Predictions module and click Show Unsaved Result in the simulation tab to view outputs. 

2.1 Viewing High-Level Report:

1. View baseline KPIs (e.g., last year’s ticket sales) alongside scenario projections.

Example: Baseline = 309 tickets; scenario = 314 tickets – a 2% increase.

2. We cannot view driver level breakup of the output nor drill down further in high-level result.

3. We can also view Evolution over time graph comparing baseline vs scenario projections.

4. Further Data Table Include:

• Investment

• Effect

• Generated Profit

2.2 Granularity and Filtering

1. Results can be viewed at weekly or total levels depending on the data available.

2. Hierarchy adjustment is not available for simulation results due to mixed driver types.

3. We have options to hide zero rows or reorder columns in data table.

2.3 Export Options

1. We can download simulation outputs in Excel format for further analysis.

2.4 Refining Simulation
 

1. Adjust your input scenario to run another iteration.

2. Alternatively, click Get Detailed Result for in-depth insights.

3. You will receive a notification once the detailed result is ready. 

3. Viewing a Detailed Report

Navigate to the Prediction section. Under the Simulation tab, click Show Unsaved Result. This opens detailed report of the simulation results based on the scenario set earlier.

3.1 Exploring Detailed Results

1. You can also view the input scenario 
2. View the Overall Summary

   1. The summary will display:

      • Total Investment (in the simulation period)

      • Total Effect (outcome of the marketing activity)

      • Total Profit

      • A comparison between the Baseline (reference period) and the Simulation Scenario.

   2. Observe colour-coded percentage changes (green for increases, red for decreases).
      

3.2 Analyse the Evolution Over Time Graph:

1. Hover your cursor over data points to view:

   • Baseline values

   • Simulation values

   • Percentage change

2. Note that:

   • Media Groupings and Non-Media Groupings are visually separated by a white line.

   • You can toggle between viewing Media or Non-Media groupings.

3.3 Explore Media and Non-Media Data Tables

1. Navigate to the Media Table:

• Click to drill down through levels: Media Grouping → Channel → Publisher.

2. Then scroll to the Non-Media Table:

• This table provides detailed results for business drivers not tied to media spend.

Use the following controls:

• Granularity Switch: Toggle between views (e.g., weekly, monthly).

• Filters: Hide rows with zero values.

• Column Reordering: Drag columns to rearrange their order for easier comparison.

Media table	Non media table
Time Granularity	Hierarchy

4. Saving the Simulation

At the bottom right navigate to save simulation button.

4.1 Enter Simulation Details

1. Fill in the Title for your simulation (e.g., "Demo Document").

2. Optionally, add a brief description.

4.2 Choose Saving Options

You can save the simulation in two ways:

1. Private Save:

   • Visible only to you.

   • Select this if the file is for personal use or testing.

2. Public Save (Shared):

   • Share the file with your team.

   • Select a shared folder or create a new folder for organisation (e.g., Demo Document).

Confirm your selection and click Save.