SmartERP Documentation An Ashewa Technology Solutions Platform

Manage Subcontractor Measurement and Payment Certificates

Subcontractor job orders, back-to-back work measurement, contractor margin deduction, and payment approvals.

1. Overview & Business Value#

This comprehensive operational guide details the architecture, business workflows, configuration parameters, and execution steps for Manage Subcontractor Measurement and Payment Certificates within SmartERP.

Subcontractor job orders, back-to-back work measurement, contractor margin deduction, and payment approvals.

{screenshot:subcontractor-payment-certificates-overview-dashboard}

2. Prerequisites & Security Access Groups#

  • Required Modules: project, smarterp_project_governance, hr_timesheet
  • Security Groups:
    • Project User (Technical ID: project.group_project_user)
    • Project Administrator (Technical ID: project.group_project_manager)
    • Timesheet Approver (Technical ID: hr_timesheet.group_hr_timesheet_approver)
  • Master Data Dependencies: Project master records, milestone stages, work breakdown structures (WBS), bill of quantities (BoQ), and employee billing cost rates.

3. Step-by-Step Configuration & Execution#

Step 1: Navigating to the Module Interface#

  1. Log into your SmartERP instance at https://smarterp.et/odoo.
  2. Open the main App Switcher (grid icon in the top-left corner).
  3. Select the Projects app icon.
  4. From the top navigation bar, open Projects β†’ Dashboard β†’ My Tasks / All Projects; Timesheets β†’ Timesheets.

{screenshot:subcontractor-payment-certificates-app-switcher-navigation}

Step 2: Creating and Parameterizing Records#

  1. Click the New button in the top-left control panel.
  2. Complete the mandatory fields in the record form:
    • Project / Task Name (Mandatory): Descriptive title of work package or milestone deliverable
    • Assigned Project Team (Mandatory): Lead project manager and operational contributors
    • Planned Dates (Mandatory): Scheduled commencement and milestone completion deadlines
    • Customer / Stakeholder (Mandatory): Client partner linked to project contract and invoicing terms
  3. Configure optional operational parameters and localized tags as required:
    • Analytic Cost Center (Optional): Dedicated project accounting account for expenditure tracking
    • Bill of Quantities (BoQ) Line (Optional): Specific contractual BoQ item code for construction tracking
    • Milestone Billing Weight (Optional): Percentage of contract value tied to milestone acceptance
  4. Click the Save icon in the control bar to commit the record.

{screenshot:subcontractor-payment-certificates-record-creation-form}

Step 3: Validating and Processing Transactions#

  • State Transitions: Execute operational state progression (New / Scoping β†’ In Progress β†’ Review / Testing β†’ Completed β†’ Archived).
  • Ledger & System Impact: Timesheet confirmations and project purchases post direct expenditures to the project analytic account, enabling real-time cost vs. revenue margin analysis.
  • Audit Verification: Automated recording of author ID, timestamp, and immutable revision history.

{screenshot:subcontractor-payment-certificates-transaction-processing-state}

Subcontractor Work Administration#

Main contractors delegate specialized work packages (e.g., post-tensioning, aluminum facade cladding, deep well drilling, elevator installation) to domestic subcontractors.

Procedure: Validating Subcontractor Payment Requests#

  1. Navigate to Projects > Construction > Subcontractor Claims and click New.
  2. Subcontractor: Select partner (e.g., Tekle Aluminum & Glass Works PLC).
  3. Subcontract Package: Select linked subcontract agreement.
  4. Measured Work Quantities: Record verified quantities physically installed on site during the period.
  5. Back-to-Back Deductions:
    • Deduct main contractor provided materials (e.g., cement, scaffold rental, diesel issued via Model 20 SIV).
    • Withhold subcontractor retention (typically 5%).
    • Deduct 2% Withholding Tax (WHT) under Proclamation 979/2016.
  6. Click Approve Certificate. The system generates a vendor bill linked to the project cost center.

4. Advanced Configuration Points#

  • Automated Actions & Scheduled Tasks (Crons):
    • Project: Flag overdue milestone deadlines (project.ir_cron_overdue_tasks): Runs daily to notify project managers of pending schedule delays
    • Timesheets: Send unsubmitted reminder alerts (hr_timesheet.ir_cron_timesheet_reminder): Runs weekly on Friday afternoon to remind team members
  • Custom Print Templates & Reports:
    • Project Status & Milestone Execution Scorecard
    • Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) for Construction
    • Project Timesheet & Resource Utilization Summary
    • Earned Value Management (EVM) Financial Report
  • Multi-Company Rules: Record-level security isolation under Company 1 (Ashewa Technology Solutions S.C.), preventing cross-company ledger leakage across parent and subsidiary legal entities.

5. Comprehensive Troubleshooting Matrix#

Error Symptom / ExceptionProbable Root CauseCorrective Action / Resolution
Access Rights Error: Cannot view confidential taskUser is not listed as a project follower or team member.Add user to Project Privacy Settings or Collaborators tab.
Validation Error: Timesheet date outside active stageAttempting to log labor against a closed or cancelled milestone.Select an active task stage or request reopening of the target work package.
Billing Rate Error: Missing employee cost rateAssigned employee lacks an hourly labor cost rate on their profile.Configure the employee hourly cost rate under Human Resources β†’ Employees β†’ HR Settings.
Last updated: 2026-10-30