Overview
Customization allows your organization to define custom fields that appear across 4M, both at the project level and the user level, so your team's data reflects the way your organization actually works.
Instead of tracking project details and user information outside the platform, you can define the fields that matter most to your organization and have your team fill them in directly inside 4M.
This feature is by request, so reach out to your CSM to get access.
Why Use Customization?
Every organization structures its work differently. A DOT may need to tag projects by district and mile marker range. An AEC firm may need to attribute costs to a specific business unit, office, or proposal number. Customization gives admins the tools to capture that context inside 4M, so reporting is accurate, costs are attributable, and your data is organized the way your team needs it.
Common use cases include:
Attributing project costs to a specific business line, department, or client
Tracking which district or region a project or user belongs to
Capturing whether a project is billable, and to whom
Recording internal proposal or project numbers at time of creation
What You Can Customize
Customization includes two types of settings, each serving a distinct purpose.
User Details
Custom user fields extend the information collected about each member of your organization. Members complete these fields during sign-up or in their profile, and reports are grouped by them.
Examples:
District — the district or region the user works in
Business Unit — the user's internal department or business unit
Project Details
Custom project fields are added to the project creation flow. When any user in your organization creates a new project, they'll be prompted to fill in the fields your admin has defined.
Examples:
Project Number — your internal proposal or project ID
Business Line — the business unit associated with the data order
Is this project billable? — a yes/no field to flag cost recovery
System Fields vs. Custom Fields
Inside Customization, you'll see two categories of fields:
System fields are 4M's default mandatory fields (for example: First name, Last name, Email, Role, and Seniority under User details). These fields are always present, always appear first, and cannot be edited, removed, or rearranged.
Custom fields are fields your organization defines. These extend the system fields with additional information specific to your team's workflows. You can add, edit, and manage these at any time.
Field Types
When adding a custom field, you can choose from four field types:
Text — a free-text response the user types in
Yes/No toggle
Dropdown List — a single selection from a predefined list your organization controls
Phone Number
How to Set Up Customization
Customization is managed directly in 4M by those with the Admin role in your organization. Use the following steps:
Log into 4M and click your initials in the top right corner, then navigate to Team Management.
In the left side panel, click Customization.
Select either the User details or Project details tab depending on which type of field you want to add.
Review the existing System fields — these are your organization's default mandatory fields and cannot be changed.
To add a new field, click + Add custom field and configure the field name, type, and any dropdown values as needed.
When finished, click Save Changes. Your custom fields will immediately be active for your organization.
Tip: Custom fields apply going forward, to new projects created and new users who sign up after the fields are saved. Existing records will not be retroactively updated.
Making Changes After Setup
You can return to the Customization tab at any time to add new fields or update the values in an existing dropdown list. Changes take effect immediately after saving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will existing projects or users be updated with the new fields? No. Custom fields apply to projects created and users who sign up after the fields are activated. Existing records will not be updated.
Can I make custom fields optional or required? Custom fields have the option to be optional OR required.
Can I delete a custom field after it's been created? Yes, you may delete a custom field if you no longer wish to include it.
Who can see the data collected in custom fields? Custom field data can be retrieved by Admins from their 4M Customer Success Manager and is used for reporting purposes.
How many custom fields can my organization add? There is no set limit. Add as many fields as your organization needs to accurately reflect your workflows and reporting requirements.
Questions?
Reach out to your 4M Customer Success Manager to get access to this feature, or for additional help setting this up.