Biweekly Platform Digest

Period: May 11, 2026 – May 25, 2026

Highlights

• GCs can now configure a recurring monthly billing window on a per-project basis, defining the dates when subcontractors are allowed to submit pay applications. Outside the window, subs can still prepare drafts but cannot submit. When the window opens, all eligible subs are notified automatically by email and in-app alert — giving everyone a clear, enforced schedule for the billing cycle.
• Org admins can now create and manage cost codes directly in Ernest under Settings → Customization → Cost Codes. Codes are organized by CSI MasterFormat division, and admins can add new codes, deactivate ones no longer needed, and delete codes that haven't been applied to any project yet — all searchable from a single interface.
• The AI assistant can now answer questions about project finances, including budget totals and billing summaries, drawing from live project data. Responses also include direct links that take users straight to the relevant page or record in Ernest, removing the need to navigate there manually.

Ernest API (2 releases)

Areas Affected: RFIs, Bid Packages, Project Contracts, Account Settings, Communications Hub, Billing, Cost Codes, Subcontracts, Settings, Dashboard, Observations

Release on May 15, 2026

• Fixed an error that silently failed when saving RFIs with a subject line that exceeded the allowed length. Users will now receive a clear validation message when a subject is too long, preventing data from being lost without explanation. (Ticket)
• Updated the platform's underlying UI component library to the latest version. This brings visual consistency improvements, layout corrections, and color fixes across multiple areas of the app, including the project selection page and filter modals. (Ticket)
• Fixed an issue where the "Reset Password" button was not appearing in password reset emails when opened on a Windows PC. Users on all platforms and email clients can now successfully complete a password reset from the email. (Ticket)
• Added a Trade filter to the Bid Packages list. Users can now select one or more trades to filter the list down to relevant packages and their associated quotes. The filter is available in all three Bid Packages views — Office, Proposal, and View-Only — and works alongside existing filters such as Status, Priority, and Date. (Ticket)
• Updated the document viewer to the latest version, bringing performance improvements and better compatibility when viewing PDFs and other documents throughout the platform. (Ticket)
• Project Contracts and Phases have been redesigned with a refreshed layout and updated visual style. The new design improves readability and makes it easier to navigate contract and phase information within a project. (Ticket)
• Additional backend updates related to the UI component library upgrade, supporting the visual and layout improvements deployed alongside it. (PR)

Release on May 21, 2026

• GCs can now set a recurring monthly billing window on a per-project basis, defining the start and end dates during which subcontractors are allowed to submit pay applications. Outside the window, subs can still create and save draft pay applications but the Submit button is blocked, with a clear message showing when the next window opens. When the window opens, all subs with active subcontracts automatically receive an email and in-app notification. Different projects can run different billing windows simultaneously, and the restriction is enforced on the server — not just in the UI. (Ticket)
• Improved how observation records are loaded to correctly enforce role-based access. Subcontractors see observations in read-only mode (except for status and closing attachments), while office roles retain full edit access. This ensures each user sees only what they are permitted to view or change. (Ticket)
• Backend support for org-level cost code management, enabling the new Cost Codes settings page. Supports creating, editing, deactivating, and deleting cost codes, with validation to prevent removing codes that are already in use on projects. (Ticket)
• Org admins can now manage cost codes under Settings → Customization → Cost Codes. Codes are organized by CSI MasterFormat divisions, with a two-panel layout showing divisions on the left and their codes on the right. Admins can add new codes (with division, code, and description), deactivate codes to hide them from future use, and delete codes that have not yet been applied to any project. A global search field lets admins find codes across all divisions at once. The layout is fully responsive across device sizes. (Ticket)
• Fixed a layout issue on the organization selection page where org cards were not displaying in the intended two-per-row grid. (Ticket)
• A new Total Committed Subcontract Costs chip has been added to the Billing & Cash Flow Reconciliation Dashboard, positioned between Contracts Value and We Billed Owner. It displays the sum of contract values for all Active, Completed, and Pending Signature subcontracts on the project, excluding Draft and Voided. The value reflects post-change-order amounts and updates automatically after relevant changes. A tooltip explains exactly what is included in the calculation. (Ticket)

Ernest iOS App (1 release)

Areas Affected: Task Management, Change Orders, Contracts, iOS App

Release on May 19, 2026

• Slide-up panels and menus across the iOS app have been updated to use native iOS sheet behavior. This results in a smoother, more consistent experience that matches standard iOS design — including proper sizing and animation for both iPhones and iPads. (Ticket)
• A search bar has been added to the Task Management board on iOS, allowing users to quickly filter to-dos by name instead of scrolling through all tasks. (Ticket)
• The Change Orders section on iOS has been updated with a refreshed design and layout improvements to align with the latest product standards. (Ticket)
• The document viewer on iOS has been updated to the latest version, bringing improved stability and performance when opening and reviewing files within the app. (Ticket)
• Project Contracts have been redesigned with an updated layout and visual refresh. This release also includes fixes to how project phases are displayed within contracts. (Ticket)

Ernest MCP Server (2 releases)

Areas Affected: Projects, Contracts, Finance, Subcontracts, AI Assistant

Release on May 15, 2026

• The Project Contracts area has been redesigned and rebuilt. The updated interface features a cleaner layout and improved structure, making it easier to view and manage contracts within a project. (Ticket)
• Internal platform links were standardized for consistency across the application.
• Routine maintenance and housekeeping updates were applied.
• Error messages throughout the platform have been improved to be clearer and more informative when issues occur.
• Minor refinements were applied following internal review.
• Routine maintenance and housekeeping updates were applied.
• Routine maintenance and housekeeping updates were applied.

Release on May 22, 2026

• Finance summary data is now available through the AI assistant. Users can ask questions about budget totals, billing summaries, and other financial figures, and receive accurate responses drawn from live project finance data. (Ticket)
• Subcontract statuses have been aligned to a consistent, standardized format across the platform. This improves clarity and ensures statuses appear and behave the same way regardless of where they are viewed. (Ticket)
• The AI assistant now includes deep links in its responses, allowing users to click directly through to the relevant page or record in Ernest rather than navigating there manually. (Ticket)
• Resolved intermittent connection errors that some users were experiencing when interacting with the AI assistant.
• Deployed the fix for AI assistant connection errors to production.
• Improved data reliability to prevent display errors when certain financial fields contain no value.
• Deployed finance summary data access to production.
• Added automated alerts to notify the team immediately when a deployment issue is detected.
• Made finance data functions available within the AI assistant's operating environment, enabling it to retrieve and present financial information. (PR)
• Registered finance-related capabilities with the AI assistant so it can query and return financial data in response to user questions. (PR)
• Fixed an issue where the billing summary was not loading due to an incorrect internal reference.
• Improved deployment reliability to ensure no service interruption occurs when updates are rolled out.
• Deployed the billing summary fix to production.
• Refined deployment settings to better scale health checks based on the number of active service instances.
• Deployed deployment reliability improvements to production.
• Deployed subcontract status standardization to production.
• Applied final code review adjustments to the subcontract status update.
• Deployed deep link support in AI assistant responses to production.