Cube introduces relative dates to automate time-based analysis in its FP&A tools

The feature allows users to select dynamic periods such as « Last 3 Months », « Current Quarter » or « Next Year », without having to change dates with each new reporting cycle. Time ranges are automatically updated based on the current date, both in Cube Boards dashboards and in Spreadsheet Apps integrated with Excel and Google Sheets.

With this approach, finance and FP&A teams can build more flexible reports and maintain continuously up-to-date analyses, particularly for performance monitoring, forecasting or periodic comparisons.

Cube explains that relative dates are based on three main parameters: the time direction (Last, Current or Next), the number of periods concerned, and the selected period type (month, quarter or year). An additional option also makes it possible to include or exclude the current period in calculations.

The vendor particularly highlights the difference in behaviour between filters and report rows or columns. In filters, only single periods are permitted, such as « Current Month » or « Last Quarter ». By contrast, rows and columns support multi-period selections such as « Last 3 Months » or « Next 2 Quarters ».

The update also introduces time shortcuts directly accessible from the interface, including:

• YTD (Year To Date),
• QTD (Quarter To Date),
• T3M (Trailing 3 Months),
• NXM (Next X Months),
• ROY (Rest of Year),
• LTD (Lifetime To Date).

These shortcuts, previously used mainly through manual syntax in spreadsheets, are now available directly in Cube's interface time selectors.

According to Cube, relative dates are automatically recalculated whenever widgets or Spreadsheet Apps queries are refreshed. The vendor also stresses that results comply with the data access rules configured in the platform, as well as companies' custom fiscal calendars.