Use case
Explain a margin change
Reconstruct why margin on a product or line changed across cost, price, mix, and discount decisions — instead of defending a spreadsheet story.
Human owner: Finance analysts · Product managers · Sales operations · Pricing
Synthetic finance demonstration available. ERP connectors under development with design partners.
Why ordinary search fails
The company already knows the answer; it is just scattered, revised, and sometimes contradicted.
Cost, price, volume, and mix live in different systems; finance, sales, and operations each hold a partial answer. Spreadsheets combine them manually and silently.
Each system uses a different part number, period, or cost version
One-off discount not linked to the product line
Supplier change landed in procurement but not in finance reporting
Relevant record classes: ERP cost records · Sales transactions and price lists · Discount approvals · Supplier change notices · Product mix reports
Representative questions
The question — and what the answer carries.
Continuum reconstructs the answer from the relevant record classes, applies the context rules when sources conflict, attaches the evidence, and marks anything unsupported or uncertain for the named human owner.
Why did margin on this product change between last quarter and this one?
Synthetic illustrationAlso asked in this environment
- Which driver — cost, price, mix, or discount — carries the most evidence?
- Are conflicting explanations using the same part number and period?
Boundaries and ownership
What stays with named humans.
Continuum does not cross these lines
- Continuum does not close the books or override accounting judgment
- The finance owner validates the final margin bridge
Product output
A margin bridge with cited sources, conflicting explanations surfaced, and gaps marked for the finance owner.
Product status: Synthetic finance demonstration available. ERP connectors under development with design partners.
Operational proof