Release Date: End of March 2026
What's New
Q: What's changing with my Project Onboarding experience?
A: The Project Onboarding experience has been redesigned to make setup faster, clearer, and more flexible.
Here's what's new:
- Three-Part Setup Flow: Project setup is now organized into three focused sections—Project Details, Users & Permissions, and Settings & Approval Flows—so you can submit information as you have it, without needing everything ready upfront
- Smarter Guided Flow: The experience now adapts based on the services you select and the countries you're working in, so you only see the steps and questions relevant to your project
- US & Canada Support: Projects with both US and Canadian work locations now have a dedicated tabbed experience tailored to each country's requirements; no more supplemental forms
- Improved User Setup: Add users and assign permissions across all your products in one place, with a new Project Admin permission for managing approval flows and project users
- Refreshed Review Page: Review everything you've submitted before finalizing, with the ability to jump back and edit any section in a single click
- Updated Hours+ & Start+ Configuration: Account codes, allowances, and offer settings have a cleaner, easier-to-read layout
Q: When can I see these changes?
A: The redesigned experience will be available starting at the end of March 2026.
Q: Are there any fields that are new or newly required in the updated experience?
A: Yes. Please find a full breakdown below and be on the lookout when reviewing your templates after the release:
Project Type, Budget & Dates (located in Part 1)
- Estimated Total Budget (same question, now required): If you've previously left this blank, you'll need to fill it in
Add Users to Project (located in Part 2)
- Last Name (new required field): In the previous experience, first and last name were combined into a single field. They are now two separate fields.
- PSL+ Access Level (now required, only if you have PSL+ access): If you have PSL+ access, you will be required to select an access level. This was previously optional.
Create Departments (located in Part 2)
- Departments (now required for all projects): Previously, this field was only required for Hours+ projects. It is now required across all project types.
Getting Started
Q: Will the way I request new projects or services change?
A: The process for requesting new projects remains the same. The experience is just faster, more intuitive, and better organized so you can get your project to us sooner.
Q: Do I need to complete all three parts before submitting my project?
A: No. You can now submit at the end of Part 1 (Project Details) and our team will begin working on your project right away. After Parts 1 and 2 are completed, you can begin processing payroll. You can return at any time to complete Part 3 at your own pace if it applies to your project.
Q: Will my draft projects and active projects still be available?
A: Yes. All existing projects and drafts will be available in the updated experience. If you have saved templates, we recommend reviewing them after the release to make sure your information is current and ready for future project requests
Q: What if I'm in the middle of setting up a project when the update goes live?
A: If you have a project setup in progress, we recommend completing it before the update date. If you have questions about timing, reach out to your Cast & Crew team.
Q: Is there anything I need to do to prepare?
A: No action is needed before the update. However, after the release we recommend taking a few minutes to review your saved templates to make sure everything looks accurate and is ready to use for future projects.
Q: Will there be any downtime during the update?
A: No downtime is expected.
Working With the New Flow
Q: What's included in each part of the setup?
A: Here's a quick overview:
- Part 1 - Project Details: Your core project information, including company details, payroll services, production dates, union selections, and required document uploads. Submitting this lets our team get started on setting up your project immediately
- Part 2 - Users & Permissions: Add users, assign product access and roles, configure Studio+ folders, and set department structures for Hours+. Once Parts 1 and 2 are done, you can begin processing payroll.
- Part 3 - Settings & Approval Flows: Configure project settings and approval workflows for Start+, Hours+, and DPO
Q: Can I go back and make changes after I've submitted?
A: Yes. You can return to your project from the Onboarding Dashboard at any time to update information, add contracts, or complete remaining sections. Any resubmission will notify the applicable Cast & Crew team automatically.
Q: Will my information be saved if I exit before finishing?
A: Your progress is saved any time you click Save, Next, or Exit and Save. When you return, you'll pick up right where you left off.
Q: What if I need to add a union contract after the initial submission?
A: You can return to your project from the Onboarding Dashboard, add the contract, and resubmit. Our team will be notified and will take it from there.
Templates
Q: Will my existing templates still work after the update?
A: Yes. Your existing templates will still be available after the update. We do recommend reviewing them once the new experience is live to make sure all information is current and accurate before using them for future project requests.
Q: Is there anything I need to do to prepare?
A: No action is needed before the update. However, after the release we recommend taking a few minutes to review your saved templates to make sure everything looks accurate and is ready to use for future projects.
Canada & Multi-Country Projects
Q: I'm working on a Canadian project. What's different?
A: Canada now has a fully built-out setup experience. When you select Canada as your work location, the entire flow adapts to Canadian payroll requirements—including unions and production dates. There's no longer a need to submit a separate supplemental form.
Q: What if my project has both US and Canadian crew?
A: If you select both US and Canada as work locations, you'll see a tabbed experience that captures the right details for each country. The system is smart enough to avoid asking you to repeat information that applies to both.
Getting Help
Q: Where can I track the status of my project setup?
A: Your Onboarding Dashboard and Setup Tracker are still your go-to for monitoring progress, outstanding tasks, and solutions' status all in one place.
Q: Where can I get help if I have questions about the new experience?
A: Our support team is here for you. Reach out anytime at plus.support@castandcrew.com.