Quick Wins - Step 4 of 9

Create your
first project.

Turn an observation, issue or idea into structured action in just a few guided steps. Presto's Smart Activity Capture Panel helps you create a project, issue, idea or standard work activity quickly, with optional AI assistance to strengthen the title, description and initial task list.

Show me the capture panel See the 4-step workflow

Why this matters

Move from observation to ownership faster.

Smart Activity Capture is designed to reduce clicks, improve the quality of what gets entered into Presto and make it easier for teams to begin execution with clear ownership.

Capture faster

Create structured work without starting with a long, complex project form.

Improve the starting point

Use AI assistance for clearer titles, descriptions and an optional initial task list.

Route work correctly

Use team assignment rules, workflows and defaults to help work reach the right owner.

Smart Activity Capture

One panel for the work you need to start.

The same guided capture experience can be used to log different types of work, helping users move quickly without sacrificing structure.

Start here

Choose what you are creating.

Begin by selecting the activity type. Presto can use that choice to apply the appropriate capture logic, workflow defaults and assignment rules.

Standard WorkRecurring or repeatable work that should follow an established routine.

IssueA problem, exception or improvement opportunity requiring action.

ProjectA structured activity with an owner, objectives and tasks that need to be delivered.

IdeaAn improvement suggestion or opportunity that may later become structured work.

TIP

For this Quick Win, keep your first activity simple.

A small project, recurring issue or straightforward improvement idea is ideal while you learn the capture workflow.

Presto PDCA Smart Activity Capture Panel

Create a new issue, project, idea or standard work activity directly from the dashboard.

The workflow

Create your first activity in four simple steps.

You do not need to complete every optional field. Capture enough information to make the work clear, review the defaults and create the activity.

Select the Activity Type

Choose Standard Work, Issue, Project or Idea so Presto can apply the right capture logic and assignment rules.

Set Due Date & Priority

Add an expected due date and priority when useful. Both help teams understand urgency and timing.

Describe the Work

Enter a clear title and description yourself, or use AI Quick Capture to strengthen the starting information.

Review & Create

Check workflow, Key Success Factor and assigned owner, adjust anything needed, then create the activity.

Optional accelerator

Let AI help you structure the first draft.

AI Quick Capture is optional. It is there to reduce effort when a user knows what is happening but has not yet turned that thought into a well-structured project description or task list.

AI Quick Capture

Describe the situation in plain language.

Presto AI can generate a clearer title and enhanced description from a short explanation. If selected, it can also create an initial task list that the project owner can review and refine before execution.

1
Write naturallyExplain the issue, project or idea in your own words.
2
Improve title & descriptionUse AI to produce a clearer and more consistent starting point.
3
Generate an optional task listUse the first draft as a planning aid, then refine it before execution.

AI output is a starting point, not the final plan.

Review the generated title, description and tasks and adjust them to match the real situation before creating the activity.

AI Quick Capture section in Presto Smart Activity Capture

AI Quick Capture can help generate a stronger title, description and optional task list.

Before you click Create

Give the activity the right business context.

Presto can show defaults for workflow, business alignment and ownership. Review them before saving so the activity enters the right execution path from day one.

Workflow / Kanban

Review the default workflow and change it if the activity should follow a different execution path.

Key Success Factor

Confirm the business priority or KSF the activity should support.

Assigned Owner

Check the automatically assigned owner and change the assignment manually when needed.

Quick Win checklist

What does "done" look like?

The objective is not to build the perfect project on your first attempt. It is to create a clear, owned activity that is ready for the next layer of planning and execution.

The activity is clear

Its type, title and description explain what needs to happen and why.

Ownership is visible

The activity is routed to the appropriate owner with useful due-date and priority context.

It is ready to execute

The workflow, business alignment and initial task structure are sufficient to begin managing the work.

Make the project a working hub

Link the documents your team needs directly to the work.

Tasks and action plans become dramatically more useful when the supporting files are only one click away. Presto lets you connect documents held in your existing shared folders directly to the project so participants can reach the right information without searching through separate repositories.

Shared files, connected to execution

Keep the work in Presto and the documents where your company already stores them.

You do not need to recreate your document-management structure inside Presto. Instead, link the relevant file or shared document from systems such as SharePoint or OneDrive directly to the project or action plan. Give the link a simple, recognizable name so everyone on the project knows exactly what they are opening.

One place to find the work and the evidence Project participants can move directly from an action or task to the document that supports it.

Reduce file hunting and version confusion Point the team to the shared source rather than circulating separate copies through email.

Make Push Email collaboration more powerful When Presto sends status or action requests, participants can quickly reach the documents connected to the work being discussed.

DOC

Think of Presto as the execution layer around your existing shared folders.

Your company can keep using its established document repositories while Presto connects those documents to owners, tasks, status requests and project governance.

Presto project action plan showing where a user can link a supporting document

From the project or Action Plan, select the document/link control to connect supporting material to the work.

Presto link document modal with fields for the shared document URL and recognizable document name

Paste the SharePoint or OneDrive link and give it a short name your project team will immediately recognize.

What happens next?

Creating the activity is just the beginning.

Once work is live in Presto, the information captured through tasks and updates becomes part of a powerful reporting environment.

From execution to visibility

Your project starts feeding management reporting immediately.

From Activity Summaries and PDCA Heat Maps to Milestone and Last Status Reports, managers can quickly see progress, ownership, blockers and where attention is needed - without rebuilding project updates manually.

As your team begins using Presto, these reports become an important part of project reviews and governance.

Coming later in your training: We will explore Presto's reporting portfolio, filters and management views in detail during the more advanced training sessions.

Presto PDCA project management reporting portfolio

Once your activity is created, Presto provides multiple reporting views to help managers monitor execution, milestones, PDCA health and latest status.

Quick Win 4 complete.

You have created your first structured activity in Presto. From here, you can refine its task list, assign responsibilities, link the documents your team needs and begin using the project as a live execution workspace.

Back to Quick Win 3 Continue to Quick Win 5: Create Your First KPI →