Trace the numbers
Agree what the report should measure.
A dashboard cannot resolve a disagreement about what counts as a completed order. We begin with the business question, the source records and the rules behind each measure. Then we design how data is collected, checked and presented, making reporting periods, refresh times and known gaps understandable to the people who use the results.
Bring a recurring spreadsheet task, a report that produces conflicting numbers or a data platform that needs improvement.
Data services
Connect sources, storage and reporting.
Work can focus on a specific pipeline or report, or cover the foundation that supports several teams.
Talk through your requirementsData engineering
Collect data from applications, files and external services, then transform it into an agreed structure. Add checks for missing records, unexpected formats and processing failures so problems can be investigated.
- Source connections
- Data transformation pipelines
- Validation and quality checks
Database development
Design data storage around application use and reporting requirements. Review record relationships, query behaviour and migration needs, including how transferred data will be checked against its source.
- Database structure and design
- Data migration and validation
- Query performance review
Business intelligence dashboards
Build reports with clearly defined measures, useful filters and detail suited to the audience. Include the reporting period and refresh information so users can judge what the numbers represent.
- Metric definitions
- Dashboards and business reports
- Scheduled reporting
Data analysis
Investigate trends, differences and unexpected changes in operational data. Explain the context behind comparisons and identify where missing information limits what can be concluded.
- Exploratory data analysis
- Trend and variance analysis
- Findings and analytical context
Example reporting project
Find where orders stop moving.
Suppose order details, fulfilment updates and invoices sit in separate systems. A reporting workflow could link those records and highlight orders waiting for the next step. Shared identifiers and agreed status definitions would help distinguish an operational delay from a missing update or an unmatched record.
- Select the authoritative source for each field.
- Keep unmatched records visible for investigation.
- Show the reporting period and last successful refresh.
- CollectRead the agreed records from each source.
- CheckValidate formats, completeness and matching identifiers.
- PrepareApply the agreed status rules and metric definitions.
- ReportPresent the findings with context and refresh information.
Illustrative reporting scenario; the data sources and measures would be agreed with your team.
Data project delivery
Validate the foundation behind the result.
Source checks and shared definitions support meaningful review of the final report.
Define sources and measures
Identify the audience, decisions and calculations the report must support. Review sample records, access arrangements and source limitations before selecting the initial scope.
What you leave withSource map and metric definitionsBuild and reconcile
Develop the required storage, transformations and quality checks. Compare prepared data with source records and investigate differences with the people who understand the process.
What you leave withData pipelines and reconciliation findingsDeliver useful reporting
Develop reports and review them with their intended users. Document calculations, refresh schedules and responsibilities for handling data issues or changing a measure.
What you leave withReporting tools and operating guidance
Can you combine spreadsheets and existing systems?
Yes. We review the available files, databases or interfaces and how each source is updated. The integration approach accounts for shared identifiers, incomplete records and the frequency at which new information can be collected.
What if departments use different KPI definitions?
We examine the business reason for each definition and document its calculation and source fields. Some differences are appropriate for different audiences. The reporting scope makes those distinctions explicit instead of presenting unlike measures as equivalent.
Can dashboards update automatically?
Automatic refresh can be included where the data sources support it. We agree the schedule or trigger, processing dependencies and failure notifications. The report should show when data was last refreshed so users understand its currency.
Your next step
Which question do your reports leave unanswered?
Share the report, source files or manual process. We can trace the data needed to answer it.