Saj Parreno
Is report generation your least favourite part of your job? If you feel that way, then your employees might probably have the same feeling. So, why not invest in reporting tools to make that time-consuming and draining task a lot more manageable?
You will thank yourself later for diving into that decision. And what about your team members? Those who are responsible for analysing data and generating reports will execute the task faster than usual.
Thrilled to get a reporting tool for your business? Before you do so, look first at the essential features to make the most out of business intelligence.
Key Features of Reporting Software
Architecture
The architectural design of reporting software matters. It will not fully serve its purpose if it’s neither intuitive nor customisable.
You must pick a tool that’s easy to comprehend, using whatever data you wish to analyse. An intuitive one will allow for fast and easy generation of reports.
Looking for a project reporting system with a customisable option is also a great idea. Customisable ones let users filter certain projects or columns they’re interested in, thus simplifying reporting.
Components
Reporting tools are made up of components, which play a pivotal role in data visualisation and deep data analysis.
These components convey the information collected in a compelling manner. Examples of such elements are graphs, pictures, maps and so on.
With these visuals, you don’t have to go over disparate files and read through text documents to create an informative report. You can easily gain insights from more comprehensible sets of data.
Generation
Generating reports is often laborious and strenuous because there’s no existing template to use.
Thankfully, most reporting applications today come with pre-built templates. This saves users from thinking of a format or on how the data will be presented.
These templates make report creation quick and simplified for people of all skill levels. They allow any member of an organisation, particularly the project heads, build a visual report with greater ease.
Viewing
When shopping for reporting software, you must take the shareability or accessibility into consideration.
Inspect if the tool you’re eyeing can be viewed in different Microsoft Word, Excel, Workbook and other applications.
If not, then take a step back and choose for an application with boosting views. Reporting tools must have this specific feature to facilitate the process of sharing reports with team members and clients.
Delivery
Above all, reports must be delivered to the rightful recipient. What’s the sense of creating reports if they’re not sent to the right place?
When it’s time to information delivery, the accessibility features come in handy. They let users control who can view reports, as well as where, when and how they can do so.
Among the specifications to look for in reporting software are language settings, formatting, mobile report access, report delivery scheduling and access restrictions and security, among others.
What Are The Different Types Of Reporting Tools?
There are now several reporting tools that businesses can use to analyse data, align performance to overall goals, and meet their goals in the plan efficiently.
List of reporting software:
Adaptive Insights
Tableau
Wrike
Sisense
Domo
Looker
ClicData
Hubble
Klipfolio
DBxtra
The Takeaway
Don’t have a system to manage the creation and sharing of business reports? Or do you have an existing program but unsure if it can manage the size and complexity of data as your business grows?
If your answer to these questions is YES, then it’s time to upgrade to high-performance software. Keep the above features in mind before contacting a reporting tool provider.
