Development of real-time sales and financial dashboard

Objective

The primary objective of this project was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the jobs the client performed for their customers. This included identifying all jobs, tracking the items bought and sold, and analyzing the associated costs and revenues. Additionally, we aimed to pinpoint which specific parts were sold most frequently and identify areas for potential improvement. The ultimate goal was to provide the client with a real-time dashboard that consolidated their entire sales and financial data for seamless reporting to their parent company.

Approach

To begin, we needed a subset of data to assess and understand the scope of the project. I collaborated closely with the client to gather their requirements and gain insight into their data. Additionally, I worked alongside a colleague who had deep expertise in the client’s Business Central environment. Together, we started by developing a small proof of concept focusing on sales and items, which was iteratively refined to ensure data accuracy and usability.

Outcome

The project resulted in the development of a comprehensive data model and interactive report that the client could use and expand on in-house. By connecting directly to the live Business Central environment, we created a star schema model that enabled detailed reporting. The final dashboard provided a complete overview of job types, locations, and regions, along with insights into items purchased, sold, and used in jobs. Additionally, the dashboard included an inventory overview and sales performance metrics, segmented by location, region, job type, and specific parts. This integrated solution facilitated accurate and timely reporting of financial data to the parent company, streamlining their financial management and reporting processes.

Skills Utilized

• Data Analysis: Identifying key metrics related to jobs, sales, and inventory, and analyzing associated costs and revenues.
• Business Intelligence (BI): Developing a real-time dashboard that integrates sales and financial data for reporting purposes.
• Data Modelling: Building a star schema model to facilitate efficient and comprehensive reporting.
• Collaboration and Communication: Working closely with the client to understand their requirements and with colleagues to leverage deep knowledge of the Business Central environment.
• Proof of Concept Development: Creating and iterating on a small-scale proof of concept to validate data accuracy and usability.
• Process Improvement: Identifying frequently sold parts and errors in data entry for operational improvement.
• Financial Reporting: Facilitating accurate and timely reporting of financial data to the parent company.