Why and how to create a Report

Why we need reporting?

Companies require reporting due to several reasons, each tied to improving efficiency, decision-making, compliance, and overall business performance. Here’s a breakdown of the key reasons:

Data-Driven Decision Making
- Real-Time Insights: Reporting allows businesses to access up-to-date information quickly, enabling real-time decision-making.
- Trend Analysis: Historical data can be visualized and analyzed to identify patterns, trends, and anomalies, which informs strategic planning.
- KPI Monitoring: Reports help monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and assess whether the organization is meeting its goals.
Improved Efficiency
- Automation: Digital applications automate data collection and report generation, saving time and reducing the manual effort involved.
- Centralized Data: Reporting systems consolidate data from various departments or systems, providing a unified view of operations.
Transparency and Accountability
- Performance Tracking: Regular reporting ensures that teams and individuals are accountable for their performance.
- Audit Trails: Reports often include detailed logs, ensuring traceability and accountability for decisions and actions.
Regulatory Compliance
- Accurate Record-Keeping: Many industries have strict reporting requirements to comply with laws and regulations. Digital reporting ensures that records are accurate, complete, and accessible.
- Standardization: Digital applications often adhere to regulatory standards, making it easier to meet compliance obligations.
Cost Savings
- Error Mitigation: Accurate and timely reports prevent costly mistakes or penalties related to non-compliance or poor decision-making.
Scalability and Adaptability
- Large Data Handling: Applications can handle vast amounts of data, making them suitable for businesses of all sizes.
- Customization: Reports can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different stakeholders (e.g., executives, teams, clients).
Enhanced Collaboration and Communication
- Shared Access: Cloud-based reporting tools enable teams across different locations to access the same data.
- Visualization Tools: Charts, graphs, and dashboards make it easier to communicate complex data effectively.
Competitive Advantage
- Market Analysis: Reporting tools provide insights into market trends and customer behavior, helping companies stay ahead of competitors.
- Proactive Problem Solving: With detailed reports, companies can identify and address issues before they escalate.

Reporting thus enable companies to make better use of their data, leading to improved outcomes across all aspects of the business.

How to create a report

The process of creating a report is elaborated in the following steps:

Click on Reports in the menubar.

Give a suitable name and description to the report being created.

Select the desired Object. This would be the main object of the report.

Click the + add linked item link.

Note: This is an optional step. Users can skip adding a linked object to the report.

Select the desired linked object(s).

Click the Continue button.

The report options page is displayed.

Select the relevant properties of the selected object, to be included in the report.

Similarly select the desired properties of the linked object, and then click the Column tab.

Arrange the order (using drag-and-drop) of the columns of the report by arranging the property tabs as desired.

Click the Preview button to check on the report.

Click the Save and Run button.

The report is generated.

We can also apply filters on a generated (and saved) report, to narrow down the desired results. To apply a filter click the Edit button.

Now click the Filter tab.

Click the Add Filter button.

The filter is applied only on a property of the report’s primary or linked objects.

Select the desired property.

Select the desired operator and provide relevant value. If the value encompass the desired result then click the Save button. Otherwise, if the value needs further elaboration, then click the + Add Filter link.