FMCG: Transforming Sales Forecasting with Automated Reporting
Services: Data Engineering & Reporting
Business Functions: Sales & CX
Technology: Power BI, Azure, Data Flows, Databricks, ADF
The client’s sales forecasting relied on intuition, leading to inconsistent predictions.
And their manual reporting process was time-consuming and error-prone.
We implemented automated, self-service reports using Power BI, eliminating manual updates and reducing errors. A unified „Golden Dataset” ensured consistent data across reports, and IBCS standards improved performance analysis clarity.
As a result, the client saved 2,000 working hours annually, gained real-time access to flexible reports, and improved market intelligence by tracking product trends and competitive insights.
Challenge
Experience-Based Forecasting
Sales forecasting relied heavily on human intuition rather than data-driven insights, leading to inconsistent and often inaccurate predictions.
Manual, Error-Prone Reporting
The existing sales reporting process was labor-intensive and manual, requiring significant time and effort, yet still prone to errors and limited data accuracy.
Outdated Processes
The client’s reporting system was outdated and no longer aligned with current market conditions, limiting its effectiveness in supporting strategic decisions.
Skill Gaps
The absence of data dexterity within the marketing team required to leverage insights effectively, necessitated additional training to fully capitalize on the available data.
Solution
Automated Reporting with Power BI
We built flexible, self-service reports using Microsoft Power BI, eliminating the need for manual updates and reducing errors.
Golden Dataset
A common data model was created, known as the Golden Dataset, which unified multiple reporting areas, allowing for consistent data across all reports.
Variance Reporting Standards
We utilized industry-standard IBCS (International Business Communication Standards) for variance reporting, enhancing the clarity and consistency of performance analysis.
Competitive Analytics
Integrated innovation discovery tools like Google Trends and Amazon content management to enhance competitive analysis, product positioning, and labeling insights.
Results
Significant Time Savings
The client saved approximately 2,000 working hours per year by replacing manual sales reporting with automated, self-refreshing reports.
Self-Service Reporting
Manual processes were replaced with automatically refreshed self-service reports, empowering teams to access real-time data on demand.
Flexible, Business-Driven Reporting
Marketing costs were reduced by 10% to 35% by identifying and eliminating ineffective campaigns.
Improved Market Intelligence
The solution enabled tracking of product trends, providing valuable insights into market dynamics and variance tracking (Actual vs Plan vs Previous Year).
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