Madley Private Limited Company—Revolutionizing Report Generation with Automation

Executive Summary

Madley Private Limited Company, a medium-scale cloth manufacturer, faced significant challenges in its reporting and dashboarding processes. The company relied on manual workflows to prepare reports, including copying data from SQL Server, pasting it into Excel templates, and editing data to generate insights. This process was time-consuming, prone to errors, and restricted the ability to generate real-time updates.

Data Hub India streamlined these operations by implementing automated workflows using Azure Data Factory, SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), stored procedures, and macros integrated with Power Query. The new solution empowered Madley Private Limited to generate dashboards and reports in real time with a single click, saving time, improving accuracy, and enabling timely decision-making.

Client Background

Madley Private Limited Company is a medium-sized manufacturer specializing in cloth production. The company handles a limited range of inventory but requires accurate and timely data for:

• Tracking production
• Managing inventory
• Monitoring sales and delivery schedules

The company’s existing data management process involved storing operational data in SQL Server Desktop. This data was later manually copied into Excel templates to prepare reports and dashboards, a process performed daily by their internal team. The manual nature of the workflow introduced inefficiencies and delayed decision-making.

Challenges

Key Issues Identified

1. Time-Consuming Process:

   • Data was copied manually from SQL Server to Excel templates.
   • End-of-day transactions were updated only by evening, delaying report preparation.

2. Error-Prone Workflows:

   • Manual data entry and editing increased the risk of errors.

3. Lack of Real-Time Reporting:

   • Reports and dashboards could only be generated at the end of the day, limiting real-time insights.

4. Manual Cleaning of Data:

   • Data cleaning operations in Azure SQL Database required significant manual intervention, slowing down the process.

5. Limited Technological Expertise:

   • The team lacked the expertise to implement advanced automation solutions.

Solution Provided by Data Hub India

Automation and Real-Time Reporting

Data Hub India implemented an automated solution using Azure technologies and Excel macros to address these challenges:

1. Automated Data Upload:

   • Azure Data Factory and SSIS Pipelines:
     • Automated the upload of inventory data from SQL Server Desktop to Azure SQL Database.
     • Streamlined data upload processes for improved efficiency.

2. Data Cleaning Automation:

   • Stored Procedures and Jobs:
     • Automated data cleaning tasks on Azure SQL Database.
     • Ensured data was prepared for analysis without manual intervention.

3. Macro-Enabled Excel Reports:

   • Developed a macro-enabled Excel file integrated with Power Query:
     • Pulled clean and updated data directly from Azure SQL Database.
     • Allowed the generation of dashboards and reports with a single click using the "Refresh" button.

4. Integrated Dashboard and Reporting:

   • Created dynamic dashboards in Excel to:
     • Monitor inventory levels
     • Track production metrics
     • Generate sales and operational reports

5. Real-Time Reporting Capability:

   • Enabled on-demand report generation at any time, eliminating dependency on end-of-day updates.

Results and Impact

1. Operational Efficiency

   • Time Savings:
     • Reduced the time required to generate reports by over 70%, allowing the team to focus on strategic tasks rather than manual data preparation.
   • Enhanced Accuracy:
     • Automation minimized errors introduced by manual data handling.

2. Real-Time Insights

   • Immediate Updates:

     • Enabled report generation at any time during the day, providing timely insights for decision-making.

   • Dynamic Dashboards:

     • Improved visibility into production and inventory metrics, ensuring decision-makers had access to accurate, up-to-date data.

3. Scalability and Ease of Use

   • The use of macros and Power Query allowed the internal team to operate the solution with minimal training, ensuring long-term adoption.
   • The solution was designed to handle future growth in inventory and data volume seamlessly, offering scalability as the company expands.

Key Metrics

• 70% Reduction in Report Preparation Time:

  • The time to prepare reports went from hours to just a few minutes.

• 100% Automated Data Cleaning:

  • Eliminated manual intervention in preparing data for reports, ensuring clean and reliable data every time.

• Real-Time Availability:

  • Reports became accessible at any time, empowering proactive decision-making.

Lessons Learned

1. Automation Drives Efficiency:

   • Automating repetitive tasks like data upload and cleaning can significantly improve operational productivity, freeing up valuable resources.

2. User-Friendly Solutions Add Value:

   • Macro-enabled files and Power Query ensured the solution was accessible to a team with limited technical expertise, facilitating easy adoption.

3. Real-Time Reporting Enhances Decision-Making:

   • Immediate access to updated dashboards empowered teams to make informed decisions promptly, driving business agility.

Conclusion

The solution implemented by Data Hub India transformed Madley Private Limited’s reporting processes. By automating data uploads, cleaning, and report generation, the company achieved significant time savings, improved accuracy, and gained real-time insights. This case highlights the power of integrating Azure technologies with user-friendly tools like Excel macros to streamline operations, reduce manual errors, and empower teams with faster, more accurate reporting capabilities.