HTML based Management reports

Most management reports are prepared using the ubiquitous spreadsheet. Primarily because accountants are familiar with the software and it gives flexibilty in layout and computation. Most software packages can download data to a spreadsheet or be SQL queried by them, so starting data for each month can be easily obtained. Then the commentary and insights by the various managers is added. The spreadsheet is then ready for distribution as is, or "printed" to a PDF file for distribution.

Few have considered HTML as a delivery vehicle. Yet for ease of use by a consuming manager it is possibly one of the best. As every PC and mobile device these days can read an HTML page. Not every PC or mobile device has the appropriate software to read a spreadsheet.

The problem with HTML is that "programming" knowledge is required to format a page or series of pages. Plus, how do you get the data into the HTML page?

Considering that the layout of most management reports does not change once established, putting a bit of effort into programming an HTML layout can be cost effective. Provided data can be drawn directly from the accounting and business management system. At RCL our accounting and business software packages provide this ability to draw data out of the system into an HTML document via SQL Select commands and a TableLookup function. What is more that data is not retricted to traditional accounting data; like Balance Sheet and P&L numbers; but can include any element held within the database. Possibles are: stock quantity levels, number of sales orders taken during a period, statistical departmental headcounts and vehicle numbers, even monthly management commentary can be entered, held and reported.

The HTML template document is itself held within the system. The SQL Selects and Table Lookups are evaluated prior to an HTML report being presented in an IE browser.

Having constructed an HTML management report template, the preparation of a "final" monthly report is just a question of awaiting for the monthly data to be complete and the management commentary being entered based upon "early drafts". The "early drafts" like the "final report" are just the HTML being "presented" in a browser. Being held on the system, these HTML reports are visible to all those given access. So "information control" by accountants holding "the cards close to their chests" becomes a thing of the past. As does the man hours consumed is preparing the reports.

Therefore management reports can become much more timely and relevant to the company. The approved final report when "presented" in a browser can be saved to a central server for all to subsequnetly access where ever they are in the world. Access to the underlying system not being required any more.

As my previous blog states, graphs can even be incorporated into a report to accommodate those "numerically challenged" managers that like pretty pictures!