Reports are invaluable tools for analyzing various aspects of system data, offering insights without requiring complex query knowledge. There are three primary types of reports you can utilize: built-in, custom, and comprehensive reports, each serving different needs across various departments.
Types of Reports
Built-in Reports
These are predefined and cover specific system areas like People, Groups, Services, Check-in, and Financials. For instance, the ‘Service Statistics’ report offers insights into service attendance and demographics.
Custom Reports
These allow for tailored data extraction based on specific criteria. An example is creating a ‘birthdays’ report to identify upcoming birthdays within a specified timeframe.
Comprehensive Reports
A combination of multiple reports into one, ideal for presenting detailed information to leadership. Note: Comprehensive reports can only be exported as PDF files.
Creating and Utilizing Reports
Built-in and Custom Reports
Accessing Reports: Navigate to the Reports area to find or define built-in and custom reports.
Using Reports: Select a report type based on your needs, whether tracking service attendance with built-in reports or identifying specific group demographics with custom reports.
Exporting Reports: Both built-in and custom reports can be exported in Excel (XLS), CSV, and PDF formats for easy sharing and analysis. Comprehensive reports, however, are limited to PDF exports to maintain formatting and readability.
Comprehensive Reports
Building Comprehensive Reports: Ideal for combining data from multiple reports for a holistic view. These are particularly useful for detailed presentations.
Export Limitations: Remember, comprehensive reports are exportable exclusively in PDF format.
Reports Versus People Views
While setting up a report, it automatically creates a People View, allowing for mass management of individuals appearing in the report's results. This feature is recommended for reports whose outcomes will be actioned upon, such as moving individuals into a People Flow.
Sharing and Scheduling
Sharing Reports: Reports can be shared publicly or with specific individuals, enhancing collaboration and task management.
Scheduling Reports: Regular scheduling of reports, such as weekly, ensures relevant stakeholders are informed and prepared to act on the data provided.
Best Practices
Share Reports Regularly: For actionable reports, like absentee tracking, share them with relevant parties on a consistent basis to ensure timely follow-up.
By leveraging the different report types and understanding their export capabilities, you can efficiently gather, analyze, and act on the wealth of data within your system, enhancing operational efficiency and strategic decision-making.