PROJECT

Business intelligence software for Excel KPI dashboards

Custom software development, Excel dashboard creation, CSV and database data import, KPI reporting, interactive dashboards, pivot reports, PDF report generation

  • Industry: Retail
  • Denmark Location: Denmark
  • Delivery time: 10 weeks
  • Technologies: JavaScript / TypeScript (Node.js), Python
3 months

This retail company spends time turning sales and operational data into management reports. Business intelligence software takes in Excel sheets, CSV files and database data. It also accepts pasted business data. The software returns interactive KPI dashboards, refreshable reports and detailed performance analysis. Managers and analysts can review key business metrics in one Excel-based workspace.

Summary

Problem

The retail company spends time combining fragmented data and manually updating KPI reports.

Solution

The solution became Excel-native dashboard software with structured imports, automated calculations, filters and reports.

Result

The software is made to reduce manual reporting work and give managers a clearer view of business performance.

Client story

The client is a retail company from Denmark. It monitors revenue, products, customers, regions and salespeople through recurring management reporting.

Raw data arrives in Excel sheets, CSV files, databases or pasted daily and monthly data. Existing workbooks may need repairs and more consistent formatting.

The request was simple: build interactive Excel dashboards with KPI cards, charts, summaries, filters and visualizations for business performance. The client also asked for automated data processing, KPI calculations, report generation and refreshes when new data arrived.

The solution was designed around a structured input area, Excel-native analysis, dashboard filters, pivot reports and detailed drill-downs. The modules were shaped around the client's files, reporting rules and recurring data updates.

The client asked for

  1. Build interactive Excel dashboards for business performance
  2. Import, combine, clean, and structure business data
  3. Automate calculations, reports, and dashboard refreshes
  4. Show trends and insights across key performance metrics

Why ready-made software did not fit

General data-visualization tools provide charts, reports and dashboards, but they do not necessarily match the client's Excel-native input areas, workbook sections, refresh instructions and editable source paths. A custom solution was needed to repair and standardize existing Excel reporting while keeping calculations and data integrity aligned with the client's own process.

Project overview

The solution was designed around an Excel-native dashboard with KPI cards, charts and summary tables. Date filters and slicers bring the relevant period into focus.

To handle recurring source data, a structured input table was provided for Excel sheets, CSV files and daily data. Monthly data also fits the same import structure.

The dashboard updates KPI calculations, charts and reports when new data is added. Conditional formatting highlights variances and exceptions.

Pivot reports and PivotTables or PivotCharts provide grouped analysis of filtered KPI, financial and operational data. Reports are generated in Excel and PDF formats.

Special attention was paid to detailed analysis. Breakdown selectors and drill-down links let the retail company inspect products, regions and departments.

Trend charts and detailed records support further review.

The software is structured as modules, so additional forms, automations or integrations can be added later without rebuilding the whole system.

Key features delivered

  • Interactive KPI dashboard
  • KPI cards for sales and business metrics
  • Excel and CSV data import
  • Structured data cleaning and combining
  • Automatic KPI and report refreshes
  • Date filters and slicers
  • Pivot reports and PivotCharts
  • Performance drill-downs
  • Conditional formatting for exceptions

Can be added

+ Excel template import + Data entry forms + Automated data updates + Product-line selection + Deal drill-downs + PDF downloads

Who else can use this solution

Businesses with a similar reporting task can adapt the same solution to their own data, metrics and reporting rules.

A sales organization

Task It needs recurring reports for revenue, units, order value, growth and salesperson performance.
How the solution helps The solution combines sales data into dashboards with filters, charts, pivot reports and drill-downs.
Business services

An operations and multi-department organization

Task It tracks efficiency, productivity, quality, compliance and agent performance across departments.
How the solution helps The solution structures recurring data and presents department, agent and performance trends in one dashboard.
Professional services

A team maintaining an Excel KPI workbook

Task It needs to audit calculations, repair input areas and standardize dashboard formatting.
How the solution helps The solution provides structured workbook sections, refresh instructions, conditional formatting and improved data integrity.

Technology stack

JavaScript / TypeScript (Node.js)

Application and data processing

This language family supports the dashboard, imports and report features.

Python

Data processing and analysis

Python supports spreadsheet, chart and document processing where required.

PHP

Imports and exports

PHP supports spreadsheet and CSV handling in compatible application modules.

exceljs

Read and write workbooks

exceljs reads and writes XLSX and CSV files used by the dashboard.

xlsx

Parse spreadsheet data

xlsx parses Excel and other spreadsheet formats for data import.

d3-dsv

Parse CSV and TSV

d3-dsv parses and formats delimiter-separated files such as CSV and TSV.

pyecharts

Create charts

pyecharts makes chart creation easier for the reporting solution.

jspdf

Create PDF reports

jspdf creates PDF documents from filtered report data.

XLSX and CSV

Import business data

The solution imports Excel workbooks and CSV files containing daily, monthly and raw business data.

PDF

Export filtered reports

The solution generates filtered reports in PDF format.

Integrations

Excel

The solution imports Excel sheets, uses Excel-native analysis and exports workbook reports.

CSV files

The solution reads CSV data alongside Excel data for recurring imports.

Databases

Database data can be brought into the reporting process for KPI analysis.

Power BI

Power BI outputs can be supported when the reporting requirement calls for them.

The result

A single view for current performance

The KPI dashboard brings sales, revenue and profit margin into one interactive view. KPI cards, charts and summary tables make current performance easier to review.

Date filters, slicers and conditional formatting keep attention on the relevant period and exceptions.

How it works

  1. The dashboard displays KPI cards for sales, revenue, profit margin, growth rate, efficiency, productivity, quality and customer satisfaction.
  2. Interactive charts and summary tables present current values and trends.
  3. Date filters, slicers and conditional formatting narrow the view and highlight exceptions.
Tip: The dashboard can combine business, sales, financial, operational or project performance metrics in the same reporting structure.
KPI dashboard overview

KPI dashboard overview

Functions on this screen
KPI Development and Management Create Real-Time Dashboard Dashboard Charts Dashboard Filtering Options Apply Conditional Formatting

Refreshable data without rebuilding reports

The structured input screen keeps source data and refresh controls together. Excel sheets, CSV files, daily data and monthly data feed the dashboard through defined input areas.

Editable source paths or tables keep the workbook adaptable when the source location or table changes.

How it works

  1. The structured input table contains Excel sheets, CSV files, daily data, monthly data and raw business data.
  2. The Excel template import and CSV import control read source data into the workbook.
  3. The refresh control updates dashboard calculations and reports from the imported data.
Structured data input and refresh

Structured data input and refresh

Functions on this screen
Import Excel Template Layout Monthly Data Import Update Dashboard Data Automate Data Updates

Filtered reports ready for analysis

The report screen turns filtered KPI, financial, operational and performance data into grouped views. Pivot reports, PivotTables and PivotCharts support recurring pivot reports without recreating the analysis manually.

Filtered results can be generated as Excel or PDF reports for management use.

How it works

  1. The PivotTable or PivotChart groups filtered KPI, financial, operational and performance data.
  2. Filter controls limit the data shown in the report area.
  3. The Excel and PDF export functions generate reports from the filtered data.
Filtered report and pivot analysis

Filtered report and pivot analysis

Functions on this screen
Generate Pivot Reports Automate report generation Generate PDF downloads

Detailed views reveal performance differences

The drill-down screen connects summary results with detailed records. Managers can inspect products, regions and departments through breakdown selectors and drill-down links.

Trend charts and variance highlighting make differences and exceptions visible at a more detailed level.

How it works

  1. The breakdown selector separates performance by products, regions, departments, salespeople, agents or deals.
  2. Drill-down links and the detailed data table show the related performance records.
  3. The trend chart and variance highlighting present performance trends and exceptions.
Note: The detailed view connects summary results with the records behind them.
Detailed performance drill-down

Detailed performance drill-down

Functions on this screen
Drill Down Deals Apply Conditional Formatting

What the solution gives

With this solution, the retail company can:

  • Create interactive dashboards from recurring business data
  • Review KPI trends, summaries and exceptions in one place
  • Refresh calculations and reports when new data arrives
  • Filter performance by date, region, department, product or salesperson
  • Generate Excel and PDF reports from filtered data
  • Inspect detailed records behind summary metrics

Could ready-made systems do the job?

Before the design, the task was compared with ready-made products by their own descriptions.

What the client needs Data visualization tools Data Studio, Infogram, Explo Desktop reporting tools SAP Crystal Reports Custom solution
Interactive KPI dashboards —
Import and structure business data partly
Automate refreshes and reports partly partly
Trend and performance analysis
Fits the client's own rules: stages, roles, reports — —
All steps in one place — —
No manual steps between programs — —

By the public descriptions of the products and their category.

Ready-made data visualization and reporting products cover dashboards, charts, reports and KPI views, and a ready-made product is enough when only one of these parts is needed.

This client needed Excel-native input areas, workbook-specific rules and refresh instructions, while the required parts were spread across separate data and reporting steps.

The products did not provide the client's complete structure, so custom software was needed for the reporting process.

In the end

In the end, the solution was made to take manual reporting work out of the path from the retail company's business data to its Excel KPI dashboards.

FAQ

Thinking about building a similar system? Read the answers below to see how the dashboard, imports, reports and existing Excel workbooks can fit together.

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