Case Study :

Enhancing Reporting Capabilities for Premier Greyhound Racing

PGR required a modernized reporting suite for both internal operational management (Board of Directors) and external subscriber communication. Existing reporting methods were inadequate for providing comprehensive insights into race statistics, financial performance, and trading operations

Key reporting needs included:

• Weekly and Monthly subscriber reports detailing race statistics (date, distance, on-time races, etc.).

• Profit and Loss (P&L) reporting.

• Revenue and EBITDA tracking.

• Detailed trading statistics for internal analysis.

Solution:

STVIZ collaborated closely with PGR and a third-party data provider to develop a tailored reporting solution using Microsoft Excel. This approach prioritized accessibility, user familiarity, and long-term maintainability by PGR staff. The project followed an iterative and collaborative methodology, encompassing the following phases:

  1. Reporting Tool Selection: After evaluating Excel and Power Bl, Excel was chosen due to its widespread availability within PGR and the team's existing familiarity, ensuring future autonomy in report maintenance and updates.

  2. Requirement Gathering: Existing PGR reports were analyzed to understand current practices and identify gaps in available data and desired outputs.

  3. Prototype Building: Prototypes of each report were developed based on gathered requirements and available data. These prototypes were presented to PGR for feedback, and revisions were made based on their input. This iterative process ensured alignment with PGR's specific needs and expectations.

  4. Development: The reports were built in Excel, utilizing a range of features to enhance functionality and usability:

    • Slicers: Enabled interactive data filtering and analysis.

    • Dynamic Named Ranges: Allowed charts to automatically adjust their axes as new data was added.

    • Varying Complexity: Reports ranged from simple data referencing (e.g., Incident Reporting) to complex data models built in Power Query for advanced calculations (e.g., Trading Report).

    • Third-Party Data Integration: For the Subscriber Report, close collaboration with the third-party data provider was crucial to ensure seamless data integration and report generation.

  5. Testing: A three-layered testing approach was implemented:

    • Design and Brand Layer: A designer reviewed the reports for visual presentation and brand consistency.

    • Functionality and Accuracy Layer: Thorough testing was conducted to verify the accuracy of calculations and the proper functioning of all features, including data input and updates. This was particularly important for the complex Trading Report and involved significant collaboration with PGR.

    • End-to-End Testing (Subscriber Report): The entire process, from data sourcing to report distribution, was tested to ensure a smooth and reliable workflow.

Results:

The collaboration between STVIZ, PGR, and the third-party data provider resulted in the successful delivery of three core reports that empower PGR to effectively manage their financial and operational objectives. The solution's key benefits include:

  • Enhanced Reporting Capabilities: PGR now has access to comprehensive and insightful reports that provide a clear view of race statistics, financial performance, and trading operations.

  • User Autonomy: By utilizing Excel, PGR staff can independently refresh, maintain, and update the reports, reducing reliance on external support and ensuring long-term sustainability.

  • Improved Data Integration: Collaboration with the third-party data provider ensured seamless data flow into the reports, streamlining the reporting process.

  • Increased Efficiency: The automated and dynamic nature of the reports saves time and resources compared to previous manual reporting methods.

Added Value:

The collaborative approach, iterative development process, and focus on user empowerment resulted in a highly effective reporting solution that met PGR's specific needs and provided significant added value by improving data accessibility, enhancing decision-making, and streamlining operational processes.