Stop assembling spreadsheets. Start analysing the data.
AI-powered report automation turns hours of manual Excel consolidation into reliable, repeatable outputs in minutes.
The Challenge
Many organisations still rely heavily on Excel for reporting, and with good reason. Suppliers, customers, and internal systems regularly deliver data in CSV or Excel format, and that is unlikely to change. The challenge is not Excel itself. It is what happens when someone has to combine data from multiple spreadsheets, in different formats, from different sources, into a single coherent report.
This work is labour-intensive, repetitive, and often time-critical. It also tends to concentrate institutional knowledge in one or two people who understand the exact steps, filters, and formatting required. If that person is unavailable, on leave, or decides to move on, the process stalls and the knowledge goes with them.
The opportunity cost is significant. The people doing this work are often skilled analysts or subject matter experts who could be spending their time on higher-value activities, such as interpreting the data and making informed decisions, rather than assembling it.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Customer Sales Data Consolidation
Multiple customers send sales data in their own formats. Internally, the team has to pull that data together into a summary report, often filtering and restructuring information by department or business unit so it is relevant for each audience.
This process can take hours, requires someone who knows exactly which columns to extract from each file, and has to be repeated every reporting cycle. Mistakes are easy to make when juggling dozens of spreadsheets manually.
With AI, the system reads across all incoming spreadsheets, maps the data to the required output format, and generates the consolidated report. When done well, this can almost entirely automate what was previously a complex, manual process, reducing turnaround from hours to minutes.
Cross-Department Reporting
An organisation needs to produce a standard report for external stakeholders who require it in a specific format. Internally, the data comes from multiple departments, some pulled from systems and others manually compiled by different teams, each in a different structure.
Translating all of that into the required output format takes time and effort. The person assembling the report has to understand every source, reconcile differences, and ensure accuracy before it goes out.
AI can work across the existing source files, regardless of format, and produce the stakeholder report in the correct structure. This speeds up turnaround, reduces manual effort, and removes the risk of a single person being the only one who knows how the process works.
The Opportunity
- Hours of manual consolidation each reporting cycle
- Institutional knowledge locked in one or two people
- Reports may already be outdated by the time they are finished
- Traditional analytics platforms are often too costly for these use cases
- Consolidated reports generated in minutes, not hours
- Process is documented, repeatable, and no longer dependent on one person
- Team focuses on analysis and decisions rather than data assembly
- Fewer errors, faster turnaround, and more current data
Where the inputs and outputs are clearly defined, it is realistic to aim for full automation. Even in more complex scenarios, AI can handle the bulk of the consolidation work, leaving your team to validate and refine rather than build from scratch. It is also worth noting that this approach fills a gap that traditional analytics platforms often cannot justify: the reporting tasks that are too involved for a spreadsheet but too small to warrant a full data warehouse or BI investment.
Our Approach
We start with the spreadsheet report that is consuming the most time. You walk us through the manual process, showing us the source files, the steps involved, and the required output. Over a few days, we validate how far the process can be automated using off-the-shelf tools, and we prove it out with your actual data.
Before you commit to a full build, you will have a clear view of what is achievable. We come back with either a working proof of value demonstrating that the automation is feasible, or specific recommendations on how to proceed if the scope is more complex. The goal is to make sure you know you will get something useful before investing further.
Start Simple
When the consolidation fits within tools your team already uses.
Microsoft 365 Copilot and Cowork
AI-Powered Automation
More flexibility for complex multi-source consolidation and varied input formats.
Claude, GPT, Python-based automation
Custom Solution
Purpose-built for organisations with high-volume, multi-system reporting requirements.
Custom development on Azure, AWS, and other platforms
What This Quickstart Delivers
Spreadsheet reporting is one of the most accessible starting points for AI. The inputs are structured, the outputs are well understood, and the time savings are immediate. For organisations where building a full analytics platform is not justified, this approach delivers the same outcome at a fraction of the cost.
Looking for a broader view of where AI can deliver value? Our AI Accelerate Workshop helps you identify and prioritise initiatives across your organisation. You can also explore our AI Quickstarts for other focused solutions, or see examples of what we have delivered on our Projects page.
What People Are Saying
"I have seen first hand Alex's ability to help organisations understand AI and see how they can apply it. He has a rare ability to demystify complex subjects and make them real for business. Highly recommended."
Rita K, Technical Specialist, Microsoft Australia
"In just a short period of time Alex demystified generative AI for our software development team, and through this has helped us shape our product roadmap to deliver even greater value for our customers. He does not just talk the talk, he walks it too."
Wade K, Founder, Everperform
Spend less time assembling, more time analysing
Tell us which spreadsheet report takes the most time, and we will show you how far AI can automate it. You can also draw down on M365 Copilot support hours to get more from the Analyst agent and build custom spreadsheet workflows over time.