Dynamic Report Creation with Quadient Inspire

3 min read

Lavnish Gautam

Sr. Architect

For print service providers (PSPs), catering to a diverse clientele with unique reporting needs is a constant challenge. Traditional report generation methods often involve manual formatting for each client, leading to inefficiencies that include:

  • Time-consuming processes: The development team gets bogged down designing reports for every individual client setup, wasting time and resources.
  • Limited code reusability: Different report types, such as XML, CSV, and fixed-length formats, necessitate distinct data structures, hindering code reusability across projects.
  • Change request bottlenecks: Simple modifications, like date formatting, can create a communication bottleneck. Developers and QA teams get caught in a back-and-forth loop, leading to delays and frustration.
  • Expensive business rule changes: Updating business rules often requires code modifications, making the process costly and time-consuming. This inflexibility hinders agility and responsiveness to evolving needs.

BelWo's Solution: A User-driven Approach to Dynamic Reporting

In response to these challenges, we have developed a solution using Quadient Designer and .NET technologies to create an interactive front-end user interface. This interface allows clients to set up the desired format and select different data fields with various customizations. The client can decide the output file format from the front end. BelWo's solution also streamlines report generation for enterprises by reducing code changes, allowing centralized configuration, predefined fields, and seamless integration with existing workflows, reducing development time, improving agility, and lowering maintenance costs.

The front-end interface serves as the external configuration file, containing settings and parameters and defining specific configurations and options that can be easily modified without altering the core code. Clients can specify their preferences and requirements, choose predefined fields from drop-down menus, and apply logic, such as padding zeroes in account numbers.

Additionally, clients provide the input data file, which, on the other hand, contains data that needs to be processed or used by a program or system. Both the input data file and the external configuration file are processed in the workflow.

Finally, the solution generates output and report files according to the specified requirements.

Unique Features Tailored for PSP Needs

  • Client-driven configuration: Clients can effortlessly select their preferred report format (XML, CSV, etc.) and choose up to 10 data fields through a user-friendly interface. No technical expertise is required!
  • Predefined fields with customization: Predefined field dropdowns allow for swift selection, while customization options empower users to adjust details like zero-padding in account numbers or define date formats for specific fields. This level of granularity ensures that reports precisely match client requirements.
  • Seamless integration: The solution integrates seamlessly with existing Quadient workflows, ensuring smooth operation and avoiding disruption to your current processes.
  • Unmatched configurability: This solution offers a highly configurable reporting mechanism, adapting to your client base's diverse and ever-changing needs. No more one-size-fits-all reports!
  • Flexible architecture: Scale and adapt to evolving business needs with a flexible architecture that can accommodate new requirements and integrate seamlessly with future technologies.
  • Empowered business users: Business users can parameterize reports without developer intervention, reducing reliance on IT resources and fostering greater agility.

Benefits that Drive Business Value

  • Real-time preview: Make informed decisions with instant data updates based on your selections in the user interface. See exactly how your report will look before finalizing the configuration.
  • Significant time savings: Automate report generation, freeing up valuable time for your team to focus on more strategic tasks.
  • Tailored reporting for actionable insights: Customize reports to glean personalized insights into your data, empowering you to make data-driven decisions that optimize your operations and client service.
  • Reduced costs: Automation reduces reliance on manual labor, significantly saving time and personnel resources.
  • Easy UI: BelWo's solution is user-friendly and requires no programming or technical knowledge to generate reports. It offers an intuitive interface, predefined fields, and easy customization.

Quadient Inspire, with its dynamic reporting capabilities, when coupled with BelWo's user-centric solution, empowers enterprises to break free from the limitations of static reports. Our solution streamlines the reporting process, reduces costs, and allows clients and internal teams to embrace dynamic report creation. Enterprises can create a win-win situation, enhancing end-client satisfaction with tailored reports and improving internal efficiency through automation—all of which provides agility and responsiveness, crucial for sustainable growth and success in today's ever-evolving printing landscape.