Weekly reporting.
A practical automation plan.

1. Current process

Each Friday, an owner exports three CSV files, combines them in Excel, checks totals, and emails a summary. Assumed effort: 2 hours per week. The data contains consistent column headings and no restricted customer information.

Process: export files → copy rows → clean columns → reconcile totals → prepare summary → review → distribute.

2. Recommended approach

Start with Excel Power Query to combine standardized files from one approved folder. Define column types and validation checks. Refresh the report using an agreed procedure; retain human approval of totals and exceptions before sharing.

Scheduled refresh or email distribution would be a later step, after validating product capabilities, licensing, permissions, and data handling. AI is not required for this initial solution.

3. Savings and cost assumptions

• Baseline: 120 minutes per weekly report.
• Pilot target: 30 minutes, including human review.
• Potential reduction: 90 minutes per cycle, approximately 6.5 hours per month.
• At an assumed $40/hour: $260/month in time value, not necessarily cash savings.
• Illustrative implementation budget: $500, not a service quote. Simple payback at the assumed benefit: about 1.9 months, before maintenance and subscription costs.
• Additional software cost is not yet established. Confirm whether the current Excel license supports the required features.

4. First pilot

1. Measure the current cycle and save sanitized baseline outputs.
2. Test two representative historical reporting periods.
3. Compare row counts, key totals, duplicates, and exceptions against the manual report.
4. Record preparation and review time separately.
5. Adopt only after the owner accepts accuracy and maintenance requirements.

5. Risks and human checks

Changing file formats, missing exports, inconsistent dates, duplicates, and changed business rules can produce misleading results. Flag missing data and reconciliation failures; keep a named reviewer and a manual fallback. Agree on who maintains the query when sources change.

6. Decision and next steps

Proceed with a small pilot if the file structure is stable, access is permitted, and baseline measurements support the potential savings. Otherwise, standardize the input process first. Implementation is separately scoped after discovery; this sample is not a commitment to the illustrated budget or outcome.

One written plan and one follow-up email. Delivery within 24 hours of scope confirmation and payment.