Most modern software platforms and applications provide some level of data analytics and reporting functionality for their end-users. This blog will look at some examples of solutions with report generation capabilities, specifically designed to help end-users easily create reports from databases or other data sources. Additionally, we will explore two paths to add report generation capabilities to your own SaaS solution.
Report generators enable users to create their own custom reports based on business needs directly from the software solutions they use. Report generators can span a variety of applications from creating custom financial reports to displaying sales funnel metrics. Once created they offer a variety of sharing options from direct exports, to email reports, or direct integrations with other products or databases.
Report generator tools have various features and capabilities for producing actionable insights. Below, we outline three key capability considerations for an effective report generator tool:
Report Builder Interface
A good report generator starts with an easy to use report builder interface. It’s crucial that users of the platform are able to select the correct data and reports that are needed. These interfaces can range from no-code, drag and drop to code heavy where users are required to write SQL to create reports. Depending on the user, it’s crucial to understand the exact requirements and technical abilities.
Self-Service & User Friendly
Report generation should encourage a culture of data-driven decision-making by enabling users at all levels to independently generate reports. This autonomy not only boosts engagement but also scales with your organization, increasing product value and user satisfaction.
Generative AI
The new frontier for report generator tools is Generative AI, which can produce reports leveraging natural language processing (NLP) for queries. Using Generative AI in these tools enhances efficiency and end-user accessibility.
Exporting and sharing functionality
Report generators offer a variety of methods for exporting the reports out of the platform. These methods include direct downloads to csv and excel files, to scheduled email reports, and even integrations with products such as slack to share the reports with other users.
This section provides a comparative analysis of various software platforms, focusing on their report generator capabilities. We'll provide a brief overview of each platform, highlighting their unique features, strengths, and potential limitations. By examining these solutions side-by-side, we aim to offer product teams valuable insights that can inspire your own approach to providing report generation capabilities within your software.
HubSpot is celebrated for its comprehensive marketing tools, combining CRM, analytics, and content management into one centralized intuitive platform. It excels in collecting data and providing reports, but some of its report tools may be too complex for end-users and the platform may present cost barriers for smaller businesses.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Hive is a comprehensive project management and team collaboration platform designed for bringing together a view of a team’s tasks. Not only does it offer the features to organize and manage projects, but it has a robust analytics platform that can easily generate reports on the progress and time spent.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Klaviyo is a marketing automation and email platform designed to help e-commerce businesses grow by making it easy to segment, target, and analyze customers. It offers powerful tools for creating personalized email and SMS marketing campaigns based on customer behavior and data. Klaviyo integrates seamlessly with multiple e-commerce platforms, providing detailed analytics to optimize marketing strategies and drive sales.
Strengths:
Limitations:
When considering building out a reporting tool in your own application, the question remains, should you embark on this journey in-house or embed a third party solution? Choosing to build an in-house solution for reporting and analytics in your SaaS platform might seem appealing initially, due to the prospect of custom-tailored features and direct control over development. However, this path often proves to be inefficient and costly in terms of resources, time, and scalability.
Firstly, developing such a complex feature in-house demands a significant allocation of development resources, including a dedicated team of developers, which can divert focus from your core product offerings. The companies above spend millions a year in engineering resources to build and maintain their reporting solutions. Secondly, the time to market is substantially longer, as building a robust, secure, and user-friendly reporting tool from scratch can take months, if not years, delaying potential revenue and growth opportunities. Lastly, scalability poses a major challenge; what works for a handful of users may not hold up under the strain of thousands, requiring continuous investment in development to ensure performance and reliability.
In contrast, opting for a third-party solution, which is designed to embed seamlessly into SaaS platforms, offers immediate access to advanced reporting capabilities, saving valuable time and resources while ensuring scalability to meet future demands.
Explo emerges as a comprehensive white-label third-party solution designed to seamlessly integrate into SaaS platforms, offering a robust suite of features for report generation. It encompasses a user-friendly report builder, leveraging GenAI to automate and enhance data analysis, along with low-code capabilities that significantly lower the barrier to entry for users of all skill levels. This integration enables SaaS platforms to provide their end-users with powerful, customizable reporting and analytics tools without the need for extensive development resources. By embedding Explo, SaaS providers can enhance their product offering, providing their clients with the ability to generate insightful, data-driven reports directly within their platform, thereby adding value and improving user experience.
Strengths:
Limitations:
In navigating the diverse landscape of report generator tools, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each software company must choose a tool that precisely aligns with their specific needs, whether it's for embedding analytics seamlessly into their platform or providing a cost-effective, white-labeled solution.
For those searching for unparalleled report generation capabilities that seamlessly integrate with any tech stack, Explo is a top-tier choice. Explo’s self-service report builder combines ease of use for users with extensive customization. Explore how Explo can transform your reporting capabilities and elevate your analytics experience. Schedule a demo today to see it in action.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Block quote
Ordered list
Unordered list
Bold text
Emphasis
Superscript
Subscript
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Block quote
Ordered list
Unordered list
Bold text
Emphasis
Superscript
Subscript
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur.
Block quote
Ordered list
Unordered list
Bold text
Emphasis
Superscript
Subscript