If you're stuck trying to get the right data out of Apteco for your senior managers—without spending all day doing it—you're in the right place. This guide is for analysts, marketers, and anyone who's been handed the “Can you send me a report on that?” task, only to find Apteco's reporting tools confusing or overhyped. We'll cut through the noise, show you exactly how to create and export custom reports, and flag what to ignore so you don't waste time.
1. Know What Senior Management Actually Wants
Before you open Apteco, clarify what your senior managers really care about. The most common mistake? Trying to pack too much in or guessing what’s important.
What usually works: - Clear, high-level metrics (think revenue, campaign ROI, customer segments) - Visuals that make trends obvious - Simple breakdowns—no deep-dive tables unless they ask
What to skip: - Every available metric (information overload = glazed eyes) - Tons of technical jargon - Raw data dumps
Pro tip: Ask your stakeholders for a previous report they liked, or have them sketch what they want on paper. You’ll save hours.
2. Set Up Your Data Right
You can’t build a good report without clean, relevant data. In Apteco, this means making sure the underlying selections, cubes, and variables are set up properly.
Steps to prep your data:
- Check your selections
- Use Apteco’s selection tools to filter your audience or records.
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Double-check criteria: are you pulling the right date ranges, segments, or transactions?
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Audit variables and cubes
- Make sure fields like “Revenue”, “Campaign Name”, or “Customer Type” are correctly mapped.
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If you’re missing a key field, talk to your Apteco admin. Don’t try to hack around it—bad source data means bad reports.
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Test with a small sample
- Run a quick table or chart on a subset to check for weirdness (missing values, duplicates, etc.)
- It’s easier to fix now than after you’ve built the whole report.
What doesn’t work: Building reports on top of messy or half-baked data. The report will look slick, but management will spot the holes immediately.
3. Build Your Custom Report
Now, onto the main event. Apteco gives you a few ways to create reports—FastStats, Orbit, or PeopleStage. For most management reporting, you’ll use FastStats’ reporting tools or Orbit dashboards.
3.1 Choose the Right Tool
- FastStats Reports: Good for detailed tables, cross-tabs, and basic charts. Exports well to Excel.
- Orbit Dashboards: Better for interactive visuals, sharing dashboards online, and mobile-friendly views.
- PeopleStage Reports: Skip these unless you’re building campaign automation reports.
Stick to FastStats or Orbit unless you have a strong reason not to.
3.2 Create Your Report
A. In FastStats
- Open the Reporting module
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Find “Reports” or “Output” in the FastStats menu.
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Add your tables or charts
- Drag and drop the selections or variables you want.
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For senior management, aim for:
- Summary tables (e.g., revenue by month)
- Pie charts (e.g., customer split by segment)
- Trend lines (e.g., sales over time)
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Format for clarity
- Use clear labels—rename columns so they’re obvious.
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Add titles and short descriptions. Don’t assume your audience knows what “VAR_17_QTY” is.
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Preview with real data
- Check that the numbers make sense and visuals aren’t misleading.
- Less is more. One clean chart beats three cluttered ones.
B. In Orbit
- Create a new dashboard
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Pick a template or start blank.
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Add widgets
- Choose charts, tables, and KPIs that align with management’s priorities.
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Pull in data from your saved selections and cubes.
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Tweak the layout
- Put the most important info top and center.
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Use color sparingly—avoid rainbow charts unless you want to confuse people.
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Share for feedback
- Orbit lets you share dashboards with a link. Send an early version for feedback before you finalize.
What to ignore: Fancy chart types just because they look cool (think 3D pie charts). Stick to bar, line, and simple pie charts unless you have a story to tell.
4. Export Your Report
Exporting shouldn’t be a headache, but Apteco’s export options have their quirks.
4.1 Exporting from FastStats
- To Excel: The most reliable option. Click the export button, choose Excel, and check the formatting.
- To PDF: Okay for sharing, but sometimes messes up chart formatting.
- To Word: Only use if someone specifically asks for a Word doc.
Watch out: Some exports lose formatting or cut off charts. Always open your exported file before sending it on.
4.2 Exporting from Orbit
- PDF export: Best for static sharing.
- Live dashboard link: If management likes to explore data themselves, send the dashboard link (with proper permissions).
- Image export: Handy for dropping charts into a PowerPoint.
What doesn’t work: Exporting huge tables—nobody’s reading a 10,000-row spreadsheet. Summarize, then offer detail as a separate export if they ask.
5. Polish and Send
You’ve got your report—don’t trip at the finish line. A little polish goes a long way.
- Check the basics: Titles, dates, and filters should be obvious and correct.
- Add a 1-sentence summary: Managers love a quick takeaway. Put it at the top or in an email.
- Remove anything extra: If you’re including a tab or chart “just in case,” leave it out unless someone specifically asked.
Pro tip: Set up a template or saved report for next time. Don’t rebuild from scratch.
6. Common Headaches (and How to Avoid Them)
- Slow exports or timeouts: Break big reports into smaller chunks.
- Broken charts after export: Test with a real export before the deadline.
- Stakeholders change their minds: Keep your report modular so you can swap in/out charts and tables quickly.
Ignore: Any “automated insights” features promising to do all the thinking for you. They rarely give senior management what they actually want.
7. Keep It Simple—and Iterate
You don’t need a perfect report on the first try. Start simple, get feedback, and tweak only what matters. Most managers want clarity, not complexity.
If you find yourself spending hours wrestling with formatting or exotic chart types, ask yourself: Will anyone care? Usually, less is more. Build a solid template, reuse it, and update as needs change.
Now get your report out the door—and move on with your day.