Enterprise Reporting, Reimagined with NSAW: Hygrade’s Success Story
- Aaron Leggett
- 3 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Case Study: How Hygrade Automated Operations Reporting to Save Valuable Time and Unlock Insights
Introduction
Hygrade Components, a manufacturing company based in Pennsylvania, partnered with Equify Advisors to modernize its financial reporting through NetSuite Analytics Warehouse (NSAW). Hygrade’s CFO, Taylor Brandenburg, faced a recurring reporting challenge: to produce a comprehensive open sales order (aka backlog) report each week, which was a labor-intensive manual process. Equify Advisors led a NSAW implementation project to automate this critical report. Within weeks, the team delivered a dynamic backlog dashboard that not only mirrors the CFO’s existing Excel-based report format but also provides near real-time insights, improving accuracy. This white paper outlines the challenges faced, the NSAW solution implemented, and the substantial benefits realized.
Challenge: Manual Backlog Reporting Burden
For Hygrade’s finance team, backlog reporting was a tedious weekly ritual. Since NetSuite does not treat order transactions the same way as general ledger transactions, historical “as of date” reporting for backlog is not a native. Mr. Brandenburg developed a methodology and an Excel-based workbook to streamline the reporting; however, compiling the various reports, transforming them and updating the workbook was, “terribly time consuming”, in his own words. Mr. Brandenburg has noted that the preparation for the backlog report each week took significant effort and time away from higher-value activities. The manually assembled report also risked inaccuracies because the backlog data was essentially static until the next manual update, limiting the CFO’s visibility into current operations. Clearly, a more efficient, modern, and scalable solution was needed to free the finance team from this end-of-month scramble and to improve confidence in the data.
Equify's NSAW Solution
Equify Advisors proposed deploying NetSuite Analytics Warehouse to automate and enhance Hygrade’s backlog reporting. Equify immediately began to replicate and improve Hygrade’s backlog data model in NSAW:
Data Integration: Multiple NetSuite data sources (Sales Orders, Invoices, Credit Memos, Return Authorizations, Journals and Fulfillments) were integrated into a unified dataset in NSAW via Data Flows. This consolidated model ensured that all relevant transactions (including returns) are accounted for in the backlog calculation. Then, with the magic of NSAW’s database, Oracle Autonomous Data Warehouse, Equify built a highly performant table using the curated datasets to automatically calculate the key reporting metrics, alongside building out a bespoke business calendar to align reporting.
Recreating Reporting Logic: The NSAW dashboard was designed to align with Hygrade’s existing Excel report format for familiarity. Key metrics such as Total Open Orders (Backlog), Orders Shipped, and Operating Days are presented similar to the original spreadsheet, but now update automatically.
Automated Refresh: Instead of weekly or monthly manual updates, the NSAW pipeline refreshes the data on a daily schedule. Equify configured NSAW’s Autonomous Data Warehouse and Oracle Analytics to pull in NetSuite data and update visuals regularly. As a result, the backlog report became a living dashboard that automatically updates daily rather than a static monthly report.
Data Flow Replicating Hygrade's Business Logic
Newly Developed Backlog Dashboards
Notably, NSAW’s platform architecture accelerated this development. NSAW's pre-built data pipelines converts NetSuite’s complex schema into a best-practice star schema optimized for analytics. It also offers dozens of pre-built connectors and analytics templates, allowing Equify’s team to deliver a working solution in under two months. In just 8 weeks, Equify presented the new reporting dashboard to Mr. Brandenburg in a live demonstration, on time and on budget.
Results and Benefits
Implementing NSAW for Backlog Reporting has delivered immediate and significant benefits for Hygrade:
Faster Visibility: The CFO now has on-demand access to current backlog metrics instead of waiting for month-end. The dashboard consolidates key performance indicators and historical trends, providing insights such as the total open backlog at any given time. This near real-time view enables proactive decision-making throughout the month, not after it’s closed.
Major Time Savings: The automation has freed the CFO from manually pulling data and updating spreadsheets. What used to require 4+ hours of work each week is now available instantly. Mr. Brandenburg can redirect this time toward analysis and strategy rather than data gathering. The report is effectively always up-to-date and available, eliminating the end-of-month crunch.
Improved Data Accuracy: The NSAW-backed report has markedly improved the fidelity of backlog data. In project meetings, the team noted a accuracy gains after implementing “reverse reconciliation” techniques. For example, the new solution caught that Return Material Authorizations (RMAs) had been excluded in the manual process - that is now corrected. By integrating all relevant transactions and applying consistent logic, the NSAW report reduces errors and the need for manual reconciliation.
Extended Analytical Capabilities: Because the data now resides in NSAW, Hygrade can easily slice and dice the backlog by customer, product line, or date without additional effort. The dashboard includes interactive filters (e.g. by operating days, regions, etc.), letting users drill into the details behind the aggregate backlog number.
Continuous Improvement: The NSAW implementation not only automated the existing report but enhanced it. During development, the team refined calculations (such as how surcharges are applied) and added data fields (like a “closed” status for aging buckets in orders) to better reconcile open orders. This means the new backlog dashboard isn’t just faster, it’s also more informative and aligned with Hygrade’s business nuances.
Together, these outcomes have fundamentally improved Hygrade’s operational efficiency and insight. What was once a weekly or monthly chore is now a streamlined, daily intelligence tool. Equify’s consultative approach ensured the solution fit Hygrade’s needs precisely – the CFO’s existing workflow was respected while upgrading it with automation and accuracy.
“Prior to NSAW, we worked with other consultants to build an Azure data warehouse with Power BI dashboards. While they eventually replicated some of what we needed, the process was slow, complicated, and never truly seamless. By contrast, the NSAW backlog dashboard has completely transformed our reporting. I no longer spend hours each week compiling and validating backlog numbers; the data is always available at my fingertips. The Equify team delivered these results in a fraction of the time, with sharper attention to detail and higher quality. This solution saves my management team and me countless hours and provides immediate visibility into open orders. It has been a true game-changer for our finance operations.”
– Taylor Brandenburg, CFO, Hygrade Components
Broader Impact and Future Plans
Hygrade’s success with the backlog report showcases the broader capabilities of NetSuite Analytics Warehouse as a powerful extension of NetSuite. Equify Advisors, as a specialized NetSuite partner, leveraged NSAW to not only solve the immediate backlog reporting pain point, but also to lay a foundation for enterprise analytics at Hygrade. The NSAW platform can integrate additional data domains and external sources as needed, providing a scalable analytics infrastructure. In fact, following the backlog project, the Hygrade team has already turned attention to other high-value analyses – for example, developing a customer margin analysis that merges sales with cost-of-goods-sold data. With NSAW, Hygrade can continue to expand its reporting suite (from pipeline and revenue forecasts to inventory and beyond) all within the same cohesive environment.
From Equify’s perspective, this project underlines our commitment to delivering quick wins and lasting value through cloud analytics. In just a few weeks, we were able to deploy NSAW’s out-of-the-box features and our expertise to achieve a tangible ROI for the client. Hygrade’s case is a clear illustration of how automating a critical report can free up executive time, improve data accuracy, and provide actionable insights. It exemplifies the kind of success that the NetSuite Analytics Warehouse is designed to enable for customers
Learn More
If you are looking to take your enterprise reporting vision to the next level with NSAW, feel free to reach out today. Equify Advisors is a NetSuite Alliance Partner and has certified experts within the technology. Set some time with us to learn more on our website at https://www.equifyadvisors.com/lets-connect.
Author:
Aaron Leggett - GTM Lead, Advanced Analytics