Optimization of an existing tool for Group consolidation significantly improves user friendliness for the end-user. VBA has already provided a frontend which controls the existing Excel-based solution. PTA has undertaken the development and adaptation of the graphical user interface and adapted it to the specific requirements of the customer. For example, functions that were not particularly relevant for a specific user group were hidden and other important functions highlighted. The entry barrier for new users would be significantly reduced by designing the user interface intuitively. This optimization significantly improved user friendliness and significantly reduced the work involved in carrying out a complex work step. The number of clicks required to complete a main function was reduced.
Supplement
PTA was also able to optimize the technical functions for the graphical adaptations. For example, some manual processes relating to copying data from one Excel file to another were fully automated. In addition, a function was implemented for copying together Excel data from various files, formatting it and providing it on a server as a CSV file. These files are then imported and processed further by an external system (IBM Cognos TM1).
Subject description
For optimum Group consolidation, the customer has to obtain data from various Group departments at a particular time and process it. Up to this point, this process was a complicated manual one which was not standardized. In order to reduce the error rate and improve the quality of the supplied data, certain process steps were automated and the data validated within the process. The final product is capable of collecting unstructured and distributed data, structuring it and preparing it for further use in other systems.