Category
Customer Service
Finance & Accounting
Submitted By
Joy Vidalon, joy.vidalon@colorado.edu, Cost Accounting Principal, Campus Controller's Office
Project Team
Joy Vidalon, joy.vidalon@colorado.edu, Cost Accounting Principal, Campus Controller's Office
Carl Sorenson, carl.sorenson@colorado.edu, Financial Report Developer, Budget & Fiscal Planning
Project Description
The Department Indirect Cost Recovery (DA-ICR) Split % Report Automation project aimed to streamline and modernize the process of generating department funding allocation reports. Previously, these reports were manually created using Excel, taking up to three months to complete and requiring significant manual effort. The new automated system, built on CU-Data, eliminates this manual workload, allowing stakeholders to access and generate the reports anytime, with enhanced features like real-time data and a drill-down function for detailed insights. The project also integrates with m-Fin reports, providing a more cohesive and accessible solution. By automating this process, we’ve not only saved valuable time but also improved accuracy, responsiveness, and accessibility, empowering campus departments to make better-informed decisions year-round.
Project Efficiency
The DA-ICR Split % Report Automation eliminates months of manual work, saving time and resources for the Campus Cost Accounting Office. It also enhances customer service by enabling stakeholders to generate reports on-demand, improving accessibility and responsiveness. Features like the drill-down function allow users to dive deeper into data, while integration with other m-Fin reports creates a more streamlined experience. Realtime access eliminates the need for waiting on annual releases, providing faster, more accurate insights and empowering stakeholders to make data-driven decisions quickly, significantly improving the overall user experience.
Project Inspiration
The inspiration for automating the DA-ICR Split % report came from a desire to improve efficiency, reduce manual effort in the Campus Controller’s Office (CCO), and provide campus stakeholders with on-demand access to the report. The process of generating the report took weeks, making it time-consuming for Cost Accounting team. Recognizing the opportunity to streamline this, we partnered with the report development expert from the Budget Office to reimagine the process. This collaboration revealed significant opportunities to enhance the report’s accessibility and functionality, ultimately creating a solution that saves time and delivers better service to campus stakeholders.
What Makes You Happiest about this Project?
What makes me happiest about the DA-ICR Split % report automation project is seeing how it has significantly improved efficiency and empowered stakeholders. The ability to eliminate manual processes that once took months, and now provide real-time, ondemand access to reports, feels like a major accomplishment. It’s rewarding to know that the project not only saves time but also enhances accessibility and functionality, ultimately making the process smoother for everyone. It has greatly improved customer service, and the positive impact it’s had on campus stakeholders—helping them make more informed decisions—is truly fulfilling.
