Many companies use tools like Power BI or Tableau to analyze sales performance. These platforms are flexible and powerful, but they also require significant technical expertise and business know-how to generate insights that are truly actionable. In practice, most BI projects take months before delivering meaningful dashboards, and even then, adoption across sales teams is often limited.

The common limitations of general-purpose BI tools

Manufacturers and distributors using traditional BI platforms frequently encounter these challenges:

• Long setup time: Data integration, model building, visualization design, testing, documentation…
• Specialized skillsets required: Developers, BI analysts, data engineers.
• Dependency on IT for adjustments, updates, or model changes.

Low adoption among sales teams when dashboards are not aligned with day-to-day operations. According to Gartner, data analysts still spend up to 80% of their time on data integration and preparation, rather than focusing on actual analysis and recommendations.

Furthermore, it's not uncommon to see less than 20% of users regularly accessing dashboards, often due to lack of clarity, relevance, or usability.

A different approach: preconfigured and built for sales teams Solutions like Pawa take a different angle: starting with the operational realities of manufacturers and distributors, and delivering a data model and prebuilt dashboards tailored to sales performance.

Ready-to-use sales dashboards

• Sales performance is visible from day one—no complex configuration needed.
• Clear visualizations designed for operational decisions.
• Easy access for all users—whether in the office, on the road, or in the warehouse.

A data model aligned with your business

The model is built around common sales and distribution dynamics. It enables you to explore sales performance through multiple lenses—customer behavior, team activity, product mix, seasonality, volume changes, and overall profitability. The model is also flexible: it can be expanded with new data sources and dimensions without technical intervention. This helps companies keep their reporting aligned with evolving priorities and make sure that analysis stays relevant as goals shift.

Fast integration with your systems

• Seamless connection to ERP and accounting systems (SAP, Sage, JD Edwards, Business Central, Acomba, and more).
• Real-time synchronization of transactions and inventory data.
• Consolidated view of sales, inventory, and supply chain activity.

In summary: A practical comparison

Conclusion

The value of a sales analytics project is not measured by the complexity of the tools, but by how quickly your teams can access clear answers and take informed action.

A solution purpose-built for your environment dramatically reduces the time between accessing data and delivering business value.

Curious to see how this approach could change the way you manage sales?

👉 Reach out to us for a short demo or a conversation about your goals.