Quick Analytics

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Marketing Manager of a visualization and automation firm.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Visulaization & Automation

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Quick Analytics to accomplish?

Create an automated Gantt chart in Microsoft Visio that dynamically updates using task data maintained in Microsoft Excel. Excel will act as the master project database, and Visio will act as the live visual project timeline. 

📁 Source Data (Excel) The Excel file will contain a structured table with the following columns: 

• ID (unique task identifier) 
• Task Name 
• Start Date 
• Finish Date 
• % Complete 
• Critical (Yes/No) 

The system must support adding new tasks in the future without breaking automation. 

📈 Gantt Chart (Visio) The Visio Gantt chart must automatically reflect: 

• ✅ Task bars shifting based on Start & Finish dates 
• ✅ Visual progress fill based on % Complete 
• ✅ Highlighting of Critical tasks (color or formatting) 
• ✅ Clear task labels 
• ✅ Proper timeline scaling 

🔄 Automation Behavior When Excel data changes: 

• The Visio Gantt chart must update automatically or via one-click refresh 
• No manual resizing or relinking should be required 
• Preferred methods: Visio data linking to Excel table OR VBA-based refresh automation 

📦 Deliverables:

• Fully automated Visio Gantt chart template 
• Linked Excel master file (clean & scalable) 
• Simple refresh/update process

SOLUTION

How did you find Quick Analytics?

Upwork

Why did you select Quick Analytics over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from Quick Analytics were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

1. Fully Automated Visio Gantt Chart Template

• Professionally formatted
• Dynamic task bar behavior
• Automated progress fill
• Critical path highlighting
• Clean, executive-ready visual output

📦 2. Linked Excel Master File

• Structured, scalable project database
• Pre-configured automation compatibility
• Clean formatting and documentation

📦 3. Simple Refresh & Update Process

• One-click update mechanism
• Clear instructions for future use
• No technical knowledge required for updates

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The project successfully delivered a fully automated and scalable Gantt chart system, eliminating the need for manual task bar adjustments or resizing in Visio. After implementation, any changes made in the Excel master file—including updates to start dates, finish dates, % completion, or critical task status—were accurately reflected in Visio through a one-click refresh process. Testing confirmed that newly added tasks integrated seamlessly without breaking the automation. This reduced reporting preparation time by approximately 70–90%, minimized human error, standardized formatting, and significantly improved overall project tracking accuracy and efficiency. 

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project management was highly organized and efficient throughout the engagement. Milestones were clearly defined at the beginning, and progress updates were communicated consistently. All deliverables were completed on time, with proper testing conducted before final submission to ensure the automation worked flawlessly. They were very responsive to feedback and quickly incorporated requested adjustments without delays. Requirements were understood accurately from the start, minimizing back-and-forth communication. Overall, their approach was proactive, professional, and focused on delivering a reliable, high-quality solution aligned with project objectives.

What was your primary form of communication with Quick Analytics?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What impressed me most was their ability to combine technical automation with practical usability—delivering a fully dynamic solution that was both sophisticated under the hood and extremely simple for end users to operate.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Quick Analytics could have done differently?

No