Our client had outgrown its Excel solution for managing HR, logistics and financial planning information for its pipeline construction project. A key requirement was to model 'What if' scenarios, a vital element of the planning process

Background

Our client needs to manage and model complex financial, planning and HR information for an international pipeline construction project. The pipeline build requires significant recruitment, movement and housing of people.

Following an initial requirement-gathering phase it was determined that a database created in Access with an Excel ‘front-end’ was an appropriate solution. The storage of the data within Access ensured that the data remained secure and accurate regardless of the queries executed upon it, whilst the Excel front end enabled the flexibility required when querying the data.

The user retrieves selected data into Excel using a combination of Visual Basic and predefined SQL queries built into the Excel spreadsheets. The data can then be manipulated, without impacting the data and structure of the Access database.

Outcome

An effective tool that:

• Readily reports actual versus planned data.
• Keeps the original data secure and easy to maintain.
• Enables maximum flexibility to answer ‘what if’ questions.
• Has been taken up for use by two more teams
• Was created and in operation in a matter of weeks

 

 

>> top