Turning Late Nights with Spreadsheets into Strategic Decision-Making
Ben Daniel, Director of FP&A at CSD, remembers the endless hours he spent wrestling with Excel spreadsheets. Tracking financials for a growing non-profit was a manual, error-prone nightmare. Budget cycles dragged on for months, and accessing the right information felt like searching for a needle in a haystack. But then CSD discovered Limelight.
About Communication Services for the Deaf:
For over 40 years, CSD has been adapting and advancing their deaf-led social impact organization. CSD redesigns communication technology to make it accessible for deaf users and invests in businesses whose goals and interests align with CSD's goal of serving the deaf community.
- Industry: Non-profit Organization
- Location: Austin, Texas
The Challenge
CSD, a leading deaf-led social impact organization, was struggling with manual, time-consuming FP&A processes in Excel. They needed a solution that could scale with their growth, provide a big-picture view of their finances, and streamline collaboration.
Ben remembers a lot of late nights using Excel during his first year with CSD, feeling as though he was shackled to Excel spreadsheets without a better way. His time was consumed by locating specific figures, budget items, and data. Year-over-year comparisons took double or triple the effort that they take today.
CSD needed software that could help them see the bigger picture. “An Excel spreadsheet is 1000 or 2000 rows. It's a lot of scrolling, a lot of filtering and a lot of numerical information,” said Ben. “But getting a summary by department, by locality, or by account would have been very powerful and a lot easier for me to navigate. So, when Limelight came before us, I knew it had it all.”
The Solution
Limelight's automated FP&A platform was the perfect fit for CSD. Its Excel-like interface, seamless integration with Sage Intacct, and powerful reporting capabilities addressed their key challenges head-on.
Excel's Familiarity, Without the Headaches
For Ben Daniel, CSD's Director of Finance Planning and Analysis, Limelight's Excel-like interface was a major selling point. "I didn't want to have to learn a new language," Ben explains. "Limelight gave me the power of Excel without the manual effort of finding, validating, and assembling data."
Real-Time Reporting: A Game-Changer for Growth
With Limelight, Ben could easily track CSD's actuals against budgets and forecasts, providing a real-time view of the company's financial health. This allowed him to create visual models for leadership, accelerating decision-making and driving growth.
Improved Planning Processes and Collaborative Success
Limelight's collaborative features also transformed how CSD worked together. "If someone has a question about the budget, I can get them an answer in minutes," says Ben. "That's a huge improvement from having to dig through spreadsheets and get back to them the next day."
The Impact
Limelight not only reduced Ben's stress levels, but it also empowered him to become a more strategic partner to the business. "With Limelight, I have more confidence in my work, and I can focus on helping my colleagues make a bigger impact."
Measurable Results
50% Reduction in Budgeting Time
Limelight's automation cut CSD's annual budgeting process in half, freeing up valuable time for strategic analysis
Improved Decision-Making
Real-time reporting and accessible insights empowered leaders to make faster, more informed decisions.
Elimination of Manual Errors
Automated data integration and consolidation reduced human errors and improved data accuracy.
“I frankly always feel skittish when I approach Excel. I have to double and triple check what I am doing. But when I am in Limelight, I have far more confidence in what I am doing. I just do it once and I know that it’s right.”
BEN DANIEL, Director of Financial Planning and Analysis, CSD
Reach Your Goals
Don't let this minute slip away. Learn how you can pivot from manual to automated FP&A.
