Microsoft data & automation solutions

Less spreadsheet admin.
More time for your business.

Clear Power BI dashboards, practical business apps and workflows that take repetitive tasks off your team’s plate. Built around the way you work, by an independent consultancy in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Free 20-minute process review See example solutions

A clear scope. An agreed quote. A practical handover.

Power BIPower AppsPower AutomateMicrosoft 365
A clearer picture of your business DEMO
FLOWNORTH / OPERATIONS

Your work. In focus.

Monthly overview
Open work orders48Across 3 teams
Within target92%46 of 50 completed
Needs attention6Prioritise follow-up
Work completedLast six months
Reporting connected to your processPower BI · Example design
✓
Less chasing. More progress.Request → Approval → Update → Report

Illustrative interface with fictional data. Your solution is designed around your business.

Representative solutions

See what a clearer way of working could look like.

The examples below are anonymised and reconstructed to demonstrate the type of systems FlowNorth Digital can design and deliver.

01 / REPORTING + CONTROLOne view of every work order
New 12In progress 30Follow-up 6
Illustrative solution · demonstration data
Power Apps · Power Automate · Power BI

Multi-site Work Order & SLA Management

Problem: Several teams maintain separate work-order trackers, use different update habits and rely on emails to move work between stages. Managers have no single, trusted view of what is new, in progress, parked, overdue or complete.

Solution: A central operational application that guides users through the work-order lifecycle, captures consistent information at each stage and turns the same underlying data into live management reporting.

Explore how this solution works
How it works
  • One shared data source replaces multiple local trackers.
  • Role-specific screens support creation, progress updates, parking and closure.
  • Required-field checks and date validation reduce incomplete or inconsistent records.
  • Status and SLA logic are calculated from the recorded workflow rather than maintained manually.
  • Automated notifications can alert the right team when a record moves to the next stage.
Management layer
  • Power BI provides a consolidated view across locations and teams.
  • Managers can track workload, SLA performance, pending breaches and ageing work.
  • Drill-through views make it possible to move from headline KPIs to the individual records behind them.
  • The design supports phased rollout and later replacement of legacy spreadsheet processes.
Typical solution components
Microsoft Lists / Dataverse → Power Apps → Power Automate → Power BI
Centralised workflow Consistent data capture SLA visibility Reduced manual hand-offs Management reporting
View solution
02 / DATA + INSIGHTFrom separate files to shared insight
Excel files→One model→Clear KPIs
Illustrative solution · demonstration data
Power BI · Power Query · Data Modelling

Operational Performance Dashboard

Problem: Management information is assembled manually from multiple spreadsheets and system exports. Different teams calculate KPIs in slightly different ways, making monthly reporting slow and difficult to reconcile.

Solution: A reusable reporting model that standardises the data, applies agreed business rules once and presents both high-level performance and detailed operational exceptions in Power BI.

Explore how this solution works
Data & modelling
  • Power Query cleans, standardises and combines data from multiple source files or systems.
  • Reference and mapping tables create consistent categories across teams and locations.
  • A structured semantic model separates business dimensions, transactions and calculated measures.
  • DAX measures calculate KPIs, SLA percentages, trends and exception counts consistently.
Reporting experience
  • Executive cards provide an immediate view of total workload and performance.
  • Users can filter by location, team, time period or operational status.
  • Trend views highlight deterioration or improvement over time.
  • Exception pages focus attention on records approaching or exceeding agreed thresholds.
Typical solution components
Excel / SharePoint / System exports → Power Query → Semantic model → Power BI
Single reporting view Repeatable refresh Consistent KPI logic Exception monitoring Decision-ready reporting
View solution
03 / AUTOMATION + VISIBILITYKnow what is available. See what changes.
Mon ✓Tue ✓Wed —Thu ✓Fri ✓
Illustrative solution · demonstration data
Power Automate · Dataverse · Scheduling Data

Availability & Scheduling Automation

Problem: Teams need to know the next available appointment or service date across many service types, but gathering that information manually is repetitive and only provides a snapshot of the current position.

Solution: A configuration-driven automation that performs repeatable availability checks, records the result for each service type and builds a historical dataset for capacity and lead-time reporting.

Explore how this solution works
Automation design
  • A configuration table controls which service types are searched and the parameters used for each one.
  • The flow processes each configuration automatically rather than relying on a separate workflow for every service.
  • Each run captures the search date, earliest available date, lead time and the number of available slots or resources returned.
  • Success and error information is stored alongside the result to make failures visible rather than silent.
Historical insight
  • Daily snapshots show how availability changes over time instead of overwriting yesterday's result.
  • Lead-time bands can highlight services moving from healthy capacity into warning or critical ranges.
  • Power BI can compare service types, teams and historical trends from the same structured dataset.
  • The configuration-led design makes new service types easier to add without redesigning the whole process.
Typical solution components
Configuration data → Power Automate → Availability service → Daily history → Power BI
Automated snapshots Historical tracking Lead-time monitoring Reduced manual checking Capacity insight
View solution
Practical firstTechnology follows the business process.
Microsoft focusedBuild on tools many teams already use.
Clear handoverSolutions designed to be understood, not hidden.

Industries & operational teams

Built for organisations where work, data and deadlines need to stay connected.

FlowNorth Digital is sector-flexible, but the strongest fit is where teams depend on spreadsheets, repeated reporting, email hand-offs or operational trackers to keep important work moving.

Typical fit

Engineering & technical services

Useful where jobs, inspections, work orders, service activity or management reporting are still coordinated across spreadsheets, email and separate local trackers.

Work ordersSLA trackingOperational dashboardsWorkflow hand-offs
Discuss a similar process →

Not sure whether your sector is listed? The deciding factor is usually the process, not the industry. If the work is repetitive, spreadsheet-heavy or difficult to see end-to-end, it may still be a strong fit.

Services & packages

Start with the problem. Choose the right level of solution.

FlowNorth Digital offers clear starting packages for reporting, automation and Power Platform projects. Every project is scoped before work begins, with agreed deliverables and a fixed quotation.

01 / REPORTINGMake your data useful.Power BI dashboards · from £950 ↗02 / AUTOMATIONGive your team time back.Power Automate workflows · from £750 ↗03 / BUSINESS APPSBring your process together.Power Apps · from £1,950 ↗
Clear starting prices. Prices below are starting points for the typical scope shown. If your process needs more, the scope and price are agreed before any additional work begins.
01

Reporting & Power BI

Turn business data into reporting people can actually use.

From a focused dashboard to a structured multi-source reporting model with consistent KPI logic.

Explore Power BI dashboards →

Read our guide: build a Power BI dashboard from multiple Excel files →

Dashboard Starterfrom £950

Turn an existing spreadsheet or business dataset into a clear, interactive Power BI dashboard.

  • Up to 2 data sources
  • Up to 3 report pages & 12 agreed KPIs
  • 1 review round + handover
Typical delivery1–2 weeks
Discuss this process →
Reporting Transformationfrom £1,950

Bring multiple reporting sources together into one reusable model for management and operational reporting.

  • Typically up to 4 data sources
  • Up to 6 report pages & 25 agreed KPIs
  • Trend, drill-through & exception reporting
Typical delivery2–4 weeks
Discuss this process →
02

Workflow Automation

Remove repetitive admin and keep work moving automatically.

Automate straightforward tasks or a complete multi-stage workflow using Microsoft Power Automate.
Read the practical approval workflow guide →

Automation Starterfrom £750

Automate one clearly defined repetitive process such as a request, approval, reminder or notification.

  • 1 main Power Automate cloud flow
  • Up to 2 standard Microsoft services
  • 1 approval stage + 1 review round
Typical delivery3–7 working days
Discuss this process →
Workflow Automation Packfrom £1,500

Automate an end-to-end process involving several stages, approvals, reminders and team hand-offs.

  • Typically up to 3 related flows
  • Up to 3 approval stages
  • Tracking, reminders, escalations & testing
Typical delivery2–3 weeks
Discuss this process →
03

Power Platform Solutions

Replace shared trackers with controlled operational systems.

Give teams a proper interface, structured data and the automation needed to manage work consistently.
Explore Power BI & Power Platform consulting in Scotland →

Power App Starterfrom £1,950

Replace a shared spreadsheet or manual tracker with a simple internal Canvas Power App.

  • 1 Canvas App, typically up to 5 main screens
  • Up to 2 straightforward user roles
  • Validation, search + up to 2 supporting flows
Typical delivery2–4 weeks
Discuss this process →
Operational Power Platform Solutionfrom £3,750

Replace a fragmented operational process with an integrated app, structured data, automation and reporting.

  • Process design + primary Canvas App
  • Multiple roles, flows & business rules
  • Power BI management reporting + UAT
Typical delivery4–8 weeks
Discuss this process →

Not sure which package fits? A short discovery conversation is enough to identify the right starting point.

Free 20-minute process review

Ongoing support

Keep your solution running smoothly.

Care plans provide ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting and small improvements after a FlowNorth Digital solution goes live.

Designed primarily for solutions built by FlowNorth Digital.
FlowNorth Care

£149/month

  • 1 agreed FlowNorth solution
  • Monthly solution health check
  • Up to 1 hour of minor changes or support
  • Email support & troubleshooting

Support time resets each month and does not roll over.

FlowNorth Care Plus

£299/month

Continuous improvement
  • Up to 2 agreed FlowNorth solutions
  • Enhanced monthly health check
  • Up to 3 hours of minor changes or support
  • Priority support + monthly improvement review

Larger enhancements and new functionality are scoped separately.

Completed projects include a 14-day post-handover defect period for agreed functionality. Ask about ongoing support →

Free 20-minute process review

One awkward process. Twenty minutes. A clearer next step.

If a spreadsheet, recurring report, email hand-off or tracker is becoming difficult to manage, send us the problem at a high level. We’ll use a short no-obligation review to identify whether the sensible next step is reporting, automation, a small app, a process change — or nothing at all.

No technical briefJust explain what happens today and where it becomes painful. No files requiredKeep the first conversation high-level; no confidential data is needed. No sales pressureYou leave with a practical view of the smallest sensible next step.

Let’s find your next step

Tell us what takes too much time. We’ll review your request and contact you to arrange a conversation.

No obligation. Please do not include passwords, personal data or confidential records.

Practical guides

Useful Microsoft reporting and automation guidance — built around real operational problems.

Step-by-step articles for teams dealing with spreadsheet reporting, approvals, workflow hand-offs, data quality and process visibility.

Power BI · Power Query · Excel

How to build a Power BI operations dashboard from multiple Excel files

Turn recurring spreadsheets and exports into a repeatable reporting model with consistent KPI logic, refresh ownership, validation and operational views.

Power QueryKPI designRefresh planningValidation
Read the Power BI guide →
Power Automate · SharePoint · Microsoft Lists

How to automate an approval workflow with Power Automate and SharePoint

Replace email chasing and manual tracker updates with a controlled request, approval, status and notification process, including reminders and reporting.

Step-by-step buildApproval routingReminders & escalationAudit & reporting
Read the workflow guide →

How it works

Start with the process. Then build the technology.

FlowNorth Digital is designed for organisations that want practical improvement without unnecessary complexity.

01

Discovery

Understand the current process, pain points, users, data and the outcome you actually need.

02

Solution design

Define the simplest workable approach, including data structure, workflow, reporting and responsibilities.

03

Build & test

Create the solution in manageable stages, validate it with real scenarios and adjust before handover.

04

Handover & support

Provide clear documentation, knowledge transfer and optional ongoing reporting or improvement support.

About FlowNorth Digital

Practical digital improvement, built around the way people actually work.

Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, FlowNorth Digital is an independent UK digital and data consultancy focused on turning manual, spreadsheet-heavy processes into clearer systems, better reporting and simpler workflows.

Business firstUnderstand the process before choosing the technology.
End-to-end thinkingConsider data, workflow, reporting and user experience together.
Built to be maintainedKeep solutions understandable, documented and proportionate.

Core capability

More than dashboard delivery.

FlowNorth Digital combines process analysis, data modelling, reporting, automation and low-code application development so a client does not have to treat each part of the problem separately.

Process analysisMap how work moves today, where it breaks down and what should change.
Data & reportingStructure messy source data and turn it into consistent, decision-ready information.
Apps & automationBuild practical Power Apps and Power Automate workflows around real operational needs.
Handover & improvementDocument the solution clearly and leave room for future iteration rather than creating a black box.
Power BIPower AppsPower AutomatePower QueryDataverseSharePointSQLExcel

Project enquiry

Already have a project in mind? Tell us what is difficult today.

You do not need to know which Microsoft tool or FlowNorth Digital package you need. A few practical details about the process are enough to start.

01We review the fit

We look at the problem, current tools and likely level of work.

0230-minute discovery

If it looks like a good fit, we arrange a short no-obligation conversation.

03Clear scope & quote

You receive agreed deliverables, timescale and fixed project pricing before work begins.

A useful first enquiry covers

  • ✓What your team does today
  • ✓Where time, errors or frustration occur
  • ✓The tools and data already involved
  • ✓Who needs to use the solution
  • ✓What a better outcome would look like
  • ✓Your preferred timescale
No technical specification required.

FlowNorth Digital will help translate the business problem into an appropriate reporting, automation or Power Platform scope.

Follow FlowNorth Digital on LinkedInPractical tips, solution examples and company updates.
Likely starting point Choose the closest project type

We’ll show the package that looks closest. Final scope is always confirmed after discovery.

Step 1 of 3

What would you like to improve?

Pick the description that feels closest. “Not sure” is completely fine.

Project type

Please choose the option that is closest to your project.

Contact FlowNorth Digital

Prefer to get in touch directly?

For general questions, introductions or an early conversation about a process, contact FlowNorth Digital directly. You can also use the project enquiry or free process review above if you already know what you want to discuss.

Free 20-minute process review Send a project enquiry
Email hello@flownorthdigital.co.uk General enquiries and project conversations
LinkedIn FlowNorth Digital ↗ Company updates, practical tips and solution examples
Based in Aberdeen, Scotland Supporting organisations across Scotland and the UK
Typical response We normally respond within 2 business days.