See SchemaHelm diagnostics in action
Different reporting problems need different kinds of investigation. These fictional examples show how I trace problems through data, reporting logic and business processes, identify what is really happening and turn the findings into practical next steps.
1. Messy Data Diagnostic
When month-end reporting becomes a monthly firefight
Repeated reconciliation, spreadsheet fixes and last-minute corrections can be symptoms of deeper problems in definitions, ownership, validation or reporting processes.
This fictional example shows how a diagnostic can identify the underlying causes and turn them into ranked priorities for improvement.
Best suited to:
Conflicting figures, repeated manual fixes, unclear causes and reporting processes that have difficult to trust.
2. Schema & Data Flow Mapping
Where did that dashboard number actually come from?
A report may look simple on the surface while the number behind it has passed through several systems, tables, transformations and manual adjustments.
This fictional example shows how mapping the data journey can expose dependencies, transformation points and undocumented handoffs.
3. Reporting Reconciliation & Logic Review
When the source says 250 but the dashboard says 213
Different filters, validation rules, business definitions and manual processes can quietly create gaps between systems.
This example shows how I trace the missing records, explain why they disappeared and identify which controls should be addressed first.
4. Data Readiness Assessment
The new system may be ready. But is the data?
Migrating unreliable or poorly understood data into a new platform risks carrying existing problems straight into the new environment.
This example shows how readiness can be assessed before migration, automation or AI begins.
5. Reporting Health Check
The report still runs. Is it still doing what everyone thinks it is doing?
Reporting environments change. New channels appear, ownership moves, calculations change and temporary workarounds quietly become permanent.
This example shows how a periodic health check can uncover those changes before they become reporting failures.
