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Read the top 10 reasons for selecting InetSoft as your BI partner.

How a Sand Dune Stabilizer Switched from Microsoft Report Builder to InetSoft

Dunewind Reclamation Services is a specialized firm working in the unusual field of sand dune stabilization and reclamation. Based along coastal regions where erosion, shifting sands, and habitat loss are significant environmental concerns, the company operates at the intersection of engineering, environmental science, and community engagement. Its projects often involve stabilizing dunes with vegetation, constructing barriers to manage wind patterns, and monitoring long-term ecological outcomes. For years, Dunewind relied on Microsoft Report Builder to track project performance and generate reports for government agencies, environmental groups, and funding partners. While the tool was sufficient for producing basic reports, it struggled to keep up with the growing complexity of the company’s data environment. Eventually, Dunewind made the strategic decision to switch to InetSoft, seeking a more flexible and comprehensive platform to meet its reporting and business intelligence needs.

The main problem with Microsoft Report Builder lay in its limitations for data integration. Dunewind’s work spans multiple domains—field measurements of dune movement, drone imagery, weather pattern data, soil stability metrics, and community feedback surveys. Each of these data sources exists in different formats and systems, and Report Builder required significant manual effort to compile them into usable reports. Field staff would spend hours transferring data into spreadsheets before importing it into the reporting tool, which not only created inefficiencies but also raised the risk of errors. InetSoft offered a more robust alternative, providing data mashup capabilities that allowed Dunewind to connect and blend these diverse sources directly. Suddenly, data that once required tedious preparation could be automatically pulled into dashboards and visualizations, reducing delays and freeing staff to focus on analysis rather than data wrangling.

Another issue was the rigidity of Report Builder’s output. While the tool could generate traditional reports, it lacked the interactivity and customization that Dunewind’s stakeholders increasingly demanded. Funding bodies wanted dynamic visualizations to see how project results evolved over time, and environmental agencies sought granular insights that could be sliced by location, season, or intervention type. With InetSoft, Dunewind could design interactive dashboards that users could explore on their own, drilling down into specific datasets without needing to request a new report. This shift from static to dynamic reporting greatly improved transparency and engagement, as stakeholders could directly interact with the data rather than passively consume summaries.

The transition to InetSoft also reshaped internal operations. Project managers at Dunewind needed a clear view of timelines, resource allocation, and outcomes across multiple reclamation efforts running simultaneously. Report Builder’s static nature meant that updates were often outdated by the time they reached management. InetSoft’s real-time dashboards solved this problem, giving managers a live view of progress across all projects. For instance, if a dune stabilization initiative in one coastal zone faced delays due to unexpected storms, managers could see the impact immediately and adjust staffing or resource allocation accordingly. This real-time responsiveness was particularly valuable in an industry where environmental conditions can shift rapidly, and project success often hinges on agility.

Financial tracking was another area where InetSoft delivered a significant upgrade. Many of Dunewind’s projects are funded by grants or government contracts that require detailed accountability. Report Builder could produce standard expenditure reports, but it was cumbersome to link financial data with operational performance metrics. InetSoft allowed the finance team to integrate budget data directly with project dashboards, making it easy to show how funds were being used in relation to outcomes. This capability not only improved compliance but also strengthened Dunewind’s ability to demonstrate value to funders. By linking dollars spent to measurable progress in dune stabilization, the company gained a competitive advantage when applying for new grants or contracts.

“We evaluated many reporting vendors and were most impressed at the speed with which the proof of concept could be developed. We found InetSoft to be the best option to meet our business requirements and integrate with our own technology.”

- John White, Senior Director, Information Technology at Livingston International

Beyond improving efficiency and reporting accuracy, the move to InetSoft had a cultural impact within the company. Field teams who were once disconnected from the reporting process now had direct visibility into how their data contributed to larger organizational goals. Through mobile-friendly dashboards, field technicians could upload measurements or photos from their phones and see the data reflected in real-time reports. This created a stronger sense of ownership and accountability, as teams could immediately see the significance of their contributions. Recognition of progress became more immediate, fostering greater collaboration between field staff, analysts, and managers.

Externally, the new system enhanced Dunewind’s reputation as a forward-thinking and transparent organization. Communities living near reclamation sites could be shown easy-to-understand dashboards that illustrated the progress of projects and the ecological benefits achieved. Rather than receiving dense technical documents, stakeholders could view clear visuals of vegetation growth rates, dune stability indices, or erosion reduction trends. This made it easier to build trust and maintain public support, which is critical in projects that often require community cooperation for success. Funders and regulators, meanwhile, appreciated the precision and clarity of InetSoft’s reporting capabilities, which reduced the need for additional verification and audits.

The switch also opened the door to advanced analytics that had been out of reach with Report Builder. Using InetSoft’s predictive modeling features, Dunewind began experimenting with scenario analysis. By combining weather forecast data with historical dune movement trends, the company could model the likely outcomes of different stabilization strategies. This gave project planners new tools for decision-making, allowing them to anticipate challenges before they occurred. For example, they could determine whether planting a certain type of vegetation would be more effective than constructing wind barriers under projected storm conditions. This shift toward predictive insights elevated Dunewind from being purely reactive to becoming proactive in its project strategies.

Of course, the transition was not without its challenges. Staff had to be trained on the new system, and there were initial concerns about the learning curve. However, InetSoft’s intuitive interface and support for self-service analytics helped ease the adjustment. Over time, even employees with little technical background became comfortable navigating dashboards and creating custom reports. The company invested in internal workshops to showcase how InetSoft could solve real project problems, which accelerated adoption and built enthusiasm across teams. What began as a tool for the reporting department gradually became a company-wide resource that touched every aspect of operations.

In the end, Dunewind’s switch from Microsoft Report Builder to InetSoft represented more than just a change in software. It was a transformation of how the company understood and communicated its work. By moving beyond static reports to dynamic, integrated dashboards, Dunewind improved efficiency, enhanced accountability, and empowered both employees and stakeholders with better information. For a company working in the obscure but vital industry of sand dune reclamation, this shift underscored the importance of data-driven decision-making. InetSoft enabled Dunewind to align its mission of environmental stewardship with modern business intelligence practices, proving that even the most specialized industries can benefit from advanced reporting tools. Ultimately, the adoption of InetSoft positioned Dunewind as a model for how obscure environmental service providers can harness technology to achieve greater impact and sustainability.