Manual Work and Disconnected Systems
Before Datarails, Kane Realty’s accounting data lived in their ERP, with Snowflake serving as part of the company’s broader data environment. The missing piece was an efficient way for finance to turn that data into useful reports, forecasts, and analysis.
Alex had to manually extract the data, map and organize it in Excel, and prepare it for reporting before he could even begin analyzing what the numbers meant.
“Getting the accounting data from our ERP system into usable reports, forecasting, and scenario planning was an extremely manual, clunky process.”
The challenge was especially clear during month-end. Preparing the financial reporting package for the executive team could take an entire day, leaving less time to review performance and understand what the results meant for the business.
“I would spend a full day preparing the data into the format we wanted to show leadership. Only then could I start interpreting the data and the reporting.”
As Kane Realty continued to grow, Alex knew that the existing manual process would not provide the speed or flexibility the new FP&A function needed.
“We went through trial and error to figure out what worked and what didn’t. Then we realized we needed a system to get us where we needed to be for FP&A.”
A Flexible and Reliable Source of Truth
Flexibility was Kane Realty’s top priority when evaluating FP&A platforms. Because the function was still evolving, Alex did not want a rigid tool that would define how its models and processes had to work.
First and foremost, we wanted something flexible. We didn’t want a tool that fit a strict box of what you could do. We wanted a centralized platform that FP&A can fully own and adjust as the organization grew.
With Datarails, Kane Realty could not only retain but enhance its existing Excel models, while introducing new reports and planning processes over time. Datarails could meet its immediate needs without limiting how the function might develop.
Many of the other solutions were too rigid. Datarails was not just a good entry point, but we saw how it would still be the solution as we grew.
For Alex, Datarails offered the right balance. It was easy enough for a new FP&A function to begin using immediately, but flexible enough to continue supporting Kane Realty as its needs became more advanced.
Datarails also fit into Kane Realty’s existing data environment. Snowflake provides the underlying cloud data foundation, while Datarails FinanceOS serves as the operational layer for finance, connecting that data directly to the Excel-based reports, forecasts, planning, and analysis Alex uses every day.
Datarails connects directly to Snowflake, and the way the data is managed is really straightforward. We can move quickly from accounting data to FP&A data, into a report, and into analysis. That took so much time out of my monthly process.
Month-End Reporting Cut in Half
Since going live with Datarails, Kane Realty has used the platform for monthly and year-end reporting, forecasting, scenario analysis, and long-range planning.
The most immediate impact came during month-end. By reducing the work required to prepare the reporting package, Datarails gave Alex more time to examine performance and provide context before the numbers reached leadership.
Datarails cut the time in half to get financial results into the proper format, analyze it, and send it to leadership. It freed up of time for me to dive deeper into the analysis.
That additional time has helped Alex provide more value in his monthly and quarterly meetings with business unit leaders. Rather than scrambling to prepare reports, he can validate the results, investigate changes, and arrive with a clearer understanding of what the numbers mean.
Datarails has also given Kane Realty a consistent source of truth across reporting and planning. Alex can refer back to previous versions, track what changed, and make sure finance and business leaders are working from the same information.
The simplest thing you can do to build trust is make sure all the data ties. Always knowing that Datarails is the source of truth, and that we can refer back to it when we’re having conversations, is incredibly valuable.
For a newly established FP&A function, that reliability and confidence have been essential.
Being able to trust what I’m sending out is huge. It’s making me more efficient and helping me provide better value and insights to people across the organization.
A Foundational Piece of FP&A
As Kane Realty continues to grow, scenario analysis and long-range planning are becoming increasingly important to business decisions.
With FinanceOS as its foundation, Kane Realty can continue expanding how it uses Datarails as its needs evolve. Models can be adjusted, reports can be expanded, and new processes can be introduced without rebuilding from scratch or forcing the finance team into a fixed way of working.
We are projecting growth for these next two years. The analysis, scenario planning, and long-term planning we’ve unlocked with Datarails have been critical in decision-making.
That foundation also gives Kane Realty room to explore what comes next. The team recently began working with Datarails Premium Success and is starting to explore how the AI Connector could extend the value of its connected financial data.
We are excited to continue partnering with Datarails through Premium Success services and unlocking additional value by exploring AI capabilities through the AI Connector.
What began as a way to simplify reporting has become a core part of how Kane Realty is building FP&A. With less time spent organizing data and more time available for analysis, Alex can focus on helping the company understand its performance and plan confidently for what comes next.
Datarails has definitely been a foundational piece of building out FP&A.
