11 Best Automated Reporting Tools & How To Choose the Right One

Just like that… it’s report-o-clock again.

It sneaks up in the blink of an eye. After executing client campaigns and running in-between meetings, suddenly, it’s already time to generate those monthly reports. 

Let’s be honest–it isn’t the most exciting activity, especially when a painstaking manual process is involved. First, there’s logging into each of your client’s marketing platforms, one by one. After compiling all that data into some bland doc or spreadsheet, you still have to analyze it. And make recommendations.

Multiply this exercise by your total number of clients, and it’s a recipe for a monthly recurring nightmare. 

If this is your current reality, it doesn’t have to be. The right report automation tool streamlines this entire process, saving valuable time for more high-level activities.

That said, how should your agency choose a report automation tool? From price point to integration capabilities, there are many moving parts to consider. If the thought of it seems overwhelming, no worries–we’ve got you covered!

In this article, we’ll explore the top report automation tools for agencies, along with advice for deciding on the best option.

What Is Report Automation?

Report automation is the process of using software to generate reports without manual intervention. It involves consolidating relevant data across multiple sources and presenting it in a professional, visual format. 

Essentially, report automation tools are used to cut down on excessive manual work, improve operational efficiency, and create a scalable process.

An automated, streamlined reporting process has saved our team a significant amount of time previously spent manually creating reports. This newfound efficiency allows us to focus more on strategic planning, analysis, and delivering high-quality services to our clients.

Jessica Crist, Production Manager, High Five Media

Why Should Agencies Automate Their Reports?

The burning question remains: Why does report automation matter for agencies specifically? 

For starters, consider how many reports and metrics your agency juggles per month. Not sure about these exact numbers? Consider the following stats from our 2023 Marketing Agency Benchmarks Survey:

• 49% of agencies have 30+ clients.

• 58% of agencies send monthly client reports.

• 59% of agencies track 6 or more KPIs per client.

To put this into perspective, say you’re an agency with twenty clients, and they each track five KPIs. Already, that’s 150 data points per month! Depending on the intricacies of their campaigns, manual report generation may take at least three hours. Remember, there’s logging into each account, analyzing individual campaigns, and manually formatting it into a report. 

Number-wise, that’s 100+ billable hours evaporated into thin air. Every. Single. Month. 

Plus, manual reporting methods lead to human error. From typing the wrong number to pasting an incorrect data set, it’s easy to make mistakes when handling a large volume of data.

Needless to say, this process is not sustainable, especially as new clients or projects come on board while scaling the agency. Technically, your agency could hire a dedicated Manual Report Specialist. However, there’s a much better way to solve these reporting woes–investing in the right automation tool.

Before AgencyAnalytics, we manually compiled data from various sources, which was time-consuming and labor-intensive. Now, we streamline the reporting process, maximize resources, and save time. We can quickly create custom reports and automate the data collection process. This reduces the risk of errors and ensures that the data is accurate.  

Daniel Dye, President, Native Rank

According to our Marketing Agency Benchmarks Survey, AgencyAnalytics users reduce their report creation time, on average, to less than 30 minutes–and today, with our new Smart Reports feature, many agencies have further reduced their report creation time to just 11 seconds!

To summarize, investing in an automated reporting system is a way to:

• Eliminate manual data collection, giving your staff more time to focus on strategy, executing deliverables, and client relationship management.

• Minimize errors and discrepancies that often occur in manual reporting methods.

• Streamline report creation, task management, and other repetitive work.

• Impress clients with professional, visually appealing reports that are always delivered on time.

• Empower your staff and clients with real-time and historical data for informed decision-making.

7 Types of Reporting Tools Agencies Need

When it comes to automated reporting, not all tools are created equal. Different types of reports serve specific functions, depending on the needs of your agency and your clients.

Below are some essential types of automated reporting tools that agencies commonly use:

1. SEO Keyword Ranking Reports

These tools track the performance of specific keywords in search engine results over time. By monitoring keyword rankings, agencies can measure the impact of their SEO efforts and identify opportunities for content optimization. Ideal for SEO-focused agencies or any agency offering search engine optimization services, these tools help demonstrate the value of ongoing SEO work to clients.

2. Social Media Reporting Tool

Social media reporting tools provide insights into metrics like follower growth, engagement rates, and reach across social platforms. They consolidate data from multiple social networks into one social media dashboard, making it easier to track and compare performance. Agencies that manage social media campaigns for clients will find these tools invaluable for demonstrating the impact of their strategies and adjusting tactics on the fly.

3. SEO Reporting Software

Beyond tracking keyword rankings, SEO reporting software offers a more comprehensive view of organic performance by including metrics such as traffic, backlinks, and on-page SEO factors. It allows agencies to correlate SEO activities with website growth and other performance indicators. This type of tool is ideal for agencies offering in-depth SEO audits and ongoing optimization.

4. PPC Reporting Tool

PPC reporting tools consolidate data from various paid advertising platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads. They track metrics such as click-through rates (CTR), cost per conversion, and ad spend, providing insights into campaign effectiveness. For agencies specializing in paid media, these tools help showcase the return on ad spend (ROAS) and make it easy to adjust bids and budgets based on real-time performance data.

5. SEM Reporting Tool

Similar to PPC reporting, SEM tools focus on a broader range of search engine marketing activities, including paid and organic search. They track metrics such as impressions, conversions, keyword rankings, and quality scores across different search engines. This type of tool is suitable for agencies managing multiple search engine marketing channels, allowing them to optimize cross-channel performance effectively.

6. Ecommerce Reporting Software

Ecommerce reporting software tracks key metrics from Ecommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce. It should also integrate data from various sales channels and marketing campaigns, providing a holistic view of an ecommerce client’s performance. This type of reporting tool is essential for agencies working with online retailers, helping them identify trends, optimize marketing strategies, and increase revenue.

7. Digital Marketing Reporting Software

For agencies managing multiple marketing channels—such as SEO, PPC, social media, and email marketing—digital marketing reporting software offers an all-in-one solution. These tools integrate data from various sources to create a comprehensive view of each client’s marketing efforts, making it easier to track overall performance and make data-driven decisions. The benefits of an all-in-one tool are clear: it streamlines the reporting process, reduces manual work, and allows agencies to provide a holistic view of campaign performance, which is crucial for building trust with clients and driving long-term growth.

What To Look for in Automated Reporting Software

So, you’ve decided that a report automation tool is in the cards. Hooray! 

There’s just one challenge–you’re not sure which one to choose. After all, there are many data reporting tools on the market, all promising to make your agency’s life easier. 

However, remember that all tools aren’t made equally. Before making a rash decision, consider the following questions to choose the best reporting software.

11 Popular Automated Reporting Tools for Agencies

Now that you’ve got a better idea of what to look for, here are the top automated reporting tools to explore. 

1. AgencyAnalytics

AgencyAnalytics is a user-friendly, all-in-one reporting solution made specifically for marketing agencies. With over 80+ integrations, this tool is a solid option for automated reporting and in-depth data analysis.

Some standout features include drag-and-drop functionality, white labeling, pre-built report templates, real-time dashboards, and client login access. Also, agencies have the option to create an 11-second Smart Report that’s tailor-made according to a client’s unique metrics and campaigns. AgencyAnalytics offers 24/5 support via email and chat, along with an extensive knowledge base for platform-related questions. 

Plans start at $59 per month. The basic level includes an extensive range of features, such as an unlimited number of client logins, report scheduling, custom comments, and training webinars. Plus, all plans come with access to 80+built-in integrations, which means there’s no need to purchase it as an add-on.

The Grow pricing tier starts from $179 per month (with 10 client campaigns). In addition to the previously mentioned features, this package includes an unlimited number of custom dashboards, white labeling, custom metric creation, cross-campaign reporting, agency PPC markups, and in-platform client messaging.

Large-scale agencies will benefit from AgencyAnalytics’ custom plans, which include support like monthly training, a dedicated Account Manager, white glove migration, and API access. 

2. DashThis

DashThis is a reporting automation tool popularly used by smaller agencies and businesses. A few of their standout features include 34+ integrations, client account creation, and report templates. The platform also offers various customization options like white labeling, comment addition, and markup inclusions.

Their Professional pricing tier starts from $149/month and includes unlimited integrations, ten dashboards, and white-labeling. The Business package starts from $289/month for the platform’s full range of features and 25 dashboards. 

To access more dashboards, a Standard package is available from $449/month. It increases by roughly $100 as more dashboards are added. If your agency is scaling and doesn’t want to be restricted by dashboard caps or a limited number of integrations, it may be wise to seek a DashThis alternative.

It’s worth noting that DashThis has a separate ecommerce tool that works via import from CSV files. Because there aren’t built-in ecommerce integrations, it may detract from having a seamless reporting experience.

3. DataBox

Similarly, DataBox is another reporting platform that centralizes marketing data in one place. Geared specifically toward growing businesses, this reporting platform offers data visualization, pre-built report templates, and goal-tracking features. 

The Professional package (for mid-size businesses) starts at $135/month and includes 15 users, custom dashboards, 3 data sources, and up to 300 custom metrics. At $319/month, the Growth tier comes with features such as unlimited historical insights and hourly-updated data. All packages come with the option to add data sources for $4.80 each. 

DataBox offers an add-on to sync data at 15-minute intervals at $18/month (for selected integrations only), which could make it challenging to monitor real-time insights. There’s also an option to purchase priority support for an additional $100/month, including a one-hour phone call scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. 

Infusing white labeling across reports and dashboards comes in at an additional $250/month, which could quickly rack up costs. Consider an all-in-one option instead of DataBox if your agency needs a solution without too many pricey add-ons.

The platform is only available in English, which may pose an issue for multilingual clients who prefer reporting in another language.

4. Klipfolio 

Klipfolio is a business intelligence tool offering advanced features like built-in integrations, white labeling, and custom dashboards. This platform has an online knowledge base and a ticketing system for any user-related issues. 

The Agency Starter package starts from $49/month, which includes ten dashboards, ten clients, and a 1-hour data refresh. Pricing for all other plans (Agency Lite, Pro, and Premier) is available by request only. 

If you’re managing many client accounts, note that the highest Premier plan offers 70 dashboards for up to 70 clients. It may also require more time to learn or customize than other platforms since it’s heavily focused on intricate business intelligence. 

To avoid being bound by these cap restrictions or configuration issues, seek a Klipfolio alternative. 

5. Looker Studio (Formerly Google Data Studio)

Looker Studio is a business intelligence platform that offers interactive dashboards, visualizations, and data consolidation across multiple platforms. 

This tool offers free templates for platforms primarily in Google’s ecosystem (e.g., Google Analytics, Google Ads, and YouTube). This makes it a popular option for starter agencies or those specializing exclusively in these services.

That said, there’s no guarantee that these features will remain free forever. For example, consider the multiple Google features phased out over time. Users may also experience untimely data delays or crashes, which puts a damper on the entire reporting process. 

There’s a paid Looker Studio Pro version that starts from $9/month per project, including up to twenty report delivery schedules (PDF format only). If your agency is midsize to enterprise level, this may pose a significant challenge for report automation across all client accounts. It may also require technical expertise to import data outside the platform’s native integrations (e.g., Shopify). 

To avoid outgrowing this platform, invest in a Looker Studio alternative with built-in capabilities for growing agencies.

6. NinjaCat

NinjaCat is a digital marketing performance platform that consolidates data across multiple channels. Some key features include auto-generated reports, interactive dashboards, and white labeling. NinjaCat also has various built-in integrations, including Facebook, AdRoll, and Yelp. 

Note that NinjaCat’s pricing is available by request, so your agency must sign up for a demo before knowing the upfront cost. This suggests the platform is designed for agencies with larger budgets, which could be costly if you’re still in the growth phase. 

Given the platform’s intricate user interface, there may be a steep learning curve and slow loading times. To avoid unexpected delays, opt for a report automation tool that is better suited for agencies.

7. Octoboard

Octoboard is a no-code automated reporting platform used to centralize marketing data. Some key features include 300+ templates, white labeling, automated reports, and a client portal. There’s also an online knowledge base for customer support. 

Their Marketing Analytics package starts from €25/month for five clients (roughly $27/month), with a cost increase for additional clients. Also, there are separate add-ons for PPC analytics ($27/month) and ecommerce analytics ($16/month). 

Because of the pricing structure, expenses could quickly add up (especially if you’re a full-service, larger agency). In this scenario, it may be best to seek an Octoboard alternative and invest in a more compact, all-in-one solution.

8. ReportGarden

ReportGarden is a software that helps digital marketing teams automate report creation and blend data across various sources. This platform offers features like live dashboards, report templates, and scheduling. ReportGarden’s capabilities primarily focus on SEO, paid ads, social media, and franchise marketing. 

Their Standard plan starts from $124/month, with up to 30 data sources (without call tracking). The Professional plan is available from $299/month which includes access to 70 data sources (not including Shopify, Klaviyo, Amazon Ads, and ActiveCampaign). 

The Agency plan comes with access to more data sources at a significant increase of $649/month. Finally, their Enterprise plan is the only option that includes an unlimited number of users, with pricing available by request. If your agency needs access to all integrations (regardless of plan), look into a more feature-inclusive reporting solution. 

9. Supermetrics 

Supermetrics is an automation tool that pulls data from various sources into a centralized hub. Their range of integrations includes Google Analytics, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

This data is moved to another platform for further analysis, such as Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel. It’s then formatted into pre-built report templates or data warehouses for this chosen platform.

Pricing is based on the platform that data is exported to. For example, the Google Sheets Essentials plan starts at $29/month, which includes four data sources, a weekly data refresh, and one user account. The Core package ($159/month) includes three users, daily data refresh, and twenty-six data sources. 

The Super plan increases to $999/month with five users, fifty-two data sources, and hourly data refresh. This may pose a challenge for in-house collaboration and real-time data tracking, especially if your clients use a range of marketing channels.

Because of the complex pricing structure, there may also be exorbitant costs for each integration. If your agency wants to avoid developing an over-reliance on spreadsheets for complex data processing, consider a Supermetrics alternative.

10. TapClicks

TapClicks is a cloud-based platform that unifies marketing data across multiple channels. This tool offers automated reports, real-time dashboards, and custom branding.

For reporting-specific pricing, agencies will have to reach out to TapClicks for a custom quote and demo. While this may allow for tailored solutions, it also suggests a significantly higher price point.

Also, TapClicks solely offers customer support via online guides, training, and form submissions. This may pose a challenge if more immediate or hands-on help is needed, especially for larger agencies. In this case, your agency may benefit from a TapClicks alternative with more active, live support.

11. Whatagraph

Whatagraph is an automated reporting software that consolidates cross-channel data and integrates with 45+ platforms. Additionally, the platform also includes pre-built report templates and data export options.

The Essential plan starts from $249/month, which includes features like five user profiles and historical data. The Advanced plan ($499/month) includes ten user profiles and custom metric creation. At the Custom pricing level, only twenty user profiles are available. Creating a custom domain also comes as an add-on cost for the Advanced and Custom plans. 

While Whatagraph integrates with various platforms, larger agencies may encounter roadblocks if they require a more extensive range of integrations. Plus, the limited number of user profiles (even at the Custom level) may become challenging for in-platform collaboration or creating multiple client logins.

If your agency prioritizes an unlimited number of login profiles and more integrations (regardless of plan), explore a Whatagraph alternative instead.

Invest in an Automated Reporting System That Grows With Your Agency

As we’ve covered, there’s no shortage of automated reporting software out there. 

That said, they’re all built differently. Some are business intelligence tools that are solid but won’t quite meet your agency’s needs. Other platforms may seem promising on the surface but fall short of integrations, customer support, or other must-have features.

Why settle for blanket software solutions or complex code-based tools that don’t meet your reporting needs? No need to toggle with platform limitations or other hiccups–give AgencyAnalytics a try!

Designed specifically for agencies, this automation reporting software makes it easy to:

• Generate professional, comprehensive reports that include data visualizations and actionable data.

• Consolidate metrics across 80+ data streams, including Google Analytics, TikTok, and HubSpot.

• Import data from Google Sheets, which makes it easy to integrate out-of-platform insights (e.g., your client’s cash flow statements).

• Offer a customized reporting experience tailored to each client’s campaigns and unique needs.

Transform raw data into valuable insights. Automate reports, consolidate data across multiple sources, and share key performance indicators with clients. Try AgencyAnalytics today; it’s free for 14 days.

If you’re looking for an all-in-one reporting tool for your agency that manages various marketing tactics and channels, AgencyAnalytics has to be your go-to reporting solution. Create stunning automated reports and dashboards in just a few minutes.

Michael Wisby / CEO