Example: Automate Monthly Sales Reports
A real-world example of automating the monthly sales data organization and report writing using Gridie’s agent and workflows.
Scenario
The sales team sends monthly raw sales data as an Excel file. This example automates receiving that data, summing it by team, calculating month-over-month changes, and creating an executive summary sheet.
Before: 2–3 hours of manual work every month After: Done in under 5 minutes with a single workflow run
Step 1: Set Up the Workbook and Sheet Structure
Start by creating a workbook with the following structure:
| Sheet name | Purpose |
|---|---|
RawData | Paste raw data received from the sales team |
Aggregation | Monthly totals by team |
Summary | Final executive report summary |
Step 2: Write the AI Note
Write an AI Note so the agent understands this workbook’s structure.
## Workbook Purpose
Receive monthly sales data from the sales team, aggregate by team, and report to executives.
## Sheet Structure
- RawData: Raw sales team data. Do not modify. Columns: Date, Team, Rep, Sales ($)
- Aggregation: Monthly totals by team. B2:D6 contains team totals (Column A: Team name, Columns B–D: Monthly totals)
- Summary: Executive report. Includes grand total, team share, and month-over-month change
## Rules
- The Sales ($) column includes VAT
- Negative values represent returns
- Display in dollars without decimal placesStep 3: Request the First Tasks from the Agent
After pasting this month’s data into the RawData sheet, ask the agent:
Paste the Data
Paste the data received from the sales team into the RawData sheet.
Request Aggregation
"Sum this month's data from the RawData sheet by team
and enter it into B2:B6 of the Aggregation sheet. Use column A for team order."Request Change Rate Calculation
"In the Aggregation sheet, compare this month's sales (column B) with last month's (column C)
and calculate the change rate in column D as a percentage."Request Summary Report
"Organize this month's total sales, team shares, and month-over-month changes
in the Summary sheet in an executive report format. Also create a table and a simple chart."
Step 4: Save as a Workflow to Use Again Next Month
Once this process is working well, next month you just paste the data and run the workflow.
Ask the agent:
"Save the work we just did (aggregation → change rate calculation → summary organization)
as a workflow. Name it 'Monthly Sales Aggregation'."From then on, paste the raw data each month and run the Monthly Sales Aggregation workflow — it automatically completes everything from aggregation to report creation.
Tip: Saving this workbook as a template lets other projects or teams start with the same structure right away. → Create a template