Coupler.io Blog

7 Best Automated Reporting Tools for Everyone

  • Zakhar Yung

    • What is automated reporting?

    In simple terms, automated reporting is the process of building reports without manual intervention, typically on a scheduled basis. It includes gathering, analyzing, and presenting data in a predefined manner. Therefore, streamlining the reporting process with timely and accurate insights.

    The process includes:

    Unlike manual reporting, you don’t need to repeat the steps every time to update data. The report, which is built once, updates data on its own on a set frequency (every hour, day, week, etc)

    Benefits of automated reporting

    Manual data reporting requires you to spend hours collecting and analyzing data. Yet, there is still a risk of inaccuracies in the reported data due to human errors. Also, you may not be able to analyze the real-time data.

    Reporting automation solves these problems and helps you:

    The automated reports require a one-time initial setup, which is totally worth it considering its long-term benefits.

    Types of automated reporting tools

    You may need specific tools to automate each stage of the reporting process, like data collection, transformation, and analysis.

    Here are the types of tools to automate the reports:

    In most cases, you may need multiple tools to automate each stage of the reporting process. Thankfully, there are better options available — you can use all-in-one reporting automation platforms, such as Coupler.io, as an alternative to multiple data connectors.

    List of the best tools for automated reporting

    Here, we list the top automated data reporting tools and compare them to one another.

    PlatformType of toolUsabilityData source integrationsAutomation capabilities
    1. Coupler.ioNo-code automatic data integration platform– No coding required
    – Very easy to use    		– 70+ data sources (marketing, finance, social media, etc.)
    – Get data from any source via REST APIs    		– Fully automated dataflows
    – Schedule automatic data refreshes (e.g., every 15 minutes)
    2. Looker StudioData visualization & reporting tool– Drag-and-drop interface
    – Requires technical knowledge for advanced analytics    		– ~20+ Google native connectors (e.g., Google Ads, GA4, YouTube
    – 600+ partner connectors     		– Supports automated data refreshes at regular intervals
    – Get report PDFs directly via email
    3. Power BIBusiness intelligence & data visualization tool– Easy for basic reporting
    – Requires Power Query knowledge for advanced data analytics and integration    		– 100+ native connectors (databases, SaaS apps, web APIs)An online spreadsheets tool with basic analytics features
    4. TableauBusiness intelligence & data visualization tool– Drag-and-drop interface
    – Requires technical expertise for advanced data transformations    		– Requires Power BI Service (Pro) to automate reports
    – Schedule auto-refreshes (for e.g., every 30 minutes)    		– Schedule data refreshes at regular intervals
    – Offer webhooks for notifications
    – Automate analytics using Tableau Pulse (AI)
    5. Qlik SenseBusiness intelligence & data analytics platform– User-friendly platform for beginners
    – Drag-and-drop interface for building reports    		– Broad data source support (databases, applications, plus integrated ETL and ML features). No-code “Application Automation” for workflows.– Daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly data reloads
    – Set up trigger-based actions (such as sending emails or notifications).
    6. Google SheetsAn online spreadsheet tool with basic analytics features– Very easy and familiar interface– Easily import CSV, JSON, XML data via native formulas
    – Third-party add-ons are available to connect other data sources
    – Supports custom script for data integration    		– Refresh data via app script based on triggers
    – Formulas to auto-apply calculations and transformations
    7. Microsoft ExcelDesktop-based spreadsheet & data analysis tool– Easy to use for basic data management
    – Requires VBA knowledge for advanced analytics    		– Connects to SQL databases, Azure, web APIs, etc. via Power Query (Get & Transform)
    – Add-ins available for third-party connectors
    – Supports OLE/ODBC and external data connections    		– Macros and VBA scripts for automation
    – Update data every 5 minutes (Excel lacks a built-in scheduler when closed unless combined with Power Automate or Windows Task Scheduler)

    ? Pro Tip: Most reporting tools excel at visualization but struggle with data collection from multiple sources. If you’re working with data from Facebook Ads, Google Analytics, CRM systems, or financial platforms, consider pairing your chosen reporting tool with Coupler.io. This automated data integration platform can keep your reports refreshed with up-to-date information from all your business applications.

    Top 7 automated reporting tools in detail

    1. Coupler.io

    Coupler.io is a reporting automation platform that connects over 70 data sources, including marketing, CRM, accounting, HR platforms, to BI tools, spreadsheets, and other destinations. It requires no coding and can be set up in a few minutes. Therefore, it complements your existing reporting tech stack.

    You simply need to pick a data source and specify the required data. Then, make any necessary modifications and connect the final data to the reporting tool. The dataflow can be scheduled to refresh automatically on a schedule (e.g., every 15 minutes).

    You’ll get a preview of the data from the source. If required, modify this data by applying transformations like:

    Use the following interactive form to check out what it looks like:

    For multiple data sources, you can also merge them into a single dataset. Therefore, you eliminate the need to use multiple data connectors for the same type of data source.

    Once the data looks fine, connect it to your preferred destination to build reports, like Looker Studio, Power BI, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, and more.

    You can also set a schedule for the dataflow to auto-update data in your reports. For example, update it every 15 minutes during a specific time range.

    In addition to the supported data sources, the platform also connects to the JSON API. Meaning, you can use it to pull data from any app or service that offers a REST API.

    Therefore, Coupler.io is an all-in-one tool that replaces multiple data connectors and eliminates the need for data transformation within BI tools. You can use it to build reports that update in almost real-time without any coding or technical expertise.

    Key features:

    Reporting automation features:

    Limitations:

    PPC multi-channel dashboard

    Preview dashboard

    PPC multi-channel dashboard

    Preview dashboard

    Pricing:

    Coupler.io is suitable for individuals and business users looking to automate data extraction, transformation, and reporting. It requires no technical knowledge or coding, saving time and resources. 

    Try Coupler.io for free

    2. Looker Studio

    Previously known as Google Data Studio, Looker Studio is a free online reporting tool. You can connect live data sources to the platform and build custom reports using its easy-to-use interface. Users familiar with the GA4 interface may find it very easy to navigate and use.

    It natively offers connectors for Google Services like YouTube, Google Analytics, and Search Console. You can also find partner connectors for other cloud sources. Coupler.io is one of them, offering easy integration of marketing and business apps with Looker Studio. It allows you to connect over 70 sources to Looker Studio reports. No need to export CSV files or build complex integrations yourself.

    For each data source, you can set a data refresh frequency in Looker Studio. Therefore, keeping the report up-to-date with the latest metrics without manual intervention.

    Key features:

    Reporting automation features:

    Limitations:

    Pricing:

    Looker Studio is ideal for small companies and agencies seeking to automate marketing reports, particularly for SEO and web analytics.

    Explore Looker Studio

    3. Power BI

    Microsoft Power BI is an enterprise-level reporting automation tool for advanced analytics. In Power BI Desktop, which is only available for Windows, you can connect to various data sources like web APIs, databases, and other popular services to build automated reports.

    Then, these reports can be published to Power BI Service (requires a paid license) for online access and sharing.

    While Power BI offers extensive native connectors, businesses often need fresh data from marketing platforms like Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, or CRM systems that require additional setup. Coupler.io is a helping hand here by providing a way to sync data from these sources into Power BI datasets. It will keep your reports up-to-date without manual intervention. 

    Key features:

    Reporting automation features:

    Limitations:

    Pricing:

    Note: Enterprise pricing via capacity model ($4995+/month) is also available.

    Compared to Looker Studio, Power BI is an advanced-level reporting automation tool. It’s well-suited for larger organizations (like enterprises), looking to automate reports with advanced analytics requirements.

    Explore Power BI

    4. Tableau

    Tableau is an enterprise-grade, premium BI and automated reporting tool. You can connect to data sources, create a workbook, and schedule extracts to automate report generation. It’s available as a Desktop app as well on on-cloud and Tableau Server for publishing reports.

    Tableau also comes with native AI-powered summaries and insights and natural language query processing, which can be a good addition to automated reporting.

    Key features:

    Reporting automation features:

    Limitations:

    Pricing:

    Note: All these prices are based on annual billing.

    Generally, your team will need multiple Tableau licenses, with at least one Enterprise Creator ($115 per user per month), to start creating reports. Therefore, it’s suitable only for large organizations, such as enterprises, that look to automate reports and meet advanced analytics requirements.

    Explore Tableau

    5. Qlik

    Qlik Sense is a BI cloud platform for enterprises that helps you collect data and create dashboard reports. You can automate report generation by using its Cloud Analytics and Application Automation tools.

    The platform supports live data connections and auto-refreshing extracts, making it one of the best automated reporting tools.

    This reporting automation tool is suitable for large enterprises seeking an advanced reporting solution.

    Key features:

    Reporting automation features:

    Limitations:

    Pricing: No free plan is available. You can contact Qlik for custom pricing as per your requirements.

    Qlik is suitable for large organizations seeking to automate reports with advanced features, including predictive analytics, AI insights, and support for large datasets.

    Explore Qlik

    6. Google Sheets

    You already know this — Google Sheets is a popular spreadsheet tool for managing data. But it can also be used as an automated reporting tool with dynamic data.

    To connect dynamic data sources, you can use:

    Once you have the dynamic data, you can apply calculations and convert it into visuals, such as charts. You can refresh the data in Google Sheets on load or on a specific schedule.

    Key features:

    Reporting automation features:

    Limitations:

    Pricing:

    Google Sheets is suitable for smaller businesses looking to automate basic reports from CSV / XML data sources.

    Explore Google Sheets

    7. Microsoft Excel

    Excel is a well-known spreadsheet tool for analyzing, processing, and visualizing data. It’s not just limited to static files; you can connect Excel to dynamic data sources and prepare automated reports. You can integrate Excel with other Microsoft Products, SQL databases, APIs, and other third-party platforms.

    The automatic data refreshes and VBA (Excel’s scripting language) enable the automation of reports.

    Key features:

    Reporting automation features:

    Limitations:

    Pricing: You can get a subscription to Microsoft Excel through various options. You can get it standalone at $179.99 or as part of the Microsoft 365 plan. Learn more about Microsoft Excel pricing.

    Excel’s VBA and Power Query are advanced reporting features that may require technical expertise. Also, the Desktop version lacks collaboration and sharing, making Excel a choice only for building reports locally.

    Explore Excel

    Bonus: Use Python as an automated reporting tool

    There is always an option to build custom solutions for automated reporting. Data engineers and developers can create programs that automate various stages of reporting, such as data extraction, transformation, and visualization.

    You can:

    Note: While Python is powerful, it requires server setup, error handling, and monitoring. It’s best suited for dev teams, not typical business users.

    For example, here’s a Python script that I created to load products from an API, sort the data by price, and save it to a CSV file.

    import requests
import pandas as pd
import os

api_url = "https://fakestoreapi.com/products"
output_dir = "reports"
output_csv = os.path.join(output_dir, "products_sorted_by_price.csv")

if not os.path.exists(output_dir):
    os.makedirs(output_dir)

try:
    response = requests.get(api_url, timeout=10)
    response.raise_for_status()
    data = response.json()
    df = pd.DataFrame(data)
    print("Data loaded successfully.")
except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
    print(f"Error fetching data: {e}")
    exit(1)
except ValueError as e:
    print(f"Error parsing JSON: {e}")
    exit(1)
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")
    exit(1)

df = df.sort_values(by="price", ascending=False)

df.to_csv(output_csv, index=False)
print(f"Sorted data saved to {output_csv}")

    Similarly, you can use Python as an automated reporting tool by deploying the program on a server. But this method is not feasible in most cases, considering the technical expertise and server requirements.

    How to pick the right automated reporting tools?

    Every reporting software that we listed here has its own pros and cons. Pick a tool that meets your data analysis and reporting requirements, based on these factors:

    I suggest taking a moment to try each of these automated reporting tools and finalize the one that meets your needs. In addition, you can use Coupler.io to easily connect data sources to these reporting platforms without any hassle.

    Finally, you only need this single tool

    Finding the right data connector for reporting is challenging. You might find a great platform, but it’s useless if it lacks native connectors.

    One solution is to use Coupler.io to automatically extract data from sources and integrate it into reporting tools. The platform replaces all other data connectors, transformation steps, or custom solutions that you may need to build automated reports.

    Get started for free: sign up for a Coupler.io account today and start automating reports without any technical headaches.

    Automate reporting with Coupler.io

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