Reference Scenario: Replacing a Fragile 15-Tab Spreadsheet with a Bespoke Client Portal
Reference scenario (not a client): replacing a fragile 15-tab spreadsheet with a secure Next.js 15 and PostgreSQL portal with RLS is projected to eliminate billing errors, cut invoice approval from 14 days to under 48 hours, and restore 15 partner hours per week.
The typical consultancy manages deliverables, client billing, and project milestones across a fragile 15-tab shared spreadsheet, with frequent formula corruption, version conflicts, and 15 hours lost weekly to manual reconciliation.
An estimated £24,000/year in partner hours spent reconciling numbers, with disputed invoices taking up to 14 days to be approved.
Inherent architectural failure of flat spreadsheets for multi-user concurrency without row-level access control; clients lack live transparency and staff spend every Friday assembling manual status PDFs.
Secure bespoke client portal built on Next.js 15 and PostgreSQL with strict Row Level Security (RLS). Gives corporate clients a live self-service dashboard to track milestones, sign off deliverables, and view invoices in real time.
Complete consolidation of operational workflows and billing into a secure bespoke web system, eliminating shared spreadsheets, formula corruption, and billing discrepancies.
Projected: zero invoicing discrepancies, 7x faster invoice approval, and a 60-day payback.
Projected: zero invoicing errors, invoice sign-off cut from 14 days to under 48 hours (7x faster), and 15 partner hours per week restored to billable advisory.
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