Learn how GBG automated client reporting and cut hours of manual work. The result? Faster insights, better client conversations, and a more strategic team.
Nik Glanz is the Marketing Intelligence Lead at GBG, a marketing services agency that works primarily with B2B manufacturing and distribution companies. GBG provides everything from marketing strategy and execution to website development and business development initiatives. Nik leads the charge in helping clients understand how marketing impacts sales through effective data storytelling.
Before Databox, GBG relied on Google Data Studio (now Looker Studio) for client reporting. However, the platform lacked critical integrations outside of the Google ecosystem, which created a major bottleneck for Nik and his team.
“We were exporting data manually every month just to populate dashboards,” Nik explained. “It took an enormous amount of time and left little room for deeper insights.”
This lack of real-time data access and integration not only slowed internal operations but also limited GBG’s ability to deliver meaningful insights to clients. The team spent most of their time organizing and cleaning data instead of interpreting it to influence strategy.
The turning point came when GBG prioritized offering more consistent and insightful reporting to clients. Nik and his team explored several alternatives to Looker Studio, including Supermetrics and Tableau. It was through a partner’s recommendation that they discovered Databox.
“What sold us was the dynamic deck capabilities,” Nik shared. “We needed to automate our client reports without losing time to manual entry. Databox did exactly that.”
Once they began testing Databox, the difference was clear. It offered superior data visualization, easier integrations, and a more intuitive experience.
GBG originally planned to onboard clients to Databox over a 12-month period. But due to the ease of use and the time saved, they finished onboarding all clients in just three months.
“We started with a few high-impact clients, but the setup was so fast and beneficial that we accelerated our rollout across the board,” said Nik.
Initial concerns about switching platforms, especially from a free tool to a paid solution, quickly disappeared. “Once we saw how much time we were saving, the investment was more than justified.”
Since implementing Databox, GBG has seen massive improvements:
“We used to be the bottleneck. Now everyone can access what they need, when they need it. That’s been huge for internal alignment and client satisfaction.”
Nik also noted that better data access has transformed client conversations. “When we sit down to review reports, we’re able to have more meaningful discussions. The data sparks ideas and new strategies.”
“Just try it,” Nik advises. “Databox has been everything we wanted and more. I never had to convince our team; once they saw what was possible, they were in.”
When asked how he’d feel if Databox was taken away, Nik didn’t hesitate: “I’d be pretty upset. I honestly don’t know how we’d replace what we have now.”