MindFire Communications cut reporting time, gained deeper insights, and turned data into a valuable client service.
Inga Rundquist is the Social Media and Public Relations Director at MindFire Communications, a full-service branding and advertising agency. Based in strategic insight and creative execution, MindFire Communications helps clients connect with their audiences through thoughtful marketing and branding strategies. Inga plays a crucial role in shaping social media and PR efforts, both for clients and internally.
Before using Databox, MindFire Communications struggled with a fragmented reporting process. Each department manually pulled data from multiple sources, compiling it into custom decks using Excel graphs and tables. This method was inconsistent, error-prone, and incredibly time-intensive.
“We would piece together a deck for our clients every month or quarter, pulling data from different platforms and trying to make it visual and understandable,” Inga shared. The disjointed approach not only consumed valuable time but also limited the team’s ability to tell a clear, holistic data story. For Inga, this meant dreading the end of each month, knowing she’d spend hours pulling and formatting social media data.
The search for a solution began during the chaos of COVID. Inga and a colleague started exploring analytics platforms, sitting through numerous demos and product trials. Databox quickly stood out for its user-friendly interface, marketing-specific features, and suitability for agencies.
“We didn’t need a data science degree to get started,” Inga noted. “That was really important since we were coming from different disciplines.”
MindFire Communications started small, building dashboards for internal data to test integrations and explore the platform’s capabilities. They then rolled it out to client accounts with existing reporting needs, gradually expanding from there. Despite minor challenges like aligning API data with previously reported metrics and learning how to connect unsupported platforms via Google Sheets, the implementation was smooth.
“It wasn’t difficult to get internal buy-in. Once leadership saw the research and the potential, they were on board quickly,” said Inga.
Databox fundamentally changed how MindFire Communications handles data. Reporting that once took Inga two hours now takes just 15 minutes—an 88% time reduction. More importantly, the team can focus on analyzing data and advising clients, rather than formatting graphs.
“Our clients don’t want us spending their budget pulling numbers. They want insights that improve their campaigns,” Inga said.
Databox also enabled MindFire Communications to introduce analytics as a formal service line, something they hadn’t been able to do previously due to time constraints. Clients now have access to real-time dashboards, leading to more sophisticated conversations and faster strategic pivots.
“We help clients identify trends in regular KPI meetings and pivot strategies to maximize impact. It removes subjectivity and lets the data guide our recommendations.”
“If you’re thinking about using an analytics platform, just try it. Set up a few boards and see what you can do. You’ll quickly see how powerful it is.”
If Databox disappeared tomorrow? “I’d be worried. It’s essential to how we demonstrate impact for our clients.”