See how this marine manufacturer unified reporting, centralized KPIs across two companies, and enabled real-time insights that improved team alignment and operational performance.
Martin Saunders is the Managing Director of both Rivertrace and Solar Solve, two UK-based manufacturers serving the global marine industry. With a focus on performance and continuous improvement, Martin leads operations across these distinct yet complementary businesses, which provide equipment for vessels and offshore oil platforms.
As Rivertrace expanded its footprint by acquiring Solar Solve in 2022, Martin encountered a growing operational issue: fragmented data. Each business had its own set of reporting tools, resulting in multiple dashboards, inconsistent reports, and a lack of centralized insights.
“We have different systems, and we were finding that we were having reporting on one system, reporting on another system,” Martin explained. “What we were looking for is a business intelligence platform that would give us one port of call in terms of business reporting.”
The effects were tangible: inefficiency, confusion among teams, and a lack of visibility into performance metrics that were critical to driving improvements, and tied to company bonuses. “I firmly believe that if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” Martin said.
The tipping point came after the acquisition of Solar Solve. Juggling separate reports and systems across two companies was unsustainable.
“The deciding factor was ongoing frustration with having separate reporting, separate reports that had to be emailed out,” Martin shared. “Trying to run all of those different systems made me start looking for a platform that could unite our business intelligence.”
After exploring several tools, Martin found Databox through a simple Google search. What stood out was the intuitive interface, the wide range of integrations, and the ability to see results immediately.
“Within minutes, I could see data coming through from HubSpot, Google Analytics, Search Console, and Google Sheets,” he said. “It was an overwhelmingly easy choice.”
Implementation began with a clear goal: unify KPIs across both companies. Martin mapped out the performance indicators for sales, engineering, support, and workshop teams, then traced the data sources for each metric.
“99% of the time, the answer was yes—Databox could pull the data,” he said.
Using integrations and support from a dedicated account manager, Martin quickly built dashboards, daily scorecards, and reports that are now shared across both offices. TVs display real-time dashboards, and automated emails ensure everyone stays informed.
“The onboarding was slick, and I could see tangible results almost immediately,” he said. “About 90% I could do myself, and the rest I solved with help.”
The impact was immediate. Databox eliminated the need for manual data collection, enabling Martin and his team to shift from “doing data” to using data.
“Before, I used to get too stuck in doing the data, not using it,” Martin explained. “Now, it’s self-fulfilling. Once set up, it just flows.”
With clear, centralized reporting, Martin attributes part of their year-over-year growth to improved visibility and data-driven decision-making.
“We’ve grown year on year over the last five years, and I think a big factor in that is business reporting and Databox,” he said. “You can actually use data rather than trying to work on the data.”
“Go for it,” Martin advises others in a similar situation. “Databox has evolved massively even in the time we’ve used it. It’s not just about getting data, it’s about using it to improve performance and spot problems before they escalate.”
And if Databox were suddenly taken away? “I’d feel like a seven-year-old who’s lost his toys,” he laughed. “It would be a big loss. We’ve woven it into the fabric of our business.”