Richer data models are great for operations, but they make reporting harder. As programs, services, engagements, and outcomes expand, you quickly run into sibling and cousin relationships that Salesforce Reports struggle to express cleanly. This session gives a practical decision framework for knowing when native Salesforce reports are still the right answer, and when you should shift to Tableau, Tableau Next, or Data Cloud transformations to get accurate, scalable insight.

We will walk through common reporting questions and map each to the simplest tool that can answer it well. You will leave with a repeatable approach for moving from report types to purpose built datasets, and for explaining the “why” of that shift to stakeholders who just want a dashboard.

Location Details

As you can see from the information in the Event Location field, we are NOT at the library. We will be utilizing the Association of American Universities' conference space. AAU is located on the fifth (5) floor of the Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) building. Please enter the building through the main entrance at the corner of 12th and H St NW. Do not try to enter the building from New York Ave NW. Check in with the security guard, and they will let you up to the 5th floor.

Parking Garage Info: There is a public garage found at 1100 New York Ave (directly across the street from the entrance to the AAAS building. Operated by LAZ Parking
Evenings (After 5:00 pm): $10; Open until 10:00 pm

Metro Accessible: The closest metro station will be Metro Center; exit at 12th & G. You will turn and walk up the street for 1 block, passing the Marriott Metro Center.