Excel programming REWE recruiting database

Excel-VBA development of an HR reporting tool for applicant data

REWE Markt GmbH commissioned eWorks, the Frankfurt-based Excel specialist, to develop an Excel tool for the HR department in July 2022. REWE wanted to have a reporting tool programmed in Excel that would fully automate the monthly recording, evaluation and visualization of application and recruitment figures.

It quickly became clear that Microsoft Excel and VBA were the ideal choice. Even before the project began, Microsoft Excel was the company's preferred analysis tool. REWE had developed an Excel prototype in advance, which served as a conceptual template. Excel/VBA therefore promised lower costs and optimum user acceptance compared to alternative platforms (such as COM add-ins with .NET and C#). Existing Excel programmers and licenses on site made the decision even easier. The REWE reporting tool was therefore programmed as an Excel workbook with embedded Excel macros (.xlsm file) and a modern REWE ribbon was integrated for user guidance.

The Excel solution developed was to enable the consolidation of various evaluations into a central reporting tool, standardize the appearance of the reports and reduce the maintenance effort. A central recruiting database for application data, hiring, withdrawals and target figures was to be implemented so that tedious, manual data aggregation would be a thing of the past. The full automation of the data import, including the preparation of large ERP data exports with many hundreds of thousands of lines, proved to be particularly helpful. To ensure optimum performance (because nobody likes to wait!), large data records are classified, categorized and aggregated on the fly. This means that only the data that is actually relevant is saved, which significantly reduces space and time requirements. In addition, filter criteria can be defined to limit the evaluation to subsets. And fully automatic anonymization ensures that GDPR requirements are met and data security is guaranteed in the long term.

Once the HR data has been imported into the reporting tool, it offers flexible numerical and visual evaluations: Overviews and reports can be viewed both regionally and nationally and can be conveniently filtered by sales areas, training areas, school-leaving qualifications, applicant status, training courses and many more. Data visualization is compact or detailed - always in the REWE corporate design. Powerful dashboards with pivot charts and data slices have been created for power users, enabling dynamic filtering and convenient analysis. Last but not least, a programmed Excel export enables evaluations to be converted into Excel files. These can be saved, printed or sent as .XLSX or .PDF files.

Due to the strong Microsoft Excel VBA platform, no more than 10 man-days were required to achieve the initial project goals. As always with software development projects, the proverbial appetite came with eating, so the original project goals were raised as soon as they were achieved. In total, the Excel programming took around 25 man-days - an unrivaled, time- and cost-efficient solution compared to alternative programming platforms.

With the HR tool developed, REWE was able to increase its efficiency many times over. The manual effort was drastically reduced, processes accelerated and sources of error minimized - a real game changer. Users benefit from a digital solution that is efficient, flexible and future-proof. Following completion and commissioning, eWorks regularly supports its client with questions about operation, any program errors and the planning and implementation of additional functions.

The HR reporting tool proves how customized software solutions can simplify processes and reduce costs. Whether automation, data analysis or individual reporting tools - we implement your requirements precisely and efficiently. We can program Excel macros, develop online stores and websites of all kinds, program databases and interfaces and much more. Would you also like to digitize your processes with tailor-made software solutions? Let us revolutionize your processes - with a solution that is precisely tailored to your requirements. Contact us and start your digital transformation!