Every month, the same ritual: Log into Google Ads. Export data. Log into Meta. Export data. Open spreadsheets. Copy-paste. Format. Calculate fees. Build the report. Email clients.
For Kingfisher Ads, this took 2-4 hours. Every. Single. Month.
Now it takes 15 minutes. Most of that is a quick review before sending.
Here's how to build the same thing.
What Gets Automated
The system handles:
- Data pulling - Connect to Google Ads, Meta Ads, analytics platforms via API
- Data transformation - Calculate metrics, fees, percentages
- Report generation - Create formatted spreadsheet or PDF
- Delivery - Email to clients or save to shared folder
The Technical Setup
Step 1: Connect Your Data Sources
Most ad platforms have APIs. Connect them to your automation platform (n8n, Make, Zapier).
Google Ads: Use the Google Ads API or a tool like Supermetrics
Meta Ads: Facebook Marketing API
Analytics: Google Analytics 4 API
Step 2: Define Your Report Structure
What metrics matter? What calculations do you need? For Kingfisher:
- Total ad spend (by platform)
- Performance metrics (impressions, clicks, conversions)
- Management fee calculation
- Month-over-month comparison
Step 3: Build the Pipeline
The workflow runs on a schedule (1st of each month):
- Pull last month's data from each platform
- Transform and calculate
- Generate report (we use Google Sheets)
- Save to client folder
- Send notification that report is ready
Step 4: Handle Multi-Client
If you manage multiple clients, the system loops through each:
- Get client list
- For each client: pull data, generate report, deliver
- Log success/failure
Common Challenges
API rate limits. Ad platforms limit how many requests you can make. Build in delays.
Data inconsistencies. Sometimes platforms report slightly different numbers. Decide which source is authoritative.
Error handling. What if an API is down? Build alerts so you know when something fails.
Client-specific requirements. Different clients want different things. Build flexibility into your templates.
The Results
For Kingfisher Ads:
- 2-4 hours to 15 minutes per month
- Reports run automatically on the 1st
- Consistent formatting every time
- ROI in under 6 weeks
When to Automate Reporting
Good fit:
- Monthly or more frequent reporting
- Multiple clients with similar report needs
- Data comes from platforms with APIs
- Reports follow a consistent structure
Not worth it:
- Quarterly reports only
- Highly custom analysis each time
- Data sources without API access
Getting Started
Start with one report for one client. Prove it works. Then expand.
If you're spending hours on monthly reporting and want that time back, book a call. We'll figure out what can be automated.