Operations2 min read
The spreadsheet is not the problem. The fourth copy is.
Spreadsheets get blamed for a lot of operational mess. The real issue is duplicate sources of truth, and fixing that does not always mean replacing the sheet.
[Service 003]
Custom internal tools & operations dashboards
The screen your team lives in all day. Built around how the work already happens rather than an idealised version of it, with the underlying data one click away.
- Typical timeline
- 4–8 weeks
- Engagement
- Project
- Where
- Los Angeles + remote
[You probably need this if]
- 01A shared spreadsheet has become the system of record
- 02Different people have different definitions of the same thing
- 03Leadership gets numbers from a meeting instead of a screen
- 04New hires take weeks to learn “how we do it here”
[What you get]
- Workflow mapping
- Tool design and build
- Roles and permissions
- Training and documentation
[What it looks like]
Before → after
Eleven spreadsheets tracking production
One board with one definition of a batch
A nightly status meeting to agree on the numbers
A live dashboard with the rows behind every number
Returns handled in an inbox
A returns queue with status, reason codes and refunds in one place
[Common tools on these projects]
Integrates with
- PostgreSQL
- Supabase
- Retool
- Google Sheets
- Airtable
- SlackSlack
[What happens after you email]
How it works
- 0130 min, free
Call
You describe what is slow. I ask where the time actually goes. If I am not the right fit, I say so on the call.
- 021–2 weeks
Audit
I map how the business runs, the tools and the manual steps between them, and put a time and dollar cost on each. You get a written plan whether or not we continue.
- 033–12 weeks
Build
Fixed scope, weekly updates, working software early. You see it running on your own data before it is finished.
- 04Ongoing, optional
Hand over
Documentation, a recorded walkthrough, and access to everything. Retainer support if you want it; not required.
[Internal tools & dashboards]
Questions
Why not Airtable or Notion?
Often they are the right answer, and I build on them. A custom tool earns its place when you need real permissions, offline use, barcode input, complex logic, or you have outgrown row and automation limits.
Can it work on the warehouse floor?
Yes. Tools can be built for tablets and phones, with barcode scanning, large touch targets and tolerance for patchy Wi-Fi.
[Internal tools & dashboards near you]
- Downtown LA
- Santa Monica
- Culver City
- West Hollywood & Beverly Hills
- El Segundo
- Torrance & the South Bay
- Long Beach
- Vernon & Commerce
- Pasadena
- Glendale
- Burbank
- San Fernando Valley
[Other services]
[Further reading]
Buying software2 min read
Nine questions to ask before hiring someone to build your internal tools
How to hire a developer, agency or freelancer for automation and internal software without ending up with something nobody can maintain.
Tell me what is slow.
A 30-minute call, no charge. You will leave with a clearer picture of the problem whether or not we work together.
● Booking projects for Q4 2026