Strange request - client wants me to deliver findings as a PowerPoint presentation instead of my usual detailed PDF report. They said "make it more visual and engaging." Anyone done this before? Worried about losing the technical detail that backs up our recommendations.
Client Wants PowerPoint vs PDF Report
I've done PowerPoint for a few clients. Works well if you structure it right: Executive Summary slides upfront, detailed findings in the middle, appendix with all your technical backup. You can still include meter readings, rate calculations, etc. - just format it better with charts and callout boxes.
PowerPoint can actually be more effective for some findings. I had a client with billing multiplier errors - showing the before/after calculations in a side-by-side chart format made it immediately obvious. Try to keep each major finding to 2-3 slides max though, or it gets unwieldy.
The visual format can help with buy-in from non-technical executives. I use screenshots of actual bills with arrows pointing to the errors, before/after usage graphs, stuff like that. Just make sure you still provide a detailed written appendix they can reference later and share with the utility.
One advantage of PPT - easier to present remotely or in conference rooms. Had a client last year where I walked through the slides with their whole facilities team on a conference call. Wouldn't have worked as well with a traditional report format.
Thanks for the input everyone. I think I'll try a hybrid approach - PowerPoint for the main presentation but with a detailed PDF appendix. Best of both worlds. Harriet, let us know how it goes!