The landscape of Yardi reporting is evolving, and with the rise of Yardi Elevate (also known as Voyager 8), a significant change is underway. A key aspect of this shift involves the reporting tools you rely on. For optimal Voyager 8 usage, SSRS reports will need to be converted to Yardi Spreadsheet Reporting (YSR). 

Why the shift? 

Yardi Elevate has positioned YSR as its preferred and default reporting format. This strategic move is driven by the numerous advantages YSR offers within the Elevate ecosystem. For organizations planning to upgrade to or currently using Yardi Elevate for any of its products, understanding and preparing for this transition is crucial. Even if a full upgrade isn’t immediate, proactively planning the conversion can streamline the process down the line.

The Transition Process: From SSRS to YSR

Migrating your reports from SSRS to YSR involves a structured approach:

  • Mapping out your existing SSRS reports: This initial step requires a thorough inventory of all SSRS reports currently in use. It’s vital to identify the expressions and logic embedded within each report, as the complexity of these elements will influence the conversion process. More intricate reports with numerous expressions will naturally present a greater challenge during conversion.
  • Prioritizing reports for conversion: Given that you might have a substantial number of SSRS reports, it’s essential to prioritize which ones to convert first. This prioritization should be based on usage frequency and their critical importance to your business operations. Engaging with your team to identify these integral reports is a key part of this stage.
  • Rebuilding the SSRS reports in YSR: The core of the migration involves recreating your SSRS reports within the YSR framework. For a report to function correctly in Elevate, it must be specifically configured within the YSR environment. This often means a complete rebuild rather than a simple conversion.

The Benefits of Embracing YSR

While the idea of rebuilding reports might seem daunting, transitioning to YSR unlocks several powerful features and advantages:

  • Ease of Template Creation: YSR leverages the familiarity of Microsoft Excel for template creation. Individuals with Excel proficiency can readily design report templates, although they might require assistance in connecting these templates to the Yardi data.
  • Enhanced Control Over Excel Output: Unlike SSRS reports which are converted to Excel, YSR templates are native Excel files. This provides greater control over the final appearance in Excel, making editing and adapting reports to your specific needs significantly easier.
  • Integrated E-Signatures: YSR offers a built-in e-signature option, eliminating the need for third-party services to obtain signatures on reports generated within Elevate. Setting up e-signatures within the template allows for a streamlined signing process.
  • Direct Report Distribution from Yardi: YSR enables you to send reports directly via email from within Yardi. This enhances efficiency and communication, and reports can even be scheduled for automatic distribution.
  • Identifying System Inefficiencies: YSR can be used to create reports that identify resource-intensive processes, helping you schedule necessary reports during off-peak hours to optimize server performance and avoid system slowdowns.
  • Improved Data Fidelity: YSR can be integrated with Voyager’s built-in standard analytic financial reports, which include validation checks. Utilizing these existing tools within YSR enhances the reliability of your data.
  • Leveraging Excel Functionalities: YSR seamlessly integrates with Excel’s vast array of features, such as creating diverse graphs and hiding irrelevant columns, leading to more comprehensive and user-friendly reports.
  • Streamlined Report Distribution: YSR’s report packet and correspondence features allow for efficient bulk emailing and grouping of reports for specific recipients, saving considerable time in disseminating information.
  • Better Layout in Excel: YSR templates ensure that what you design in Excel is precisely what you get in the generated report, with columns and rows aligning as expected. This resolves potential formatting issues sometimes encountered when exporting SSRS reports to Excel.
  • Dynamic Reporting within Excel: Features like Freeze Panes in YSR allow you to keep key column or row headers visible while scrolling, improving report navigation. Conditional formatting can also be easily applied within the Excel-based templates.
  • Consolidated Reporting: YSR allows for the export of multiple related reports to different sheets within the same Excel file, simplifying comparative analysis.

Seeking Expert Guidance

The transition from SSRS to YSR, while offering significant benefits, can present complexities. Lynx Systems possesses the expertise to guide you through this process. Our team has developed strategies to make the conversion as efficient as possible while maintaining the integrity of the report logic. We use that expertise to build an effective migration plan, and identify which reports require updates. We have a thorough understanding of both real estate and property management processes and the intricacies of Yardi systems. We can assist with:

  • Converting existing SSRS reports to YSR.
  • Building new custom reports tailored to your specific business needs using YSR.
  • Ensuring seamless integration with Yardi Elevate.
  • Providing best practices for YSR development to produce high-quality reports.

Planning for the Future

The move to Yardi Elevate signifies a forward-thinking approach to property management. Recognizing the shift in reporting standards and proactively planning the migration from SSRS to YSR is a critical step in maximizing the benefits of this new platform. By understanding the process, leveraging the advantages of YSR, and seeking expert support when needed, you can ensure a smooth transition and continue to generate the vital business intelligence you rely on.