Compelling cases that impress

Building an effective case

Business cases and decision documents are increasingly being put into presentation form. Complex cases and lots of data need to be presented as briefly as possible and in a simple manner. Moreover, they must captivate and convince. Many people find it difficult to get these kinds of complex cases down on paper. Given the requirements on these types of decks, this is not surprising:

  • Slides must contribute to a cohesive narrative with a clear message
  • Arguments and sub arguments should be logically structured
  • Graphs and visuals should be appealing and easy to comprehend
  • Elements like colors and fonts should enhance the overall appeal
  • Furthermore, incorporating elements of storytelling help to create impactful presentations.

You need a broad set of skills to make something stand out. Whether it’s developing a slide deck, a report or a dashboard. You’ll need a variety of skills ranging from (data) analysis and consulting to visual design.

Need to make a strong impression in a high-stakes presentation?

Looking to save time and effort when creating visuals and presentations?

Do you struggle to effectively communicate your data or ideas?

How we can help

We can help you in a number of ways:

  • Create a deck from scratch, based on your notes and sketches
  • Enhance your existing slides
  • Create specific elements for your deck, such as graphs and visuals
  • Provide feedback and tips on your deck
  • Alleviate any time pressure by taking over certain tasks
We not only specialize in slide deck creation but also offer expertise in designing infographics, dashboards, and reports to meet your diverse needs.
 
We are flexible and understand that the pressure of deadlines demands flexibility and determination.
 
For larger and more complex cases, we prefer to work closely together, ideally in the same physical location. However, we also offer online collaboration if that is more convenient. 

Some of the things we check

If there's lots of data involved and a story to tell, we can visualize it

Presentations

Many cases are communicated through slide decks for effective standalone information delivery. This is our specialization. We can create new ones or review and enhance your existing ones.

Infographics

When you are not directly engaged with your audience but still want to convey a compelling story with data, consider the option of building an infographic. We can assist in creating one for you.

Graphs

Graphs form the core of any data-driven narrative. We assist in selecting, creating, or enhancing them to ensure they are visually appealing, easy to comprehend, and focused on your message.

Dashboards

We can help create or enhance your dashboards in Power BI or Excel. While we are not specialized in the ETL process, we can assist you in making your dashboards concise and effective.

Reports

While not specialized in writing, if your case is presented in a written report, we can assist with the structure, narrative, and, of course, create or enhance any visuals or graphs.

Business cases

We can assist in making your Excel files more accessible and readable for others by providing a clear setup of your model, along with summaries, input pages, and any necessary graphs.

How we typically approach a project

In our typical project approach, we follow a structured four-step process to ensure clarity and alignment with your goals.

  1. The first step is an intake session, preferably in person for larger projects, to comprehensively understand the case and discuss your expectations.
  2. Following this, we provide a first sketch (rough by no means formatted or stylized yet) to confirm that our understanding aligns with your vision. 
  3. Then we develop the concept (in its final form) and present it for your comments and review, allowing for collaborative refinement.
  4. Lastly, we deliver the final product, ensuring it meets your specifications and expectations. 

The complexity and scale of your case may necessitate more intensive reviews of specific components, leading to more communication, extra time for review and collaboration.

3D visual pie chart process
3D Visual contact hand touch

Pricing

Our pricing model is designed to offer flexibility and transparency, ensuring that clients receive value for their investment. We typically work in two ways:

  • Charge a competitive hourly rate for our services, allowing clients to pay for the exact amount of time and expertise they require. Importantly, our rates remain significantly below those charged by the business consultants that create comparable decks.
  • However, upon request, we are more than happy to provide a fixed fee quote for larger projects or those requiring a more structured approach.

The total price is contingent upon the specific service requested, as well as factors such as the complexity of the project and the number of slides involved. A quick review of existing materials may only take one to a few hours, while building a comprehensive deck from scratch could span over a week or more.

We understand the importance of delivering results that exceed expectations, as often there may not be a second chance to pitch your story. Investing in our services is an investment in the success and effectiveness of your communication efforts.

Frequently asked questions

Currently, our consultancy and training services are exclusively available in the Netherlands. However, we are open to conducting online consultations for quick reviews with clients from EU countries, provided that English or Dutch is the language of communication. Additionally, we freely share our insights online in English for everyone to access and explore.

We work with PowerPoint and Excel for Windows. However, we can also accommodate clients who use Google Slides and Apple Keynote, although some reformatting may be necessary. It’s important to note that Google Slides only accepts fonts from the Google library, even if the font is saved within the PowerPoint file. Therefore, files from these programs need to be exported as PowerPoint files for us to work with effectively. For clients using macOS, we can seamlessly work with PowerPoint files without any issues.

Additionally, we utilize Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop in our design process. While it’s not necessary for clients to own or have access to this software, we ensure compatibility by exporting files in formats that you can easily work with, such as SVG, PNG, PDF, and JPEG. Our goal is to provide flexibility and convenience while ensuring the highest quality results for our clients.

We recognize that projects of high stakes, which often require the expertise of an external consultant, are typically of a highly confidential and sensitive nature. Rest assured, any data and information you provide to us remain strictly yours. Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring the protection of your intellectual property. To formalize this commitment, we are willing to sign a transfer of author’s rights for the specific work we undertake on your behalf. Additionally, we are open to signing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to provide you with added assurance. We can supply you with a model agreement for your convenience. It’s important to note that we will not disclose our working relationship with you or utilize any of the materials, including slides, as examples or for training purposes without obtaining your prior written consent. Your trust and confidentiality are paramount to us, and we take every measure to uphold them throughout our collaboration.

We understand the apprehension that comes with entrusting a consultant who may lack a deep understanding of your industry. When tasked with building an entire deck from rough ideas, our first priority is gaining a thorough understanding of the context. While each business may have unique technical details, we often find similarities in the social and economic circumstances they face, which we are well-versed in navigating. However, particularly when serving as a sounding board or offering a quick review, we believe a fresh perspective can be immensely beneficial. Presenting cases to executive or non-executive boards can sometimes lead to unexpected questions, ones that may not have been considered due to being deeply entrenched in the details. An external consultant can offer a broader viewpoint, helping you see the bigger picture and potentially avoiding embarrassing situations.

Outsourcing presentation building tasks offers distinct advantages over relying solely on in-house resources. Crafting an exceptional business presentation demands a diverse skill set, ranging from data analysis in Excel to proficiency in visual design, among others. While your company’s marketing and communication department may possess the skills to enhance slides aesthetically, they may lack the expertise needed to create the necessary graphs and visuals that truly support your data. Moreover, they may not have the experience developing decks with information rich slides which are necessary for such cases.

Even if individuals with the required skill set are available in-house, they often find themselves inundated with other responsibilities. Moreover, assigning presentation building as a side task can lead to compromised quality, as creating an outstanding presentation typically requires more hours than initially anticipated. By outsourcing these tasks, you ensure dedicated expertise and focus, resulting in high-quality presentations that effectively convey your message and engage your audience.

While utilizing a business consultant’s template may appear to be a convenient and cost-effective solution, it’s essential to consider the nuances of your company’s existing templates and brand guidelines. While your company likely already has templates aligned with its brand, they may not always be suitable for the specific task at hand. However, adhering to these guidelines can enhance the acceptance and relevance of the content, as it aligns seamlessly with the company’s established identity.

Although templates can provide a helpful starting point, they are just that—a starting point. The real challenge lies in transforming the template into a coherent narrative that effectively communicates your message. This process entails more than simply filling in blank titles and body text; it requires a diverse skill set to craft a compelling story, complete with visually engaging graphs and visuals that support your narrative.

We understand that outsourcing, whether in part or in full, can introduce a level of uncertainty, particularly when it involves critical presentations or business cases. It’s essential to address these concerns upfront by discussing expectations thoroughly before commencing any work. Additionally, we prioritize open communication and encourage dialogue around preliminary concepts to ensure alignment with your vision and objectives. Should adjustments be necessary along the way, we are flexible and committed to redirecting efforts as needed to meet or exceed your expectations.

We also recognize the common challenge of time constraints and the pressure to deliver results promptly. This may sometimes require us to work outside of standard office hours to ensure timely completion. Having experienced similar pressures ourselves, we empathize with this situation and are dedicated to accommodating your needs to the best of our abilities. Ultimately, our primary goal is to consistently meet and exceed your expectations, delivering results that drive success for your business.

if you strive to perfection, be methodical, because 

there is always one more thing

(inspired by a keynote from Steve Jobs)