---
title: "Step 7: Layer on Automations and Reports"
slug: "step-7-layer-on-automations-and-reports"
description: "After data import, enhance efficiency by setting up automations and constructing reports using configurable join bases."
tags: ["Advancement"]
updated: 2026-03-27T15:39:48Z
published: 2026-03-27T15:39:48Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Step 7: Layer on Automations and Reports

Only after all of the record, gift, and qualitative data has been imported can institutions start to meaningfully layer on automations and start constructing reports. For these elements, school's should leverage [configurable join bases](/descriptions-of-standard-configurable-joins-query-bases).

Examples of common automations to build include:

- Record Status (Donor, LYBUNT, SYBUNT, etc.) - using [person status rules](/v1/docs/automate-the-person-status)
- Giving Levels & Societies - using**[populations](/v1/docs/populations)
- Affinity Group Populations - using [populations](/v1/docs/populations)
- Donor and Alumni Engagement Scoring - using [field rules](/v1/docs/set-or-update-a-person-field-value)

Typical [reports](/v1/docs/report-builder-overview-structure-and-navigation) and [queries](/descriptions-of-standard-configurable-joins-query-bases) that institutions create include:

- Scheduled gift query to the general ledger
- Daily gift report
- Year over year production report
- Gift officer portfolio metrics

> [!TIP]
> ⭐ Best Practice
> 
> If possible, wait until the daily operations are underway—in a more manual way—before starting the automation process. Once the institution is comfortable with the general setup of the database, fold in automations and reporting to support the team.