Influencer marketing is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s a cornerstone of digital growth for eCommerce and DTC brands. But while the returns can be impressive, the operational load of managing influencer partnerships—especially reporting—can bog down even the most agile teams.

In this case study, we explore how a rapidly growing fashion DTC brand automated its influencer reporting workflows, saving over 40 hours per month using SmartSlides. We’ll also share best practices that other brands can adopt to drive similar results.

The Challenge: Manual Reporting at Scale

The brand was working with 60+ micro and mid-tier influencers each month. For each creator, the growth marketing team would:

Track sales and clicks via discount codes and UTM links
Pull performance data from Shopify, Instagram, and TikTok
Compile visuals and metrics into Google Slides
Personalize reports with creator names and brand assets
Send individual emails manually via Gmail

Each report took 30–45 minutes to create and send. Multiplied by dozens of creators, this consumed upwards of 45 hours per month—time the team needed for campaign planning and optimization.

The Turning Point: Why Automation Became a Must

The team began evaluating reporting automation tools after missing several key deadlines and receiving influencer feedback about inconsistent reports. According to a Forrester study, brands that invest in timely creator feedback see up to 37% higher influencer retention and engagement.

They needed a solution that could:

Automatically pull performance data from affiliate tools and Shopify
Personalize reports at scale without sacrificing quality
Maintain the visual identity and polish expected by premium creators
Reduce manual formatting and email work

The Solution: SmartSlides Automation

After a short trial, the team implemented SmartSlides. With its plug-and-play reporting automation features, the brand was able to:

1. Use Templates with CRM Tokens

SmartSlides allowed the team to create reusable templates with CRM-style tokens for influencer names, codes, product stats, and links.

2. Bulk Upload Data

Affiliate revenue, conversion rates, and engagement metrics were uploaded from Shopify and UTM tracking spreadsheets directly into SmartSlides’ Metrics Hub.

3. Generate Branded Decks Automatically

With a single click, the team could generate 60+ unique decks—each personalized with performance data, visuals, and brand assets.

4. Automate Emails with Smart Email Assist

The tool also enabled personalized summary emails to be generated and sent from the team’s Gmail accounts, enhancing trust and engagement.

The Impact: Time Saved and Outcomes Improved

Metric	Before SmartSlides	After SmartSlides
Time per Report	30–45 minutes	5–10 minutes
Total Monthly Reporting Time	45+ hours	<10 hours
Report Consistency	Varies by campaign	Standardized
Influencer Feedback	Mixed	Highly positive
Email Open Rate	~52%	~75%

As Salesforce highlights, “personalization at scale” is the next frontier in influencer marketing—and this case study shows how tech can make it real.

Best Practices for Influencer Reporting Efficiency

Focus on Personalization

Automated doesn’t mean generic. Use CRM fields to personalize by name, product, and performance.

Use Visual Templates

Avoid reinventing the wheel. A single branded template, enriched with data, goes a long way.

Centralize Your Data

Avoid reporting errors by pulling data from a unified Metrics Hub. This reduces inconsistencies and increases trust.

Integrate Email Workflows

Don’t export and email manually. Use Smart Email Assist or similar tools to send from your inbox with prefilled content.

Why SmartSlides Outperforms Traditional Tools

While other tools like Canva or Google Slides support visual design, they lack deep automation and CRM-like data handling. SmartSlides delivers:

Reusable Templates with Tokens: Personalized reports, instantly
Metrics Hub: Upload Shopify/GA4/CRM data once, use across decks
Smart Email Assist: Emails feel personal, yet automated
Team Collaboration: Commenting, versioning, and shared libraries

If you’re comparing tools, check out our Rollstack alternative blog or Matik alternative overview.

Final Thoughts

If your brand is scaling influencer programs but still stuck in reporting admin mode, it’s time to upgrade. Automation doesn’t just save time—it enhances quality, consistency, and creator trust.

👉 Book a demo of SmartSlides and see how influencer report automation can power your next stage of growth.

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