How MLB Networks Achieved Financial Data Automation: A Data Transformation Success Story

Gabi Steele | February 1, 2025

[Reading Time: 5 minutes]

In today's fast-paced business environment, financial planning and analysis (FP&A) teams face mounting pressure to deliver accurate, timely insights while managing increasingly complex data ecosystems. This case study explores how Major League Baseball's finance team transformed their data operations from a manual, time-intensive process into an automated, strategic advantage.

The Challenge: Manual Processes Holding Back Strategic Finance

Like many enterprise organizations, MLB Networks' finance team was grappling with:- Legacy systems and manual data consolidation processes- Siloed data sources including NetSuite, Salesforce, and custom applications- Risk-prone reconciliation workflows dependent on tribal knowledge- Month-end close cycles extending beyond 45 days- Limited capacity for strategic financial analysis and planningFor Sarah Chen, VP of Finance at MLB Networks, these challenges were preventing her team from focusing on high-value strategic initiatives: "We were spending countless hours on manual data reconciliation instead of driving financial strategy and business growth.

The Solution: Implementing Automated Financial Data Operations

MLB Networks partnered with Preql to implement an automated data operations platform that would serve as their financial single source of truth. The solution focused on three key areas:

1. Centralized Data Infrastructure- Unified all financial data sources into a centralized Snowflake data warehouse- Implemented automated data quality checks and validation rules- Created a scalable foundation for financial reporting and analysis

2. Automated Reconciliation Workflows- Codified complex reconciliation logic previously existing only in spreadsheets- Established automated exception reporting for proactive issue identification- Reduced manual intervention in the reconciliation process by 85%

3. Self-Service Financial Reporting- Enabled real-time data access through scheduled Google Sheets integration- Implemented role-based access controls for secure data sharing- Empowered business users with no-code reporting capabilities

The Results: Transforming FP&A from Cost Center to Value Driver

The implementation of Preql's financial data platform delivered measurable results across multiple dimensions:

Operational Efficiency- Reduced month-end close cycle from 45+ days to under 15 days- Automated 90% of routine data reconciliation tasks- Decreased manual data entry errors by 95%

Strategic Impact- Freed up 60% of FP&A team capacity for strategic analysis- Improved forecast accuracy by 40% through better data quality- Enabled real-time financial decision-making across departments

Risk Management- Established consistent controls and audit trails- Improved data governance and security compliance- Reduced dependency on individual team members' knowledge

Key Takeaways for Finance Leaders

This transformation journey offers valuable insights for finance leaders looking to modernize their operations:

1. Automation First:

Prioritize automating routine tasks to free up resources for strategic work

2. Single Source of Truth:

Centralize financial data to improve accuracy and decision-making

3. Self-Service Analytics:

Empower teams with tools to access and analyze data independentlyAs John Martinez, Senior VP of Finance & Administration at MLB Networks, notes: "Preql has transformed how we approach reconciliation and reporting. The automation of previously manual processes and the creation of a single source of truth have been game-changers. It's a huge step forward for MLB's data operations."

Sponsered by Preql

Ready to Transform Your FP&A Operations?

Learn how Preql can help your finance team achieve similar results. Our platform is specifically designed for finance leaders who want to:- Automate manual data reconciliation processes- Establish a reliable financial single source of truth- Enable self-service reporting and analytics- Free up resources for strategic financial planning[Schedule a Demo] to see how Preql can give your FP&A team data superpowers.---*Keywords: financial data automation, FP&A transformation, automated reconciliation, financial single source of truth, data operations platform, strategic finance, month-end close automation, financial data integration, automated financial reporting, FP&A efficiency*