Name the meeting
Picture the moment when someone opens the report. Are they assigning work, investigating a delay, or deciding whether to reorder stock? Those are different decisions and need different information. Write the decision at the top of your planning notes. If no one can name it, another chart is unlikely to make the report more useful.
Give numbers their context
A total on its own often creates another question. Compared with which period? Does it include cancelled orders? When was it last updated? Put definitions and time ranges near the numbers. Use consistent units and explain missing information. A report should not require someone to remember an unwritten set of rules before reading it.
Show exceptions clearly
Teams often need to find the few items that require attention, not admire the size of the full dataset. A list of overdue requests with owners and next steps may be more useful than a decorative chart. Let people move from the summary to the relevant records, while respecting the access permissions those records require.
Try it in a real conversation
Bring an early version to the meeting where it will be used. Notice which questions it answers and which ones still require a separate spreadsheet. Remove panels no one uses, clarify labels, and keep a record of the definitions. A useful report earns its space by supporting a decision, not by filling the screen.