Energy Recovery had a vision to bring greater clarity and structure to their project and resource planning using Smartsheet. Their operations team saw potential in the platform, but the system in place wasn’t delivering the insight they needed. Dashboards were cluttered, data was inconsistent, and critical questions about team capacity and project status remained unanswered.
Leadership remained cautious about the tool’s value. They hadn’t seen a compelling case for its full adoption.
Alluvionic partnered with the team to change that.
Starting From Complexity, Moving Toward Clarity
Although Energy Recovery had already adopted Smartsheet, the platform had grown unwieldy. Dozens of assets existed, but many were disjointed or underused. Dashboards didn’t reflect current business needs. Intake forms lacked essential inputs. Automation rules weren’t working as intended.
It was clear that a more organized and intentional approach was needed—one that aligned tool design with operational logic.
Alluvionic began with a thorough review of 50 Smartsheet assets. Their team assessed performance, workflows, and overall health. From this, they delivered a snapshot of what was working and what needed attention, along with a roadmap for practical improvements.
Building the Right System
Working closely with Energy Recovery’s business operations leadership, Alluvionic led a two-phase optimization effort. Intake forms were adjusted to reflect actual categories of work and improve data collection. Dashboards were redesigned to highlight the most useful views for leadership and staff alike. Workflow logic was simplified to reduce confusion and increase usability. A user-friendly project template set was created, making project initiation quicker and repeatable.
Throughout the engagement, the process was collaborative. Every change was informed by feedback, and each update was implemented with a focus on business utility, not just technical upgrades.
The resulting dashboards were not only accurate—they were clear, approachable, and tailored to how Energy Recovery operated.
Earning Executive Confidence
When the reworked dashboard was presented during a key leadership meeting, it represented more than just a system update. It gave executives a clear view of current projects, resource availability, and department-level performance—all in one place.
The CEO expressed strong support for the new approach. Leadership viewed the improved dashboard as a significant step forward in gaining reliable visibility into operations, strengthening decision-making, and enabling proactive planning.
Rather than relying on scattered reports or disconnected spreadsheets, the executive team now had a centralized tool that provided clarity on open programs, budgets, and timelines—empowering them to balance resources more effectively and make decisions with confidence.
“Alluvionic was a true partner in transforming Smartsheet into a trusted operational system, giving our leadership clear visibility and the confidence to make better, faster decisions.”
— Chris Hartlage, VP Operations
The Results: Insight, Alignment, and Next Steps
Following the dashboard rollout, Energy Recovery reported:
- Stronger engagement from executive leadership
- Improved accuracy in project tracking and staffing metrics
- A platform prepared for future refinement through sprint-based enhancements
- Enhanced ability to resource projects affectively, reducing burn out and preventing delays due to lack of available staff
The business development and project team gained a clearer foundation for planning and communication. The executive team gained a system they could trust.
What Made the Difference
Alluvionic’s approach centered on understanding the organization’s needs before making changes. Their consultants applied expertise in Smartsheet configuration but also brought a deep awareness of business process improvement.
They delivered:
- Targeted fixes guided by operational goals
- Streamlined dashboards aligned with real-world workflows
- A thoughtful process that respected both technical and strategic priorities
By focusing on practical impact and business alignment, Alluvionic helped the client go from tool fatigue to meaningful adoption.
Smartsheet That Works for Leaders Starts Here
Alluvionic partners with clients to create smarter, more reliable systems for managing complex operations. Their process improvement services include Smartsheet support, workflow optimization, and project tracking solutions designed to reduce effort and increase clarity.
Learn more about Alluvionic’s Process Improvement Services, or get in touch to discuss your needs.
Strong systems support stronger decisions. Alluvionic helps organizations put the right tools in the right place—and make the most of them.
