If your team is wrestling with Odata – Excel – Power BI: follow up from bbcon session in Blackbaud Altru, you are not looking for theory. You need a path staff can run on a busy day without inventing a new workaround every time.
When it goes wrong, guests feel it first. Staff feel it next as rebooks, resends, wrong-record edits, or a line that will not move.
Here is a workable sequence you can run this month.
Why this becomes a real problem
Static calendars drift. Guests book sessions that were never truly open, then need rebooks and refunds.
The public calendar must not outsell Altru inventory. Use Altru as capacity truth and connect public schedule modules to live availability.
A practical path for Odata – Excel – Power BI: follow up from bbcon session
For Odata – Excel – Power BI: follow up from bbcon session, use this order:
- Choose Altru as the capacity source of truth for timed programs.
- Remove static pages that can show sold-out sessions as open.
- Connect the public calendar/booking layer to live inventory.
- Assign a single owner for program time changes across web and Altru.
- Verify same-day cancellation communication for already-sold orders.
Limits to plan for
Marketing can still design rich exhibit pages. the booking module must be live.
What to watch after you change it
- Rebooks from schedule errors
- Sold-out-shown-as-open incidents
- Time to publish a program change
Track a quiet week and a peak week. If those numbers do not move, the design is still incomplete.
Where Data Bridge fits
Calendar Builder helps publish timed programs and calendars connected to Altru so schedule and capacity stay honest. If this bottleneck already burns staff time or guest experience, look at Data Bridge. Altru stays the system of record.
FAQ
What should we do first about Odata – Excel – Power BI: follow up from bbcon session?
The public calendar must not outsell Altru inventory. Use Altru as capacity truth and connect public schedule modules to live availability.
How fast should a canceled session disappear publicly?
Immediately from purchase paths. communicate same-day to sold orders.
Who owns schedule changes?
One role with authority across marketing site and Altru program setup.
Can multiple calendars exist?
Yes, but only one inventory authority.
What about free drop-in programs?
Still publish clear capacity or “until full” rules so door staff are not surprised.
How are members handled on timed calendars?
State member rules on the booking path, not only in a PDF handbook.
Next steps
This week, pick one real example of Odata – Excel – Power BI: follow up from bbcon session from your last busy day. Walk the path end to end with the staff who own it. Write down every place people guess. Fix those gaps first.
If you want an Altru-connected setup for this workflow, see Data Bridge or book a walkthrough with your real configuration.
About Social Good Software: Tools for cultural organizations on Blackbaud Altru. Calendars, checkouts, membership, digital cards, scanning, email automation, and data quality. Built to save staff time and improve guest experience without replacing Altru.
