Why I Built an Org Chart Tool That Just Works

I've always been drawn to problem-solving. If you've been following my blog, you know I love finding efficient solutions to tedious HR tasks. Today, I'm excited to share a project that's been brewing for a while – an org chart tool born from first-hand frustration.

The Org Chart Problem

If you've ever been tasked with creating an org chart, you know the pain points all too well. I experienced this firsthand when working internally and have heard the same complaints repeatedly since starting my consulting business:

Time-consuming to create: Manually connecting dozens or hundreds of boxes takes forever, especially when adding data like location or retention risk, color-coding performance metrics, or sorting by level. Each additional requirement multiplies complexity and increases error potential.
Difficult to update: When people move, leave, or join, you're essentially rebuilding from scratch with each change.
Limited to upper levels: Many organizations only create charts for executive levels due to bandwidth constraints, leaving mid-level managers without visibility into their own teams.
Limited flexibility: Most solutions force you into rigid formats that don't match your specific organizational needs.
Expensive: Enterprise solutions typically come with hefty price tags that limit widespread deployment.
Export limitations: Getting charts into editable formats for executive presentations is often impossible with existing tools.

The existing options all have serious drawbacks:

PowerPoint shapes: Building from scratch with boxes and connectors – incredibly manual and time-intensive. Each update requires manually repositioning everything, and adding data fields means redesigning every single box.
HRIS built-in charts: While convenient, these are typically the most rigid options, offering limited customization.
Visio diagrams: Offers more structure than PowerPoint but still requires significant manual effort. Updates are cumbersome, and the learning curve is steep for casual users.
Power BI solutions: These org charts are typically built and managed by data teams outside of HR who may not understand the nuances of organizational design needs. They often lack the flexibility HR professionals need, rarely offer editable exports for presentations, and require specialized skills to maintain or modify.
Enterprise tools: Often described as clunky, inflexible, and expensive. Many lack simple export options that HR needs for executive presentations and require involvement from IT teams for implementation and maintenance.

The Solution I Built

A few years ago, I created an Excel-based tool that provided maximum flexibility while staying within the Microsoft ecosystem. The macro file version works great but has some limitations – it isn't easy to share broadly and isn't as user-friendly as I wanted.

Then at the start of this year, I had an epiphany: I could create an Excel add-in with the same capabilities as my macro file but make it accessible via the app store. I've been working on this solution for months, and I'm excited to be finalizing the first version soon.

See It In Action

Watch how quickly you can create multi-level org charts with just a leader's name. The tool automatically builds complete organizational hierarchies without manual box creation.

Features That Solve Real Problems

This isn't just another org chart tool. It's built by someone who understands what HR professionals actually need:

Current Features:

Minimal data requirements: As long as your file has employee ID, employee name, and manager ID, you can create an org chart
Automatic hierarchy mapping: The tool builds the entire organization structure from your data, calculating metrics like span of control and total headcount for each leader's organization
Quick leader search box: Quickly locate any manager in your organization
Multi-level flexibility: Build 1-deep, 2-deep, OR 3-deep org charts
Include any number of data fields: Display whatever metrics matter to your organization
Comprehensive filtering options: Filter for both leaders and employees based on any criteria
Dual-metric sorting and filtering: Sort and filter based on two different data points simultaneously
Dual-metric color coding: Apply separate colors for box interiors and borders
Adjustable border thickness: Customize the visual appearance of the boxes

Coming After Initial Release:

Employee data editing: Edit employee data directly in the tool with automatic change logs for tracking all modifications
Scenario planning: Design multiple org structure scenarios with save functionality
Multiple preset configurations: Choose from templates for basic org charts, talent planning, and succession planning
Build-from-scratch functionality: Create entirely new organizational structures without existing hierarchies
Succession plan view: Display potential successors rather than reporting hierarchy
Organization metrics dashboard: Analyze headcount, span of control, total cost, and diversity metrics

Why This Matters

Like all the productivity tools I've shared on this blog, this org chart solution follows my core philosophy: there has to be a better way. Your time is too valuable to waste on clunky processes when you could be doing meaningful HR work.

By bringing this tool to the Microsoft app store, I'm hoping to make it accessible to HR professionals everywhere who have been struggling with the same challenges I faced.

Coming Soon!

I'm putting the finishing touches on the first version now and can't wait to share it with everyone soon. If you'd like early access or want to be notified when it launches, drop me a line at kristachaney@savvyanalytiqs.com.

PS - I could use some help with app store publishing expertise as I navigate this final phase. If you have experience publishing to the Microsoft app store, I'd love to connect!