Current release

Low priority
Shared reporting workspace update — effective 14 October 2026

Fictional Northstar Services example: exported summaries now show the reporting period and source-data timestamp beside each summary. Employees preparing, reviewing, or using these summaries should check the displayed context before handoff or use.

What changed and who is affected

Reporting context is now visible in the exported file.

Northstar Services is a fictional cross-industry organization used for this example. Its shared reporting workspace now places a reporting period and a source-data timestamp near the top of exported summaries. The change affects employees who prepare, review, or use those summaries.

What did not change: the update does not change the underlying data, the report’s approval process, or who is responsible for checking a summary before using it. The new fields show context; they are not a validation or approval.

Read the two dates differently

A file exported at 15:20 still shows 15:00; exporting again does not itself refresh the source. A recent refresh can include corrections to an older reporting period, so match both fields to the task.

Read the two dates differently
Field What it shows Example
Reporting period The range the summary covers 1–7 October 2026
Source-data timestamp The last refresh used by that export 14 October 2026 at 15:00 UTC

What to do in your role

Choose the tab closest to your part of the handoff.

Prepare a summary
Check context before sharing
After exporting, confirm that the reporting period matches the request and that the source-data timestamp is present. Include the file with the usual handoff context; the new fields do not replace existing review.
Review a summary
Compare the period with the request
If the period or timestamp is missing or unexpected, pause the handoff and ask the preparer to check the export. Do not infer that a file is current or approved from its timestamp alone.
Use a summary
Read the context before using figures
Check that the reporting period fits your task. If the date context is unclear, ask the team that supplied the file to clarify it before relying on the figures.

Before and after: a handoff example

The example adds visible context, not a new approval step.

Exported summary
Before:
Shows figures; the reporting period is stated in the handoff message.
After:
Shows figures with the reporting period and source-data timestamp beside the summary.
Reviewer check
Before:
Ask the preparer which reporting period the file covers if it is unclear.
After:
Compare the displayed period with the request; ask the preparer if either context field is missing or unexpected.
Approval and responsibility
Before:
Existing review and ownership remain in place.
After:
Existing review and ownership remain in place.

Known limitation and help route

What the timestamp does not show

In this fictional example, the timestamp indicates when source data was last refreshed. It does not establish that data is complete, correct, or suitable for a particular decision. Summaries created before 14 October 2026 may not show the new fields.

If the period or timestamp is a problem

If the period or timestamp is missing, inconsistent with the request, or difficult to interpret, pause that handoff and ask the preparer or your team’s established tool-support route to check the export.

Who keeps this note accurate

The Data and Technology release owner is responsible for correcting this note if documented behavior or affected roles change. Review it when release behavior changes or employees report a discrepancy. This example describes a communication pattern; it does not establish approved policy.