Establish the report before collecting totals
Prepare a market data usage report by defining its scope and period, mapping inventory and observed usage to entitlements and governing agreements, resolving exceptions and reviewing the evidence before authorized vendor follow-up. Name the vendor, product, entities and reporting period at the outset.
Observed user activity, a contracted entitlement and a contractual reporting definition are different records. A login count does not automatically describe licensed users, and an inventory subscription does not by itself establish how a vendor expects usage to be reported. Keep those distinctions visible throughout the review.
Follow a reviewable reporting workflow
- 01Scope the product, entity, period and reporting definition.
- 02Map observed activity and inventory to the relevant entitlement.
- 03Review dated changes, identity exceptions and missing evidence.
- 04Save a report version and obtain authorized follow-up.
Resolve identity and effective-date differences
Illustrative example: an activity source identifies a user by an alias, while inventory uses a business email address. During the same reporting period, an amendment changes the scope of one product entitlement. First ask the responsible owner to verify the identity mapping; do not count two labels as two people without review.
Then establish the amendment’s effective date and affected product. Preserve the original usage observations and explain how the report treats activity before and after the change. If the applicable reporting definition remains unclear, raise a targeted evidence request rather than forcing every record into a convenient total.
Use a working review table
Add the source version and reporting period to each working record. Keep unresolved rows visible so a final total does not conceal questions still awaiting an answer.
| Review question | Record to inspect | Owner and follow-up |
|---|---|---|
| Does this alias identify the same user? | Activity export and inventory identity mapping | Inventory owner confirms the match or leaves it unresolved. |
| Which scope applied during this period? | Order, entitlement schedule and amendment | Commercial reviewer checks date and product boundary. |
| How should activity be reported? | Agreement’s reporting definition and report draft | Report owner documents the basis and requests clarification. |
Save the evidence behind the report
Give the report a version, preparation date and named review owner. Retain the source extracts, mapping decisions, applicable agreement references and evidence requests needed to reproduce it. If a late source changes the result, record why a revised version was prepared.
Separate preparation from authorization. The person assembling usage records may not be responsible for approving a vendor response. Record who reviews the report, who approves follow-up and where the resulting correspondence will be retained.
Make vendor follow-up specific
A useful follow-up identifies the product, period, question and supporting evidence without sharing unnecessary records. Document the response and connect it to any revised mapping, entitlement interpretation or report version. Leave final communication to the organization’s authorized process.
PostSig CPM connects commercial commitments with inventory, entitlements, pricing, usage and operating records. Its reporting and inventory context can help teams examine these relationships. Evaluate the available records and review responsibilities for your workflow rather than assuming a report alone establishes compliance.