Leveraging Power Analytics for Transparency and Program Integrity

B2Gnow

Federal, state, and municipal agencies face numerous mandatory reporting requirements related to compliance needs. These reporting requirements generate massive amounts of data that can be difficult to put into easy-to-read reports — especially when using outdated spreadsheets. ٖٖ

However, when agencies have tools to manage, track, and use data (without needing a technical background) they can make faster, more transparent, and more accountable decisions. 

That’s where B2Gnow’s Power Analytics comes in. 
How to Harness Data for Advanced Reportingng

To monitor program progress/performance, boost compliance and stay ready with defensible data for audits, internal reviews, stakeholder visibility, and regulatory requirements, B2Gnow’s Power Analytics makes it possible to generate actionable insights with near real-time information. 

Unlike spreadsheets, Power Analytics provides agencies and organizations with advanced reporting and dashboard capabilities giving the transparency, consistency, and control needed for compliance. 

With Power Analytics and its real-time data capabilities, compliance officers can:
  • Detect issues early
  • Document decisions confidently
  • Demonstrate program integrity with confidence 
  • Analyze program data easily
    Sharing Data for Powerful Storytelling

    Power Analytics’ flexible dashboards and visualizations support audits, investigations, and regular reporting cycles, so compliance officers and other users can bring heightened transparency and visibility across organizations. 

    In addition, Power Analytics provides:
    • Unlimited read-only licenses to ensure program transparency across departments. 
    • A reporting solution that meets evolving compliance needs, and adapts for internal controls, diversity reporting, etc. 
    • Reports that are easily distributed and accessed by compliance, legal, and executive teams allowing for all stakeholders to access the same data for consistent decision-making. 
    • A way to preserve audit trails and version control for designated report creators to securely update and distribute new reports as regulatory demands change.
    • Different charts and graphs to help visualize and compare programs month to month, year over year, etc. – to help monitor program activities and stay on track with goals. 

    View all payment details and awards by goal types with ease with Power Analytics.
      Moving Forward With Defensible Data and Decisions

      Ultimately, those using B2Gnow’s Power Analytics can track their program performance and make informed, defensible decisions using trusted data sources presented in a format that moves away from spreadsheets and supports documentation and compliance readiness. 

      Ready to learn more? Watch this webinar.

      *Microsoft and Power BI are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies

      Modernize Government Reporting and Make Data-Driven Decisions with B2Gnow’s Power Analytics

      B2Gnow

      Reliance on spreadsheets to track and analyze data is a common bottleneck in the government space. 

      Public agencies generate large amounts of data and are required to keep meticulous records for reporting requirements. Yet many struggle to use the data available – especially when it’s only available on spreadsheets. 

      To ensure these agencies reflect the true impact of all programs running, it’s necessary to move toward a tool capable of taking data and generating actionable insights. 

      That’s why many public agencies and organizations are using Power Analytics from B2Gnow. 
      Moving Away from Spreadsheets and to the Future of Reporting

      With traditional spreadsheets and the manual effort it takes to keep these up-to-date, the resulting data is often fragmented, making it difficult to prove program success and prepare for audits. 

      Because stakeholders need to see the outcomes of a program’s success, data that is outdated, hard to access, read, and visualize means the transparency necessary for decision making often isn’t there. This lack of transparency results in delays that can impact those working on community projects. 

      To further complicate data access and visualization, each individual contributing to spreadsheets increases the chances of missing or deleting data, making errors, and impacting version control. 

      However, with Power Analytics from B2Gnow, government agencies have a tool that helps measure what matters and visually display data, so all stakeholders have a strategic asset to:
      • View and comprehend using prebuilt standard datasets with five bundled reports – without relying on IT
      • Tailor reports to specific needs such as highlighting agency-specific compliance and diversity goals
      • Make data-driven decisions

      In addition, B2Gnow’s Power Analytics:

      With Power Analytics, view all payment details and awards by goal types with ease.

      • Offers immediate value out-of-the-box and serves as a foundation for custom reports
      • Extends the reporting capabilities of the B2Gnow platform to cover the widest range of reporting needs
      • Provides comprehensive ad-hoc, dashboard, and data visualization capabilities in ways stakeholders will understand
      • Deploys and scales easily with unlimited viewer (read-only) licenses
      • Enables collaboration as reports can be shared across the organization so stakeholders can make the best decisions
      • Allows reports to be bundled and tailored for agency-specific needs
      Prioritize Performance, Clarity, and Ease of Use with Power Analytics

      Power Analytics comes with bundled, pre-built reports, including B2Gnow’s Contract Compliance Audit Summaries and Subcontractor Overview Dashboards, so users can instantly feel confident in telling accurate, data-driven stories from day one. 

      In addition, data fields within Power Analytics align with field names used within the B2Gnow interface, allowing users familiar with B2Gnow to use Power Analytics with ease – even from day one.  

      Sharing data is also easy. 

      B2Gnow’s Power Analytics has a free licensing model that includes one creator license with unlimited read-only views, allowing for reports to be shared internally across departments and publicly without restrictions. 

      With this functionality, real-time reports of economic growth and opportunity, program performance, and goals are easily shared with key stakeholders. 

      In addition, viewers don’t even need to log in to view reports – it is as simple as accessing a URL. 

      Plus, data is refreshed nightly, providing the most up-to-date performance snapshots allowing users to identify issues early, document decisions confidently, and demonstrate program integrity.

      With Power Analytics, view all payment details and awards by goal types with ease.

      Let Data Tell the Story of a Program’s Success

      The story of any program’s impact is held in the data an agency keeps, so don’t let it get lost in spreadsheets. 

      Power Analytics ensures the narrative around all programs is unlocked, interactive, tailored, and full of pre-built insights. 

      With B2Gnow’s Power Analytics, agencies experience the power of reporting designed to meet agency-specific compliance and diversity goals to start making informed, confident decisions organizations need and deserve.

      Ready to learn more? Watch this webinar.

      Drive Local Economic Growth

      Port of Portland, Oregon

      Setting a New Standard for Government Spending

      In this interview, John Cardenas, Senior Manager of the Small Business Department at the Port of Portland, redefines shared prosperity by moving past spreadsheets to power massive projects with B2Gnow’s vendor management and compliance software. 

      Here are the key takeaways from the conversation:

      • Driving Local Economic Growth: Learn how the Port leverages billions in infrastructure spending to create real, measurable opportunities for small businesses.
      • Tangible Community Impact: Discover how the recent $2.75 billion PDX terminal expansion successfully directed nearly $300 million directly into the pockets of local small businesses.
      • Modernizing Tracking: See why moving away from manual spreadsheets toward robust, data-driven contract tracking is essential for accountability and maximizing community impact.

      Watch the full conversation to see how this approach is setting a new standard for government spending and changing the lives of local business owners.

      View next story

      Make compliance easy. Make a difference in the community.

      Discover how our vendor management, prevailing wage labor compliance, and grant management software solutions help you streamline processes and allow you to deliver greater impact to your community.
      Simplify Processes & Save on Budget

      Port of Portland, Oregon

      Maximizing Impact with B2Gnow Vendor Management and Compliance Software

      In this video, listen as John Cardenas, Senior Manager of the Small Business Department discusses how the Port of Portland, OR, transformed operations, stayed ahead of federal policy changes, and uses data to support the area’s diverse small business landscape– all while using B2Gnow’s software solutions for vendor management and compliance. 

       

      • Make Life Easier: Cardenas discusses how widespread, regional adoption of B2Gnow makes life easier for staff and subcontractors—solving complex problems with simplicity, efficiency, and a constant lifeline of support.
      • Work Smarter: Discover why agencies across the city, county, and transportation sectors are aligning with B2Gnow to simplify processes and save budget while maximizing impact. 
      • Budget-Friendly: Learn how B2Gnow can simplify processes and save budget while maximizing impact.

      Watch the full conversation to learn more.

      View next story

      Make compliance easy. Make a difference in the community.

      Discover how our vendor management, prevailing wage labor compliance, and grant management software solutions help you streamline processes and allow you to deliver greater impact to your community.
      Dynamic Project Management & Instant Data Access

      Port of Portland, Oregon

      Efficiency Gains in Construction Contracts with B2Gnow

      Struggling with manual contract tracking is a common problem in the government space – but not for the Port of Portland in Oregon. 

      Listen as John Cardenas, Senior Manager of the Small Business Department at the Port of Portland discusses how B2Gnow transformed compliance and project management. 

      Watch now to see how the Port of Portland achieved the following:

      • Massive Efficiency Gains: The Port of Portland saved 60-70% of staff time on large construction contracts, drastically speeding up setup and reporting.
      • Accuracy & Reliability: With technological gains, the Port has minimized human error and ensures data remains trustworthy and easy to track.
      • Remote Flexibility: Data is accessible anytime, anywhere, providing users to have immediate responses to leadership requests—even on the go.
      • The Industry Standard: Hear why knowing how to use B2Gnow’s software has become a critical skill for compliance professionals and why adopting the user-friendly tool is easy for agencies and end users.
      View next story

      Make compliance easy. Make a difference in the community.

      Discover how our vendor management, prevailing wage labor compliance, and grant management software solutions help you streamline processes and allow you to deliver greater impact to your community.
      Real-Time and Holistic Views of Compliance

      Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO)

      Contract and Labor Standards Division Helps Even the Playing Field with B2Gnow

      Jarrett Dillard, Division Manager for Kansas City’s Contract Compliance and Labor Standards, discusses how transitioning from paper-based processes to the combined use of B2Gnow’s vendor management and eComply labor compliance software solutions has revolutionized the department’s ability to monitor construction contracts.

      • Core Mission: The department focuses on leveling the playing field for workers and ensuring minority and women-owned businesses receive fair opportunities in city construction contracts.
      • Operational Efficiency: Before digital adoption, the team could only review a fraction of payrolls due to the massive volume of projects (600–700+). The new systems allow for holistic, real-time monitoring and review of every certified payroll.
      • Key Features & Benefits:
        • Better Compliance: The systems automatically flag potential issues—such as incorrect pay or overtime errors—enabling the team to secure restitution for workers quickly.
        • Improved Communication: Automated notifications prompt contractors to report on time, and an in-system messaging feature allows for direct, efficient communication that replaces cumbersome back-and-forth emails.
        • Accessibility: Staff can access data securely from anywhere, including mobile devices, making the platform intuitive and easy to learn for the team.
        • Transparency: The systems provide a central, secure repository for documentation, which is vital for audit-readiness and transparency.
      • Reporting & Leadership: These tools enable accurate tracking of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as the city’s 10% minority and 2% female workforce goals, which are essential for reporting to the mayor and city council.
      • Recommendation: Dillard strongly recommends both platforms, noting they are “better together” and have helped his department become an industry leader in the region.
      View next story

      Make compliance easy. Make a difference in the community.

      Discover how our vendor management, prevailing wage labor compliance, and grant management software solutions help you streamline processes and allow you to deliver greater impact to your community.

      DBE Certification at Scale: DDOT’s Approach to the USDOT’s Interim Final Rule

      B2Gnow

      Managing disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) certifications can be complex, but not when agencies use the right tools.  

      Stephanie Jenkins, business relationship specialist for the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in Washington, D.C., focuses on certification for the transportation infrastructure businesses within the city’s eight wards along with her skilled colleagues. 

      DDOT is part of a unified program with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit (WMATA), which makes up the District of Columbia Unified Certification program (DCUCP). 

      In addition, DDOT is responsible for:
      • 1,100 miles of streets
      • 241 bridges
      • 1,600 miles of sidewalks
      • 453 miles of alleys
      • 144,000 trees adjacent to city streets
      How DDOT is Moving Forward with DBE Certification

      However, with recent changes brought forth by the US Department of Transportation’s Interim Final Rule (USDOT IFR) in late 2025, certification efforts for businesses operating on DDOT’s projects faced a new challenge.  

      “The IFR ruling requires firms to submit a personal narrative as a part of their re-evaluation process to maintain DBE certification,” Jenkins said. “Many of these firms find the personal narrative to be quite challenging.”

      The personal narrative portion of IFR requires a written statement from each business owner currently certified as a DBE to describe specific, individualized barriers faced in education, employment, or business, and how those obstacles demonstrate social and economic disadvantage resulting in measurable economic harm. With the personal narrative requirements, race and gender are no longer presumed indicators of disadvantage, which is a significant change for DBEs. 

      Per the IFR, firms must submit a Personal Narrative and a Personal Net Worth statement to be recertified as DBEs by DDOT. Without these submissions, DBE goals will not be met until the recertification process is complete. DDOT has prioritized recertification for home-state businesses that are currently active on a contract. 

      “DDOT currently certifies 481 home state firms and more than 1,351 interstate firms,” Jenkins said. “To make the recertification process easier, I’ve been able to run reports within B2Gnow to filter out which firms are our home state firms and which are interstate firms. B2Gnow has helped quite a bit with prioritizing our home state firms for recertification.”
      Making the DBE Recertification Process Easier with B2Gnow

      Jenkins said the strategic filtering available in B2Gnow’s certification module helps ensure DDOT works on the recertification process without needing to recertify the entirety of its DBE directory.

      “Without this module, the recertification process could take months,” Jenkins said. “But the system is able to track all mandatory documents needed to complete a single application. A lot of states have not even begun the process of reevaluating because they lack information, but B2Gnow helps us provide them with information they need to complete their applications.”

      Click here to listen as DDOT discusses the benefits of recertification using B2Gnow.

      On-Demand Webinar: Modernizing Labor Compliance

      Discover how a single platform can streamline vendor and compliance management to help agencies and contractors improve efficiency and the compliance experience.

      Next Steps for IFR Compliance

      B2Gnow

      Program operations and performance metrics are two of the heaviest hit areas for all agencies navigating the 2025 USDOT Internal Final Rule (IFR). 

      The reason for this surrounds the operational challenges requiring mandatory re-evaluation of every certified firm based on individual circumstances rather than demographics alone combined with the temporary pause on counting utilization and setting new goals. 

      While the scale of these changes is substantial, they are entirely manageable with the right structure in place. Agencies need to establish consistent workflows, centralize records, and leverage technology for documentation, communication, and decision tracking, to move forward with confidence.

      The result of this strategic approach is a program that is more efficient, transparent, and defensible, positioning the agency for long-term success under the IFR, supporting staff, and withstanding audits.
      6 Steps to IFR Readiness

      To implement and maintain compliance efficiently, program leaders must focus on the following key steps:
      • Process assessment: Map current workflows and test new procedures on a small scale before a full rollout.
      • Communication: Clearly and consistently inform both staff and vendor firms about IFR requirements and status changes.
      • Goal management: Temporarily suspend goal counting and setting; restore credit immediately upon successful re-evaluation.
      • Re-evaluation: Assess all certified firms with individualized Social and Economic Disadvantage (SED) determinations; standardize review criteria.
      • Documentation: Ensure all documents are complete, log every determination with rationale, and store records centrally for easy retrieval during audits.
      • Record history: Regardless of the system used to manage contract compliance and goal tracking, it’s essential to maintain a complete, accurate record of firms’ certification history and contract performance data for compliance.

      For agencies looking to simplify these processes and maintain complete, verifiable records, B2Gnow provides tools to track firm status, manage utilization, automate notifications, and centralize documentation.

      Ready to learn more? Download this checklist.

      Why Transparency is Your Best IFR Compliance Tool

      B2Gnow

      Communication is vital when it comes to the 2025 USDOT Interim Final Rule (IFR). 

      With all the process changes necessary for the IFR, agencies need a proactive strategy for change management centered on communication. 

      While creating a communication plan can seem daunting, it’s imperative for DBE compliance managers and program leaders to navigate mandatory re-evaluations and new compliance standards with consistent, clear communication. 

      This communication plan is a key step in reducing errors and maintaining compliance with staff and vendors while also keeping key players informed and engaged.
      5 Key Communication Tasks for Action

      To maximize participation and minimize confusion during this transition, program leaders should focus on five key communication tasks:
      • Inform staff first: Staff need to be aligned and working toward the same objective. A communication plan that details IFR requirements, process changes, what’s needed from each role, and what can be expected is important. 
      • Send multiple notifications to firms: Transparency and repeated outreach maximize participation. Firms need multiple notifications about requirements and what to expect. Outreach campaigns that send automated reminders, and pending re-evaluation applications automatically notify firms until completed. Staff-generated decision letters can also be sent, saved, and shared within a vendor management system. 
      • Provide accessible guidance materials: Centralized guidance materials support clarity and compliance. Training videos and live training sessions assist in educating all involved in IFR changes.
      • Set up ongoing updates: Real-time visibility is critical to keeping everyone informed. With a vendor management system that provides dashboards, DBE compliance managers receive real-time visibility and notifications for ongoing updates.
      • Maintain transparency during audits: A logged history of communications reduces audit risk. All actions should be logged for audit trails, ensuring transparency and accountability.
      The Power of Automation in Outreach  

      When relying on manual communication, follow-ups consume significant staff time and often lead to overlooked steps. However, with a built-in communication outreach program, DBE program leaders can expect: 
      • Reduced errors and rework
      • Increased participation and compliance
      • Strengthened transparency and audit readiness

      Ready to learn how other agencies are aligning with IFR? Watch now.