For consultants, fractional CFOs, and RevOps leads who build the same report every week — and are tired of it.
What Is a Slide Deck (And Why They Take So Long)
Slide decks are a collection of slides used to present information in a structured format. The main types include QBRs, pitch decks, investor updates, client reports, and board updates.
The hidden time cost is significant: the average slide deck takes between 3 to 5 hours to produce. For data-heavy decks, 60 to 70 percent of production time is spent on data work — finding, validating, formatting, and checking numbers — rather than on design.
The Four Types of Slide Decks (And What Each One Needs)
| Deck Type | Used For | Data Required | Typical Build Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| QBR Deck | Quarterly business review for clients or executives | Live CRM + support data | 4 hours |
| Investor Update | Monthly or quarterly update for board and investors | ARR, burn rate, pipeline data | 3 hours |
| Client Report | Recurring performance summary for agency or consultant clients | Campaign, revenue, NPS data | 2 to 5 hours |
| Pitch Deck | Fundraising or sales narrative | Story plus key metrics | 8 to 20 hours (mostly one-time) |
Best Slide Deck Tools in 2025
| Tool | AI-Powered? | Data Connected? | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PowerPoint | No | No | General Use | Varies |
| Google Slides | No | No | Collaboration | Free |
| Gamma | Yes | No | Interactive Presentations | Varies |
| Canva | Yes | No | Design-Focused | Free/Paid |
| Pitch | Yes | Yes | Team Collaboration | Varies |
| Coreworks.ai | Yes | Yes | Data-Driven Presentations | Varies |
How Coreworks Generates Your Slide Deck
- CONNECT — Plug in your data sources: Salesforce, HubSpot, Google Sheets, Notion, and more. This is a one-time setup per data source.
- SELECT — Choose your report format: QBR, investor update, client summary, or a custom layout your team has built.
- GENERATE — Coreworks pulls your live data, runs the numbers, and produces the finished deck. No copy-paste. No manual data entry.
- TRACE — Click any number in the generated deck and see exactly where it came from, which version of the data it reflects, and when it was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many slides should a slide deck have?
A slide deck typically contains between 10 to 15 slides, depending on the topic and audience. Keep it concise and focused to maintain engagement.
What is the best slide deck software?
The best slide deck software varies based on user needs. PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva are popular for design. Coreworks.ai is best for data-driven, recurring reports.
How do I make a professional slide deck?
Start with a clear outline and use consistent fonts and colors. Incorporate visuals and limit text to key points to enhance clarity.
Can a slide deck pull data automatically?
Yes. Coreworks.ai can pull data automatically from connected sources like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Google Sheets, allowing for real-time updates.
How long should a QBR slide deck be?
A QBR slide deck should ideally be around 20 slides, covering key performance metrics and insights. This allows for thorough discussion without overwhelming the audience.
Related Resources
Your QBR deck. Generated in 4 minutes. From your actual data.
100 teams max. Founding cohort pricing locked in permanently.
Co-founder & CEO, Coreworks.ai
Previously co-founded Unbxd, which grew to 300+ enterprise customers. Built Coreworks after watching teams lose days to manual data assembly.