You can create custom report relationships without the Manage Custom Report Types permission by importing related objects separately and building relationships using spreadsheet formulas.
This approach bypasses Salesforce’s permission restrictions while giving you more flexibility than native reporting. Here’s how to build the custom relationships you need.
Build unlimited object relationships using Coefficient
Instead of waiting for admin approval or being limited to pre-existing report types, Coefficient lets you import data from any Salesforce object and create custom relationships using Salesforce lookup formulas. You can connect Accounts to Opportunities to Campaign Members to Contacts – any combination you need for your analysis.
How to make it work
Step 1. Import your related objects separately.
Use Coefficient to pull data from each object you need. For example, import Accounts with fields like ID, Name, and Industry on one sheet, then import Opportunities with Account ID, Amount, and Stage on another sheet. Coefficient gives you access to all standard and custom objects without permission restrictions.
Step 2. Create relationships using lookup formulas.
Use VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, or INDEX/MATCH to connect your data. If you want to see Account details alongside Opportunity data, use a formula like =VLOOKUP(B2,Accounts!A:C,2,FALSE) where B2 contains the Account ID from your Opportunities sheet. This creates the same relationships you’d build in custom report types.
Step 3. Apply advanced filtering and analysis.
Use Coefficient’s dynamic filtering with AND/OR logic to analyze your connected data. You can filter by multiple criteria across different objects – like showing Opportunities over $10K from Accounts in the Technology industry that came from specific Campaigns. Point filters to cell values for interactive analysis without editing import settings.
Step 4. Set up automatic refresh.
Schedule your imports to refresh hourly, daily, or weekly so your custom relationships always show current data. This keeps your analysis up-to-date without manual work, and your lookup formulas automatically apply to new rows through Coefficient’s Formula Auto Fill Down feature.
Start building better Salesforce reports today
This method gives you more analytical power than native Salesforce reporting, even with full admin permissions. You can create any logical relationship between objects and apply advanced calculations that aren’t possible in standard reports. Try Coefficient to start building the custom relationships your business needs.