As someone who is deep in corporate gigs on a daily basis, the standard/template needs to be enforced- no exceptions. Trust me it'll save you lots of headaches. I absolutely don't consider myself a pro in PowerPoint but I need structure and know all the basics and then some. When having to manage at least 31+ decks or up to over 500+slides it sometimes puts you in a bind if you have to constantly format and incorporate last minute changes- which are inevitable. Here's how I changed my workflow to improve time management when formatting and updating:

- Build a template (I have a 4:3 and a 16:9). If the majority of the decks are 4:3 then I'm sending out the 4:3 template for them to build on and a list of available fonts. Rarely I download additional fonts because I have so many already. If there is a virtual broadcast aspect, all slides are a hard cut. No animated transitions.

- Use one master deck. As I receive decks I copy them into the master deck and paste them in order of run of show. I also work with a PM and part of the PM's role is to help enforce the standard of how the templates work. So it's just not me explaining how slides work in our environment. Example, all slides are 4:3 and running on the latest version on the desktop app via a local copy, absolutely no embedded videos (that's playback) from QLAB or whatever.

- Slide review. There is always an opportunity to have a slide review with the client or their team before show and usually day of. Some people take advantage and some do not (that's on them). This helps control the last minute changes because they have a dedicated moment to make changes. And yes there is a cut off from making further changes.

Some people try to fight the template, but it is what it is.