BD Media gets Data Driven
BD exists of 3 sub companies: BD Media,myShopi app, BD Logistics & myShopi app. They create one big company to create a omnichannel experience for customers.
Being divided into so many branches creates the risk for silos. BD wanted to combine all the data to become data driven. Meaning they wanted to make strategic decisions on data, being able to optimize their business by measuring and unlocking the possibilites for Data Science.
In this blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of building a data lakehouse, with a Power BI visualization layer on top. We will explore its benefits, architectural considerations, and best practices.
First things first: building a strong foundation
When you build a house, you start with the foundation layer and not the roof, right? So is the world of Data Analytics & AI.
The Data Lakehouse
A data lakehouse is a unified platform that integrates the best features of data lakes and data warehouses. It offers the flexibility and scalability of data lakes, which allow for the ingestion of raw and unstructured data from various sources, and the query optimization and performance capabilities of data warehouses, which enable efficient data retrieval for analytics purposes.
The data lakehouse architecture aims to solve the challenges associated with traditional data silos by providing a single platform where data engineers, data scientists, and analysts can collaborate seamlessly. This eliminates the need to move data between different storage systems, reducing complexity and enabling quicker insights extraction.
You can read more about the Data Lakehouse on the Databricks website.
Empowering self-service BI: Data Champions
Once a strong foundation was laid, we could explore this data.
The Expert-Led Era of Power BI Reporting
In the early stages of utilizing Power BI, crafting insightful reports and dashboards was done to data experts, from the IT teams. We possessed the necessary technical skills to extract, transform, and visualize data, ensuring that the generated insights aligned with business goals. While this approach provided valuable insights, it had limitations in terms of scalability of impact on BD.
The Rise of Data Champions
Recognizing the need for faster, more flexible data-driven decision-making, we began nurturing a group of individuals known as “Data Champions.” These were individuals who exhibited an affinity for working with data and showed eagerness to learn about the organization’s datasets and business processes. Rather than relying solely on experts, organizations encouraged these enthusiasts to take charge of their insights journey.
The Self-Service Revolution
As Data Champions stepped into the spotlight, a self-service revolution in Power BI reporting took shape. Empowered with accessible tools, user-friendly interfaces, and training resources, Data Champions embarked on a journey to independently create reports and conduct analyses. This transition marked a fundamental shift, transforming data from a guarded resource to an empowering asset available to those closest to the business challenges.
Fostering a Data-Driven Culture
The transition from expert-led Power BI reporting to a self-service model led by Data Champions has spurred the development of a data-driven culture within BD. This culture fosters curiosity, encourages experimentation, and values insights derived from data exploration. As Data Champions continue to thrive and multiply, the organization benefits from a continuous cycle of learning, growth, and optimization.
Concrete unlocked cases
Optimizing the supply chain
As in every factory, downtime of the machines is a unwanted cost. We provided insights on the machine data coming via a event hub. We could identify the underlying reasons of issues and decreasing downtime by 70%!
First margin insights for logistics business into planning application
After acquiring 2 new logistic businesses, there was no short-term insights on how much money BDLogistics lost or won on each route. After bringing various sources together we were able to bring real-time insights enabling the planners to plan routes more effectively while giving them feedback directly into the planning application. This could never be done before as all data was sitting in silos.
Empowering sales team with 360 view
After the implementation of a CRM system, we had to combine the forecasts with the actuals and provide insights for the sales team. On top we build a 360 view around our customers shortening the preparing time for the account managers.
What can we do for you?
In a world driven by data, the success stories of Data Champions and the evolution of data lakehouses and Power BI reporting have captured the imagination of organizations seeking a competitive edge. The journey from expert-led analytics to self-service empowerment is a roadmap that countless businesses aspire to follow. If you’re inspired by the possibilities of harnessing the power of your data and want to embark on a transformative journey, we invite you to connect with us.
Our team is ready to guide you through the process of building a data lakehouse that seamlessly integrates with Power BI and supports the growth of Data Champions within your organization. The benefits are clear: faster insights, deeper context, and a more engaged and empowered workforce. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to shape a data-driven culture that drives innovation and success.
Reach out to us today to start your own journey toward data democratization, and discover how you too can empower your Data Champions and unlock the potential of a unified data ecosystem. Contact us now to embark on a transformation that will redefine the way you approach analytics and drive your organization’s future growth.
Become data driven
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