PLEN
Designing and building a unique business intelligence and big data solution for a global leader in the field of manufacturing
Designing and building a unique business intelligence and big data solution for a global leader in the field of manufacturing
1

Introduction

Introduction

Our client is one of the world's leading producers and distributors of high-quality skin and hair care products. The company successfully marks its presence on international markets. As a world leader in prestigious beauty, the organization produces products for over half a billion consumers annually. The company's products are sold in over 150 countries and territories. Our partner strongly develops its activities on foreign markets. In order for the company to continue to maintain a competitive advantage in global markets, investments in modern business intelligence systems and analytical dashboards are crucial. As a result of global growth, the company decided to cooperate with IT commandos.

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Project description

Project description
  1. For the client, the priority was to create new dedicated business intelligence and big data solution based on the data management system implemented in the enterprise
  2. Our task was to create an intelligent tool that uses, among others, Microsoft Apps for Power BI for data processing
  3. In addition, our design goals included technical support - efficient and responsible answering questions regarding the operation of the application, analytical navigation panels, implementation of modifications, and extensions of the application based on the agreed scopes of work
  4. Finally, our tasks in the project included training the client's team in using Power BI and business analytics
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Customer challenges

Customer challenges
  1. Processing, collecting, and drawing accurate conclusions based on data
  2. Lack of automation of key processes in the enterprise
  3. Lack of a tool enabling efficient verification of information in the enterprise
  4. Lack of solution to collect data from the indicated SAP reports and CSV files on a monthly basis
  5. Lack of solution that creates automatic schedules from data sources such as SAP Business Objects and CSV files
  6. Lack of calculation automation mechanisms at the Azure SQL database level
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Our solutions

  1. Creating a Power BI dashboard as well as Analytical dashboards according to customer requirements
  2. Automatic cyclical integration with SAP - we have created an application that automatically connects to SAP and automatically downloads reports in very different configurations (monthly and at a different frequency), integrating them with the customer base, so that on the same day they would appear after appropriate calculations for Dashboard
  3. Creating a functionality that generates e-mail notifications about the status of data migration
  4. Conducting training in the use of Business Intelligence and Analytical Dashboards
  5. Delivery of the system source code under a license that allows the customer to independently develop the application in the future within the organization
  6. Transformation and aggregation of data both at the procedure database level as well as aggregation at the PowerBI level
  7. Training the Data Analytics customer team in the use of the dashboard
  8. Developing application in PowerApp with bypassing Microsoft limits and restrictions
  9. Provision of technical documentation enabling future development of the application
  10. We have created many dedicated data visualizations/presentations. During the implementation, dedicated visualizations had to be built. Some of the examples of dedicated data visualizations are presented below
  11. Table contained in another table, which had to perform different calculations for different grouping (unlike the default PowerBI operation, which groups values at one level) - our solution allows you to combine data vertically and horizontally in the data structure - counting calculations aggregated on other grouping levels that use different calculations at each level
  12. We created the ability to automatically switch the data source of one visualization, which allowed for faster resolution of the reported problem - only in the latest update did PowerBI implement a similar solution - we were the first!
  13. We have introduced the ability to automatically change the month filtering in relation to the current date (by default, PowerBI does not provide data updates based on the current date, but only on the previous save of the file)
  14. Involvement of key decision-makers on the part of the partner in the project. Thanks to the use of synergy elements between our teams, we were able to successfully complete the project
  15. During this project, many modifications were made to the customer indicators and we managed to create more detailed calculations. As IT Commandos, we had to introduce calculations for historical data that was constant for several years, and after the implementation of our solution, the client is able to introduce many modifications and improvements that undoubtedly affect the quality of the analyzed indicators
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Technologies and processes used in the project

Technologies and processes used in the project
  1. Azure VM Python
  2. Azure Power Apps for Power BI
  3. Agile methodology
  4. Synergy of work between the client's teams and IT commandos
  5. Power BI and Analytical Dashboards
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Project results

  1. Creating and implementing a Power BI dashboard
  2. Build a job specification solution using Azure VM Python and Azure Power Apps for Power BI
  3. Create a user-friendly dashboard that allows manual input by end users directly into the Power BI dashboard
  4. Designing mechanisms of full automation from source data to PowerBI application and navigation panels
  5. The tool, through automation, allows us to reduce the time needed to complete internal business processes, thanks to which our client is able to reduce operating costs
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Conclusion

Conclusion

The presented project in the field of data management automation for an international corporation was a unique achievement for us. We showed that we are able to effectively implement power automation and business intelligence solutions. Thanks to the use of modern technologies, the organization is able to continue to develop its competitive advantage in foreign markets. The use of an automatic data processing tool opened up new opportunities for the client for organizational development. Our solution reduced the time needed to finalize business processes in the company. As a result, the client was very satisfied with the business opportunities provided by our Power BI solution, as well as with our project commitment. Moreover, the results of the project showed that the technological path we have chosen is appropriate to achieve the set organizational goals for international corporations. Customer satisfaction mobilized, even more, the entire Net PC IT commandos team to work on their skills and develop in the expansion of the Big Data team. Additionally, the business focus of this project was important to us. We have proven that due to teamwork, we are able to create a Business Intelligence platform for one of the largest corporations in the world, which produces billions of products for consumers every year. We have shown that we are able to understand the complex needs of corporate web application users and translate them into system functionalists. Our corporate client's satisfaction with the quality of our work, thanks to the use of modern technologies, was of key importance for us.

 

We are counting on more projects in the production industry from international organizations. IT commandos are reporting readiness and waiting for the next projects in the area of building modern technological solutions in the areas of data intelligence!