Our Solution

First, we interviewed all key stakeholders and completed an audit of all the data and information sources available.  The process allowed us to also identify any gaps in the information and create a strategy to fill them.  For example, we identified a need to increase the coverage and consistency of the sell-out data received from retail partners. We advised the client that it needed to stipulate in contracts that this data should always be provided by retail partners on a timely basis.

The next stage was to design an Azure-based data platform to automatically consume all the data coming from internal systems, retail partners and third-party data vendors.  This platform needed to process the information in a way that standardised all product correct codes.

We also proposed a suite of straw-man reports that could be run off the proposed database and be customised to the specific needs of different groups within the organisation, such as senior leadership teams, individual account sales teams, product category teams, marketing and finance.  In addition, we suggested that the client share a sub set of this processed data in Power BI dashboards to its retail partners. That way, it could encourage transparency and facilitate more constructive commercial conversations.

Finally, we proposed putting in place a small team of dedicated analysts to maintain the solution correctly and continually improve accuracy and consistency.

Our Impact

When the client implemented our proposed strategy, good things started to happen. Soon, all the internal teams were working from master data that was processed quickly and consistently.  People had virtually real-time access to the latest numbers in a format that met their specific needs. They also now spent more time on their core duties rather than data processing. Most satisfying of all, we put an end to arguments between departments over numbers. We were told by a grateful management team that the productivity of its internal and client meetings increased significantly as a result!