Modern cloud-based reporting with PowerBI and Azure data warehouse

The challenge is visibility into the business and usability of available information

Savox Communications has grown strongly both organically and through company acquisitions in recent years. Growth has also brought challenges, because different business units had different systems and information was scattered. This was initially solved at the company by building the basics and harmonising the systems used.

However, the harmonisation of the systems did not yet solve the challenge that it was time-consuming and complicated to retrieve and combine information from different systems. Despite the changes, visibility into their own business and its areas was not at the desired level. In addition, the information could not be utilised in different business areas to the extent that was desired and is currently possible. “It was seen that at this point that we need to build a reporting platform on top of the production control system,” says Terhi Rantala, Director of Operations at Savox Communications.

Convinced by the experience in building reporting tools

The need for a reporting environment that meets current business needs and the ability to monitor the business had been identified in the company, and this is what we started to solve in cooperation. It was easy to find a shared understanding from the very beginning, and we were convinced by twoday’s experience in building reporting tools and dashboards.

We created a brand-new reporting environment for Savox Communications using PowerBI technology. Under this reporting environment, we built an Azure-based data warehousing system. This is, therefore, a fully cloud-based reporting and data warehousing system.

We built the solution in stages and made dashboards for different management areas to meet their needs. In the first stage, we focused on making it easy to compile sales figures of the company at the global level. In the next stage, we implemented the same system for inventory management and procurement. At the moment, we are implementing the financial reporting.

Agile and well-functioning cooperation

Cooperation has been agile and the work has advanced in small stages at the pace desired by the customer. When we have found something that was hoped to be improved, we have expanded the project stage by stage. According to Rantala, twoday’s approach was attractive from the beginning and it seemed that Savox Communications has also gained the added value it desired.

“Here we have found a kind of cooperation that genuinely challenges both sides, as well as utilises the lessons learned from other similar projects. It has been a very important and essential aspect of the cooperation and has even exceeded our expectations,” says Rantala.

“We have received good proposals and have genuinely felt that both sides want to find a sensible way to implement them. Consultants have been competent and continuity and sharing of expertise within the team during the project has been ensured. In addition, communication has worked well at all levels and has been active on both sides,” says Rantala.

Correct information at the right time to support decision-making

As a result of the project, the visibility of business data in the organisation has improved on many levels. It is now possible to have direct access to the necessary information, which also helps in decision-making. For example, the management team is able to see where things are at any time and also to look at the details, if they wish. Reports are now easy to use, easy to read, and up to date.

This means the correct information is available at the right time to support decision-making. In addition, the amount of manual work has decreased significantly and the saved time can be used for business support work, instead of data collection.

“It has often come up in the internal discussions that we have chosen the right partner at the beginning and we still think so,” says Rantala.