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Automated Data Cleansing & Insights Reporting

Sector/s: Utilities
Technologies Used: Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI
Key Services: Data Management & Optimisation, Data Empowerment

Our client, a leading utility provider, previously faced a challenge with handling files from external partners that came in various formats, necessitating repetitive manual work to verify, reformat, and distribute the data to different stakeholders. This process has been transformed through automation using Microsoft’s Power Platform, which not only streamlined the workflow but also elevated the quality of data and the outputs of reporting. As a result, the client has achieved faster, more precise internal reporting and fostered better collaboration across departments.

Problem

Significant operational inefficiencies arose from an outdated gas metering system, creating substantial challenges in maintaining efficiency. This system, servicing high-volume consumers in Victoria, was failing to produce data outputs that were reliably consumable by business users with dependencies on the information. Data Sagacity was engaged to address this critical issue, conceptualising an approach, confirming with stakeholders its efficacy, and then implementing on a short timeline.

The Victoria metering data workflow involved receiving spreadsheets that underwent a chain of manual transformations, making the process laborious and inefficient. Not only did it consume significant time for the VIC Metering team, but it also lacked provision for other stakeholders who required access to this data.

Identifying a path forward using the office 365 infrastructure (Power Platform), that was readily available to use without needing to involve architecture for approval, allowed us to deliver this solution fast and effectively.

Solution

Data Sagacity undertook the design and implementation of an advanced solution utilising the capabilities of the Microsoft Power Platform. The solution architecture comprised:

  • A user-friendly Power App interface enabling business users to effortlessly manage the flow and integrity of data.

  • A robust Power Automate back-end designed to streamline file handling—automating the classification, and validation of incoming data, as well as friendly error handling and logging.

  • A sophisticated Power BI suite that provided comprehensive analytics and visualisation tools tailored to the clients’ requirements for VIC Metering data. This suite included a detailed logging report that tracked file history and documented any inconsistencies detected during data validation.

The solution also featured a Power BI model with direct Excel connectivity, allowing stakeholders to integrate VIC Metering data with other data sets. This integration was crucial for enhancing the financial planning teams’ larger models, facilitating seamless data synthesis and strategic planning.

Benefits

The implementation of this modernised system delivered by Data Sagacity significantly improved efficiency and user interaction. Key outcomes included:

  • An increase in user engagement.

  • Effortless data integration.

  • Advanced, automated error handling.

  • Reduced data redundancies.

  • Enhanced logging for full data traceability, all within the Microsoft ecosystem.

  • Business friendly dashboards and reporting, revealing trends and helping identify when something seemed awry and required further investigation.

The transformation replaced manual data handling with a streamlined interface, facilitating easy access and automatic data processing within the Power BI model for all teams.

The new system’s reliability and seamless performance solidified our clients’ trust in the data’s accuracy and eliminated the repetitive monthly data processing tasks.

Conclusion

By leveraging the capabilities of Microsoft’s Power Platform, Data Sagacity was able to transform a complex, manual data handling process into an efficient, automated workflow. This not only saved time and reduced errors but also empowered the client’s teams with reliable, easily accessible data for strategic decision-making. The seamless integration and enhanced reporting capabilities have set a new standard for operational efficiency and data management within the organisation, positioning them for continued success in an increasingly data-driven environment.

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