Project Overview
Focusing on data warehouse consolidation, Weetabix worked with Consolidata and Transparity to unify legacy applications and multiple data sources into a single repository (‘Databix’), enabling timely interrogation and extraction of business information.
The collaboration established clear demarcation, built data cubes, and paired migration with training and mentoring for Weetabix’s IT team. The project reflects Transparity’s App Innovation capability and aligns with its Data Consultancy services, resulting in improved reporting and broader business intelligence across sales and stock.
The Challenge
Weetabix identified the need to consolidate its legacy applications and multiple data sources into a unified data warehouse, so it could efficiently interrogate and extract vital business information in a timely way. This central data repository was branded ‘Databix’ to encourage greater internal visibility and adoption.
Delivering the project successfully required a professional, cross-functional team capable of covering a diverse range of tools and services across Microsoft’s stack, including SQL Server, BizTalk Server and SharePoint Server, alongside DBA skills and deep expertise in business intelligence and data warehousing.
Weetabix also knew that once its data had been consolidated and ported onto a .NET environment, its IT team’s skills would need to develop in step with the new data warehouse – meaning the project would have to incorporate extensive training and mentoring across the new platform, not just the migration itself.
The Solution
Consolidata, with its proven expertise in business intelligence and data warehousing, combined with the Weetabix IT team’s operational knowledge of the legacy system to form a strong foundation. However, Consolidata’s skills portfolio didn’t extend into structured training and coaching, so it needed a partner that could give Weetabix the same assurances from an education and coaching perspective across the whole Microsoft stack.
Consolidata turned to Transparity, and it was clear from the outset that the two organisations had a strong synergy and, together, the right combination of skills and experience to take on the project. This dual approach gave Weetabix the assurances it needed, and Consolidata and Transparity were awarded the contract.
The next step was agreeing how the three organisations would work together.
Demarcation is the key, both in who leads the relationship, who is the central point of contact for the client, and understanding responsibilities for delivery at the various project milestones. By ensuring this process was established up front, we had good, clear communication throughout the project and worked fantastically as a team. Mark Dodd, Joint Founder & CEO, Consolidata
With that process in place, the three organisations quickly integrated and began working together on the data engineering work needed to build the data cubes at the heart of Databix, with Consolidata and Transparity supporting Weetabix in their respective areas of expertise throughout.
The Outcome
A single source of truth for reporting
Databix gives Weetabix one unified repository to interrogate and extract business information quickly, replacing the patchwork of legacy applications and disconnected data sources it relied on before.
Broader business intelligence across sales and stock
The new data warehouse has improved reporting and extended data analytics and business intelligence across the business, giving Weetabix clearer visibility of sales and stock.
An IT team built to be self-sufficient
Training and mentoring ran alongside the migration itself, so Weetabix’s IT team developed the skills to run and support the new .NET-based data warehouse environment with confidence, rather than relying on an external team indefinitely.
A lasting partnership
The strength of the working relationship has outlasted the original project, with Consolidata and Transparity going on to collaborate on a number of further successful projects together.
