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Analytics is the systematic process of analysing data to uncover patterns, trends, and insights that inform decision-making. By leveraging statistical and computational techniques, analytics helps organisations and individuals make sense of complex data sets, transforming raw information into actionable knowledge. This process is essential in various fields, including business, healthcare, finance, and marketing, where data-driven decisions can improve outcomes and efficiencies. Whether predicting consumer behaviour, optimising operations, or identifying new opportunities, analytics plays a crucial role in navigating the data-rich world we live in today.

The question then is, where does all that data come from? This is where we need to consider the nature of Processes. A business process is a series of structured activities or tasks that produce a specific customer service or product. These processes are designed to achieve organisational goals efficiently and effectively. Tracking a business process within an application allows that process to be repeated, and so be considered a process. The process requires a structure; applications greatly support that but are not always necessary. Consider the butcher counter at many supermarkets; they still have you “Take a number” and yet use an electronic system for the remainder of their process.

The core challenge of any Data Programme is converting this data from the transactional process model to the aggregation-centric analytical model. Remembering, of course, that transactional processes may not always be recorded within a single system if they are recorded. Consider the Butcher again… Even with an electronic numbering system, does that link to the sales system? We will almost certainly miss the people who leave before their number is called and why they left. Was the queue too long, was the one customer in front just taking too long, or did they forget something in another aisle? Simply put, not all process elements can be imported for analysis. If we cannot obtain the data, how can we analyse it? Our Butcher may be interested in understanding how many people leave before being served to determine if there is a need for more butchers or a larger counter, or something completely different.

The process of transitioning data from transactional to analytical starts with Extract Transform and Load (ETL) before it is then drawn into a modelling tool or platform. It is essential to understand why changes need to be made, as that makes it easier to understand why. Transactional solutions are optimised to record transactions, such as inserting, updating, or even deleting a transaction at a time. At the same time, analytical solutions are about producing columns that can be aggregated and filtered. So, transactional is focused on rows, while analytical is concentrated on columns. The difference has additional subtleties: transactional databases are (still) optimised for mechanical hard drives, while modern analytical solutions are intended to run entirely within memory. This means there are functional differences to the optimisation strategy you must employ to get the best out of either solution.

The benefit of properly completing your ETL process to simplify your modelling within the Power BI Platform is that the analysis measures (DAX) needed will be simpler. In fact, they can mean the difference between having to write complex DAX measures. This will directly impact the speed of page loads and even the quantity of data that can be visualised by your model.

Geordie Consulting, a dedicated consultancy, has partnered with numerous companies to tackle this challenge. We are committed to sharing our expertise and experience with clients by supporting your Centre of Excellence. Our consultants and their knowledge will be available to foster the growth and development of this function within your organisation. Our team will oversee your Power Platform estate, ensuring consistent refresh cycles. Additionally, we will mentor your team or facilitate knowledge-sharing events to promote a new Data Culture within your business. As a Microsoft Partner, we ensure our team stays current with platform updates. We can simplify the upskilling process for your internal team by guiding and supporting their learning and demonstrating solutions implemented during your engagement. To optimise your return on investment, consider enrolling your organisation in our Centre of Excellence as a Service offering.