ScS Boosts Sales With Reporting Dashboard|Retail
SCS Boosts Sales With Reporting Dashboard
Coeo works with leading sofa and carpet specialist to provide sales teams with access to the insights needed to make data-driven decisions.
Project background
Over the last century, ScS have become one of the UK’s leading sofa and carpet specialists. They currently have 100 stores across the country and employ over 1,500 staff. As their business expanded, they needed greater insight into store and regional performance.
ScS wanted more insight into its business performance, but it was relying on old-fashioned reporting systems with little scope for analysis. Its aim was to move away from flat SQL reports and Excel spreadsheets to a modern, dynamic system, and improve business intelligence.
Having compared the range of analytical tools available, ScS made the decision to invest in Microsoft Power BI. ScS and Coeo had worked together previously and, following an internal recommendation, Coeo were signed up to support with the project implementation.
Project scope
Anil Gogna, Head of Business Reporting at ScS, wanted to give retail management access to informative, dynamic reporting that would improve visibility and support superior performance management.
Coeo were responsible for building a cloud data solution, 24/7 dedicated support, optimising costs, implementing Microsoft Power BI and new reporting dashboards.
Project challenges
COVID-19 Pandemic
Shortly after the analytics project was rolled out to users, the UK went into lockdown and – like many retailers – ScS was forced to close its stores.
Coeo worked with ScS to optimise their Azure spend and scale back their Azure services whilst stores were shut, providing cost savings for the client when they needed it most. Coeo also supported in quickly removing BI licensing whilst staff were furloughed.
Following the reopening of stores, licenses were reinstated, any technical challenges were overcome, and training provided to tackle knowledge gaps within the ScS team.
The two teams collaborated to overcome initial teething problems with the new infrastructure and data warehouse. Amendments were also applied to the newly built KPIs to better reflect the latest views of the business.
Modern Analytics
ScS’s reporting system was archaic, made up of a number of flat, multipage SQL reports and complicated excel spreadsheets, with very little focus on any trend or insight analysis. Anil and his team discussed the options with Coeo’s consultant and they opted to store their data warehouse in the cloud, rather than using an on-premises solution.
“We also took the decision to rebuild everything, rather than use our existing data. The data previously held had become ambiguous over time and was difficult to attain granular, supporting information” Anil Gogna, Head of Business Reporting, ScS.
Key outcomes
Coeo provided support during the build of the new Azure data warehouse, working alongside Anil and his team. We then supported them with training to ensure a successful roll out and adoption across all users, both in head office and in store.
Following the build, Coeo and ScS engaged to put in place a Dedicated Support agreement providing unlimited 24/7 support with proactive monitoring.
“Coeo are able to spot a problem overnight and proactively resolve the issue. Before the business is reviewing reports early morning, it’s already been sorted.
“Early morning access to successfully refreshed reports was key to enable day-to-day business decisions, so having Coeo on board supporting this was invaluable.
“We had problems six months ago where overnight data refreshes were failing regularly. But, with the two teams working together, we have been able to remediate and learn the root cause of issue at the same time.
“Even today, if something does fall over, Coeo are able to spot a problem overnight and proactively resolve the issue. Before the business is reviewing reports early morning, it’s already been sorted. That works fantastically for us. It’s about having information ready, on time without disruption to the business.” Anil Gogna
The new retail sales dashboards have helped to improve performance management and quickly identify the root cause of any particular issue, without the need for multiple reports. This has allowed the team to focus on where sales or margin, with salesperson or order level being identified through the click of a button.
Anil and his team are now looking to produce similar reporting systems for other areas of the business, such as Distribution and Operations. He hopes to further develop the knowledge that the team has gained and continue to build a data-driven culture within the business.
“I’ve found the whole team at Coeo to be very professional in their roles. Even when we have had problems, it’s been very good. I’ve found each and every person prepared to go out of their way to make it work. That stems from the service desk through to the consultants.
“Our problem has been their problem. Taking that approach, Coeo have done themselves proud with the service they’ve provided.”
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