Overcoming data silos to enable accurate management reporting

One of the biggest challenges with management reports is ensuring they are based on accurate and up-to-date information. Management reports based on wrong, late or out of context data typically result in poor management decisions, lost revenue and missed opportunities.  

When organisations store information in different departments or locations, the result is data silos. Compiling management reports when data is siloed is particularly challenging. Not only is it harder to share information and collaborate across different departments, but it also threatens data integrity and wastes resources.  

Easily accessible data is key to accurate management reports 

Ideally, data should be easily accessible, easy to find and use and provide decision-makers with a 360-degree view. Organisations that have digitised and embarked on a data-driven journey typically find it easier to compile accurate management reports, particularly if they have removed data silos. When data is centralised, automated and optimised, silos cease being a problem, and more efficient decision-making is enabled.  

Altron Digital Business (ADB), specialises in helping clients leverage their data to transform their businesses, operate more effectively and optimise costs. 

Eliminating data silos 

ADB has successfully deployed solutions utilising Microsoft Fabric, an end-to-end analytics and data platform, for a number of clients to help eliminate data silos and enable more accurate analytics. The platform is designed to provide a unified data solution for organisations, which includes simplifying the analytics process and making it easier for businesses to manage and derive insights from their data. Easy to deploy and manage, Microsoft Fabric integrates various components such as data movement, processing, ingestion, transformation, real-time event routing and report building into a single, cohesive platform.  

A key component of Fabric, OneLake, the centralised data storage area,  supports various analytics tools securely, without needing to move or duplicate data. AI integration provides embedded AI capabilities to streamline data processing and generate actionable insights. In addition, real-time analytics supports rapid data processing and event routing while data engineering, data science and data warehousing capabilities, ensure a comprehensive data platform solution. 

A managed solution that frees businesses up to do more valuable work 

“When a solution such as Microsoft Fabric is implemented as a managed solution, it frees the business up to concentrate on more valuable work while at the same time enabling more efficient decision making. Not only is data securely stored but it also enables more accurate data to be available faster,” explains Jonathon Pentz,  Manager: Data as an Asset at Altron Digital Business.  

He reveals that Altron Digital Business recently implemented Microsoft Fabric as a managed service on behalf of a large mining customer with impressive results. “Automating manual processes has resulted in significant efficiency gains, including more efficient staffing decisions, and better management decisions,” he says.  

Although Microsoft Fabric can be implemented in organisations of any size, Pentz reveals that Microsoft is currently offering a 60-day free trial of Microsoft Fabric. “This is a good opportunity to test whether the solution can benefit your business,” he recommends.