The most successful distributors in the digital age are not only those who have data but those who use it most effectively. A Melbourne-based international distributor approached DFLOW with the specific request to develop a data solution that would provide greater insight into their customers and enable increased international business growth with confidence. This bespoke solution would require processing many large data sets, building predictive modelling using machine learning, and a strong collaboration to fulfill the business requirements. The goal for our engineers was to create a wholistic view of the business that was dynamic and comprehensive yet visually uncomplicated.
— Chief Executive Officer
The factory floor of any large modern distributor is like a well-choreographed dance. All the moving pieces working together to create a unified outcome. However, without clear instruction, inefficiencies creep in and trickle down to the production line. In search of a solution to this intrenched problem, a Melbourne-based distributor with an international footprint approached DFLOW to build a data solution that would provide clear insight across their organisation and specifically their factory floor.
Throughout this organisation, making informed and quick decisions was challenging. The need to make these decisions on the spot became critical, yet they were impeded by the lack of insight. The company needed a system that used real-time, easy-to-understand visuals to make informed business decisions, helping to drive better outcomes that reached all areas of the organisation. By filling in this gap, decision makers and executives could spend more time solving the problems, not finding them. Working collaboratively, DFLOW engineers were able to design a real-time dashboarding solution that allowed not only reporting for managers to make smarter organisational decisions, but distributed reporting around the factory on kiosk style screens allowing employees to make quicker and more accurate day-to-day decisions. The introduction of production transparency across the factory also increased the accountability amongst employees. Visibility into the process workflow and customer lifecycle helped executives see the true productivity of their business.
To ensure security and stability DFLOW built a new cloud data warehouse tailored to the requirements of the business to ensure compliance with strict security regulations. The cloud environment enabled the processing of data using business rules and logic and with machine learning fast results could be sent in real time to kiosks on the factory floor. With accessibility being paramount to the project, the cloud environment also allowed executives and key stakeholders to access data and reports from anywhere, onsite or offsite.
Working closely with the distributor afforded DFLOW the opportunity to rapidly prototype the use of dashboards while onsite at the factory and monitor the performance of each different dashboard. This instant feedback made clear what needed to be refined for individual dashboards and where to create new dashboards to suit different use cases.