Case Study

Case Study 4:

Migrating 500+ Dashboards from Legacy to Power BI for an Education University.

Business Problem


  • Obsolete Technology: The university relied on outdated BI tools like Cognos and Tableau, which limited functionality, scalability, and user satisfaction.

  • Complex Visuals & Calculations: Migrating to Power BI posed challenges as certain legacy visuals, calculations, and data validation processes couldn't be directly replicated.

  • Data Integration Issues: Integrating data from multiple sources into Power BI was complicated, especially with the complex data structures in legacy systems.

Methodology


  • Assessment & Planning: Analyzed 500+ existing dashboards to identify key features and functionality needed in Power BI.

  • Custom Calculations: Recreated legacy visuals and calculations using Power BI’s DAX and custom visuals, addressing gaps in data validation.

  • Incremental Migration: Migrated dashboards in phases, allowing users to adapt and provide feedback.

  • Training & Support: Provided training to ensure users could leverage Power BI’s interactive features effectively.

Technology


  • Legacy BI Tools: Cognos, Tableau

  • Modern BI Platform: Power BI

  • Data Sources: Academic and administrative databases, spreadsheets, cloud-based sources.

Considerations


  • Change Management: Addressed user resistance with a phased migration approach and continuous feedback.

  • Data Quality Ensured accurate data transfer and validation through custom DAX calculations.

  • Scalability: Designed the Power BI solution to scale with future growth and increasing data needs.

Business Impact:


  • Enhanced Decision-Making: Increased data-driven decisions by 30%, empowering users with better insights.

  • Reduced Costs: Achieved a 20% reduction in operational costs by replacing legacy systems with a more cost-effective platform.

  • Fostered Innovation: The modern BI environment encouraged greater exploration of data, promoting a culture of innovation.

Results


  • Faster Performance: Reduced report generation time by 50%, with improved speed and responsiveness in Power BI.

  • Successful Dashboard Migration: Migrated 500+ dashboards, replicating critical functionality and adding new features to enhance insights.

  • Streamlined Data Integration: Successfully integrated data from multiple sources, providing real-time insights.