Overview
Designed and implemented a self-service business intelligence platform that empowered R&D scientists and engineers to explore data independently while maintaining strict data governance and security controls. Built intuitive interfaces that required minimal technical knowledge.
Problem
R&D teams waited weeks for analytics team to generate reports. Challenges included:
- 2-3 week backlog for custom analytics requests
- Limited data literacy among scientists
- Concerns about data security and governance
- Inconsistent metrics across teams
Architecture
Data Layer
- Centralized data warehouse (SQL Server)
- Automated ETL from lab instruments and LIMS
- Data quality monitoring and alerts
- Row-level security based on user roles
Semantic Layer
- Business-friendly data models
- Pre-calculated metrics and KPIs
- Curated datasets by functional area
- Data dictionary with definitions
Visualization Layer
- Power BI self-service portals
- Template dashboards for common analyses
- Drag-and-drop report builder
- Scheduled report distribution
Governance Framework
- Role-based access controls
- Data certification badges
- Usage monitoring and auditing
- Training program for users
Key Features
User Empowerment
- No SQL knowledge required
- Point-and-click interface
- Common analysis templates
- Natural language query (Power BI Q&A)
Data Governance
- Certified datasets with trust indicators
- Automatic PII masking
- Usage tracking and compliance audits
- Version control for reports
Collaboration
- Shared workspace for teams
- Comment and annotation features
- Report subscription system
- Integration with Microsoft Teams
Success Metrics
- 80% reduction in analytics request backlog
- 100+ scientists enabled as self-service users
- 300+ reports created by end users
- 95% user satisfaction with platform ease of use
- Zero data security incidents in first year
- 60% faster time to insights
Technical Implementation
- BI Platform: Power BI Premium
- Data Warehouse: SQL Server, Azure Synapse
- ETL: Python, Apache Airflow, SSIS
- Security: Azure Active Directory, RLS
- Monitoring: Application Insights, custom Python dashboards