Automated Data Transformation for Smarter Business Operations

The Challenge

Our pharmaceutical client was seeking a solution to improve reporting by automating the current manual process for integrating flat files that would ensure high quality data. The client sought to move from a human-based process to one that would be automated and managed by their IT department. As such, solutions needed to consider the rapid growth of data and minimize future maintenance.

The Solution

Optimus SBR Data collected requirements to understand the current process and to incorporate the organization’s objectives. The aim of the solution was to ensure that the automated ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) workflows designed to combine the data files would not merely replicate the current manual process but would also allow for scalability and the integration of new data sources.

The Results

The transition from manual to automated data transformation processes represents a significant leap forward in operational efficiency and data integrity, laying a foundation of trust in the data utilized across business functions. This shift not only markedly reduces processing times—from hours to mere seconds—but also introduces a scalable workflow architecture. Such scalability ensures the seamless integration of new data sources without a corresponding increase in maintenance demands. Furthermore, the optimization of data output has been designed for enhanced performance within analytics and data visualization tools, providing a robust platform for insightful decision-making and strategic analysis. This holistic approach to data transformation and process automation underpins our commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions that empower businesses to operate more intelligently and effectively.

Automated ETL workflows were developed using the KNIME Analytics Platform to clean datasets and perform data validation. When an error was found, workflows would specify the type of error and its location to facilitate resolution by users. The workflows consolidated the different Excel files, applied several business rules provided by the client, and resulted in an optimized, standardized data structure for use in the data visualization tool, Power BI. Finally, Optimus SBR Data delivered documentation ensuring knowledge transfer to owners on how to maintain the workflows.