Makro collaborates with Simpson Associates to implement a SQL Server data warehouse and BI application in just 7 months.

Makro

Challenge

• In 2012 Makro was acquired from its German parent company by Booker, requiring them to split away from all business systems.
• With over 30 UK sites, 25,000 active products and 1.2m customers Makro had just 7 months to scope, architect and build a new business critical data warehouse.
• Within the 7 month timetable Makro still needed to select and purchase appropriate hardware and software.
• Makro knew that failing to move to the new data warehouse in time would incur significant IT services costs.

Solution

• The new data warehouse supplies information for the 8:30 ‘huddle’ where key decisions are taken from analysis of the previous day’s trading.
• The HP/Microsoft Fast Track architecture recommended by Simpson Associates provides high performance and reliability with the capacity to grow.
• Information is built with Microsoft reporting and cubing technology and is delivered in Excel, providing a familiar interface for the business users.

Benefits

• Information is available to key decision makers who rely on it.
• Effective control over £10m of marketing spend.
• Integration with Excel maximising user adoption.
• 40% reduction in time taken to pull data from Oracle line of business system.
• 65% reduction in time required to produce redesigned Board reports.
• Fast Track architecture tuned for data warehouse performance.