REGIONAL REVIEW
• Data security is now revamped in a central , global repository that is the LDW , using row-level restrictions and corporate directories .
• Self-service analytics was extensively used to provide specific dashboards relative to the COVID-19 crisis , for the board and managing directors .
Davíð Jóhannsson , Head of Information Intelligence at Landsbankinn , expands on how it collaborated with Denodo to achieve its business goals and how it has been able to build a data-driven , holistic overview of business activities .
Can you tell us more about how real-time data is used for informed decision-making across the organisation ?
It is extremely important that there is good access to new and correct data when making decisions across Landsbankinn – whether they are strategic or financial . The bank is increasingly providing self-service loans and it must be possible to integrate and make decisions based on data that is updated in different places . We also use real-time data in marketing campaigns , enabling us to quickly change tactics when needed . When data can be viewed in real time , new opportunities arise to enhance data-driven decision-making .
Why did you decide to work with Denodo on this project and did you achieve what you set out to ?
At the heart of this project was our desire to create a data sharing culture throughout the organisation . We wanted to accelerate our key operational and reporting capabilities through providing real-time data to all users to help inform decision-making and improve both operational efficiency and customer experience initiatives .
Before working with Denodo to implement a logical data warehouse , we had over 45 siloed data sources – including Oracle databases , data warehouses and APIs from internal and external sources . This was making it increasingly complex for our users to find and access the right data at the right time . We ’ d already made some changes – housing all business rules and security protocols together – but to consolidate these data sources and feed the demand of various user groups we needed a novel data integration solution that was more cost-effective , easier to implement and technology-agnostic . This is where Denodo came in .
The Denodo solution helped us achieve a consistent view across all data silos and today the entire bank is processing data from one place .
How did the implementation of a logical data warehouse using the Denodo Platform help you to streamline your data infrastructure and what benefits did this bring ?
Our team used the Denodo Platform – a data integration and data management solution built on data virtualisation – to build a logical data warehouse . Through this self-service platform , we are able to aggregate data from disparate data sources , transform that data based on the applied business rules and then make it available to consuming applications . Essentially , this means that throughout the bank , data can be accessed and analysed by all kinds of users , even those with limited IT skills . It enables our business leaders to make informed decisions and deliver a vast range of services to Landsbankinn customers quickly and efficiently .
What prompted Landsbankinn to expand its approach from building just a logical data warehouse to building a data mesh architecture and what would you recommend to other organisations building a data mesh architecture or attempting to ?
The bank wanted to become datadriven , which means that the entire bank needs to be data-driven , not just individual departments . The traditional ETL route is not suitable for this kind of strategy as it scales very poorly . Instead of increasing the staff in the warehouse team , it is better to make better use of programmers , transferring more responsibility to them and thereby increasing data to market . Data mesh is ideally suited for crowdsourcing access to data . The management of the data is then in the right place , which makes the data more reliable . We also get rid of unnecessary processing time when the data is being moved to a warehouse as well as duplicating the data , but this entails the risk of errors . When companies are considering data mesh , it needs to be part of a long-term strategy and everyone needs to buy into this architecture . Whether it ’ s analysts , programmers or DBAs , data mesh won ’ t work unless there ’ s good cooperation between everyone and everyone is working towards the same goal .
Can you tell us about some of the overall benefits achieved since working with Denodo and what this means for your Digital Transformation journey going forward ?
The logical data warehouse has extended the reach of data across the organisation . In fact , around 80 % of the targeted users are now using it in one way or another and adoption for the remaining 20 % is in full swing . This has resulted in some huge benefits , including :
• Our data can now be used by all kinds of users within the organisation , even the ones with limited data / IT skills , to make informed decisions .
• Significant improvement in terms of time and resources required to perform operational reporting and traditional BI reporting .
• Our data security is now revamped in a central , global repository that is the logical data warehouse , using row-level restrictions and corporate directories .
• Self-service analytics was extensively used to provide specific dashboards relative to the COVID-19 crisis , for the board and managing directors .
The Digital Transformation has happened more quickly as Denodo has provided rapid feedback on the digital solutions as soon as they are released and we can then see how we are getting customers to use the solutions . Today , it is standard in all new solutions that there is real-time access to the underlying data . �
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