A modern solution required a renewal of data structures
Epical built a technical platform for Otava that enables unified reporting across different business functions, finance, and the entire group. The solution was implemented using Power BI, with numerous operational systems and the Unit 4 financial management solution, serving as the data warehouse’s source systems. In addition, modern technologies such as Azure, Qivada’s ADA, and various utilities were adopted.
The transformation required a major operational change: it was not a matter of migrating old structures to new technology, but of redesigning the models and data structures themselves. The data could not be imported onto the new platform as-is; instead, the master data had to be completely rebuilt.
– We created new organizational hierarchies and data models that enable broader analysis of the company’s data and drill-down reporting across business boundaries, says Laakkonen.
– First, we identified the reporting, data acquisition, and decision-making needs of the core functions, as well as what data was available. Using this needs assessment, we created a high-level conceptual model of the entities that make up the company’s data. We also assigned roles to systems more precisely than before, which lightened the accounting burden and created transparency in reporting, Erkki Piitulainen, Senior Consultant for Data and Analytics at Epical, says.
Data utilization improved significantly
Through this project, Otava obtained a unified and scalable reporting solution that allows users to easily analyze data across different dimensions and time frames.
– On the expense side, you can drill down into costs all the way to the invoice level. People can access the original data sources themselves, and there’s no need to request data from different departments. This speeds up operations considerably, Laakkonen explains.
Data usability has improved significantly thanks to unified data.
– We no longer compare apples and oranges, but genuinely the same data. With unified master data, we can develop things from the perspective of business analytics as a whole. The usability of the data is on a completely different level than before, Laakkonen says happily.
The new solution improved transparency in Otava’s group-level reporting. Reports are now also updated swiftly, practically in real time.
The project was not without its challenges. The scope was broader than initially anticipated, which also affected the schedule. In addition, the phased rollout brought surprises: each business area presented unique characteristics that led to changes and development needs in the plans.
– We didn’t compromise on our goals, though. We succeeded in creating a really solid foundation that can now be expanded and developed. Our intention was to first implement the Group’s core project and then expand it horizontally and vertically. We are now well-prepared for this, says Laakkonen.
A challenging project brings partners together
Otava and Epical have long collaborated in the areas of infrastructure and cloud services. Hence, in carrying out this major transformation project, the history of close collaboration and knowledge incentivized optimal outcome as an additional leverage. Communication has been open throughout the project, and challenges have also been discussed frankly.
–The project was a learning experience for both sides. Pleasant summer day projects don’t usually bring partners closer together, Laakkonen chuckles.
The challenges were overcome through good cooperation, which is now expanding into this area as well. The maintenance of Otava’s media business data warehouses has already been transferred to Epical, and the management of the retail data warehouses is currently being transferred.
– Epical and Otava share very similar values. Our collaboration is built on a strong foundation of trust. We work on development together, and it’s extremely important that we can discuss our visions openly and move them forward together, Laakkonen summarizes.
The Otava Group is Finland’s third-largest diversified media group, touching the lives of nearly every Finn in some way. Their business areas include general literature, learning services, retail, magazine publishing, and online services. In 2021, the Group’s revenue was 253 million euros, and it employs approximately 1,000 people.
