Lone Berg-Olsen explains: “We had a clear, overall requirement specification for content and shape, but during the implementation, the requirements developed a bit with more details than we had originally scoped. We had some difficulties in getting detailed data attuned on individual projects – primarily because our ERP system converted data from multiple sources, which were set up in different ways. It was difficult to solve. Additionally, there was a need to create monthly snapshots in our data warehouse to secure regular monthly figures – that realization came late in the implementation project.”

As mentioned NIRAS has created a setup with uploads of Excel files with forecast data and data from subsidiaries, and that can create some challenges in that they only have an Excel solution for the purpose and not an automatic integration.

“However, we have just chosen a consolidation system which will replace the Excel solution,” Lone Berg-Olsen reveals without going into details.

“Right now, we are working on a Project Manager dashboard which, through graphical visualizations, will be able to help project managers and project owners to focus on the projects which require their attention. The dashboard gives easy and quick access to our collection of project-related data.”

The dynamic dashboard is used by all line managers – from the department manager to the CEO. It is also used daily in the CRM group and by the controllers in Finance. Lone Berg-Olsen welcomes the success. “We have gotten a comprehensive reporting tool which is reliable and gives us ‘one set of numbers’. That is worth its weight in gold. It also gives better processes for the controller with regards to the reporting and the follow-up so we can make sure that we do not create Excel reports. We are almost there.”

CFO Kresten Kloch joins Lone in welcoming the success: “The NIRAS management – from the department level and up – has with our Management Dashboard gotten a unified BI tool which shows the status and the development of our performance, liquidity as well as our order backlog and Pipeline. We are presented with data both graphically and in tables and compares our realized numbers with the forecasts – a setup which offers a good management tool for the management. We have high-level data for all companies in the whole group, and we have the possibility to drill down to specific projects and individual entries,” the CFO says and ends: “I think that our Management Dashboard is in a uniform and attractive design, we have fast performance, and we have great flexibility when it comes to selections, sorting, and thereby many analytics opportunities across our business units.”