Luxoft instils data driven culture for 1,000s worldwide with Tableau, revolutionising sales and HR operations
100+ data sources combined through Tableau creates single source of truth
Salesforce integration allows deeper sales insights and executive decision making
Fast access to accurate data streamlines HR processes and reduces staff turnover
Luxoft, a DXC Technology Company, is a digital strategy and software engineering firm providing bespoke technology solutions that drive business change for customers the world over. When Luxoft started using Tableau in 2010 to improve its business analytics capabilities, it was one of the first companies in Russia to do so. In 2015, it set up a new corporate business intelligence centre in Moscow to support the whole organisation, using Tableau as its primary visual analytics platform. Doing so has helped create a single point of truth for the whole company, cutting time to insight, improving data quality and streamlining a wide range of internal operations including human resources, sales and executive insights.
Before Tableau, everyone would bring their own PowerPoints and Excel spreadsheets to meetings, which would often cause conflicts and create confusion. Now almost all decision-making is supported with beautiful Tableau dashboards that provide a single, consistent view of information for all.
Single source of truth increases data quality and transforms executive decision making
Luxoft created its corporate business intelligence centre in 2015 with the aim of achieving a series of key objectives. These included using data to better aid decision making at the executive level, improving data quality in corporate systems, and reducing the quantity of manual data reporting taking place throughout the company.
In order to achieve these, it first needed to consolidate its 100+ data sources into a central, unified platform that could be accessed and used by all employees. It undertook a major corporate data warehouse overhaul, enriching existing databases in a Microsoft SQL Server with new data sources and quality assurance procedures, implementing Alteryx and EasyMorph to aid with data preparation and extraction, and promoting Tableau as the primary data analytics tool for all.
This new approach has significantly streamlining data management and analytics throughout the company. The combination of Microsoft SQL Server data warehouse and Alteryx/EasyMorph has improved data quality and eliminated fragmented data silos, while Tableau has created a single source of truth that greatly increases confidence in data. Executives can now quickly access accurate, consistent insights and self-serve their own data analytics requirements whenever required, cutting speed to insight from hours to minutes.
“Before Tableau, everyone would bring their own PowerPoints and Excel spreadsheets to meetings, which would often cause conflicts and create confusion,” says Natalia Liubimova, Head of Data and Analytics Center, Luxoft. “Now almost all decision-making in nearly every area of the organisation is supported with beautiful Tableau dashboards that provide a single, consistent view of information for all”, continues Alex Barakov, Head of Reporting Office.
In just a few clicks, Tableau’s dashboards can go from high level overviews to detailed deep dives. Their live connection to the data warehouse means the information they contain is always accurate and up to date, which is hugely important at the senior level.
Salesforce integration enables deeper data analysis and better sales insights
Luxoft has used Tableau’s deep functionality to improve self-service analytics and overall business intelligence within numerous departments. A great example of this is its integration with Salesforce via Tableau’s native connector, which has provided the entire sales team with secure, up-to-date, fully customisable views of key sales data sets.
“We started by downloading Salesforce Starter templates from the Tableau website, which helped us hit the ground running with a wide range of dashboards that were tailored to the specific needs of the sales team,” says Natalia. “It didn’t take users long to realise the value that Tableau insights can bring to their day-to-day activity. As a result, uptake has been exceptionally high throughout the department from day one.”
As users familiarise themselves with Tableau’s toolset, the analysis becomes deeper and deeper. Less than a year on from initial integration, there are Tableau reports covering the full range of sales operations, while additional connections to other internal data sources such as finance and recruitment have enabled an even wider range of analysis to be conducted.
The Data and Analytics team has also created a series of Tableau reports to keep senior executives informed of all the latest sales activity and results. Whilst predominantly top line, the reports are fully interactive, allowing executives to drill down into the data wherever they wish.
“In just a few clicks, Tableau’s dashboards can go from high level overviews to detailed deep dives,” says Alex. “Furthermore, their live connection to the data warehouse means the information they contain is always accurate and up to date, which is hugely important at the senior level.”
We started by downloading Salesforce Starter templates from the Tableau website, which helped us hit the ground running with a wide range of dashboards that were tailored to the specific needs of the sales team.
Fast access to accurate data helps streamline HR processes and maintain transparency
Tableau analytics has also helped to improve many aspects of Luxoft’s HR function, resulting in greater transparency and more efficient operations. Embedded dashboards have replaced Excel spreadsheets for the monitoring of HR processes such as appraisals, training, benefits, salaries, promotions and more, allowing HR team members to quickly see an employees’ full history on a single visualisation, whenever required.
Recruitment is another key area, with Tableau used to track all current job vacancies alongside projected future resourcing requirements, in line with predicted company growth. This approach allows the team to stay ahead of curve, proactively managing the workforce rather than reacting to resourcing issues as and when they arise.
“Tracking key HR processes in Tableau rather than Excel means the team can visualise and interrogate data sets far more quickly and accurately than before, resulting in more efficient overall operations,” says Natalia. “An effective HR function means happier, more satisfied employees, helping to reduce turnover and minimise avoidable crunch points that are caused by poor planning and inadequate staffing levels.”
Going forward, the Data and Analytics team is planning to implement a number of new Tableau initiatives across the business. These include embedded tips and navigation assistance on Tableau Server, rebranding dashboard designs to improve consistency, and automating reporting processes in additional areas including finance.
“At our last count, we had around 1,000 users of Tableau server, working with over 700 active dashboards across 80 projects or more,” says Alex. “As its popularity continues to grow within Luxoft, we have created a clear path towards improving the functionality we can offer to make employees’ day-to-day lives even easier, as well as improving the efficiency of the business as a whole.”
Tracking key HR processes in Tableau rather than Excel means the team can visualise and interrogate data sets far more quickly and accurately than before, resulting in more efficient overall operations.