When implementing a large scale data ecosystem a key component is BI team training.

At Common, our BI team training and advisory work helps answer the question we hear most often, “what the heck is my team supposed to do with all this data?” To enhance data literacy and efficacy across the organization, Common trains your team to ensure expert users can create their own dashboards with confidence; and the less technical end users, who are reading the reports and dashboards, can easily grasp the concepts.

Standing Up The Tool

Standing up an entire data warehouse, with a visualization and analytics tool like Looker or Tableau, plus all the dashboards and reports, can seem overwhelming. At Common we work with your organization from the beginning to establish that the right data sets are prepped and ready to play nicely with your tool of choice. We work closely with all stakeholders to anticipate needs and questions, ensuring an effective rollout of your visualization tool throughout the company.

Teaching Self Sufficiency

We believe that BI team training should empower users to tailor dashboards to their specific roles and responsibilities. This includes the ability to select relevant metrics, set personalized filters and design data analytics and design visualizations that support individual or departmental objectives. At Common, we believe that core to this process is teaching an appreciation for the importance of data in decision-making. Expert users and less technical end-users should all gain insights into the data lifecycle, data quality and the ethical considerations surrounding data usage.

Optimizing Reporting Routines

Establishing clear and repeatable reporting routines is critical to ensuring BI team training is rolled out effectively throughout the company. Organizations need to align on: (1) which KPIs and metrics they want to use; (2) how to define those KPI and metrics; and (3) agree on the reporting readouts. Once agreed upon, the key to the whole process is step (4) automation. Automation involves building, directly into your data warehouse and BI tool, a defined cadence that is consistent, transparent and available to everyone that should have access.

Interpreting the Results

The BI or Business Analytics team, Analytics Engineering or Data Engineering teams are the ones who need the most technical knowledge of how Looker or Tableau is working within the organization. At Common, we train these expert users to help them get the most out of the ecosystem by:

partnering upfront on how data is ideally structured to make best use of each tool

training them in LookML and other features or syntax unique to each tool

co-creating reports and dashboards and sharing best practices and tips and tricks along the way

Training the less technical end users who need the data that the tool provides, teams like FP&A, Operations, Planning, Strategy, Insights and Executives, means:

for the power users: holding 'real world' hands-on-keyboard training that explains how to create reports that will be successful for less technical end users (e.g.”teach a man to fish”)

for the executives: specialized training so they can interact with the reports, interpret results and learn best practices on how often to receive, review and leverage data for highest impact

Troubleshooting and Support

Even with a user-friendly dashboard, challenges may arise. At Common, BI team training aims to equip users with troubleshooting skills and an understanding of typical issues that may occur. Additionally, providing ongoing support mechanisms ensures that users can seek assistance when faced with difficulties or when trying advanced features.

Security and Data Compliance

At Common our BI team training programs emphasize the importance of security and data compliance. Part of the process involves the choice of tool, Looker or Tableau and the different permissions/set-up options each offers. In addition, users need to be aware of best practices for handling sensitive information, understanding data access controls and adhering to privacy regulations. Regardless, Common will work with your organization to understand and offer best practices that fit the needs of the company.

Explore our case studies.

We take a client-centric approach, prioritizing your goals and objectives throughout the engagement. Our commitment to open communication and collaboration ensures that we build lasting partnerships with our clients. Our track record speaks for itself having successfully helped numerous organizations transform their data into actionable insights, driving business growth and enhancing operational efficiency.

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