How a Leading Research University Tackled Data Integration Issues with BI Connector

About the company

Drexel University in Philadelphia is a comprehensive, global R1-level research institution ranked among the US’s top 100 national research universities. A global leader in experiential education, Drexel focuses on leveraging adaptive curricula and cutting-edge technologies for immersive learning experiences and innovation.

The Problem

The university administration utilizes Oracle Analytics Server (OAS) to store data and create operational reports. They also use Tableau to build strategic reports. The client often encountered instances where OAS reporting fell short, especially when a drill-down approach was needed.

Tableau was an alternative and offered a more user-friendly interface, but manual extraction proved difficult. Users had to export data from OAS to Excel and upload it to SharePoint before importing it to Tableau. Working with millions of data is time-consuming and prone to errors. This also led to data inconsistency and integrity issues.

Furthermore, the university used various reporting tools, including Power BI, across departments. However, theyneeded a unified method for visualizing the same datasets across different platforms.

The Solution

Drexel was searching for a solution to bridge the gap and provide a seamless user experience. Their quest led them to BI Connector and mitigate the challenges effectively. BI Connector helped them to:

Improve Data Integration: The BI Connector enabled users to directly connect Tableau and Power BI to Oracle Analytics Server and import data, eliminating the challenge of having disparate data across platforms and ensuring seamless integration.

Enhance Data Accuracy: The direct connection between Tableau and OAS ensured that the same datasets were used across systems. Manual extraction could lead to data inaccuracies, and BI Connector enabled zero-error reporting.

Enjoy Time and Cost Savings: With BI Connector, the client could use the existing infrastructure and systems. They didn’t have to opt for an expensive remigration or time-consuming SQL querying process. BI Connector required a fraction of this cost, helping save time, money, and resources.

Ensure Seamless User Experience: By automating reporting with BI Connector, the users no longer had to manually extract data to Excel and then import it to Tableau. The user-friendly interface and hassle-free process of BI Connector ensured a seamless user experience.

Outcome

Impressed by BI Connector’s capabilities, Drexel signed a three-year contract instead of an annual contract.

Automating data transfer with BI Connector significantly reduced the time for report generation and increased efficiency. The users could focus on what matters most instead of being stuck with manual tasks.

This not only improved productivity, better decision-making, and seamless user experience, but it also resulted in significant cost savings for the client.

Words from the Client

“BI Connector has transformed how we handle data integration. Our users no longer need to switch between platforms or worry about data consistency. It’s a game-changer for our reporting processes.” Sarah Zulueta, Executive Director, Database Services and Systems at Drexel University.