Sustainable growth through the establishment of a data team

To achieve this, they enlisted the help of three (data) specialists: an Analytics Engineer, Data Engineer, and Product Owner.

Approach

Together with management, we discussed the collaboration and devised an approach that suited the current situation. We examined the existing data organisation and identified optimisation opportunities. EnergyZero had the right tools and infrastructure for a strong data platform, but not all data issues or optimisations had been addressed. The quick scan resulted in the following actions:

1. Setting up the data team: We worked with recruitment and management to hire internal Data Analysts and Analytics Engineers. We established and executed a data strategy, which included implementing the scrum methodology to optimise team workflows. We also raised awareness about GDPR, data quality, and the use of dashboards in other departments. Additionally, we improved documentation and made agreements on better use of Snowflake, DBT, and Tableau.

2. Audits: Audits were planned for the reconciliation of financial figures. We formed a project group with procurement, finance, and management. In this project group, we discussed daily progress on analyses needed to successfully complete the audits. Ultimately, we developed these analyses and reconciled the entire chain.

3. Automating data sharing: EnergyZero already used Snowflake Data Shares to automatically share data with partners also using Snowflake. However, this did not work for partners not using Snowflake. To ensure all partners received the data automatically, we developed a program in Snowflake Streamlit.

4. Process optimisations for internal processes: During this period, we analysed and optimised various processes within different departments, including operations, finance, and development. We developed dashboards and standards and implemented improvements using tools such as DBT, Tableau, and Hevo.

Results: time savings, automation, and data awareness

Our collaboration with EnergyZero delivered immediate results:

• We assembled a data team with a clear data strategy. This team, consisting of 5 FTEs, tackled various data issues. Improved documentation and standardized workflows created more clarity within the team, leading to faster onboarding and higher output. Roadmap sessions made the team well aware of their responsibilities and their role in achieving EnergyZero's goals. We enhanced knowledge about data quality and GDPR throughout the company. Finally, we made significant strides in optimising work processes and (data) controls across the organisation. This remains a continuous development point in any organisation.
• We successfully completed the audits, partly due to the analyses. We also took steps to be well-prepared for future audits.
• By automating certain processes, employees saved a lot of time, creating room for faster and greater growth. Manual data sharing with partners was replaced by automated processes, providing EnergyZero’s partners with clear insights into their customer data.
• Operational teams could make better decisions based on data using the dashboards. The operations department now used a dashboard weekly to allocate and evaluate their work.

All this enabled EnergyZero to work more efficiently and effectively in a rapidly changing environment, allowing them to continue their growth sustainably.

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