Modernisation of BI Business Intelligence and Data Warehouse Solutions at Tranz Rail
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David Pui, an enterprise solutions architect, led the modernization of Tranz Rail's business intelligence (BI) and data warehousing systems, transitioning from IBM mainframe and UNIX-based platforms to distributed client-server environments. The modernization consisted of two phases: the first focused on implementing OLAP databases and creating smaller data marts, while the second emphasized empowering end-users to generate their own BI reports through the selection of new tools like Brio. The efforts resulted in effective reporting capabilities and reallocating skilled developers to other strategic projects, although challenges included slow roll-outs and version compatibility issues.
Modernisation of BI Business Intelligence and Data Warehouse Solutions at Tranz Rail
- 1. Past Experiences in Leading the Modernisation of Tranz Rail’s BI Business Intelligence and Data Warehousing Solutions David Pui – Enterprise/Solutions Architect 2015
- 2. Background • Tranz Rail, is a New Zealand freight and passengers transportation company, took over by Toll Group and now re-owned by KiwiRail. • Runs for rail and road-haul freight transportation and rail passengers nation-wide. • Core business systems originally runs on IBM Mainframe and Unix systems platform. • Sophisticated well-integrated Freight Management System AMICUS (Mainframe) integrated to Ontrac Road-Haul Consignment system (Unix) • Corporate Data Warehouse on IBM Mainframe Z/OS and initial days BID Business Information Directory and SAS BID runs on the Mainframe. • Towards the end of 1990s, David an experienced Senior Technologist specializing in Databases and Middleware Integration Architectures, led the modernization of BI Business Intelligence and Data Warehouse to the distributed computing environments. • Work towards modernization with DSS Decision Support Systems using the latest OLAP Essbase Multi- Dimensional Database, Commander (BI Development tool) , Microsoft Visual Basic and Excel-VBA. • Central Data Warehouse on the IBM Mainframe DB2 Z/OS starts to be distributed into the client-server computing environment where Essbase OLAP databases are created on Windows Servers and smaller data marts are being extracted and transformed into logical business views but the data marts still remain on DB2/ZOS to ensure that the enterprise database remains on one strategic platform.
- 3. Journey to BI Modernisation Phase 1 • Distributed Client-Server computing • Use of Essbase OLAP Multi-Dimensional Database and creation of smaller Data Marts • Use of client-server applications development tools such as Commander, Microsoft Visual Basic and Excel-VBA • Access to Enterprise Data Server using ODBC and OLEDB • Extracting of corporate Data Warehouse data into flat files for loading into Essbase OLAP databases
- 4. Success and Failures Success • Senior Executives Buy-In • Business Stakeholders Excited • Demand for more intelligent reporting • Demand for rapid applications development • Demand for faster, reliable and on-time delivery of business critical reports Failures • Roll-out of different versions of client-server software can be rather slow • Versioning compatibility issues; Different versions of Microsoft Visual Basic • Browsers compatibilities • More resources required from both applications development and database admnistrations.
- 5. Phase 2 – Modernisation of Tranz Rail’s BI and Data Warehouse Solutions • Move towards End-User Computing • Conduct Proof of Concept on selected BI and ETL tools • Involved Senior Executives and Business Stakeholders in POC • Shortlist two major BI products SAS versus Brio • Select and Make Recommendation on Preferred BI tool to Senior IT Planning & Applications Development and Infrastructure Managers • CIO seeks final approval from CEO and company’s Board of Directors • Commence Brio Infrastructure Solutions Architecture project with IT stakeholders and Brio vendor and then Brio Applications Development projects with the business stakeholders
- 6. Success of the BI Modernisation Phase 2 • Highly skilled BI developers no longer required. • Business Analysts and Power Users can develop their own BI reports. • Skilled developers can be allocated to other strategic applications development programme of work such of Integration and Modernisation of Online systems using Java J2EE and Integration technologies. • BI reports can run centrally via the Web-browsers. • Batch reports can be scheduled and ad-hoc reports can be distributed at any desired time through the Brio product functionalities.