Our client is a global discount supermarket with more than 10,000 stores worldwide and a strong presence in Celfocus operating regions of DACH and Portugal.

We began working with the client in the last quarter of 2022 as a Data & Analytics technical capability enabler. This defined our position for the first two years, but over the past year, we’ve started to identify opportunities to expand into business related topics, marking the beginning of our journey into the retail domain.

We supported several steps of an end-to-end data transformation that enabled our client to fully leverage their data creating modern platforms to extract actionable insights.

Modernize data platforms

We migrated Hadoop environments to the Azure Databricks using structured, proven frameworks that reduced risk, accelerated delivery, and unlocked cloud-native scalability.

Establish trusted data foundations

We worked with the Central Data Office to implement robust data quality and data governance practices, improving visibility, ownership, and accountability across the enterprise.

Enable Enterprise Data Products

We helped our client design and deliver reusable, business-aligned data products, shifting data from isolated assets to consumable products that drive value.

Turn data into insight

We supported the creation of a new enterprise reporting layer, transforming complex data into clear, reliable insights that support strategic and operational decision-making from different business domains that can be explored by every geography.

By applying a structured, framework driven approach that can be reused across the organization, we accelerate cloud migration, standardize data quality and governance practices, enable consistent Enterprise Data Products, and streamline reporting delivery. This approach reduces delivery risk, shortens time to value, and empowers clients to extend and reuse capabilities sustainably long after the initial engagement.

In a competitive vendors landscape and decentralized decision-making process, Celfocus has been outstanding in delivery excellence, engineering capabilities and commitment to results:

• Enabling our client Data & Analytics strategy and business case by delivering core initiatives such as full cloud data migration with legacy decommissioning and data products enablement
• Predictability of having a partner taking end-to-end responsibility on problems resolution and proactively presenting options to address issues, and presenting a positive and constructive attitude on implementing the agreed option
• Technology expertise leveraging on our experience with Azure Cloud, Databricks, and AI integration to guide the client end-to-end, from cloud migration to the global decentralization of data delivery across multiple integrated components.

Our client has been contributing to Celfocus in several meaningful ways:

• A blue chip reference in retail. As a leading client in the retail industry, it has enabled us to apply and expand our core Data & Analytics offerings. This engagement has given us deep exposure to how data is leveraged to improve business performance and operational efficiency within the retail space.

• Acceleration of team growth. The project’s scale, complexity, and the client’s high level of ambition have created continuous, demanding challenges that accelerated the technical and professional development of our teams.

• Reusable innovation that amplifies value. Working with the same ambition and delivery mindset allowed us to evolve and cross sell solution components into stronger frameworks, creating reusable building blocks that can drive new projects and deliver value to other clients. These frameworks enhance our credibility, enable us to propose solutions more quickly, and provide clear, tested approaches in new engagements, ultimately strengthening our proposals and increasing the likelihood of securing future opportunities.

The journey of implementing technical capabilities has its limits, and transitioning into business related topics is essential for a successful mid to long term collaboration. Being closer to end user problems and their day to day challenges, while continuously improving efficiency, remains one of our top priorities. Concrete initiatives such as semantic layer configuration and reporting enhancement are key steps in making this transition a reality.

In parallel, we will continue strengthening our collaboration with Microsoft and Databricks, both strategic partners for our client.

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