BCG needed to operationalise their modern data platform, increase adoption, and reduce tech stack complexity and reliance on technology solutions that were not providing return on investment. Without a robust operating model, business processes, and data governance framework, the platform's potential remained unrealised.
The Aim
Define a comprehensive data strategy and operating model, reinvigorate adoption of the new data platform, and establish a governed enterprise data solution. The aim was to operationalise the Data Factory platform to deliver a single source of truth whilst implementing “Data as a Service” (DaaS) capability to promote data consumption and broaden the user demographic.
Challenges
BCG knew their cloud data platform was technically sound, but operational and organisational gaps were preventing value delivery and driving up costs. During platform operation, the team encountered critical issues:
- Demand outpacing delivery: The data management and operating model were not scalable, meaning demand for data solutions was outstripping the team’s ability to deliver, creating backlogs and limiting business impact.
- Rising cloud costs without proportional value: Without optimised processes and clear governance, cloud costs were increasing whilst the platform wasn’t delivering expected return on investment or widespread adoption.
- Absence of single source of truth: Data issues were becoming widespread across the organisation, with no unified approach to data management creating confusion and undermining trust in data for decision-making.
- Tech stack complexity and capability gaps: The organisation needed to reduce reliance on certain technologies whilst also requiring experienced data engineering expertise to support less experienced team members and provide solution architecture leadership during critical transitions.
These combined challenges prevented BCG from realising the full potential of their cloud investment, signalling the need for a multi-year transformation focused on operational excellence, governance, and capability building.
Strategic Solutions
Analytics8 served as Lead Architect for BCG’s Data Factory platform, delivering and implementing a comprehensive data strategy and multi-year roadmap tailored to BCG’s unique product offerings.
- Multi-year strategic roadmap. We delivered and implemented a comprehensive roadmap that included a new operating model, business processes, and data governance framework, tailored specifically to BCG’s consulting business and diverse domain needs.
- Data strategy and operating model. We defined BCG’s data strategy and established a scalable operating model that could support growing demand whilst maintaining governance and quality standards across the organisation.
- SDLC process definition. We defined Software Development Lifecycle processes to meet maturity levels across different areas of the business, ensuring consistent delivery standards and reducing risk whilst maintaining agility.
- Operational excellence enhancements. We identified enhancements to drive operational excellence and developed new processes to address pain points, streamlining delivery and improving efficiency across the Data Factory.
- Data as a Service capability. We helped operationalise a “Data as a Service” (DaaS) capability to promote data consumption and broaden the user demographic, enabling specified, useful data to be available on demand from a single access point.
- Extended capabilities and leadership. We provided seasoned data engineering expertise to support junior team members, senior solution architect roles to enable strategic delivery during critical transitions, and took accountability for the multi-year roadmap execution.
Technologies: Cloud data platform (Data Factory), Data as a Service (DaaS).
Results
BCG’s data platform transformation reinvigorated adoption and established a governed enterprise solution, including:
- Governed enterprise data solution: The Data Factory now provides a governed enterprise data solution covering multiple domains including Finance, HR, Recruitment, and Marketing, with clear governance and quality standards.
- Single source of truth delivered: The platform now delivers a single source of truth across various business units, providing quicker access to trusted data and reducing confusion and duplication.
- Broadened data consumption: The implementation of DaaS capability enabled data to be available on demand to any user from a single access point, broadening the demographic and volume of data consumers beyond traditional technical users.
From technical capability to operational excellence: Scalable operating model, defined processes, and data governance framework transformed underutilised cloud platform into a governed enterprise solution, delivering benefits in cost efficiency, agility, quality, security, and governance whilst meeting growing business demand.