From GIS to Analytics: A Spotlight Interview with Ciaran Kirk, Operations Director

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From GIS to Analytics: A Spotlight Interview with Ciaran Kirk, Operations Director

Can you describe your role at IMGS & DataBuilders and what a typical day looks for you?

My normal day, since our move in IMGS to a 4 day remote working arrangement, is balancing meetings & customer calls with dog walking and school runs!

I have found since then, that the working day has completely changed with pretty much meetings from morning until evening. This means the day goes fast and is always interesting (even if it is a little hectic sometimes).

As Operations Director my focus is on designing solutions for our customers and ensuring these solutions are successful from implementation through to support (in some cases working with customers for more years than I care to count).

In the last 5 years my focus has moved to supporting the vision of our Delivery Director Aoibhinn, for data driven solutions, which has led to the creation of DataBuilders. While still keeping my hand in GIS, my main focus is working with new DataBuilders customers using FME and Sisense.

To ensure customer success I spend a lot of time training our customers on these solutions which I really enjoy. In particular I have enjoyed running our accelerator program with FME which has been a huge success with the biggest training audiences I have ever seen.

We have also been delighted to be selected by Sisense, as a trusted onboarding partner, to support the implementation of Sisense solutions which I have really enjoyed leading.

How has your role evolved since you first joined?

In my 20 plus years I have had a few different titles but my role has always been focused on ensuring our customers get value from their investments in our partner solutions.

As a company we have always partnered with world class technology partners starting with Intergraph (now Hexagon) and Safe Software (FME) to bring these global solutions to customers on this island.

But in the past number of years, DataBuilders in partnership with Sisense, has expanded outside of Ireland working on analytics projects across the UK, Europe, India, USA, which has been great fun (even if it has forced me to slow down my Dundalk accent when speaking).

I have really enjoyed the move into analytics and also working with customers in completely different domains. With Sisense I onboard organisations who want to embed analytics into their software products. I am constantly surprised by the innovation and the varying product solutions we work with.

But all these customers do share a common drive, to increase analytics adoption in their software products (and hence with their customers). What we are seeing now is that using analytics isn’t just an added value, and organisations that don’t provide analytics are being left behind (Aoibhinn’s vision was right)!

Is there a project that you are especially proud of and what was your role in it?

There have been so many projects that I am proud of in IMGS. In a lot of cases, the projects we worked on were the first of their kind such as building a Fibre to the Home GIS in Siro and creating public portals with Dublin City Council. What I am really proud of is how long these solutions have lasted and continue to deliver.

How would you describe the company culture in a few words?

I think our culture is light hearted and fun but with a strong work ethic and a drive to help each other.

What do you enjoy most about working with the team?

I always enjoy coming to work and I have great fun with my colleagues especially with our Commercial Director Garrett who gets my humour and doesn’t get offended with my constant constructive advice / insults!

While I don’t the miss the commute every day to the office, I do miss the fun in the office and I do worry for the future society, as younger people may miss out by always working from home.

In IMGS we strive to have regular meetups and some really good nights out and I think that’s very important.

What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?

I am a big fan of Western Films and love nothing more than watching a John Wayne Western – particularly the John Ford directed films.

For those looking for a quick fix of a simpler time in film – start with Ford Apache featuring a very young Wayne and Henry Fonda.

What's your favourite way to unwind after work?

I spend a lot of time walking the country roads where I live, usually with our dog, listening to sport podcasts. Its interesting now that I spend more time listening to people talk about sport than actually watching sport.
With 2 teenage kids it’s hard to find the time, but I do love watching rugby and attend Leinster and Ireland matches when I can.

What's one piece of advice you'd give your younger self?

Make sure to buy a few shares in that online book company and I would say enjoy every day because time goes so fast.
I joined IMGS in 2002 and have seen such changes in that time but it still feels like it was yesterday which probably is a good complaint as I have enjoyed it so much.

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Unveiling the Power of Embedded Analytics

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Unveiling The Power of Embedded Analytics Enhancing Data-Driven Decision Making

In today’s data-driven landscape, making informed decisions is key to business success. The ability to extract insights from data not only empowers businesses to stay competitive but also fuels innovation and growth. One powerful tool that has emerged to fulfil this need is Embedded Analytics. If you’re seeking to harness the potential of your data while seamlessly integrating it into your applications, this article is your guide. Let’s delve into the world of Embedded Analytics and discover how it can transform your data strategies.

What is Embedded Analytics?

Embedded Analytics represents a shift in the way organisations approach data analysis. It involves integrating analytical capabilities directly into existing applications or software products. This empowers users to access real-time insights, visualisations, and interactive reports without having to switch between different platforms. In essence, it brings the power of data driven decision-making to the point of action.
It serves as an excellent tool, particularly when utilised within a customer relationship management (CRM) software for handling sales operations. With Embedded Analytics, you can seamlessly view visualisations of sales trends, pipeline forecasts, and customer behaviour directly within your CRM dashboard. You no longer need to export data to a separate analytics tool; the insights are right at your fingertips. This integration streamlines your workflow and accelerates your ability to respond to market changes.it

The Uses of Embedded Analytics

Business Intelligence Dashboards: Transform your dashboards into dynamic hubs of insights, allowing users to interact with data and tailor their views to specific needs.
Operational Efficiency: Empower employees to make data-driven decisions within the applications they use daily, minimising disruptions and enhancing efficiency.
Customer-Facing Insights: Provide your customers with self-service analytics directly within your product, enhancing user experience and delivering value.
Predictive Analytics: Integrate predictive models to anticipate trends and patterns, enabling proactive decision-making.
Performance Marketing: Monitor the performance of your applications and products in real-time, enabling swift course corrections.

Traditional Analytics V Embedded Analytics

While traditional analytics tools serve a valuable purpose, they often require users to switch contexts and platforms for analysis. Embedded Analytics, on the other hand, eliminates this issue by bringing insights directly to the user. Here are some key differences:
Contextual Insights: Embedded Analytics provides insights within the context of your workflows, allowing for immediate action.
Enhanced Adoption: Integration within existing applications encourages broader usage and adoption across the organisation.
Reduced Learning Curve: Users don’t need to learn a new tool, as analytics capabilities are seamlessly woven into their existing interfaces.
Time-To-Insight: Embedded Analytics accelerates the time it takes to convert data into actionable insights.

Experience the Power of Embedded Analytics
with DataBuilders & Sisense

At DataBuilders, we recognise the transformative potential of Embedded Analytics. We are partnered with Sisense, a leader in analytics platform solutions, and together we bring you the power of Embedded Analytics to supercharge your applications with data-driven capabilities.
Sisense’s Embedded Analytics offers a comprehensive platform to seamlessly embed analytics into your applications, creating a cohesive experience for users. With features like white-labelling, customisation, and scalability, Sisense empowers you to deliver robust analytics to your users without compromising on user experience.

Conclusion:

In an era where data insights are paramount, Embedded Analytics emerges as a bridge between data and action. It empowers organisations to maximise the potential of their data by integrating analytical capabilities seamlessly into existing applications.
Unlock the power of your data with Embedded Analytics from DataBuilders and Sisense. Effortlessly integrate insights into your applications and elevate your data strategies to new heights.
For more information about how we can transform your data strategies, visit DataBuilders.

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Data Customisation the future

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Data Customisation: Unleash Your Creativity with Sisense Compose SDK

In the ever-evolving landscape of data-driven applications, developers continually seek innovative solutions to craft bespoke data products that are seamlessly integrated into their projects. Sisense, a trailblazer in this domain, has answered the call with its ground-breaking Compose SDK, heralding a new era in data customisation. This potent toolkit empowers developers to fully harness the potential of Sisense components, allowing them to create highly customised data products perfectly tailored to their applications.
Traditional embedded analytics solutions often confined developers to the constraints of pre-defined tools. However, the Compose SDK shatters these limitations. Rather than merely embedding third-party tools, developers now enjoy the freedom to construct tailored data products by selecting from an extensive library of Sisense components and seamlessly integrating them with a wide array of other tools within their Integrated Development Environment (IDE).

A Practical Illustration

In the realm of UI design, consistency is paramount. Let’s consider a scenario: your company has chosen the Material UI framework to design your application. It offers a sleek and uniform appearance, but now you require dynamic data from Sisense to populate Material UI tables.
This is where the Compose SDK comes into play. It enables you to seamlessly merge Material UI’s aesthetics with Sisense’s analytical prowess. You begin with Material UI tables perfectly aligned with your design guidelines. Then, with the Compose SDK’s ExecuteQuery component, you effortlessly infuse these tables with real-time data from Sisense.
The outcome? Stunning, data-rich components that not only adhere to your design principles but also provide invaluable insights. Your users experience the best of both worlds – visually appealing design and powerful data.

Getting Started with Sisense Compose SDK

Excited to explore the potential of the Compose SDK? Great news – it’s currently in Beta and accessible to all Sisense partners, ready for you to unlock its capabilities today. To embark on this journey, you can start by cloning the example repository from GitHub, which is provided below. Installing the necessary packages for your sample application is a breeze; simply follow the user-friendly Compose SDK Quickstart Guide. It’s important to note that, for the time being, these packages are available on GitHub, requiring a personal access token for access.

Sisense’s Compose SDK stands as a revolutionary leap forward in the realm of data customisation product development. It liberates developers from the confines of traditional embedded analytics and empowers them to build highly customised, seamlessly integrated data products. With the Compose SDK at your disposal, the possibilities are limitless, and the power to transform your applications is at your fingertips.
So, why wait? Dive into the world of Compose SDK, unleash your creativity, and revolutionise your data products today. Your applications will undoubtedly thank you for it!

Github Links
Material UI
Sisense Quick Start Guide
Sisense Github

Get In Touch

We'd Love To Hear From You!

Click Here

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Monitise your data

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By Conor McIntyre, Business Development Executive, DataBuilders

Monetising Your Data with Sisense
Unlocking The Power of Analytics

In today’s data-driven world, organisations are continuously collecting vast amounts of data. However, merely accumulating data is not enough to drive business growth. To stay competitive, businesses need to extract actionable insights from their data and transform it into a valuable asset. This is where our partner technology, Sisense, a business intelligence and analytics platform, comes into play. I want to explore how you can monetise your data with Sisense and unlock its potential for revenue generation.

First off, we must understand the Value of Data:
How many times have you heard data being referred to as the “new oil” because of its immense value? Too many I’m sure as it seems an old phrase at this stage, but it has become increasingly more and more poignant. By harnessing the power of data analytics, businesses can gain valuable insights, identify trends, make informed decisions, and discover new revenue streams. In a way data is not like the ‘new oil’ in that unlike oil the same data can be consumed more than once and enriched with other data repeatedly leading to exponential value creation and continuous innovation – and doesn’t destroy the planet!
DataBuilders in conjunction with Sisense empowers organisations to explore their data, uncover hidden patterns, and transform it into actionable intelligence.

Leveraging Sisense's Analytical Capabilities

Sisense provides a user-friendly, end-to-end analytics platform that enables businesses to unlock the full potential of their data. Below are some of the key features that can help facilitate and accelerate data monetisation:

Data Integration: Sisense makes integrating data from multiple sources simple. Be it structured or unstructured data and allows for a unified view in your Sisense Elasticube. This enables businesses to gain a holistic understanding of their data and make more informed decisions.
Powerful Data Visualisation: As any BI tool should, Sisense offers interactive dashboards and visualisations that make complex data easily understandable. These visually appealing representations help stakeholders gain insights quickly and act upon them. Where Sisense stands out, is with the no/low-code, drag-and-drop configuration making adoption and usability easier for anyone to pick it up.
Advanced Analytics: Sisense goes beyond basic reporting and offers advanced analytics capabilities, such as predictive modelling, machine learning, and natural language processing (ChatGPT coming soon here). These features allow businesses to uncover deeper insights and make data-driven predictions.
Embedded Analytics: Sisense allows businesses to embed analytics directly into their products, applications, or services. This empowers organisations to create data-driven, self-service offerings for their customers, opening new revenue streams.

Add Your Tooltip Text Here

Not to forget the new report manager feature where you can schedule reports to be sent how and when you want it, to whomever you want it in PDF, email, CSV format or even as a link directly to the dashboard. And pulse alerts, alerting you (as you could probably tell by the name) to let you know when a particular metric of yours is under/overperforming based on thresholds that you set or even when a particular trigger event happens.

Monitising Data With Sisense

We have several customers monetising their data and what we’ve learned through their experience is that there are several ways in which you can look to maximise your monetisation strategy. Although some have very unique offerings, I was able to pull them all together in the most applicable ways to any data set as follows;
Data-as-a-Service (DaaS): With Sisense, you can create and offer data products to customers. By packaging and selling your data, you can provide valuable insights to other businesses, researchers, or even the general public should you be geared that way. This approach allows you to generate revenue from your data assets.
Subscription-Based Analytics: Sisense enables you to build subscription-based analytics services. By offering customers access to your analytics platform, you can monetise your expertise and data insights. This model can be particularly beneficial for consultancy firms or businesses with specialised knowledge.
Data-Driven Applications: Sisense’s embedded analytics capabilities empower you to create data-driven applications. By integrating analytics directly into your software or services, you can offer enhanced functionality to your customers so they have the analytics right where they are already working. This not only adds value but also creates new monetisation opportunities.
Partnerships and Collaborations: Sisense provides integration options that allow you to collaborate with other organisations or industry partners. By combining your data with complementary datasets, you can create unique value propositions and explore joint monetisation strategies.

DataBuilders and Sisense are keen to work with you in finding the right approach that makes the most commercial sense to your business model and along with our team of experts will help you become the biggest data-driven organisation around and maximise the potential value your data and data operations hold.

Ensuring Data Privacy and Security

This is often one of the biggest concerns for any company engaging with us when they are trying to monetise their data and with multi-tenancy, role-level access & MFA concerns quickly dissipate. Monetising your data comes with the responsibility of ensuring privacy and security. Sisense offers robust data protection measures, including user access controls, encryption, and compliance with industry regulations. By safeguarding your data assets, you build trust with customers and maintain a competitive edge.
Data is a valuable asset that, when leveraged effectively, can drive business growth and revenue generation. Sisense offers a powerful analytics platform that enables organisations to unlock the potential of their data.

Data monetisation starts here. Databuilders and Sisense equip you with the insights and strategies to monetise your data effectively. Act now and unlock the revenue potential of your data. Please reach out and talk to me should you have any questions or queries or feel as though you’re ready to maximise the potential value hidden within your data. And if you think you already have, I can assure you we’ll find more. Contact me on my details below to set up a DEMO today!
I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Conor
E-mail: conormcintyre@databuilders.ie
Ph: +353 86 136 4291

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Databuilders – Sisense Accelerator

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By Conor McIntyre

DataBuilders Sisense Accelerator

The one workshop that you need to attend to maximise and unlock the full and limitless potential of your data in 90 minutes.

What is it?

A Sisense accelerator is a live, virtual training module. It is an ideal start to learning Sisense and a great way to refresh on all that the Sisense Platform can do. At Databuilders, we like to talk about it as the perfect intersection between a theoretical introduction to Sisense and a hands-on training experience.
Unlike a traditional webinar, the content structure of the course engages the participants through its public chat pane. The participants also can call for private training assistance at any time.
Hosted on the Strigo training platform, our Sisense Accelerator demands nothing more of its audience than a computer with an internet connection and a willingness to learn.
This workshop takes place on Tuesday 30th May from 10am – 11.30am.

Register Here

Why Sisense?

Sisense is a powerful business intelligence platform that helps organisations turn complex data into valuable insights. With Sisense, you can connect to multiple data sources, visualise and analyse data in real-time, and share insights with stakeholders across your organisation. Sisense is easy to use and requires minimal IT involvement, so you can focus on what matters most – making data-driven decisions. Sisense is trusted by thousands of companies worldwide, from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises, to help them achieve their data analytics goals.

A business intelligence tool like Sisense is essential for any organisation that wants to make data-driven decisions and gain a competitive advantage. With Sisense, you can uncover hidden patterns and trends in your data, identify opportunities for growth and improvement, and make informed decisions that drive success. It helps you to optimise your operations, improve customer satisfaction, and increase revenue. A business intelligence tool provides a comprehensive view of your organisation’s data, making it easier to identify opportunities and stay ahead of the competition.

Who is this Accelerator for?

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced data analyst, the Sisense Accelerator is an opportunity to learn from industry experts, network with like-minded professionals, and gain hands-on experience with the best data analytics tool and techniques. If you are looking to take your data analytics skills to the next level, the Sisense Accelerator is the perfect event for you. It’s for beginners and experienced analysts to learn from experts and network with peers, while gaining hands-on experience with the latest tools.

What Will You Learn?

The DataBuilders Building Dashboards accelerator workshop provide an introduction to Data modelling and building an integrated analytic dashboard. Within in the 90-minute session you will go from data in a data warehouse to a fully built Sisense dashboard

What Will You Need?

A computer with an Internet connection, and a desire to learn. This workshop will take place on Strigo, a virtual training platform. You do not need Sisense or Strigo installed. We will provide A Sisense environment and a link to use Strigo in your browser for you during the workshop.
Data is a critical business asset, and with the help of Sisense, data-driven decision-making provides organisations with the capabilities to generate real-time insights that support sustainable growth.
Sisense Accelerator is the perfect tool to enable data professionals to acquire a foundational understanding of the Sisense platform.

TL/DR

Free 90-minute Sisense interactive, virtual training module
Learn from DataBuilders Sisense experts!
Sisense is essential for any organisation that wants to make data-driven decisions and gain a competitive advantage,
Any business analysts, data analysts, data scientists, BI developers, IT professionals, and decision-makers from various industries will benefit from attending.
The Databuilders Sisense accelerator workshop introduces Data modelling and building an integrated analytic dashboard from scratch.
All you need is a computer with an Internet connection, and a desire to learn!
We look forward to seeing you then!

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Sisense Bootcamp in Israel by Ellen Noone

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Sisense Bootcamp Israel

On day one of the Sisense bootcamp in Tel Aviv, Israel, myself and Ciaran arrived at the Atrium Tower to start our bootcamp. We were immediately wowed by the impressive skyscrapers and towers surrounding us. The building hosting us, had 40 floors and we were on floor 16. We were met by Einat Pick, the organiser of the bootcamp. We had a very welcoming reception where we were given goodie bags and the opportunity to speak to other Sisense partners, who were also attending the bootcamp from all around the world.
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