Before Power BI, the client was manually creating reports on a weekly/monthly basis to send to their company. Our work provided the client with a clean interface and an easy way to analyze their business data. DMC also increased reporting speed as the new reports automatically refresh.

The first Power BI report we built provided the client with a mechanism to match healthcare providers to hospital orders. We were able to match providers with hospitals based on location preference, specialty, and certification. The client can use Power BI’s drill through functionality to display only the orders a specific provider in their system qualifies for.

DMC continued to build Power BI dashboards using the client’s Azure SQL database as a data source and also built out a SharePoint site where they could store Excel documents that were used as data sources for some of the Power BI reports.

We created several types of reports: some of which were designed for management to view live and accurate numbers of order counts, submittals, revenue, and other metrics that help them follow the process of matching orders to healthcare providers.

Then, we built dashboards that allowed recruiters to view their own numbers in real time and track their performance from a recruiting standpoint. We used Power BI’s row level security to ensure that the recruiter could only view their own data.

DMC has had great success in building Power BI dashboards to give clients powerful insights into their data. We are also a proud Microsoft Solutions Partner with a designation in Data & AI (Azure) and held the Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status for 19 consecutive years prior. Our Microsoft partnership exemplifies our track record of creating great solutions using Microsoft Power Bi and the rest of the Microsoft stack of technologies.

DMC continues to build out the Power BI environment for the client to provide increased insight into their business data.

Learn more about our Microsoft Consulting Services, and contact us today for your next project.

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This client was so impressed by our Power Platform expertise and DWS experience that they contacted us to update their existing customer relationship management (CRM) system.

Relieving CRM Strain

The client’s CRM system consisted of two parts: a front end for customers and a back end comprised of features reserved for use by Customer Service Representatives, as well as multiple interfaces with other key business systems. The front end is customer-facing with a large volume of online visitors making payments on tolls, submitting forms, etc. Customer service representatives use the back end of the CRM system to manage these accounts and provide customer support.

Our client found that the back end side of their CRM system was experiencing too much strain, which was largely due to the limited abilities of the customers on the front end. For example, if a customer was not able to complete certain payments without a representative’s intervention, then the payment would have to be processed by representatives. The improvements resulted in a significant reduction in the number of interventions that Customer Service Representatives had to execute.

As a solution, DMC customized their CRM system to expand the capabilities of customers. For many of the processes that required assistance, the customer could now perform themselves. Customers now had access to necessary information and actions, while sensitive data was kept secure on the back end.

Improving the Interface

With the expanded capabilities of customers, DMC needed to make sure that the front-end interface of their CRM system was easily navigable. DMC redesigned the customer-facing interface to be more intuitive. The user now has a friendlier, streamlined experience while still being able to perform their expanded abilities.

Increasing Efficiency

In addition to the many improvements on the front end, DMC addressed the inefficiencies on the back end such as unnecessary complexity. For example, if a representative wanted to take an order from a customer over the phone, it was a very long and complicated process for the representative involving many steps of manually inputting information. As a solution, DMC built a button on the back end that automatically performed many of these steps. The representative no longer has to perform these monotonous, repetitive tasks and the process is overall much more efficient.

Creating Custom Reports

DMC doesn’t just create solutions for today, we create solutions for the future. To help our client monitor and analyze their huge volume of data, DMC created CRM-integrated Power BI reports. Utilizing Power BI, the client can build reports of key metrics, such as toll activity and website traffic, using real-time data. These reports provide powerful insight into their CRM system and can help our client make informed decisions for the future.

Learn about DMC’s approach to business intelligence, read more about DMC’s CRM services, and contact us today to get started on your next project.

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DMC utilized Microsoft Power BI to import data from the three systems and combine them such that the client was able to see projected revenue for the year against their goal. Rather than relying on data that was a month old, Power BI gives the customer an up-to-date view of financials with data refreshed on an hourly basis.

DMC began by collaborating with the client to learn about the current financial reporting process to fully understand both the reporting needs and the steps needed to extract, transform, and load data into the spreadsheets being used to do reporting. Once this was completed, DMC was able to begin using Power BI’s query tools to mimic the process and automate the manual steps. 

Once the data was loaded in the correct format to Power BI, DMC began the process of connecting data using the data modeling functionality within Power BI. This allows any future dashboards to utilize a combined dataset when visualizing data. To do so, data from the CRM system, Function Point, and QuickBooks was modified to allow there to be a unified measure between the three systems, as well as grouped on date to plot the data against a specified timeframe.

DMC, with input from the client, built out the dashboards requested. This included dashboards which outlined cashflow and revenue using QuickBooks data, open opportunities from Zoho CRM, and billable hours reports from FunctionPoint data. Each of these dashboards provided insight which was previously difficult to obtain and keep updated. However, the most complex and interesting dashboard combined the billed revenue from QuickBooks, opportunity value from Zoho CRM, and the unbilled time from Function Point to get a full year revenue projection. This dashboard allows management to see how they are tracking towards their yearly revenue goals and make decisions on how to deploy strategic resources.

Power BI’s true potential is unlocked by putting the data model created into the hands of the analysts and employees who work with the data each day. DMC conducted a training session to outline Power BI’s capabilities and to review the existing data. This allows the client’s employees to build new dashboards and have them updated and shared. 

The result was a system which not only displays current data in a fashion that was previously not possible, but one which can be built upon in the future to meet changing needs. 

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Linx is an innovative design firm with offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, and China. Linx focused on the PCB layout and the device’s fabrication, including the mechanical design, aesthetic, and user interface. DMC focused on the internal technology, mobile application, and reporting services. DMC and Linx collaborated on a monitoring dashboard integration and configuration.

The hospital needed to be able to monitor usage of the devices. The hospital would use this data to examine how device placement and associated environmental behavior drivers affects usage rates by installing the devices in approved locations. The experiment design required that the device be able to collect data and send it to the cloud.

A small circuit board inside the device collects usage data. Each time the device is used, a time stamp and number of interactions is recorded.

Getting the new device onto the hospital’s wireless network would have been difficult, so an alternative connectivity solution for uploading data to the cloud was needed. We incorporated data collection into the hospital’s regular device maintenance schedules by developing a small Bluetooth module inside the device. When staff enter the room to service the devices, their phone connects with the device over Bluetooth and sends this data to the cloud.

The data is sent to a web service built with ASP.NET. This web service then stores the data in SQL Server. Usage information can then be accessed, visualized, and analyzed through a custom Power BI dashboard. Both the web service and the database are hosted in Microsoft Azure.

Learn about DMC’s approach to business intelligence, read more about DMC’s IoT Solutions, and contact us today to get started on your next project.

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After determining what kinds of data were available, DMC configured an extensive data collection system to automatically acquire the desired data using Rockwell FactoryTalk Metrics over seven different lines. Additionally, the system can perform immediate analysis on the data to see why machines were experiencing downtime, for how long, and whether the downtime was avoidable. For example, the client is now able to pinpoint the specific issues behind one machine slowing down the entire process.

The new system also allows aggregates human data. Operator comments are now standardized and automatically sorted, offering more accurate holistic system insight.

As a result, the client is happy to closely monitor their process in a more automated way. The capacity to view their data at-a-glance in a variety of ways has improved both their quick diagnosis of immediate issues and the ability to monitor system trends over time. 

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The system allows the client to pinpoint major areas of improvement in terms of updating their processes, training their operators, fixing the machine, and reducing downtime and errors. The client receives real-time, long-term feedback, allowing them to both recognize urgent problems and collect consistent data to focus improvement efforts on the lowest performing areas.

One key feature that DMC implemented is the delivery of key reports via email. This ensures that designated individuals are made aware of any performance deviations, such as system production, immediately. DMC continues ongoing work with this client to improve the system’s ability to accurately collect and categorize data that includes accounting, OEE, downtime monitoring, and production statistics.

Learn more about DMC’s MES and Allen-Bradley PLC service offerings.

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If a site already existed for the Client, then only a new document set would be created under that Client site. Custom content types were used to copy the latest version of document controlled templates and add them to the proposal library. Important sales data from the CRM Online system is also by synchronized with the SharePoint libraries.

DMC chose to use SharePoint’s External Content Type feature as the primary mechanism for feeding CRM and ERP data into SharePoint. Web services were developed to facilitate the automation of this synchronization process. A custom SharePoint web part was also developed to allow users to bypass CRM and upload legacy Opportunities directly into SharePoint.

Learn more about DMC’s Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint service offerings.

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On the software side, DMC developed the UI with usability in mind. The program supports a manual mode, for users to isolate and probe different part valves for easier leak detection. The Automatic Test sequence steps through the different test components, checking first for each valve’s functionality before quickly monitoring leak-rate on the manifold. If a leak is detected, users have the ability to pause the test to investigate, depressurize and tighten components before continuing. The main test allows pressure to stabilize, then monitors pressure drop over a given timeframe. Start and limits are clearly marked on the screen for user observation. Estop or abort at any time will vent the entire system and place it in a safe state.

After the test is complete, the operator has the option to log data and results to a central database. The relational database tables link sub-assembly pieces up with final shipped parts. Editable test parameters, such as maximum allowable pressure drop, can be setup through password protected configuration screen.

Designed and built with a flexible software and hardware architecture, DMC was able to ensure that new functionality, modifications, and upgrades could easily be added. 

Learn more about DMC’s test and measurement services.

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DMC was asked to completely redesign and modernize the test system while increasing its throughput. After meeting with the customer to determine their needs (and to find out what they liked and disliked about their old system), DMC redesigned the new test stand from the ground up. We started the mechanical design with a 3D model to ensure that all of the components could be fit into the required footprint. The control system was designed to utilize all off-the shelf industrial components to facilitate maintenance and upgrades. A PC-based Data Acquisition and Control System based on National Instruments hardware and software was developed to control and monitor all of the equipment within the test station.

The test procedure is entirely customizable by the end-customer, providing them with a huge improvement in flexibility over their previous test stand. As the test is running, data is continuously logged to a database for reporting and statistical analysis. Since the test sequence is highly configurable, it is important that the test sequence is managed by a version control system. DMC incorporated Subversion (an open source revision control system) into the software to manage the versioning of the test sequences. This ensures that they are always running with the most recent version of the test sequence.

Learn more about DMC’s test and measurement automation services.

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Quad Plus needed a tool to allow their Sales Department to enhance organization of quotes, give Management the ability to view the current status of quotes that were in the pipeline, and forecast engineering hours for upcoming projects. A solution was created utilizing SharePoint Workflows and a custom list with attributes that pertained to the project sales quotes.   

With all quotes being stored in a centralized location, real time data was available with details about each quote being easily accessible. Workflows created a highly structured quoting process by assigning tasks to specific individuals, decreasing the chance of missing a deadline and enforcing sales quote approval processes. Users were also able to synchronize their tasks with Outlook to centralize all tasks regardless of purpose. By adding engineering hour estimates and confidence levels to the SharePoint Quote Database, the engineering team was provided with insight into upcoming resource needs for future anticipated projects enabling detailed forecasts to be created.

“The new SharePoint sales workflow process gives us a real-time view of our sales pipeline,” says Quad Plus President, Chris Tooley. “The sales workflow data also provides valuable insight into engineering resource loads that will be needed to deliver on future projects.”

Document Management was another area where Quad Plus recognized a need for improvement. Most of their employees were utilizing their hard drive to store company documents which resulted in only the author having access to it and emailing attachments. With SharePoint document management, management and sales people could collaborate on quotes and proposals. This also reduced the risk of data loss due to mismanagement, hard drive corruption, and changes in sales personnel. 

Microsoft SharePoint allowed Quad Plus to take advantage of its communication and collaboration features, as well as the Key Performance Indicator Dashboards. During this implementation phase, SharePoint groups and access levels were established throughout the company, along with a homepage for the SharePoint portal. The definition and creation of forecasting dashboards now allows Quad Plus to automatically tap into multiple systems at once to determine if they are on track for fulfilling anticipated resource demands.

The Quad Plus sales workflow was such an enormous success that is also led to the immediate implementation of an expense report approval workflow, as well as a time-off approval workflow. This saved a great deal of time by streamlining the process and cutting out manual paper based steps. This has eliminated the preparation time to assemble data in advance of sales status meetings.In addition, several other departments are exploring the implementation of SharePoint to address their top key issues. Check back for additional case studies in the future as other features and business solutions are rolled out with in the company.

Learn more about DMC’s SharePoint workflow services.

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