Our case studies showcase the tangible results of Kruse Consulting’s data-driven approach. From architecture and automation to analytics and strategic planning, discover how we partner with clients to solve complex challenges and drive meaningful outcomes.
Our client’s Distribution Automation Tracking System (DATS) was built on an outdated, flat file-based setup, which was difficult to manage as the organization expanded. With data managed separately across six divisions, the client struggled with data accuracy, limited flexibility, and slow processes. They needed a more reliable and efficient way to handle their growing data to support field, telecom, and office teams effectively.
We saw an opportunity to help our client by creating a strong, scalable data management system that would replace the outdated setup. By transitioning to a more advanced database system (MS SQL Server), we could improve data accuracy, make information easier to access in real-time, and create a system that could grow with the client’s needs. This would ultimately empower the client to make informed, quick decisions with accurate data at their fingertips.
Our team worked closely with the client to identify the limitations of their current system and determine the requirements for a new, streamlined data structure. We developed a gradual transition plan to ensure minimal disruption.
Key steps included:
Transitioning to the new database greatly improved the client’s ability to manage and access data. The DATS system now provides real-time, accurate information, enhancing the efficiency of decision-making across divisions. With a flexible, scalable system in place, the client can adapt as their needs grow, benefiting from a streamlined data management approach that fully supports their evolving operations.
Our client was managing data from five different sources, each providing critical information across over 47,000 zip codes in the U.S. They relied on manual processes to integrate this data, which was time-consuming, error-prone, and hindered timely updates. To streamline their operations and reduce dependency on manual updates, they needed an automated data pipeline that could handle frequent data retrieval and improve accessibility for reporting.
We saw an opportunity to help our client by building a robust data pipeline that would automate the retrieval, integration, and processing of data from multiple sources. By implementing this infrastructure, we could ensure that data was consistently accessible and up-to-date, freeing the client’s team from manual tasks and enabling them to focus on analyzing and utilizing the information. Additionally, we aimed to make this data easily viewable in Databricks to support more powerful reporting and insights.
Our team designed a comprehensive, automated solution to address the client’s needs. The key steps in our approach included:
With the new automated infrastructure in place, the client can now easily access up-to-date data without manual intervention. The pipeline’s integration with Databricks enables comprehensive data visibility and enhances the team’s reporting capabilities, providing a solid foundation for deeper insights and strategic decision-making. This project has empowered the client to operate more efficiently, with a sustainable data solution that supports their current needs and future growth.
Our client, a utility provider, needed a solution to help managers make data-driven decisions regarding resource allocation before severe weather events. With weather events impacting customer outages and requiring rapid response, they sought a centralized system to predict weather impacts, validate vendor data, and provide insights to optimize preparedness. They envisioned a "Weather Sandbox" to consolidate data and allow for flexible feature testing and vendor evaluation.
Kruse Consulting saw an opportunity to support the client by creating an advanced analytics platform that integrated multiple weather APIs and statistical modeling tools. By designing this Weather Sandbox, we could provide the client with a reliable tool to visualize weather impacts, forecast outages, and allocate resources effectively. This tool would not only support real-time decision-making but also serve as a testbed for developing and validating new weather-related features.
Our team developed an analytics suite that aggregated data from various weather APIs to create a comprehensive forecasting and analysis platform. Key components of our approach included:
The Weather Sandbox has become an essential tool for the client’s management team, empowering them to make informed, data-backed decisions on resource allocation before weather events. The reporting suite provides clear visualizations of weather impacts and supports incident forecasting, enhancing preparedness and response. Additionally, the sandbox serves as a valuable testbed, allowing the client to refine weather-related applications and validate vendor data effectively.
Our client, a rapidly growing business unit in fiber operations, managed data through a basic Excel spreadsheet, which was limited and depended heavily on one individual for updates. With the business scaling quickly, this approach became unsustainable, impacting data accuracy, accessibility, and the ability to generate timely insights. They needed a robust reporting suite to automate data processes, improve data quality, and support operational decision-making with accurate, up-to-date information.
We identified an opportunity to build an automated reporting system that would streamline data aggregation, transformation, and cleansing. This new solution would centralize data from multiple sources, provide comprehensive dashboards, and support better management of fiber operations, including vendor coordination, work orders, and construction schedules. By automating these processes, the client would reduce manual dependency, enhance data reliability, and gain timely insights.
Our team took a systematic approach to transform the client’s data processes:
The new Fiber Reporting Suite transformed the client’s data management process, enabling them to monitor and analyze operations with ease and accuracy. By automating data aggregation and cleansing, we ensured that the client’s team could depend on high-quality data without manual input. The Power BI dashboards offered real-time insights into vendor management, scheduling, and work orders, empowering the client to make faster, data-informed decisions. This project established a sustainable, scalable reporting system that supports the unit's continued growth.
The call center needed a way to better understand its phone system performance to make informed decisions about potential improvements. With limited visibility into call volume, caller behavior, and call durations, the team lacked insights necessary to optimize operations and respond to key trends effectively.
We identified an opportunity to provide the call center with a comprehensive data pipeline and dashboard to aggregate essential metrics. By integrating data sources, including caller lookups and storm indicators, we aimed to deliver a tool that offered actionable insights and highlighted patterns in call behavior.
Our team took a structured approach to create a data solution tailored to the call center’s needs:
The new Call Center dashboard provided insights into data for the first time, enabling the team to understand call volume, behavior, and performance metrics in real-time. This tool empowered the call center to make informed decisions about system improvements, fostering a deeper understanding of operational needs and trends.
The Transmission team needed a more efficient way to assess oil containment risk to meet SPCC (Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure) requirements. Their current process was highly manual and involved copying and pasting data between multiple systems, including Access databases and Excel calculators. This "swivel chair" method was time-consuming, error-prone, and caused frequent data quality issues.
We recognized an opportunity to automate and streamline the oil containment risk assessment process by developing a custom OutSystems application. By integrating this system with existing data sources, we could reduce manual work, improve data accuracy, and give the team a clearer view of past analyses and risk trends.
Our team designed and built a user-friendly OutSystems app to automate key parts of the oil containment risk analysis process. Key steps included:
The new application streamlined the oil containment risk assessment process for the Transmissions team, reducing data errors and freeing up time previously spent on manual tasks. With automated calculations and integrated data sources, the app enhanced data accuracy, improved operational efficiency, and provided an easy-to-access history of past risk assessments.
Our client sought to strengthen their analytics organization by improving project execution, enhancing team skills, and building a more robust infrastructure for planning and stakeholder management. They needed experienced leaders to provide structure, coaching, and specialized expertise to drive sustainable growth and self-sufficiency within their team.
Kruse Consulting had the opportunity to make a significant impact by acting as both project managers and mentors. By supplementing the team with specialized consultants skilled in areas such as UI/UX design, app development, Tableau, Power BI, and marketing collateral development, we could support the client’s immediate needs while also upskilling their staff for long-term success.
Kruse Consulting implemented a structured approach to transform the client’s analytics organization:
Our involvement transformed the client’s analytics organization, growing the team from a small group to over 10 highly capable members. Project execution improved significantly, and the team now benefits from increased skill levels, better planning systems, and stronger stakeholder management. The project empowered the client with sustainable skills, enabling them to drive high-value projects independently and build a self-sufficient, resilient analytics organization.
