QlikNews: CustomerView
Spotlight on QlikView Users
Sandvik: Thinking “Fast Track” Enterprise Solution
Sandvik Group, headquartered in Sandviken, Sweden holds world-leading positions in three targeted areas: tools for metal cutting, mining and construction machinery for rock excavation, and materials technology including stainless materials, special alloys, and metallic and ceramic resistance materials. When the existing BI infrastructure at Sandvik Materials Technology—built with SAP BW, Business Objects and Hyperion—lacked the flexibility to perform customer profitability measurements and price waterfall analysis, they sought an alternative. Simplicity was by far the most important requirement, and QlikView by far the only viable solution. QlikView had already proven itself within Sandvik Group for analysis of Movex (Lawson M3) ERP data and again when Sandvik Materials Technology evaluated other BI offerings. “One of the main reasons why we chose QlikView was the possibility to quickly develop what we call a “fast track solution,” explains Stefan Wesslegård, Data Warehouse Architect for Sandvik Systems Development. “The specifications for new applications are often defined at seminars where all concerned staff is represented. Previously, this resulted in a written specification (for OLAP development). Today, we usually have a functional QlikView application by the time we close the seminar.”
Price Waterfall Analysis
Existing BI systems lacked the flexibility to handle the volume of dimensions and dynamic process for customer profitability measurements and price waterfall analysis, which provides critical insights for maximizing revenue and margin opportunities in different markets across the globe. “With the first prototype application, we could fulfill the often contradictory needs for detailed analysis and processes on one hand, and insight into instant customer value on the other,” said Wesslegård. Knowing customer profitability and value helps Sandvik to price orders, prioritize fulfillments and negotiate contracts more effectively with customers from a win-win perspective.
QlikView Expansion Across Enterprise Functions
Sandvik struggled with analyzing consolidated financial data in OutlookSoft. Previous attempts with OutlookSoft tools and Hyperion were considered failures. QlikView provided the solution for this financial analysis and many other areas of pain. QlikView’s rapid application development, flexibility, ease of use and high end-user acceptance drove higher levels of IT/business collaboration to bridge information obstacles and improve business performance. In total, QlikView is now deployed to approximately 2,500 users across eight business functions within Sandvik’s mining and construction and materials technology companies supporting a worldwide user community. Data is pulled from multiple systems including SAP, Movex, OutlookSoft, Maximo, SQL Server, Oracle and Sopic for:
- Executive Analysis to assess overall market trends and operational KPIs
- Sales Analysis to analyze orders, price waterfalls and customer profitability
- Service & Support Analysis to measure service responsiveness
- Supply Chain Analysis to prioritize order fulfillment, monitor stock levels and track supplier performance
- Operational Analysis to manage production levels and line utilization
- Financial Analysis for consolidated financial reporting
- HR Analysis to measure staffing, compensation/benefits, and vacation
- IT Analysis to monitor system capacity and usage optimization
“It is fun to work with QlikView because you get to meet so many happy ‘customers’,” says Wesslegård.
View video on how Sandvik leverages QlikView in-memory analysis to drive business value here.
Read case study on Sandvik Materials Technology’s selection and implementation of QlikView for price waterfall analysis here.
