Data Warehouse Modernization for Telecom Giant

Client

Multinational telecommunications company

Industry

Telecommunications

Services

Software Development, Data Engineering, Data Architecture, Data Warehousing, Cloud Migration

Tech

Oracle, Linux, Bash, IBM Cognos, Azure

Challenge

Serving over 15 million subscribers and processing billions of call detail records (CDRs), an EU-based telecommunications leader grappled with challenges. Beyond the vast scale of their operations, they operated a colossal on-prem database, riddled with numerous reporting flows. Many of these flows had become outdated, leading to extended processing times and bugs in scripts that hampered their efficiency. Their core dilemma was the need to enhance their data engineering capabilities without a significant budgetary expansion. They weren’t just in search of a cost-effective outstaffing solution but sought a partner who could introduce cutting-edge knowledge and advanced practices in the realm of data warehouse modernization. They approached ITRex for data warehousing expertise.

Assigned task

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Initially, their request was clear-cut: integrate five of our data engineers into their in-house team to bolster their data warehousing operations

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While our initial task was augmentation, we swiftly moved to deeply understand their vast data terrain, from CDR processing intricacies to subscriber analytics

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Given the sensitive nature of telecom data, adhering to their stringent data security protocols was paramount to ensure every CDR and subscriber detail remains confidential

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As an external team, it was crucial to resonate with their organizational culture and speak their language, ensuring a cohesive working environment

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As they saw our capabilities and commitment, they entrusted us with larger roles, evolving from mere data engineering support to leading entire project rollouts

Our collaboration

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Database Support: Began by aiding ETL operations in an on-site Oracle database which pooled data from sources like call centers, retail systems, and external providers for daily revenue insights and other key metrics

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Integration of New Data Sources: Connected and integrated numerous new data sources into the existing system

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Robust Reporting: Managed 30,000-40,000 report workflows, revised and removed outdated ones for a lean system

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Direct Access to Raw Data: Empowered analysts with direct data access, enabling efficient report creation

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Team Growth: Diversified our team with more data engineers, testers, business analysis, and project managers to strengthen data warehouse operations and oversee the rollout of new reporting processes

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Data Warehouse Modernization: Added new layers to the data warehouse and developed data marts for advanced scaling and analysis

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Safety: Set up a safe environment to test new reporting functionalities with near-live data without the risk of data breaches

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Performance Optimization: With script optimizations and engineering solutions for glitches inherent in legacy reporting tools, we significantly improved data processing

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Training and Knowledge Transfer: Provided extensive training to analysts for smooth system adoption

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Cloud Migration: Took the lead in moving a portion of the database to a Big Data platform in Azure

data warehouse modernization for telecom giant

Impact

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Reduced operational expenses significantly, allowing the client to achieve more with the same budget

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Boosted processing speeds, transforming hours-long tasks into those completed in mere minutes or seconds

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Introduced sophisticated data warehouse layers and practices, leading to better scalability and targeted analysis

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Ensured a zero-data-leak environment, establishing trust and confidence in handling near-live data

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Successfully migrated a significant portion of the database to Azure, preparing the client for future scalability and innovation

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Sustained partnership by growing from a five-member augmentation into a 50-member strong, dedicated team, demonstrating reliability and consistent delivery over 15+ years