Case Studies

Andrada Mining, a prominent player in the tech metals sector, has experienced substantial growth from its initial Tin mining operations. As production volumes surged and strategic assets diversified, Andrada recognized the critical need for a long-term analytics partner to ensure alignment between its operational growth and evolving data assets.

For over three years, Dataloop has served as Andrada Mining’s trusted analytics partner, spearheading the development of a comprehensive data management system delivered through the innovative DataHub solution. This solution integrates seamlessly with all key third-party systems within the organization, including the ERP system Syspro, online equipment and production data via the SCADA system, and various third-party applications managing components such as ESG, downtime, and lab results.

Powered by the Microsoft Azure technology stack, including Azure Data Factory and Azure Data Warehousing, the end-to-end DataHub solution provides scalable integration, data warehousing, and reporting capabilities. Embedded Power BI reports within the DataHub web application offer intuitive insights into operational performance.
A standout feature of the DataHub solution is its advanced Digital Form functionality, enabling end-users to build and deploy custom data capturing forms. This ensures a unified source of truth for all manually captured data across the organization, enhancing decision-making processes with consolidated and unified data sources.

Through DataHub’s live reporting and analytics capabilities, Andrada Mining has successfully digitized and automated the majority of its reporting requirements. From daily processing and mining reports to life-of-mine metal accounting and investor reporting, DataHub has revolutionized Andrada’s approach to analytics and reporting.

Jade Greve, Principal Business Analyst at Andrada Mining, attests to the transformative impact of Dataloop’s partnership: “The Dataloop team has assisted Andrada Mining in setting up our integrated, centralized data management portal, making our data available in real-time across the company. The team has streamlined our reporting structures by implementing multiple automated reports, cutting down time spent on reporting and aiding decision-making.”
As Andrada Mining continues its growth trajectory, the DataHub solution remains a cornerstone, providing a scalable analytics platform upon which future digitization efforts can be seamlessly integrated.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are known for their intricate complexity and rigid structure, often featuring complex data architectures and interdependencies. One common challenge organizations face is the need to continually customize ERP systems to align with evolving reporting requirements. However, this customization process has significant drawbacks. Firstly, it can be prohibitively expensive, deterring many companies from pursuing extensive modifications. Secondly, it can lead to complications regarding the retention and management of legacy data.

These challenges are further compounded by the integration of additional supporting applications such as timesheets, inventory management, project schedules, carbon reporting, and more. ADP Marine and Modular, a subsidiary of Lycopodium, encountered this precise issue when a mining client required specific project reporting at both executive (EXCO) and operational levels.

Dataloop provided a solution by deploying a data warehouse into ADP’s environment, housing all the necessary data in well-defined and robust tables. This deployment leveraged Azure Data Factory (ADF) for efficient mapping and data pipelining. The data was then visualized through a series of dynamic Power BI dashboards and paginated reports, offering near real-time insights from a centralized and reliable data source.

This solution empowered end-users with the ability to analyze data comprehensively, utilizing slicing and dicing, and drill-down functionalities to explore report details effectively.

Jachris, recognized as one of Africa’s fastest-growing companies by Financial Times, stands as a leading service provider in the African mining industry. With operations spanning five key business units, from manufacturing to on-site client services, Jachris operates within a highly intricate landscape.

Amidst rapid growth and operational complexity, Jachris faced challenges in maintaining clear visibility and operational efficiencies across its expanding network. To address these challenges, Dataloop was engaged to digitize the organization and provide tailored solutions that would enable Jachris to scale while ensuring transparency and clarity in day-to-day operations.

Dataloop embarked on developing and implementing a comprehensive solution – DataHub. This encompassed a Microsoft Azure-based data warehouse, seamlessly integrating SAP B1 instances across all entities in Southern and Western Africa. By consolidating ERP data, Dataloop created a robust foundation for automated financial and sales reporting using Power BI, embedded directly into the DataHub. This initiative culminated in a live, automated, and centralized reporting platform, granting management teams access to critical financial insights necessary for informed decision-making, eliminating the need for entity-level reporting or data extraction from siloed systems.

As part of the solution, Dataloop developed custom digital work order and job card solutions within the DataHub application, replacing inefficient paper-based processes. These solutions provided real-time data integration with SAP B1, enhancing operational efficiency and accuracy.

Furthermore, the DataHub solution incorporated a multitude of live Power BI dashboards and reports, offering real-time insights into operational aspects across all five key business units within each entity. This comprehensive approach equipped Jachris with the necessary clarity to navigate a fast-paced growth environment, solidifying their position as industry leaders and market pioneers in the region.
Through the implementation of DataHub, Jachris has successfully leveraged data analytics to drive strategic decision-making, demonstrating agility and foresight in an ever-evolving market landscape.

As East Africa’s largest forestry company, Green Resources is entrusted with delivering sustainable forestry products to both local and international markets in an efficient and cost-effective manner. To effectively manage such a vast operation in an ever-evolving market, a robust and scalable data management platform was deemed essential to consolidate key information from all entities for real-time and transparent analytics.

Dataloop stepped in to develop a tailored implementation of the DataHub solution, seamlessly integrating multiple third-party applications such as Sage ERP system, MicroForest, Orbify, and others. These data sources are integrated in near-real-time with the Azure Data Warehouse, leveraging tools such as Azure Data Factory and custom-built API connections. This integration, coupled with custom-built digital forms for manual data capturing, establishes a single source of truth data repository from which all reporting is generated and automated in near real-time.

A comprehensive suite of reports has been developed and implemented across all six entities and head office. These reports encompass sales and financial analytics including income statements, profit and loss, balance sheets, and sales analytics. Additionally, a detailed range of operational reports covering forestry operations, HSE, and field survey data is provided. This all-inclusive platform serves as a unified reporting layer, aggregating data from all third-party solutions.

The implemented solution has significantly reduced reporting overheads across all regions and entities, providing management teams with a single source of truth upon which to base key business decisions.

VIVA Engineering stands out as one of South Africa’s premier turnkey fabrication and design shops, renowned for its unwavering commitment to safety and quality standards. With a diverse range of services and facilities tailored to meet the stringent demands of the mining and industrial sectors globally, VIVA has established itself as a leader in the field.

Driven by a relentless pursuit of operational excellence, VIVA embarked on a transformative journey to enhance their business insights. The journey began with the implementation of DataHub, a powerful analytics tool that provided real-time monitoring of projects as they progressed through the workshop floor, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

As the project evolved, the integration of Power Automate and DataHub forms revolutionized VIVA’s operations, digitizing key processes such as tool asset management, fabrication tracking, client communication, safety reporting, and more. This digital transformation not only centralized their wealth of data but also empowered the team to uncover valuable insights and drive continuous improvement initiatives on the shop floor.

Through seamless integration with their existing legacy software systems, DataHub has become the single source of truth for VIVA, eliminating barriers and downtime commonly associated with disparate software solutions. This integrated approach has not only streamlined operations but also positioned VIVA at the forefront of innovation in their industry, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and excellence.

The Stellenbosch Business School (SBS), in conjunction with its executive development arm (SBS-ED), has achieved a remarkable feat by securing three prestigious accreditations: AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA. This achievement, known as the Triple Crown accreditation, is a distinction held by only 1% of business schools globally.

This accomplishment is attributed to the robust systems and processes established by the SBS-ED. Within their operational framework, there exists a sophisticated suite of products, many of which are seamlessly integrated into the university’s overarching structure.

One notable project undertaken by SBS-ED was the automation of student result statements, including the necessary authorization by departmental deans and course managers. This initiative aimed to streamline a previously time-consuming process prone to human errors, which was deemed non-negotiable given SBS-ED’s commitment to reputational excellence.

The automation of result statements involved collating information from multiple systems: actual marks from the Moodle application, a third-party student management system, contact details from the CRM enrollments system, and validation from the ERP system for accounts.

To address this challenge, a designated solution was developed using Azure’s data warehouse, SQL SSRS for processing, limited deployment of custom code, and authorization flows in Power Automate. Leveraging their rich dataset, SBS-ED not only automated individual result statements but also generated summary reports for authorizers. This enhancement significantly improved the accuracy and timely release of results.

Furthermore, the project facilitated real-time analytics, empowering lecturers to identify anomalies and errors promptly for further investigation. This analytical capability marks a significant advancement, benefiting both faculty and students alike.