Rolling Mix Concrete
client success story
What we delivered
A unified and dynamic reporting environment presenting data from previously siloed systems. Allowing for new metrics and reports to the business, plus customer-facing reports indicating current orders and their status.
- Built Machine Learning algorithms to predict future sales and production figures based on historical data
- Built an application to optimize back-up power to eliminate power disruptions
- Built several custom APIs for data synchronization with external systems
- Developed data extract processes with automated synchronization and comparison
- Stored incoming data from multiple sources (cloud, on-prem, third party) in data lakes
- Orchestrated data pipelines and a landing area for data cleaning
The organization
The organization
Providing concrete supplies and services
The Rolling Mix Concrete (RMC) Group is a concrete supplier and contracting firm that has been providing concrete-related services across Western Canada since 1994.
The challenge
The challenge
Consolidating disparate systems
Rolling Mix Concrete engaged Silver Creek to develop data integration capabilities that would feed into a consolidated reporting environment. RMC had been maintaining several on-premises and third-party databases, along with utilizing the ERP system Integra in tandem with a Salesforce CRM system. All these systems were heavily isolated from each other.
Our team set out to integrate and synchronize data from Integra, Salesforce, and other sources, including Marcotte (a concrete plant information portal collecting autonomous plant data) and Dayforce (a third-party HR system that tracks employee hours logged and other relevant information).
The solution
The solution
Fully integrated dynamic data system
Data Lakes - Silver Creek consultants leveraged Azure Data Lakes to store incoming data from on-premises databases and web apps. Data pipelines were orchestrated with Azure Data Factory, and the landing area for cleanses and fully integrated data was situated in an Azure SQL database. Once the data from these various source systems was fully integrated, reporting occurred inside of a Power BI reporting environment.
Predictive Modeling - Leveraging historical time series data to train machine learning models that would predict sales and production figures while preserving model accuracy. Machine learning algorithms were also built to monitor inventory levels of concrete materials while triggering re-ordering processes based on the optimal out-of-stock amounts.
Combining and cleansing data - We introduced dynamic synchronization of customer-specific data maintained in Salesforce and contract pricing data within Integra. Data extract processes were developed for both applications, with an automated price list comparison process used to identify new and changed price lists (a Salesforce API was also used).
Customized dashboards - Silver Creek defined a set of reports to track products scheduled for shipping along with the total value of the shipment, as well as reports on raw materials using in product development and the man hours and costs involved in day-to-day operations. The data was integrated in an Azure SQL instance and visualized through Power BI, with dashboards tailored for use on mobile devices and readily available for all stakeholders.
Documentation - To prepare for transition and operations, members of the Silver Creek development team create extensive code documentation, source system application connections, data architecture, and operations manuals describing how the reporting environment executes. Silver Creek also performed training sessions with RMC staff on evaluating the reporting environment data refresh and diagnosing and resolving operational errors.
The benefits
The benefits
Successful impact on the business
As a result of the new tools and information generated from this project, there were some remarkable positive outcomes in terms of success for the business.
- Pandemic concrete delivery was enhanced by Machine Learning algorithms that allowed RMC to maintain material inventory levels to sustain deliveries. Thanks to the insights stemming from ML predictions on inventory, RMC was one of only two concrete companies in Edmonton that were able to sustain inventory in the wake of shortages during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The implementation of the Digital Experience solutions offered an enhanced customer experience and gave RMC the ability to reduce staffing levels by decreasing the amount order desk phone calls.
- During initiatives facilitated by Silver Creek, business process errors were identified and resolved.
- Silver Creek successfully implemented new delivery measures and KPI’s.
- The Salesforce Sync project resulted in a wide array of business process improvements, allowing sales staff to enter the approved pricing which is synced to the order desk and invoice system. This drastically reduced the workload of order desk staff and allowed RMC to optimize the confirmation process for sales orders.
- The Peak Power Shaving initiative enabled RMC to drastically decrease electricity costs through access to electrical grid cost data and a power and cost calculation.
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