2 Week Data Analysis Cycle Reduced to 2 Seconds

Windmill Microlending’s data systems were initially fragmented and inefficient, with critical information extraction relying on a single person to query databases. This bottleneck hindered timely decision-making, with simple queries often taking up to 2 weeks to finalize.

• The Challenge

  
  

Windmill Microlending had a significant data management problem. The organization was sitting on a wealth of client and financial data, but their systems were fragmented and outdated, making it difficult to extract meaningful insights. The biggest issue was that critical data extraction and analysis relied on one individual who had the technical skills to query databases. This bottleneck slowed down decision-making, especially when it came to producing reports for donors and stakeholders. In fact, it often took up to 2 weeks to pull basic data out of the systems.

Without easy access to real-time data, Windmill struggled to provide timely, accurate reports on their impact, which were essential for donor relations and funding. The organization needed a modern, centralized data management system that would allow them to make data-driven decisions quickly and efficiently, without relying on one particular person for data retrieval.

• The Solution

We transformed Windmill Microlending’s data management approach by implementing a centralized data system that was accessible to the entire team. The first step was to consolidate all of their disparate data sources into an ‘ElastiCube’ (effectively a data warehouse), which served as a single source of truth for all client, loan, and financial information.

We then introduced Sisense, a powerful business intelligence tool, to create dynamic, real-time dashboards that could be easily accessed and customized by different team members. These dashboards allowed users to run their own queries, create custom reports, and visualize data without any technical expertise. This decentralized access to data meant that decision-making was no longer bottlenecked by one person’s availability or skills.

To ensure the solution would meet all of Windmill’s reporting needs, we set up automated reporting features. Donor reports, impact metrics, and financial summaries could now be generated automatically and shared with key stakeholders, keeping them informed in real time.

• The Impact

The implementation of a centralized data warehouse and real-time dashboards dramatically improved Windmill Microlending’s ability to access and act on data. Staff across the organization were now empowered to run their own analyses, reducing the dependency on a single person for data queries. This autonomy allowed for faster, more informed decision-making, which was critical for day-to-day operations and long-term strategy.

The impact was particularly noticeable when it came to donor relations. Windmill was able to provide real-time, detailed reports on the outcomes of their loans and the positive impact they were having on their community. This not only strengthened relationships with current donors but also helped attract new funding by showcasing their success with accurate, up-to-date data.

The ability to access data quickly also supported Windmill’s growth. During Jon’s tenure, loan volume increased by 707%, and this growth was supported by data-driven decision-making that allowed the organization to scale efficiently. The transformation of their data management system was a key enabler of this success, helping Windmill meet the demands of their expanding client base while maintaining the high quality of their services.

Outcomes:

• Reduction of data analysis times from 2 weeks to 2 seconds

• Enabled 707% increase in loans disbursed

• Drastically increased the level of data-driven decision making