Project Overview: Digital Transformation in Hospitality Analytics
A leading organization in the hospitality and tourism industry has built a strong presence in Latin America, operating 26 hotels across 12 destinations in Colombia and Peru. With decades of experience, the chain has become one of the most influential players in the region, offering a mix of business-friendly and leisure-oriented properties while maintaining a strong commitment to high service standards and modern amenities. The company partnered with Nextant to accelerate its digital transformation by developing a cloud-based Business Intelligence (BI) solution aimed at enhancing the Marketing department’s decision-making capabilities through data automation, real-time insights, and robust data governance.
Built on Microsoft Azure and powered by Power BI, the solution integrated multiple data sources, automated manual reporting processes, and empowered business users with interactive dashboards that deliver accurate and actionable insights.
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Key Challenges in Marketing Data and Reporting
Before partnering with Nextant, this hotel chain faced several data and reporting challenges that hindered operational efficiency and strategic planning:
1. Manual and Inefficient Reporting
The Marketing team relied heavily on manual data preparation across multiple systems, delaying report generation and limiting timely insights.
2. Fragmented Data Sources
Data silos across Oracle Opera, 1EE, and SQL Server prevented the company from consolidating marketing information into a single source of truth.
3. Limited Data Governance and Security
Existing tools lacked secure access controls, leading to inconsistent information and reduced confidence in data reliability.
Collectively, these issues affected the company’s ability to make data-driven marketing decisions and respond quickly to market dynamics.
Nextant’s Business Intelligence Solution on Microsoft Azure
To overcome these challenges, Nextant implemented a modern Business Intelligence solution leveraging Microsoft Azure’s cloud infrastructure and Power BI’s advanced analytics capabilities.
Strategic Implementation Approach
Discovery and Assessment
Nextant conducted workshops to understand the customer’s data landscape, KPIs, and reporting pain points.
Agile Delivery Framework
An iterative approach ensured continuous collaboration and feedback.
ETL Automation
Azure Data Factory was used to automate data ingestion and transformation.
Secure Data Architecture
Power BI Row-Level Security (RLS) was implemented to control access to sensitive marketing data.
Learn more about how Nextant helps companies modernize operations with Microsoft Azure and Power BI. Visit Nextant.com to see more success stories.
Technology Stack and Tools Used
- Microsoft Azure: Data Lake, Data Factory, and Azure SQL for scalable data integration.
- Power BI: Interactive dashboards, visualization, and real-time analytics.
- Data Sources: Oracle Opera, 1EE, and SQL Server.
Implementation Highlights and Key Deliverables
- Built a centralized data warehouse in Azure SQL integrating three core systems.
- Developed 16 Power BI dashboards for marketing KPIs and performance tracking.
- Conducted training sessions to drive adoption among technical and non-technical users.
- Established strong data governance and automation practices ensuring long-term scalability.
Results and Business Impact
Quantitative Outcomes
- 80% Reduction in Report Preparation Time: Reports that once took days are now available in minutes.
- 3,000+ Hours Saved Annually: Enabled through automation and faster reporting cycles.
Qualitative Outcomes
- Improved Decision-Making: Real-time access to marketing KPIs enables agile strategies.
- Enhanced Data Governance: Secure, role-based access increases trust in data accuracy.
- Empowered Users: Marketing and executive teams gained autonomy through self-service BI dashboards.
- Operational Scalability: The solution provides a foundation for advanced analytics and future AI integration.
Conclusion: Transforming Marketing Analytics in Hospitality
Through its partnership with Nextant, the hotel chain successfully transformed its data analytics and reporting capabilities. The new Business Intelligence solution on Microsoft Azure streamlined operations, improved strategic decision-making, and positioned the organization for future innovation.
This project demonstrates how Nextant’s expertise in data integration, Power BI development, and cloud-based analytics empowers companies in the hospitality industry to modernize operations and unlock the full potential of their data.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is Business Intelligence (BI) and how does it benefit hospitality companies?
Business Intelligence (BI) refers to technologies and strategies used to analyze data and deliver actionable insights for better decision-making. For hospitality organizations, BI helps optimize marketing performance, enhance guest experiences, and improve operational efficiency through real-time insights.
2. Why choose Microsoft Azure for a BI solution?
Microsoft Azure provides a scalable, secure cloud infrastructure that supports large data volumes and complex analytics. By integrating Azure Data Lake, Data Factory, and Power BI, organizations gain real-time access to reliable marketing data with strong governance and security controls.
3. What were the main challenges solved by Nextant’s BI implementation?
Nextant addressed manual reporting inefficiencies, fragmented data sources, and limited data governance. The BI solution automated data processes, consolidated key systems, and introduced secure, role-based dashboards that improved decision-making across departments.
4. How did the BI solution improve marketing performance?
Power BI dashboards enabled marketing and executive teams to monitor KPIs in real time, significantly improving agility. Reporting time dropped by 80%, empowering users to make faster, data-backed decisions and generating considerable time and cost savings.
5. Can Nextant’s BI solutions be adapted for industries beyond hospitality?
Yes. Nextant designs and implements Business Intelligence solutions for sectors including finance, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare. These solutions can be customized to meet each industry’s unique needs and goals.
