How Test Double used Secoda to enhance data management

Maintaining agility while ensuring data governance within an enterprise is inherently challenging due to the vast scale and complexity of the organization’s data ecosystem. This case study explores how Pathfinder, a Test Double operation, integrated Secoda into a global, Fortune 50 healthcare company (referred to here as "the company") to improve data discovery and manage data governance at scale by creating a single source of truth for company data.

The challenge

The company, a multinational enterprise with a substantial data footprint, faced significant challenges with its existing data management tools. Key issues included:

• Poor user adoption outside of technical teams.
• High costs associated with tool maintenance.
• Lack of flexibility and ease of use, hindering data-driven decision-making.

The results

• Improved Data Literacy: Non-technical staff were able to access and leverage data for decision-making, which enhanced overall data literacy.
• Increased User Engagement: The ease of use and intuitive design of the tools led to higher adoption rates across the company.
• Cost Reduction: The company observed a significant reduction in costs related to data management due to the efficient pricing model of the tools.
• Controlled Change Management: The tools supported a balanced approach to change management, enabling the company to implement changes without disrupting existing processes.

Implementation strategy

The main objectives for implementing Secoda were:

1. Enhance Data Accessibility: Making data easily accessible to non-technical users to promote data literacy across the company.

2. Increase User Adoption: Ensuring that the tools are easy to use to foster broader adoption across various departments.

3. Improve Cost Efficiency: Reducing the overall costs associated with data management by selecting a platform that scales and combines multiple tools into one.

4. Support Organizational Change: Managing the pace of change within the organization to ensure stability and continuity.

Process

The company chose to adopt Secoda following an extensive vendor assessment process run by Pathfinder, a Test Double operation, that prioritized ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to integrate smoothly with existing systems.

The integration process involved several key steps:

• Pilot: Pathfinder, a Test Double operation, initially rolled out Secoda to a business unit that was most prepared and had the capacity to handle new changes.
• Feedback and Iteration: Continuous feedback was gathered from initial users to refine the tools and their implementation strategy.
• Scaling Up: Once the pilot phase showed successful results, the tools were gradually introduced to other business units.
• Training and Support: Extensive training sessions and support were provided to ensure that all users could effectively use and adopt the new processes.

Progress since implementation

Since the original implementation, the company's journey with Secoda has continued to yield positive results:

• Unified Data Management: The company has successfully consolidated its data within the Google Cloud Platform (GCP), leveraging Secoda to manage and govern data efficiently. This unification has streamlined data processes and reduced reliance on fragmented data sources, including access databases, SQL servers, and Excel sheets.
• Enhanced Data Governance: Secoda's monitoring features have been instrumental in establishing robust data governance frameworks. The team set up no-code monitors on data quality metrics, such as row counts, helping to maintain high standards of data quality and consistency. The implementation of a comprehensive data dictionary and tagging system has further improved data organization and accessibility.
• Operational Efficiency and Scalability: Secoda's automation capabilities have significantly reduced manual efforts, allowing the team to implement bulk tagging and other repetitive tasks efficiently. This shift towards a self-service model has empowered business users, reducing their dependence on IT and enhancing overall operational efficiency. The company's ability to manage and document metadata across various platforms has provided a scalable solution for future growth.

Conclusion

The company's ongoing experience with Secoda underscores the critical importance of robust data governance and management tools in modernizing data infrastructure. Pathfinder, a Test Double operation's guidance and expertise were pivotal in selecting and implementing Secoda, ensuring a smooth transition and effective integration into the company's existing systems. As the company continues to expand and evolve, Secoda remains a key partner, providing the necessary tools and support for scalable and efficient data management. The collaboration with Pathfinder, a Test Double operation, has not only enhanced data processes but also positioned the company to meet future challenges with greater confidence and efficiency.