Retail | Data Analytics Services
Self-Serve Retail Analytics Built on Google Cloud in Weeks
Pythian deployed a cloud analytics platform in seven weeks, giving a Canadian retailer self-serve insights and a foundation for AI.
Migrating 100 million records for faster retail decisions
A Canadian clothing retailer replaced its legacy SQL Server with a cloud data lake to power real-time business decisions.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a Canadian clothing retailer needed robust analytics to navigate shifting consumer behavior, but its on-premises SQL Server couldn't keep up. The retailer turned to Pythian for a fast, cost-effective path to the cloud. Using Pythian's proven data platform approach on Google Cloud, the team deployed a Google BigQuery data lake, built ETL pipelines, and delivered custom dashboards in just seven weeks. Internal marketing and BI teams now self-serve the insights they need, and the retailer has a scalable foundation for machine learning and AI.
Executives lacked data to navigate rapid market shifts
COVID-19 slowed in-store traffic and accelerated e-commerce, but the retailer had no analytics to measure the impact or pivot strategy.
On-premises SQL Server couldn't scale
The existing platform couldn't ingest large volumes of structured and unstructured data from POS, web, inventory, and customer systems.
Critical business data sat in disconnected systems
POS transactions, e-commerce orders, shipping records, and customer demographics were spread across multiple sources with no unified view.
Cloud adoption felt too costly and slow
Leadership feared a lengthy, six-figure implementation before seeing any return on a cloud platform.
Pythian's data platform delivered fast
Pythian deployed an enterprise analytics platform on Google BigQuery.
Pythian deployed an enterprise analytics platform on Google BigQuery using a proven data platform approach. The pilot was designed to expand easily to additional datasets and advanced machine learning capabilities, protecting the retailer's investment from day one.
The team built a cloud data lake and ETL pipelines in days.
In just days, Pythian stood up a cloud data lake and built ETL pipelines to ingest and house over 100 million records. Two years of purchase data and customer details across eight tables and 230 columns were consolidated into a single, queryable source.
Custom Power BI dashboards gave every team self-serve access.
Pythian developed use-case-specific visualizations in Microsoft Power BI, the retailer's preferred tool. Marketing, operations, and executive teams gained self-serve access to actionable views of customer, store, and purchase metrics.
The full solution went live in just seven weeks.
The team aligned on a use case and built a high-level data model in the first two weeks, then delivered a production-ready solution over the next five. The retailer expanded scope mid-project after seeing early results.
Pythian's certified experts partnered closely with the retailer's IT team.
The team aligned on a use case and built a high-level data model in the first two weeks, then delivered a production-ready solution over the next five. The retailer expanded scope mid-project after seeing early results.
Seven-week BigQuery analytics rollout across 300+ stores
Powering faster decisions
The data platform pilot proved the value of cloud analytics in weeks, giving the CTO tangible results to secure buy-in for broader cloud migration. Marketing and BI teams moved from waiting on IT for every report to self-serving insights through custom Power BI dashboards built on over 100 million records. The retailer was so encouraged by early results that they expanded the project scope mid-engagement and began planning to leverage Google Cloud's machine learning capabilities.
100M+
Records ingested
7
Weeks to production
2
Years of data unified
Ready to launch self-serve analytics in just weeks?
Pythian is a proud Google Cloud Premier Partner
Lean into our deep expertise, and 25+ years of data heritage.
Our expertise spans the full Google ecosystem, helping customers harness the power of scalable cloud infrastructure, data analytics, and modern AI modelling to drive innovation. We combine world-class technical skills with a customer-centric approach to accelerate digital transformation and maximize the value of your Google investment.
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