The Customer
Ascend is a network of public K–12 charter schools serving nearly 6,000 students across Brooklyn, New York, with a mission to provide high-quality, college-preparatory education in underserved communities.
The Project
Data Estate Maturity On Snowflake
Overview
Improving partnered with Ascend, a charter school system, to modernize and mature their data estate using Snowflake. The project aimed to automate data processes, mitigate risks associated with vendor dependencies, and enable efficient data management. By implementing advanced data integration and governance strategies, we sought to streamline data operations, reduce manual workloads, and enhance data accessibility for Ascend's educational ecosystem.
The Business Challenge
Ascend faced significant challenges in managing their educational data due to manual processes and reliance on vendor systems. Their data strategy was immature, lacking automation, scalability, and ownership, leading to inefficiencies and potential risks. The absence of a consolidated data model hindered their ability to perform effective data analysis and reporting, impacting operational efficiency and decision-making capabilities.
Our Solution
Our approach involved building a parallel infrastructure to modernize Ascend's data environment. We prioritized high-risk data integration points and developed a comprehensive data strategy to bring all resources and ownership in-house. Using Snowflake, Google Cloud, DBT, and Dagster, we created an end-to-end data management solution that streamlined data ingestion, integration, and analytics. This allowed Ascend to transition from manual data processes to automated, scalable, and efficient operations.
Technologies & Methodologies Used
Snowflake: For building a consolidated semantic data model and enabling efficient data storage and analytics.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Utilized for data storage and integration.
DBT (Data Build Tool): Implemented for SQL-based data modeling and transformations.
Dagster: Used as an orchestrator for managing data workflows and integrations.
Python: Employed for connecting various data sources and performing data transformations.
Data Governance: Established best practices and policies for data management and quality control.
The Business Benefits
Reduced Manual Effort: Automation of data processes reduced the time spent on manual data wrangling and integration.
Increased Data Ownership: Bringing data management in-house mitigated risks associated with vendor dependencies.
Improved Data Quality: Enhanced data governance and integration tools ensured accurate and reliable data.
Operational Efficiency: Streamlined data processes improved overall operational efficiency and productivity.
Scalability: The new data infrastructure supported future growth and scalability needs.
Faster Decision-Making: Reduced time from data collection to actionable insights enabled quicker and more informed decision-making.
Partnerships
While Ascend collaborated with multiple vendors, Improving served as their primary IT partner for this project. Our previous successful engagement with Ascend's Director of Data facilitated a seamless transition to this larger initiative. We maintained close communication and collaboration with Ascend's internal team to ensure alignment and successful implementation of the data strategy.
Lessons Learned
Importance of Data Strategy: A well-defined data strategy is crucial for effective data management and governance.
Vendor Independence: Reducing reliance on external vendors mitigates risks and enhances control over data operations.
Automation Benefits: Automating data processes significantly reduces manual workloads and improves efficiency.
Scalability Needs: Building scalable data infrastructure is essential to support future growth and changes.
Data Quality Governance: Implementing robust data quality measures ensures accurate and reliable data for decision-making.
Continuous Collaboration: Ongoing collaboration with the client's team is vital for addressing challenges and ensuring project success.
Why Improving
This case study highlights Improving's successful partnership with Ascend in modernizing their data estate using Snowflake. By addressing critical data challenges and implementing a comprehensive data strategy, we enabled Ascend to achieve significant operational efficiencies, enhanced data quality, and reduced risks associated with vendor dependencies. Our approach and technologies set the foundation for scalable and efficient data management, positioning Ascend for future success in the educational sector. This project underscores Improving's expertise and commitment to delivering tailored, high-impact solutions for our clients.
