Grindrod improves productivity with an embedded BI application

43%

Productivity improvement when trading spreadsheets for embedded analytics

95%

Of reports are 'live' through Tableau's native Microsoft SQL Server connector

Background

Grindrod is a world-class freight logistics company that specializes in the movement of dry bulk, bulk liquid, containerized cargo, and vehicles along specific import and export corridors, primarily on the African continent. Tableau was implemented within their terminal operations to aggregate data from various mechanical and human interface sources across the company.

Challenge

Prior to the initial Tableau implementation, reporting was siloed and produced with legacy systems at two sites. Other reports arrived in various formats, inhibiting consolidation for executive level reporting and a single source of truth. Grindrod requested visibility, reporting, and analytics on performance against contract, performance to plan on land-side logistics, stockpile management, and vessel loading performance. The platform would be used internally by employees and externally by Grindrod clients to manage the movement of their cargo.

Approach

- Enabled the capture and collection of data from multiple operational processes, equipment, and locations using centralized master data management. - Harnessed internal IP and specific work routines to deliver an end-to-end view of the operation in a visibility layer. - Developed Tableau dashboards for reporting and analytics at an operational, tactical, and strategic level.

Key results

Fully configurable, flexible, and secure solution

Administrative control over what each user can and cannot see

Ability to make faster, well-informed, data-driven decisions

Benefits

The finished product is fully configurable, flexible, and secure. Grindrod System Administrators have complete control over what each user can and cannot see, managing user profile access at various levels within the architecture. It can also be integrated to an Active Directory. Live reporting is provided for over 95% of reports through the Tableau native Microsoft SQL Server connector. Grindrod can ensure responsiveness using an immediate view of the state of operations from any location.

What our clients say

“Case studies have shown a productivity improvement of up to 43% when trading spreadsheets for embedded analytics - we look forward to unlocking that value.”

Oladapo Carew, Regional IT Manager, Grindrod Terminals

Technology partners

Tableau Software

As a leading analytics platform, Tableau offers visual analytics with powerful AI, data management, and collaboration. From individuals to organizations of all sizes, customers around the world use Tableau’s advanced analytics to fuel impactful, data-driven decisions. Tableau Software was acquired by Salesforce in 2019.

50+

certified consultants

100+

projects realized