Managing data across multiple business and reporting systems is a challenge for any large retailer operating in global markets. For our client, a major international retail chain, ensuring seamless data governance and integration was critical to optimizing operations and enabling informed decision-making. To achieve this, they sought expert support in implementing and customizing Collibra to fit their complex ecosystem. By partnering with Murdio, they transformed their data management framework, automating governance workflows, enhancing data quality, and creating a scalable, future-proof solution that improved efficiency and transparency across their organization.
The Challenge
Key challenges included:
- integrating tools like Signavio and SAP with Collibra,
- automating data governance processes,
- enhancing data quality at scale.
Additionally, the client’s team required technical guidance to bridge varying skill levels, from advanced technical knowledge to business-focused roles.
The Solution
Murdio provided a dedicated Technical Implementation Team. The collaboration began with a three-person technical team tasked with translating project requirements from the client’s business and architectural teams into actionable technical plans. Over time, the team grew to include five full-time experts, supported by trainees gaining hands-on experience with Collibra.
Key project phases included:
- Requirement analysis and business alignment – Collaborating to adapt the client’s plans to Collibra’s technical capabilities.
- Custom development for data lineage – Establishing and maintaining cross-system technical lineage, including custom development for Collibra-SAP lineage. This solution allowed reporting teams and other data consumers to visualize data flows across systems (e.g., SAP, Data Lakes, and Databases), enabling easier impact analysis during technical changes and tracking data quality throughout the flow.
- Data quality enablement – Activating and customizing data quality functionalities within Collibra to establish a collaborative platform for stakeholders. This empowered data consumers to quickly identify data assets and evaluate their quality, driving improvements and streamlining operational processes.
- Governance process automation via workflows – Developing workflows to facilitate collaboration among stakeholders in processes like the review, approval, and archiving of Collibra content. These workflows improved efficiency and ensured compliance with governance policies.
- Tailored reporting and dashboards – Designing customized landing pages and dashboards to enhance navigation within Collibra, providing user groups with quick access to their specific content and improving user experience.
- Integration development – Building robust integrations to enable seamless communication and data exchange between applications, ensuring each system operated as the definitive source of truth for its governance area.
- Metamodel architecture advisory – Acting as trusted advisors for changes to the Enterprise Data Model, helping align metadata structures with evolving business needs.
- Platform and metadata maintenance – Supporting daily platform operations, including issue resolution and implementing new functionalities to ensure consistent performance and scalability.
Results
With Murdio’s support, the client achieved:
- Improved data quality management – Data consumers gained a collaborative platform to identify and enhance data quality, optimizing operational processes and ensuring reliable insights.
- Enhanced cross-system data lineage – Comprehensive technical lineage across systems enabled better impact analysis during technical changes, improved data quality tracking, and provided reporting teams with a clear view of data flows.
- Streamlined governance processes – Automated workflows facilitated smoother collaboration among stakeholders, reducing time spent on approvals and ensuring governance compliance.
- Enhanced user experience in Collibra – Tailored dashboards and landing pages enabled quick and intuitive navigation, improving adoption and usability among various user groups.
- Seamless system integration – Reliable integrations ensured effective communication between systems, maintaining each tool’s role as a source of truth for its respective governance area.
- Scalable metadata management – Strategic guidance on metamodel architecture ensured alignment with business needs, while ongoing platform maintenance supported operational efficiency.
Conclusion
This collaboration with a leading international retail chain demonstrated how Murdio’s flexibility, technical expertise, and understanding of business requirements enable successful execution of complex Collibra implementation projects. By delivering tailored solutions such as cross-system data lineage, data quality enablement, governance automation, and seamless system integrations, Murdio empowered the client to achieve greater transparency, efficiency, and control over their data.
The partnership not only addressed immediate challenges but also laid the groundwork for sustained improvements in data management. With enhanced technical capabilities, intuitive dashboards, and a scalable metadata structure, the client is now well-positioned to leverage their data as a strategic asset, supporting informed decision-making and operational excellence across the organization.
Murdio’s expertise and adaptability ensured the client could navigate complex data environments, demonstrating the value of a collaborative approach to delivering innovative, business-aligned solutions.
