Summary
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DAFA, a global company specialising in foam and rubber solutions that seal, absorb and protect for the construction and industrial sectors, has implemented a new BI solution in collaboration with Columbus to ensure "one version of the truth," providing consistent, real-time data access across the organisation.
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The new solution allows DAFA to give more precise, tailored data, and to get better insights into trends.
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The support and sparring with Columbus have empowered the BI Team to master the new solution, reducing reliance on external consultants and ensuring the flexibility to adapt the solution as needed.
About DAFA Group
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For more than 85 years, DAFA Group has specialised in innovative foam and rubber solutions that seal, absorb, and protect.
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DAFA’s two main business areas consist of solutions for the construction and industrial sectors.
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DAFA's headquarter is located in Brabrand, Denmark, with production facilities in Denmark, Italy, China, and Poland. The DAFA Group operates globally, with subsidiaries in eight countries across Europe, Asia, and the United States.
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Industry
- Manufacturing
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Country
- Denmark
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Service
- Data & AI
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Insight Type
- Case
DAFA leverages new BI solution for better decision making and growth
With a cutting-edge BI solution, DAFA Group is transforming its ability to make more data-driven decisions, paving the way for global growth and improved customer experiences. This digital transformation facilitates faster decision-making and enhances the customer experience, aligning with the company’s global ambitions.
Headquartered in Brabrand, Denmark, DAFA Group is a global leader in innovative foam and rubber solutions for construction and industrial applications. These solutions seal, absorb, and protect customers’ products.
The company consistently focuses on developing new products, processes, and solutions to meet market demands. This commitment extends to digitalization as well.
In partnership with Columbus, DAFA has enhanced its digital journey, with a core component being the implementation of a new BI solution.
A unified global data solution
“Our old BI solution no longer met our needs, and we struggled to access the necessary data quickly,” explains Filipa Morgado Dias, BI Specialist at DAFA.
Recognizing the limitations of the existing system, DAFA saw an urgent need to upgrade its BI solution to manage its growing data volumes and improve decision-making capabilities.
Operating on a global scale, DAFA required a solution that provided uniform access to real-time data across all departments and regions.
“We needed a solution that could scale with our global needs, providing a comprehensive view of DAFA’s performance,” Filipa adds.
Strategic goals translated into a technical solution
Columbus began the collaboration with DAFA by building on an in-depth analysis of the company’s needs. The main focus was to align strategic goals with actionable data insights.
The first step was to work closely with DAFA to ensure that the new solution would align with these specific requirements. In order to achieve this, it was important to have discussions and sparring with the BI team and key stakeholders.
"Our priority was to understand how we could make data accessible and actionable for the entire organization, enabling them to quickly gain the insights they needed," explains Ayla Lundorff, Sales Executive – Data & AI at Columbus.
Once the critical business needs were identified, the next step was to establish a technical foundation using Microsoft Azure and Power BI.
Enhancing the customer satisfaction
With a modern BI solution, DAFA can leverage data more effectively to deliver enhanced value to its customers.
“Our customers have high expectations, and we need to meet them promptly. The new BI solution enables us to respond faster to customer needs. Data-driven decisions create value for our customers and support our ESG journey and ambitions,” Filipa explains.
Efficiently leveraging data, DAFA can analyze trends and address issues before they arise, significantly improving the customer satisfaction. The new solution is giving the foundation to improve DAFA’s data management processes.
“We previously had many different reports in different systems. Now, we are simplifying the access to the right data,” says Filipa.
Employees can now start to access necessary data more easily, eliminating reliance on manual systems and saving time to focus on core tasks.
Building internal BI expertise
Hands-on workshops and the ongoing collaboration, support and sparring with Columbus have empowered DAFA to develop in-house expertise.
“Having internal knowledge provides greater flexibility and allows us to respond quickly to changes. BI is not just a management solution but something for the entire organization. In my view, the most impactful aspect of our collaboration is the ongoing support and sparring with Columbus consultants, which gives us access to diverse expertise and the ability to address different questions quickly,” Filipa highlights.
The BI solution has already provided DAFA with valuable insights.
“Now that I have a clearer understanding of the solution and its setup, I can respond more swiftly to changes in requests and necessary adjustments, ensuring that BI evolves alongside DAFA.”
A solution designed to grow with DAFA
For DAFA, Columbus’s deep understanding of the business and industry is crucial.
“Columbus’s expertise ensured the solution met our specific needs. Their experience and knowledge make them an ideal partner for us,” concludes Filipa.
Ayla emphasizes the importance of ensuring that advisory services align with the customer's strategic ambitions.
"Our partnership with DAFA was centered around understanding their unique needs and delivering a solution that supports both their immediate and long-term goals. It’s about creating value that aligns with their vision.”
As DAFA continues to scale its BI capabilities, the company envisions leveraging AI and predictive analytics to further enhance decision-making and customer satisfaction.
"This BI solution is not just about solving today’s challenges. It’s designed to grow with DAFA and support their global ambitions. Whether it’s integrating new technologies or expanding capabilities, the foundation we’ve built together will support their journey for years to come," says Ayla Lundorff.
BI: An enriching experience
Filipa, who works at DAFA as their BI responsible, describes the project as an enriching experience both personally and professionally.
“It allows me to deepen my skills in my field of BI, while also enabling me to work closely with colleagues across departments and all levels of the organization, thanks to its flat hierarchy. This environment has allowed me to further channel my passion for building end-to-end solutions, from the initial concept to the final product.”
“I take great pride in guiding the entire process, which includes designing the solution, delivering training, and providing ongoing support. This hands-on involvement allows me to see the direct impact of BI on DAFA’s success and deepens my motivation to continuous growth in the field.”
