Assessment of business intelligence software options

Tender description

Why the Work is Being Done In 2015, Hackney invested in QlikView and QlikSense as our business intelligence tools. The data we hold is fragmented across multiple systems and the Qlik products have enabled us to join large, complex datasets in single views to carry out advanced analysis. This contract is due to expire in July 2021 and we want to ensure that we understand what business intelligence tools the organisation needs and how we best organise our data layer to give us maximum flexibility to meet them in line with our emerging cloud first strategy. Problem to Be Solved We are looking to work with an external specialist who can embed with the team for a short, focussed review to understand the following: The strengths and weaknesses of our existing set up (infrastructure/data management/skills spread and resilience Validate our assumed user needs How easy it would be to decouple from our existing provider / how they could integrate with GSuite and our increased desire for advanced analytics include machine learning Future options, either within the Qlik offer or amongst other BI providers, and their suitability to Hackney The optimum support arrangements for any BI solutions that follow Who Are the Users As a Data & Insight Analyst, I need to spend less time on managing our BI infrastructure and more on interpretation/analysis so that I can support evidence-led decision making As a data analyst in the Council, I need access to intuitive tools that help me maximise the benefit of my data so that I can deliver informed analysis As a contract manager, I need to ensure we’re investing taxpayers’ money effectively so that we’re getting best value for money As a senior manager at Hackney Council, I need access to current data so that I can plan effective services Early Market Engagement N/A Work Already Done The team have developed circa 100 dashboards within QlikSense and QlikView and as well as 3 expert BI developers based in ICT, there are around 10-12 analysts across the organisation who are developing Qlik Sense dashboards with intermediate functionality. Support from Qlik software is available via a third party reseller but much of the day to day support and maintenance is being managed by the Data & Insight team itself. The team is experimenting with other tools for advanced analytics / data presentation including GCP, BigQuery (in line with our business GSuite deployment), Dash, Datasette and Python. Existing Team The existing core team is entirely in-house and consists of a Data Analytics Lead, Business Intelligence Developer and a Data Engineer. Key stakeholders include: - 10-12 data analysts across different services in the organisation who develop Qlik Sense dashboards with intermediate functionality - Data & Insight team members - ICT technical architecture and infrastructure teams We want to be confident that we can run an efficient BI offer that complements the other functions of the team, requires minimum upkeep and allows us to focus our efforts on supporting the organisation to make the most of our information as an asset. Current Phase Live Work Location Hackney Council offices in Mare Street, E8 Working Arrangments Some onsite required for shadowing, face to face meetings and workshops with key teams and stakeholders. Some remote working for planning. preparation and/or telephone meetings. Exact arrangements to be agreed with supplier. Security Clearance Additional T&Cs Skills & Experience Knowledge of leading business intelligence tools and cloud hosted analytical platforms Knowledge of options around different data repositories e.g. data marts, data lakes Knowledge of modern analytical and data science approaches using open source tools and languages including Python Commercial independence from any single vendor (relationships or accreditations with multiple vendors is acceptable) Experience of taking a user-centred approach to informing requirements for software use Have experience designing services for a wide range of digital skills and confidence Nice to Haves Be prepared to share risk and/or reward with the council if the service is attractive to other authorities Provide opportunities for people seeking ways into work in Hackney (e.g. through an apprentice working on the project) No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria Clarity of the approach and methodology Experience from a similar project Team structure, including skills, experiences and relevance of individuals Identification of risks and plan to mitigate them Technical understanding Cultural Fit Criteria Work as a team with our organisation and other suppliers Be transparent and collaborative when making decisions Share knowledge and experience with team members and the wider service Hackney Council is a diverse organisation, reflecting the diversity of our borough. Describe how you would successfully work as a team with Hackney and other suppliers in a diverse environment. Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 60% Cultural fit 5% Price 35% Questions from Suppliers Budget range we expect this consultancy to cost c. £30,000 but are procuring to a value of £40,000 to allow contingency and suppliers to suggest value-add activities.