Challenge:
The complex customizations in Van Oord's Power BI solutions resulted in overly complex DAX calculations, causing the core visualizations to load more than 24 seconds. The desired load time was under 700 milliseconds.
Our approach:
We reexamined the data model, carefully mapped the business processes, and translated them into a simplified data model. Every measure was rewritten and optimized with Server Timings for efficient performance. This included a thorough overhaul and refinement of all DAX calculations to increase efficiency and reduce loading times.
Results:
The most complex visualization now loads in just 1300 milliseconds, with most visualizations loading in under 300 milliseconds. This is a significant improvement over expectations.
Future plans:
The team intends to continue with production implementation and onboard more projects and team members based on the new, scalable model. This expansion will leverage the optimized data model to further improve project management within Van Oord's operations.
Team Expertise:
Our team used an advanced mix of tools and techniques, including DAX Studio, VertiPaq Analyzer, Server Timing Optimization, Query Plan Optimization, and Power BI DAX. We also applied Kimball modeling and star schema design to create an efficient and scalable data architecture. This combination was crucial for addressing the performance challenges and delivering a robust solution for Van Oord.
FAQ
Our Power BI reports are loading excruciatingly slowly. What can you do about that?
Slow dashboards are often the result of complex data models or inefficient DAX calculations. At Van Oord, we completely overhauled the model and rewrote all measures, reducing load times from 24 seconds to an average of under 300 milliseconds.
How do you ensure that performance optimization doesn't come at the expense of content?
We first carefully map the business processes and information flows. Then we simplify the data model and rewrite the logic so that the dashboards work faster but provide exactly the same (and often more reliable) insights.
What does a scalable data model deliver for an organization like Van Oord?
A scalable model allows for easy onboarding of new projects and users without starting over. For Van Oord, this means project controlling is not only faster and more reliable, but also ready for broader rollout across the organization.
