1. Overview

This Business Intelligence (BI) tool is designed to facilitate data reporting for various departments by leveraging extracted data from monthly database backups. Given the constraints of enterprise subscription costs for visualization tools, Apache Superset will be used as the primary visualization platform. The tool will be hosted on a dedicated server, accessible via URL, with customizable access control for different departments.

2. Objectives

  • Enable departments to generate insightful reports using structured data.
  • Leverage Apache Superset for cost-effective data visualization.
  • Ensure data accessibility through monthly ETL jobs extracting data from third-party database backups.
  • Implement department-level access controls for data security and usability.

3. Target Audience

  • Department heads and decision-makers who require data insights.
  • Data analysts working with departmental reports.
  • IT administrators managing data access and system maintenance.

4. Key Features

  • Data Extraction & ETL Process:
    • Monthly ETL jobs to process data from third-party database backups.
    • Data cleaning, transformation, and structuring for reporting needs.
  • Apache Superset Integration:
    • Dashboards and reports for visualization.
    • Configurable metrics and charts per department.
  • Access Control & Authentication:
    • Role-based access to ensure data security.
    • Department-level segregation for customized data views.
  • Web-Based Interface:
    • Hosted on a server and accessible via a secure URL.
    • User-friendly UI for non-technical users.

5. Functional Requirements

  • Data Processing:
    • Scheduled ETL pipeline to load and transform data.
    • Support for historical data retention and trend analysis.
  • Visualization & Reporting:
    • Department-specific dashboards.
    • Interactive charts and exportable reports.
  • Security & Access Control:
    • Authentication via company SSO or role-based login.
    • Granular permissions per department.
  • Performance Optimization:
    • Efficient query handling to support multiple users.
    • Server monitoring for uptime and performance tracking.

6. Metrics & KPIs

  • User Engagement: Number of active users per department.
  • Report Usage: Frequency of dashboard access and report downloads.
  • ETL Performance: Time taken to process and load monthly data.
  • System Uptime: Server availability and response time.
  • Access Control Effectiveness: Number of unauthorized access attempts blocked.

7. Measurement & Iteration Plan

  • Monthly ETL success rate tracking.
  • Feedback collection from departments on dashboard usability.
  • Regular optimization of queries and dashboard performance.
  • Security audits to ensure compliance with access control policies.

8. Timeline & Milestones

  • Week 1-2: Infrastructure setup and Superset installation.
  • Week 3-4: ETL pipeline development and initial data ingestion.
  • Week 5-6: Dashboard creation and user access configuration.
  • Week 7: Testing, performance tuning, and security assessment.
  • Week 8: Go-live and user training.
  • Ongoing: Continuous monitoring and improvements based on feedback.