More Than a POC: Engineering the Future of EQ’s Data Strategy

Challenge

Equiniti, a leading provider of complex administration and payment solutions, recognised an opportunity to modernise their data infrastructure and enhance decision-making capabilities. Their existing processes were fragmented across multiple systems, with manual interventions creating inefficiencies and potential data quality concerns.

As a data-driven organisation serving complex client requirements, Equiniti needed a scalable solution that could transform raw data from diverse sources, including on-premises systems, AWS Cloud, and vendor-hosted SaaS applications - into meaningful business insights. They required a platform that would reduce reliance on third parties whilst providing their teams with self-service data exploration capabilities.

Equiniti partnered with Etch to implement a comprehensive data management solution using Microsoft Fabric, establishing a foundation for future data-driven initiatives and enhanced operational efficiency.

Solution

Equiniti collaborated with Etch to implement a comprehensive data management solution built on Microsoft Fabric.

  • We established a scalable medallion architecture designed to transform raw data into actionable insights across Bronze, Silver, and Gold processing zones.
  • The technical implementation included sophisticated data ingestion and transformation capabilities, handling multiple source systems simultaneously.
  • Equiniti developed semantic models providing business-friendly data views, enabling high-quality reporting and self-service exploration through Power BI.
  • We implemented robust deployment pipelines with automated artifact management from development to production, alongside comprehensive security measures ensuring data integrity and appropriate access controls.

This strategic approach positioned Equiniti to leverage their data assets more effectively whilst reducing dependency on external providers.

Partnering with Etch to implement Microsoft Fabric was a significant step forward, as they brought many Fabric concepts to life by building a credible, end-to-end architecture helping us on our journey from fragmented, manual processes to a unified, scalable platform enabling trusted, self-service insights across EQ. In less than 30 days, their structured and collaborative approach delivered tangible value, laying the groundwork for our enterprise trusted data platform.

James West - Strategic Director of Data, Equiniti
Mark Thacker - Head of Data Culture and Enablement, Equiniti

Methodology

Equiniti followed a structured, user-centric approach built around platform automation and data-driven insights. Their delivery embraced agile practices with continuous validation, testing, and incremental value delivery.

The project began with comprehensive discovery, including stakeholder interviews and analysis of existing Power BI dashboards and SQL data sources. This informed the configuration of their Microsoft Fabric environment with appropriate role-based access controls and data ingestion services.

Implementation followed a systematic approach: designing and building the medallion architecture with automated ETL processes and scheduling mechanisms, developing robust Power BI data models, and creating interactive reports optimised for performance. Throughout the 12-week timeline, Equiniti maintained focus on measurable outcomes whilst ensuring the platform would meet both current needs and future requirements.

Impact

The transformation has delivered substantial results for Equiniti, establishing a scalable data platform that enhances decision-making capabilities and operational efficiency.

Equiniti Achieved

  • Comprehensive medallion architecture transforming raw data into meaningful insights
  • Reduced reliance on third-part providers through enhanced internal capabilities
  • Automated ETL processes eliminating manual interventions and improving data quality
  • Self-service reporting capabilities empowering teams across the organisation
  • Robust security framework ensuring data integrity and appropriate access controls

Equiniti now operates from a future-proof data foundation that supports complex administration and payment solutions with greater efficiency. Their teams benefit from streamlined reporting processes and enhanced data exploration capabilities, enabling more informed strategic decisions.

The Microsoft Fabric implementation has positioned Equiniti to extend their data capabilities further, providing a solid foundation for future analytics initiatives whilst maintaining operational excellence in their core services.

Equiniti's success demonstrates how strategic data transformation can unlock operational efficiencies and enhance decision-making capabilities, positioning them for continued growth in their sector, and how Etch successfully helps established organisations transform their data capabilities to unlock the full potential of their information assets.

Etch helps established organisations unlock their full potential and amplify their impact through our proven EtchElevate™ process.

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