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SAS selected by dunnhumby
SAS has been selected by dunnhumby, the international marketing consultancy and services company, to provide data integration software to better manage and store its huge volumes of customer data. dunnhumby already uses SAS' analytics solutions for projects such as the Tesco's loyalty card scheme.
SAS' data integration software, part of the SAS Enterprise Intelligence Platform, has been chosen to replace dunnhumby's home-grown solution, which has become increasingly costly to maintain and develop. With dunnhumby's business rapidly increasing, a more robust, enterprise-wide solution is required. SAS' software provides a robust and efficient framework for accessing and transforming its customer data, enabling dunnhumby to automate and speed up the process, resulting in faster results and a more enjoyable job role for those involved.
SAS was chosen due to its scalability, flexibility and ability to manage and store the sheer volumes of dunnhunby's customer data. A typical client project for dunnhumby can involve working with tens of terabytes of data. SAS' solution has reduced the time taken to deliver these data solution projects from 6 - 3 weeks and decreased processing time from 24 - 8 hours. By switching to SAS, it is able to deliver a faster and more efficient service to its customers, helping them make better use of their customer data assets to pursue new business opportunities, improve loyalty, increase customer spend and drive profits.
dunnhumby recognises that in order to maintain its existing solution, it requires staff who are knowledgeable of its bespoke system and as such, has found it increasingly difficult to attract a talented workforce to support it. By using SAS, dunnhumby can open its doors to a wider net of skilled workers. This contributes to its goal of attracting and retaining more talented people into the organisation, whilst making existing staff more productive. dunnhumby aims to give its people the best technology and tools to do their jobs well. Choosing SAS helps to make dunnhumby a better place to work.
Dave Annis, UK data solutions director at dunnhumby says: "We're a client-facing team, committed to providing innovative solutions, hence our choice of SAS". He goes on to add: "We explore a client's data assets, identify gaps and suggest new business opportunities derived from the data. With SAS we can deliver a faster and more efficient service - this is our business, and we can't afford not to do it well. SAS will support our business as we expand to work with more retailers overseas, and as we extend our UK coverage into sectors such as retail banking and mobile communications."
SAS' data integration solution has already been trialled on a retail project in South Africa with positive results. The first UK trial project began at the end of August and dunnhumby's new joint venture with Casino is currently being implemented using SAS' data integration solution. The aim is for the SAS' software to be used in 10-20 projects over the next year.
Giles Pavey, Group Insight Manager at dunnhumby goes onto say: "SAS has always been the analytical heart of dunnhumby. If we can work out what we want to do, we just trust we can do it in SAS. That puts us in such a powerful position."
27 November 2006