Writeback Data with Astrato to level up your Business Intelligence

Now, more than ever, it seems that businesses are struggling to make sense of the sweeping market changes that are impacting their bottom line. According to a January 2023 study on Business Reinvention by PwC, 40% of CEOs believe that their business will fail within the next ten years if they do not change their current course of action and evolve faster than their competition. 

Data analytics tools can help companies closely monitor their operations and broader industry trends to help them stay economically viable. However, the majority of analytics tools rely solely on read-only technologies.

This means the data they provide is static, which can lead to inefficiencies whenever team members want to add new inputs, modify data sets, or even question the results of their findings. Subsequently, ineffective Business Intelligence tools can hinder a company’s power to adapt to changing market conditions.

But companies that advance their Business Intelligence strategy through tools – such as Writeback – that enable better efficiency in these areas will be in a better position to weather the economic tides as they rapidly shift.  

“Writing back data” involves writing data into a temporary cache each time a change occurs – i.e., each time a user modifies the data. But since the data is only written to the desired location in the system’s main memory at specific intervals, Writeback effectively gives companies the opportunity to analyze data sources and test hypotheses without compromising their enterprise data or risking data loss.  

This article will explore more of the benefits of Writeback data tools and how you can use a tool like Astrato to level up your company’s Business Intelligence (BI).  

What does it mean to Writeback Data? 

One of the most challenging aspects of data analytics is that teams can only analyze the source data available. Once the data is published, in most cases, it’s very difficult to change.  

From an operations perspective, working with read-only data analytics and data visualization tools makes it difficult for users to query the sources, add new input and contextual information, or even modify mistakes.  

Alternatively, BI tools with Writeback functionality (such as Astrato) enable system users to add or modify data and store the new data in a temporary cache, which can then be added to the system’s main memory at a later time. 

Astrato utilizes the power of Writeback to dynamically add new data, alter targets, or even comment on your data from one centralized dashboard, making it the ideal-fit for fast-paced companies that need to get the best from their BI solution.   

What are the benefits of Writeback Data? 

Provides contextual information on data sets 

The main benefit of Writeback data is the ability to provide comments within the platform, helping to build understanding across departments. For example, in logistics cycles, teams can instantly comment on any delivery delays they encounter that may affect other departments.  

Another example is how customer service teams can instantly update CRM data with speed-of-thought insights picked up from customer interactions, such as information on promising leads, up-to-date sales figures, and more.  

Enables companies to look at past and future data scenarios 

Writeback tools enable an end user to see previous iterations of data sets and forecast future results, which can aid with planning “what-if” scenarios and A/B testing.  

For instance, for companies looking to test value propositions in new international markets, Writeback allows teams to examine how international sales targets may impact other business metrics such as inventory levels, lead times for delivery, and Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). 

Third-party data integration 

Another vital aspect of Writeback is the ability to securely modify data sources within your centralized BI application, saving users time switching between applications and databases. Recent research suggests that employees may spend approximately four hours a week toggling between conventional workflow tools and BI platforms.  

Centralized workflows are also an essential aspect of embedded analytics; find out more about embedded analytics here. In summary, embedded analytics enables companies to integrate data with third-party software such as Salesforce and HubSpot with one click. Writeback data allows you to input new information and make it visible within integrated platforms to support your analytics experience.

How to Writeback Data with Astrato 

Astrato offers bi-directional data engine tools to propel your company’s two-way data storytelling capabilities. 

Astrato’s Writeback capabilities are a vital differentiator in the competitive BI market, as most tools don’t offer this feature (although we’re sure many platforms wish they did!).   

Even those with little to no experience in data analytics can successfully Writeback data to improve processes at their organization. Here is a quick rundown of how the feature works:  

1. Drag the Input Form onto the sheet from the data objects area of the left side panel.
2. From the dropdown list in the properties window, choose a single database table.
3. Choose the fields you want to update. From here, you will be able to view validation feedback.
4. Fill in the front-end input fields. 

Remember, it’s more efficient to Writeback data onto a new table, so you can compare new and existing data sets easily. Also, copy the existing table’s structure and join (union) both the original and written-back tables to ensure traceability. Find out more about using Astrato Writeback and Input Form here. 

How to get started with Astrato 

Astrato fosters better data storytelling with live commentary, the ability to add/amend input, and provides a 360-degree view of your analytics. Speed up the time it takes to compile insights and act upon findings by creating interactive analytics dashboards packed with rich informational context and compelling data visualizations. 

Astrato deploys a low/no-code UI that can transform your organization with its powerful data insights. Plus, all team members can learn to use it quickly, even if they have no prior experience with BI or coding languages. It is 100% Cloud-Native, and platform agnostic tool, and enables Writeback functionality for Snowflake, Dremio, or Google Big Query. 

Astrato offers a simple and transparent pricing structure that scales with your business. Our friendly team will guide you through the process of building your ideal BI solution, so book a demo with us today if you want to find out more.