6 data sourcesERP, CRM, 3th party |
4 warehousedevelopers |
1206 Data Vault objects |
Daily C-level report delivery |
For decades, Whelen Engineering has been a global leader in designing and manufacturing cutting-edge visual and audible warning signals. Their advanced lighting and signaling systems safeguard lives daily on highways, runways, and emergency scenes across the world. With operations spanning the United States, Australia, and Poland, Whelen's commitment to safety is a testament to their innovative engineering and manufacturing prowess.
Known for their rigorous standards and commitment to quality, Whelen’s products are trusted by first responders, law enforcement, and aviation professionals who depend on reliable, high-performance equipment.
Whelen Engineering, a company with a long history of innovation, faced internal data systems that couldn't keep pace with its rapid global expansion. Decades of growth and acquisitions led to a complex, fragmented data environment, primarily due to multiple disparate ERP systems. This fragmentation resulted in siloed operational data and inconsistent reporting, leading to a lack of trust in data. "It was like trying to navigate a dense fog," explains Will, Whelen's Data Team Lead. "Every department had their own version of the truth, making it nearly impossible to get a clear, consistent view of our global performance."
The lean data team spent a disproportionate amount of time on manual data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL) tasks, leaving little room for advanced analytics. This process was time-consuming and prone to human error, turning data into a bottleneck. Insights were delayed, with critical reports taking up to 60 days to compile, severely limiting agility. The existing infrastructure struggled with data volume and velocity, making new third-party integrations arduous and months-long. To maintain market leadership and innovation, Whelen needed a modern, agile data platform capable of delivering rapid, reliable insights.
To overcome these challenges and accelerate their data capabilities, Whelen's 4-person data team sought a solution to automate data integration, ensure quality, and provide a unified business view. After evaluating various tools, they chose VaultSpeed as their ideal partner to implement a robust, agile data transformation solution based on Data Vault 2.0 principles. The decision was driven by VaultSpeed's ability to unify disparate data sources, streamline data pipelines, and drastically reduce development time.
The journey to a modern data platform began with a clear vision: a single source of truth for all Whelen's data, accessible faster than ever. VaultSpeed's automation was central to this. In the initial phase, Whelen adopted Data Vault 2.0 as their architectural blueprint for its agility and scalability. VaultSpeed's native support for Data Vault 2.0 automation significantly accelerated modeling and development. The team integrated critical data from their primary ERP, and VaultSpeed's automated code generation enabled initial data ingestion and raw data vault layers to be operational in a fraction of the time compared to manual coding. Alongside this, a robust Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) pipeline was established early, ensuring seamless data model changes, integrations, and deployments with version control and automated testing.
Following this foundation, the project expanded, integrating data from other legacy ERP systems, including those from acquired entities. VaultSpeed's model-driven approach facilitated rapid onboarding of new data sources, standardizing disparate schemas. Whelen further expanded its data foundation to include vital third-party integrations like market intelligence, shipping logistics, and CRM platforms, enriching their internal operational data with external context. On top of the raw Data Vault layer, Whelen leveraged VaultSpeed to build Business Vaults – curated datasets optimized for specific analytical needs, such as sales performance and financial reporting. "The speed at which we could integrate new sources was astonishing," says a Senior Data Engineer at Whelen. "What used to take months of manual coding and debugging, VaultSpeed allowed us to accomplish in weeks. It fundamentally changed how we approached data projects."
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60 -> 14 days Report Delivery |
45 -> 10 days Data Integration |
30 -> 5 days Model Changes |
The quantitative impact of VaultSpeed's implementation was immediately evident:
Comprehensive business report delivery plummeted by over 75%, from 60 days to just 14 days, providing executives with timely, accurate information for proactive decision-making. Concurrently, data integration for new sources was streamlined from 45 days to a mere 10 days – a 77% reduction. Finally, adapting data models, previously a 30-day process, was reduced to a swift 5 days, an 83% improvement in agility enabling rapid responses to evolving business requirements.
VaultSpeed brought tangible and quantifiable improvements to Whelen Engineering's data operations. With reports delivered in two weeks, Whelen's leadership gained real-time visibility into KPIs, enabling more proactive and informed decisions. This significant reduction in integration and model change times freed the data team from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value activities like advanced analytics and strategic data initiatives, truly becoming strategic partners.
By consolidating fragmented data sources into a standardized Data Vault 2.0 architecture, Whelen achieved a single, consistent view of business performance. This newfound data integrity fostered greater trust across departments, eliminating disputes and enabling collaborative decision-making. The robust data foundation now supports over 150 internal users and 30 external sales representatives with reliable, up-to-date data via 75+ interactive dashboards. "Our sales reps are more empowered than ever," notes Will. "They have immediate access to the data they need, right in their dashboards, which directly translates to better customer service and faster deal cycles." Ultimately, data transformed from a blocker into a catalyst for strategic growth and innovation; the data team now drives initiatives directly impacting Whelen's bottom line and global expansion efforts. The flexible Data Vault 2.0 architecture, combined with VaultSpeed's automation, positions Whelen Engineering for continued growth.
"VaultSpeed has been a game-changer for Whelen Engineering. It has allowed us to move from reactive data management to proactive strategic enablement. We can now deliver insights at the speed our business demands, supporting our mission of safeguarding lives globally."
— Brian, Director of Enterprise development, Whelen Engineering
Whelen Engineering's partnership with VaultSpeed has not only solved immediate data challenges but has also laid a robust foundation for future innovation. With a unified, reliable, and agile data platform, Whelen is better equipped than ever to leverage its vast data assets, drive strategic growth, and continue its legacy of engineering excellence in a data-driven world.