Data Connects.
Data Connects with a Data Platform for
Municipality Meierijstad
Since 2022, In Summa has been the technology partner of the Municipality of Meierijstad. This municipality emerged from a merger of the municipalities of Schijndel, Sint-Oedenrode, and Veghel and has approximately 80,000 inhabitants. With this number of inhabitants, the Municipality of Meierijstad has a wealth of data at its disposal. To effectively utilize this data, they sought a partner who could support them. Natalie Pollock, working as an information analyst within the Municipality of Meierijstad, is eager to tell us more about this case and the collaboration with In Summa.
Within the municipality, there are numerous data sets that, when utilized correctly, can contribute to improvements within the community Natalie Pollock comments on this: For example, this could relate to visualizing the number of reports per neighborhood. If we have many reports in one neighborhood and few to none in another, where is the difference? By making these data visible, we as a municipality can make improvements.
In 2021, we decided to transition towards data-driven operations in the future. We aim to professionalize both our daily decision-making processes and long-term vision. We carefully considered which technologies to deploy and how to centralize them. This included Microsoft technologies such as Data Factory and Azure, as well as potential BI architecture. After exploring these options, we developed a plan of action. With this plan, we sought out a suitable partner who could not only support us but also transfer knowledge and serve as a strategic advisor.
Another key aspect the municipality aimed to implement is the Municipal Data Model (GGM). This data model was designed by the Municipality of Delft. This model is intended to be widely adopted, so that ultimately all municipalities in the Netherlands can work with the same model.
The Municipal Data Model contains a set of data models and definitions that encompass various aspects of municipal services and processes, such as basic registrations, permits, taxes, and much more. By using this model, municipalities can capture data in a uniform manner, making it easier to integrate and analyze data.
Natalie Pollock says: “During our search for the right partner, I also spread this question in my network, and In Summa quickly emerged. The introduction felt right away; there was a positive energy, a hands-on mentality, and great people we definitely wanted to collaborate with.
During the introduction, a session was held where everything was thoroughly reviewed once again. There was a strong emphasis on listening, and the plan was discussed anew. This way, In Summa got to know the organization well, enabling them to provide a suitable solution.
A municipality has approximately 30 primary systems, and each domain, such as the social domain, has its own software package. The Municipality of Meierijstad had already conducted extensive research and had some ideas, but they lacked the expertise to execute them. Together with In Summa, they revisited the roadmap.
“One of the things we adjusted based on In Summa’s advice is the decision to implement a Data Lake. Although our research suggested that a Data Warehouse would be suitable, In Summa recommended a Data Lake, considering future possibilities to make predictions with our data.”
For the Municipality of Meierijstad, In Summa has created a data platform where a large portion of the required data is now available. As a Microsoft Partner, they have set up this platform in an Azure environment and processed the data, allowing analysts within the Municipality of Meierijstad to use the correct data themselves in creating Power BI dashboards.
In Summa not only provides support for this solution but also in the subsequent trajectory. They continue to support the analysts of the Municipality of Meierijstad in acquiring and processing the data into the data warehouse, as well as integrating the correct data into Power BI dashboards. They do this by working internally at the municipality on a weekly basis.
It’s very convenient to be able to ask questions quickly or inquire about what someone is working on. This is done not in a controlling manner, but rather to learn from each other. Without In Summa, we wouldn’t have been able to achieve this.
Thanks to the future-proof solution implemented by In Summa and the necessary support provided, the municipality has insight into their data. When they didn’t have this visibility, the improvements made in the municipality were immeasurable. Now decisions can be made based on accurate data. As a result, the municipality saves on various aspects and can offer faster, more sustainable solutions that help improve the community.
We prioritize developing future-proof solutions and are committed to being seen as a partner. Even after your solution is developed, we believe it’s important to stay in touch. We’re eager to know if it meets your expectations, answer any questions you may have, and keep you informed about relevant new developments. This way, we not only provide the best service, but we also continue to improve ourselves.
We have been doing this since 1998 with a tremendous passion for data and technology and a real results-oriented, no-nonsense mentality. In an open, transparent working environment, we like to give our specialists the space to get the best out of themselves. The love of the profession, freedom and synergy between our young potentials and professionals result in a close-knit team feeling.
