Complex Data visualization and Dashboard tools for a large equity research and portfolio analysis framework
Data visualization, as a tool, is a key in converting business strategy to actuality as it permits understanding where an organization or division needs to centering. Data visualization is an adaptable, end to end solution for quicker improvement of business dashboards. Dashboards let organizations gain insights into their business, monitor key performance metrics, and help visualize information in a way that is easier to quantify. Dashboards are turning into a standout amongst the most important tools for associations to increase visibility into how they are executing and help create ways for expanding general efficiency.
The general purpose of dashboards and applying data visualization strategies is to help decision makers get to and distinguish the right information, that when combined, provides additional insight leading to more informed decisions. . Whether distinguishing sales performance against set targets, employee performance, or problem resolution rates, the truth of the matter is that dashboards have the adaptability to monitor and deal with an association’s every-day performance leading to better management and planning.
CLIENT
We worked for a large financial and equity research firm and provides software analytical tools, proprietary data feeds, and equity research services that help investors make better investment decisions through application of the firm’s proprietary.
Our Customer uses multiple financial models to predict and anticipate stock movements, financial performance, economic profit and wealth creation on over 15,000 global companies.  This organization has large portfolios of Corporate Assets.
CHALLENGE
Our Customer was using a very complex legacy Microsoft Excel Add-in based model to provide ability to visualize and analyze over 15,000 companies data. The Excel Add-in was connected to a SQL Server backend to pull required data, based on parameters provided by the users.
Over time, local process modifications and need to add more and more charts, tables and presentation requirement added to the complexity and leading to a large monolithic legacy application where data access and business logic were mixed up. Lack of data accuracy, reliability of the reports, documentation, change in versions of spread sheet and the dependency on spread sheet increased interim risk and maintenance cost.
The client needed a web application with ability to screen, visualize and analyze the huge amount of historical financial data of the companies worldwide.
Salient Features of the application:
  • Online screening using a combination of more than 50 data filters.
  • Multiscreen dashboard showing trend of movement of several KPIs using interactive charts and tables.
  • Highly Interactive Forecasting and Valuation Model.
  • Comparative Analysis and KPIs Aggregates.
  • Seamless integration with Microsoft Excel.

This case study illustrates how we migrated from Excel to a feature-rich and easy-to-use web based data visualization, Dashboards and analytical platform using ASP.net, SQL Server, HTML5, Javascript, JQuery and Highcharts.
SOLUTION
We proposed a solution which included development of a web based dashboard visually representing the KPIs which would empower the user to view the data in graphical form and give enough flexibility to play around with the graphs.
Highcharts was shortlisted as a library for the Data Visualization and Charting part as it had several advantages over other tools which included:
  • Lightweight graphical tool which provides faster onscreen rendering;
  • Flexibility to show/ hide/zoom various series enabling the users to have complete control over the data to visualize.
  • Simple Javascript based solution with flexibility to extend its features over its standard features.
JQGrid and HandsOnTable were used for tables and grids that provide excellent look and feel and ability to simple copy/paste to/from standard Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
Technologies:
ASP.net, SQL Server, HTML5, Javascript, JQuery and Highcharts
RESULTS & BENEFITS
  • Highly flexible and powerful screener.
  • Due to an efficient design of the application to load the data for various screens and introduction of lazy loading, there was a reduction in the load window by nearly 80%. The reduction in load window lead to a nearly 25% savings of the resources and manpower.
  • Improve decision making process by 77%.
  • Better ad-hoc data analysis by 43%.
  • Provide self-service capabilities to end users increased by 36%.
  • Shorter release cycles.