The Charlotte Area Transit System began a large expansion plan to enhance service. Because of this initiative, CATS grappled with methods to accurately track the allocation of funding from both a financial and a program management point of view. The executive team at CATS contracted RNR Consulting to identify a tool, which would provided a data integration framework. The desire was for this framework to enable CATS to create a repeatable, consistent approach for acquiring, transforming, integrating, and delivering useable data from its numerous systems in order to make effective decisions. CATS engaged RNR Consulting to develop a requirements checklist based upon interviews, secondary research, and our working knowledge of business intelligence systems. Interviews were conducted with individuals who required key financial information in their decision making process. Interviews were conducted not only with CATS personnel, but also from other Key Business Units (KBUs) in the city of Charlotte.

RNR Consulting conducted a series of interviews, which included members of the executive team and finance and program management, and conducted exhaustive research of solution options. It was decided that a Business Intelligence System (BIS) would provide the CATS executive team with a tool, which would enable them to make business decisions in a more effective manner.

RNR Consulting assisted CATS in defining system requirements and provided them with various system alternatives. Based upon the system requirements, CATS selected Cognos 8 BI. RNR Consulting assisted CATS in the implementation of the system through on-site assistance to CATS staff. The BIS tool delivered a complete range of capabilities including reports, analyses, scorecards, dashboards, business event management, and data integration. The system enabled more effective business decisions in various divisions including Operations, Marketing, and Finance. The BIS tool provided CATS with an ability to view snapshots of ridership-related data, and make weekly, monthly or yearly comparisons. CATS management also was able to effectively track the Government agency grants. They will also had a better understanding of their encumbrances and expenditures with the ability to drill-down at an individual contract or invoice level. CATS had the ability to monitor the information and received alerts in the event of any negative occurrences.

RETURN TO SERVICE AREA: BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE