“Data is everywhere—so how do we make it work for us?” 

Imagine walking into your favorite store, and before you even reach the counter, your phone buzzes with a personalized discount for an item you’ve been eyeing. This isn’t the future—it’s happening now. Adobe and Perficient are revolutionizing digital experiences, making personalization smarter, faster, and more intuitive.

Ross Monaghan, Principal of Perficient’s Adobe practice, breaks it down: “There’s a lot of different parts of a customer that are left in a multitude of places. Some individuals may have multiple devices, in-store experiences—there’s a lot of data to stitch together.” The challenge? Unify this scattered data into a single, actionable profile. The solution? Adobe’s AI-powered ecosystem, coupled with Perficient’s expertise, turns raw data into seamless, hyper-personalized experiences.

Why Data Readiness is the Key to Success 

Most businesses have enormous amounts of data but struggle to use it effectively. Often, IT controls the data, leaving marketers without the access they need. Perficient helps bridge this gap through its Adobe Data Factory Jumpstart, allowing marketing and IT teams to collaborate, unify attributes, and act on real-time customer insights.

“We bring all those different sources of data together and unify them within a profile that’s constantly enriched,” Ross explains. This means that every new interaction—whether online, in-store, or via mobile—enhances the customer’s profile, allowing brands to communicate with precision, relevance, and consistency.

The Future is AI-Driven & Dynamic 

Adobe Experience Cloud is a game-changer, enabling businesses to leverage AI-powered automation for content creation, audience segmentation, and journey optimization. Instead of relying on manual A/B testing, companies can now dynamically generate and deploy personalized ads, website experiences, and messaging in real time.

“Leveraging Adobe’s GenStudio and Firefly, we can dynamically create new imagery and messaging at scale,” says Ross. “This isn’t about replacing creativity—it’s about amplifying it.” The result? Highly relevant, on-brand experiences that resonate with customers and drive conversion.

Personalization That Delivers Results 

True personalization is about being in the right place, at the right time, with the right message. With Adobe Journey Optimizer, brands can send contextual notifications based on real-time triggers. Picture this: A loyal customer enters your store, and their phone alerts them to use their $20 loyalty reward—right at the perfect moment.

Ross highlights the power of this, “These are highly relevant contextual experiences that matter, and Adobe’s experience platform really allows you to satisfy that end-to-end.” By leveraging AI-driven insights and real-time customer profiles, businesses can enhance loyalty, increase engagement, and maximize revenue.

 The Perficient Advantage: Turning Data into Actionable Personalization 

Implementing personalization at scale isn’t easy. Data readiness, AI adoption, and seamless customer journeys require the right strategy and execution. As an Adobe Platinum Partner, Perficient has the expertise to help businesses unlock their full digital potential.

“These are complex topics, but Perficient is ready to help you take your digital marketing to the next level,” Ross assures. Whether you’re looking to optimize your content strategy, enhance your customer journey, or scale your personalization efforts, our team is ready to bring your vision to life. Let’s unlock the full potential of your digital marketing strategy together.

Get in touch with us today and take the next step toward digital excellence. 

In the ever-evolving world of digital transformation, businesses need robust solutions that streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. Adobe has been at the forefront of this revolution, offering an integrated ecosystem that empowers organizations to manage content, optimize marketing strategies, and leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation. 

But how do companies truly harness the power of Adobe’s platform? We sat down with Robert Summer, principal consultant within the Adobe business at Perficient, to explore the game-changing capabilities that Adobe brings to the table—and why businesses should be paying attention. 

From Content Management to Digital Experience Powerhouse 

Robert’s journey into Adobe started with content management systems. As Adobe expanded its offerings, he delved deeper into the platform, mastering the tools that allow businesses to create seamless digital experiences. 

“Adobe is not just about content management anymore,” he explains. “It’s about integrating marketing, automation, analytics, and AI to create an end-to-end digital ecosystem.” 

Perficient, as a leading digital consultancy, specializes in implementing Adobe solutions that transform the way businesses engage with their audiences. From developing intuitive content workflows to enabling AI-powered personalization, our expertise ensures that clients maximize their Adobe investment. 

 AI and Content: A Perfect Synergy 

One of the hottest topics in digital transformation today is generative AI. With Adobe Firefly, businesses can create high-quality assets instantly, revolutionizing content production. But beyond creativity, AI plays a crucial role in optimizing content strategies. 

“Generative AI is powerful, but it’s not just about creating assets—it’s about ensuring content is used efficiently,” Robert highlights. “Perficient helps businesses integrate AI-driven search and automation, reducing duplication and improving content accessibility.” 

This is where intelligent search and Adobe’s Content Supply Chain come into play. Instead of flooding marketing teams with redundant content requests, AI-driven search identifies existing assets, streamlining content workflows and cutting production costs. 

Data-Driven Customer Experiences 

Beyond content, Adobe’s platform excels in customer data management. Solutions like Customer 360 enable businesses to create unified customer profiles, providing deep insights into user behavior and engagement. 

“Knowing Adobe means understanding the entire customer experience—how content is consumed, where conversions happen, and what adjustments are needed to drive engagement,” Robert explains. “With Perficient, we don’t just implement Adobe—we make sure it works for your specific business goals.” 

By integrating Adobe’s analytics and AI capabilities, businesses gain actionable insights that drive personalized experiences, leading to higher conversion rates and stronger customer relationships. 

The Future of Adobe and Why It Matters 

Adobe’s commitment to innovation means businesses must stay ahead of the curve. With new AI-powered features and enhancements released annually, companies need an experienced partner to navigate the complexities of implementation and optimization. 

“Adobe is a moving target,” Robert says. “Every year, new tools and capabilities emerge. That’s why businesses need a strategic partner like Perficient to ensure they’re leveraging the latest advancements effectively.” 

From AI-driven personalization to intelligent content management, Perficient helps organizations unlock the full potential of Adobe’s platform, ensuring a seamless and impactful digital experience. 

Discover How Adobe & Perficient Are Transforming Digital Experiences 

Adobe’s cutting-edge solutions, combined with Perficient’s expertise, are redefining how businesses create, manage, and optimize digital experiences. Whether you’re looking to streamline content workflows, enhance personalization, or leverage AI to drive efficiency, our partnership ensures you stay ahead of the curve. 

Learn more about our innovative approach and explore the possibilities for your business here.

In this episode of “What If? So What?” Jim talks with Neelima Sharma, SVP of ecommerce, digital, and technology at Lowe’s about the challenges and successes of transforming the retail industry through digital innovation. Neelima highlights the importance of teamwork, trust, and a customer-centric approach in driving the company’s growth and also emphasizes the significance of personalization and building long-term relationships with customers. The conversation touches on topics such as the impact of COVID-19 on retail, the role of AI and human intuition in decision making, and the importance of accurate inventory management. The conversation provides valuable insights into the strategies and mindset required for successful digital transformation in the retail industry.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform or visit our website.

Subscribe Where You Listen

Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Overcast

Meet our Guest

Neelima V. Sharma,  Senior Vice President, Digital Commerce and Technology

Neelima Sharma, SVP of digital commerce and technology at Lowe’s, oversees the company’s online business and customer- and vendor-facing technologies. She enhances omnichannel experiences, core merchandising, and competitive pricing strategies. With more than 25 years of experience, Neelima has driven significant tech advancements at Lowe’s, including migrating Lowes.com to Google Cloud, and previously led Staples’ $8 billion B2B ecommerce tech division. Her career also includes impactful roles at JP MorganChase and Deloitte.

Neelima holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Delhi and a master’s from the University of Indore. Recognized as a leader in retail technology, she was named among the Top Women in Retail Tech by Retail Info Systems in 2023 and honored as a Top Woman in Hardware & Building Supply by HBS Dealer. Neelima is an adviser to tech startups, serves on the board of Charlotte Center City Partners, and co-chairs Lowe’s Asia Pacific business resource group.

Connect with Neelima

Meet the Host

Jim Hertzfeld is Area Vice President, Strategy for Perficient.

For over two decades, he has worked with clients to convert market insights into real-world digital products and customer experiences that actually grow their business. More than just a strategist, Jim is a pragmatic rebel known for challenging the conventional and turning grand visions into actionable steps. His candid demeanor, sprinkled with a dose of cynical optimism, shapes a narrative that challenges and inspires listeners.

Connect with Jim:

LinkedIn | Perficient

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the future holds exciting promises by enhancing daily use technologies with AI to make them state-of-the-art tools. The future of searching for data is a journey into a more automatized digital world. One of the most promising areas of development is the creation of search tools using vectors and models such as ADA 002. These tools have a significant impact on modern UIs, UX, and front-end engineering. Here are some ways in which these tools are changing the game: 

Data-Driven Design:

AI-powered analytics tools can process and analyze large datasets, providing valuable insights into user behavior, preferences, and pain points. This data-driven approach allows designers to make informed design decisions based on real-time feedback, ultimately leading to more effective and user-centric designs. 

Design Assistance and Collaboration:

AI-powered design assistants are emerging as valuable tools for UI/UX designers. These assistants can provide design recommendations, automate repetitive tasks, and identify potential usability issues by conducting automated user testing and providing valuable feedback early in the design process. 

Automating Repetitive Tasks:

AI tools excel at automating mundane and repetitive data preparation tasks, such as data cleaning, formatting, and predictive model building. This streamlines the workflow, saving time and effort. 

Improved User Experience:

AI tools can help designers create remarkable user experiences by providing data-driven recommendations, automating repetitive tasks, and identifying potential usability issues early in the design process. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the creation of searching tools using vectors and models such as ADA 002 is changing the game in modern UIs, UX, and front-end engineering. These tools have a significant impact on data-driven design, design assistance and collaboration, automating repetitive tasks, and improving user experience. AI continues to evolve; we can expect to see even more exciting developments in this field. As for the future of front-end engineering for the development of software powered up with AI, it is promising.  

AI-powered tools can augment front-end developers’ work, improve productivity, ensure quality and consistency, and drive innovation in the industry. While AI may not replace front-end developers entirely, it will undoubtedly change the way they work and provide new and exciting opportunities for growth and development. 

The Women in Digital event series presented by Perficient and Adobe aims to celebrate the achievements of women and provide a platform for them to thrive further in an industry that is constantly evolving digitally.

Recently, we curated a panel of leading women in the digital space to discuss significant emerging trends that women should be aware of, tips for career advancement, their journeys as leaders, and more.

The panel was moderated by former LPGA golfer and current NBC/GOLF Channel analyst Morgan Pressel. Panelists included:

• Sarah Lacey – Director of Partner Experience and Engagement at Adobe
• Gina Hart – Head of Insurance Technology at Auto Club Enterprise
• Sara Dwyer – Product Line Manager, Web and Enterprise Search at Eaton

Watch the full replay of the panel here.

Memorable Moments

There were a lot of meaningful discussions during the event. Below are a few of the memorable moments that really resonated with the audience around innovation, creating opportunities, and the importance of mentorship.

No Competition, Only Creation

Sarah Lacey kickstarted the panel discussion by sharing a piece of wisdom that has been particularly valuable throughout her career. She talked about how there’s really no competition, only creation. Instead of getting distracted by researching what competitors are doing, she suggested taking an innovative approach and asking yourself what you want to create.

She said, ” It helps to lead with innovation and creativity versus the competition. And that’s really been something that’s driven my career.”

Bring a Chair or Build a Table

During the discussion, the panelists were asked how they are mindful of who has a seat at the table and who is missing. Sara Dwyer shared that being an ally and an advocate for those you lead and understanding how to help them succeed is important. She talked about how leading others is a privilege and that it is a leader’s responsibility to elevate and empower their team.

“People leadership is a privilege. And if you’re in that role, you need to find and create opportunities for growth and leadership for your team. So I say bring a chair, sometimes you need to build a table, sometimes you need to give up your chair for your team to have an opportunity” said Dwyer.

To Find Success, You Need to Build Your Triangle

Morgan Pressel asked the panelists how mentorship and networking have played a role in growing their careers. And Gina Hart said that the importance of mentorship couldn’t be overstated. Early on in her career, she was fortunate to have a mentor who taught her that the key to finding success was to “build your triangle.” Hart said when finding a mentor there are three key pieces of criteria to look for – or three sides of your triangle.

Side One: A Sounding Board

The first side of your triangle is someone within your own organization whom you can bounce ideas off and talk about challenges. It’s better to be a part of a team instead of facing challenges alone.

Side Two: Someone on the Outside

The second side of your triangle should be someone who is a peer outside of your organization. This is someone you can trust and someone who can give you unfiltered feedback. Hart said at one point in her career she couldn’t understand why she hadn’t gotten a promotion she felt she deserved. So she went to this mentor who gave her the feedback she needed to hear and helped her make sense of the situation.

Side Three: Your North Star

And finally, the third part of your triangle. This is what Hart calls the “north star.” This should be someone who is a couple levels up from where you are in your career. This person can mentor you on leadership expectations. They can give you better insight into the role you’re aiming for as you grow in your career.

Hart said, “That person can tell you the other side of what’s behind the curtain. The things we don’t know. The things they face every day and their challenges.”

By taking the triangle approach to mentorship, you have the ability to see where you are in your career, what’s going on outside of your organization, and where you want to go.

Watch the Replay

There were many more valuable insights discussed during this panel. Watch the full replay below and find out!

Future Women in Digital Events

Perficient and Adobe have partnered together since 2017 to host Women in Digital events to connect women in digital and technology roles. Each year, we continue to grow this series in hopes that we can bring even more women together and foster the impact of these connections in the digital landscape and beyond.

Stay tuned for more exciting Women in Digital events in the future!

Check out the other events we hosted this year

Teeing Up Success: A Recap of Perficient and Adobe’s Women in Digital Event in Cincinnati 

7 ‘Women in Digital’ Share Experiences and Advice at Adobe Summit 2023

Women in Digital Takes London

Recently, Perficient and Adobe hosted a Women in Digital event at the prestigious Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio during the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G. It was a great day that included brunch and a fireside chat as well as a golf clinic with LPGA player and golf commentator Morgan Pressel.

The event provided female executives from various fields an opportunity to come together and celebrate female empowerment and network with like-minded professionals who share a passion for progress in the digital world.

An Inspiring Fireside Chat

One of the event highlights was the fireside chat with Perficient-sponsored Morgan Pressel. Once an LPGA player who broke through barriers in a male-dominated sport, Morgan shared her remarkable journey of transformation. From the greens to the broadcasting studio, she revealed how she conquered challenges, stayed motivated, and used her fame to make a significant impact in the fight against breast cancer. Her story was a testament to the power of determination and the ability to pivot one’s career successfully.

The Morgan Pressel Foundation was started to further the fight against cancer, particularly breast cancer. Pay tribute today.

A Private Golf Clinic

Following the fireside chat, attendees had the unique opportunity to take part in an exclusive golf clinic led by Morgan Pressel herself. Whether you were a seasoned golfer or new to the sport, Morgan’s expertise was a guiding light on the greens. Her insights and coaching not only improved the participants’ golf skills but also inspired confidence. To make this experience even more memorable, each participant received a $100 gift card to the LPGA Pro Shop, a signed photo with Morgan Pressel, and two tickets to the Kroger Queen City Championship Golf Tournament!

Women in Digital: A Hallmark Event Series

This event was more than just a gathering; it was a carefully curated space where female executives in Cincinnati could empower each other, exchange ideas, and foster growth. The intimacy of the event allowed for authentic connections to be made, and the possibilities that emerged were limitless. Attendees seized the opportunity to expand their networks and discovered untapped potential within themselves.

In a world that is constantly evolving digitally, it’s essential to have events like this that not only celebrate the achievements of women but also provide a platform for them to thrive further.

We look forward to seeing the impact of these connections in the digital landscape and beyond, as women continue to drive success in the world of business and technology.

Our Next Women in Digital Event

Don’t miss our next Women in Digital event on October 10, 2023. Morgan Pressel will moderate this event as well and the panel will include leaders from Adobe, Auto Club Enterprise, and Eaton.

This event is virtual and open to everyone. So share it with a friend and register today! 

We hope to see you there.

Job Searching Can Feel Like a Job

Job searching can be a job in and of itself! It requires immense effort to polish your resume, research a company and find a position that speaks to you. While the prospect of a new opportunity, better compensation, and improved work-life balance can be enticing there are several hurdles that ought not be ignored when making a job switch.

Some of those key challenges are:
1. Uncertainty – The fear of the unknown is very real and extends to stepping into a new opportunity, even if you think you’re ready for something new, the unfamiliar
2. Skill gap – Maybe you’re concerned that the job you want will require skills or experience that you don’t have or can’t articulate
3. Adapting to new culture – Each workplace has its own unique culture. Adapting to a new company’s values, communication styles, and norms can take time.

man looking at computer screen

Your Search Made Simple

Our recruiting process is optimized to remove typical stressors. We’ll work tirelessly to place you in a role where you can produce your best work. Let’s address how Perficient tackles fears you might have before you hit ‘submit’ on an application to join our team.
1. Communication – Our recruiters and hiring managers are engaged at every point of the hiring process and genuinely look forward to aligning top talent with roles best suited for their skillset. You’ll never be in the dark. Recruiters prioritize providing timely and frequent updates using your preferred contact method about everything from our culture to next steps to first day details and beyond!
2. Professional Development – We have an initiative called Growth For Everyone, which empowers employees to self-assess areas for growth and plan ways to upskill. Our intranet hosts several courses, aimed at developing current skills and acquiring new ones. Once onboard, we encourage seizing every opportunity to develop. Don’t let what you don’t know (yet) stop you from applying!
3. Award-winning Culture – Our internal employee surveys tell the story of individuals who are pleased with the culture. We win awards on national and international stages that speak to how innovative, collaborative, and engaging our culture is at Perficient. From our employee resource groups, to our in-person meet-ups, we find opportunities to connect and build meaningful relationships. There’s a place for you here.

Business audience applaud

Remember that while taking the step to apply to a new role can be daunting, our efforts eclipse these worries. Think about all the possibilities present when joining Perficient. You can flourish, grow, and collaborate with thought leaders. Here, you’ll be challenged, championed, and celebrated.

Here’s What to Expect
You submit an application, then what? Fair question! Keep reading to review a simplified list of what to expect after applying.
1. Application Review: Once you submit your application, it will be reviewed by the hiring team or the HR department. They will typically screen applications to ensure that candidates meet the basic qualifications for the position, such as education, experience, and required skills.
2. Interview(s): If your application is a good fit, you will advance in the process and be invited for interviews. Interviews are typically in person or via video conference. The interview process allows us the opportunity to get to know you beyond a resume!
3. References and Background: Have a list of references handy. A strong reference is a person who can speak to your skills, work style, and professional achievements. This is the stage when a background check occurs.
4. Offer and Onboarding: The next phase is an offer. We hope you’ll accept! Then we begin preparing a place for you among our ranks. Simple as that.
If for whatever reason you are not selected to move forward with our recruiting process, know that we did not make that choice lightly. Reach out to your assigned recruiter for feedback if you wish or apply to another role.

Join the Perficient Team
Ready to apply? Review our most recent opportunities here: Explore Opportunities Today 

Still on the fence? That’s ok! Join our talent community and find out about fresh job openings as they become available here: Talent Community Sign Up 

Not long ago, requesting reviews for online purchases was one of your only options for getting feedback on products and services. Products purchased in-store were often reduced to an item on a receipt, and the only review a retailer received was if the customer needed to return the item. Now, big box stores like Home Depot have tapped into a new dimension of customer reviews, and it is powered by unified commerce. 

Looking at the Data

Recently, Home Depot customers began receiving emails prompting them to review items that they had purchased in-store. While this practice seems like a simple concept, the organization and utilization of data needed to effectively accomplish this are monumental. In their unified backend system, Home Depot is collecting and organizing valuable data such as which products were bought, who bought them, when, where, and more. Then, they’re leveraging this data to keep in touch with their customers through digital means.  

This data collection is much more familiar for online purchases, which naturally use this information for content and order management systems to operate. When it comes to in-store purchases, many stores do not have these capabilities. 

For the retail industry, this technological advancement has ironically used digital transformation to improve the physical store experience. Using unified commerce, retailers can simplify their backend processes to track and serve consumers across multiple channels, allowing a frictionless buyer journey, from keyboard to cash register, and offering personalized insights and conveniences. Unified commerce takes retailers a step closer to treating customers as more than just a number – they are identified as individuals with unique preferences and behaviors, and individualized marketing and sales initiatives are more easily accomplished.  

The Customer Experience

Like most customer experience and loyalty advancements, it will also soon come to be expected by customers in every transaction. Customers will expect their in-store register to immediately recognize them as important customers who might have had items in their digital cart or requested that their online orders be available for pickup that day. They’ll want to know that their loyalty programs and rewards are available to them regardless of where they choose to shop. They’ll expect their dedicated store mobile apps to help them find inventory in their local store, read reviews about it, confirm that it’s the product they need, and even check out digitally. Finally, they’ll be much more likely to provide feedback and reviews when they feel important to their favorite stores.  

— 

Coming Soon

On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, Perficient will deliver a workshop during the Retail Innovation Conf & Expo in Chicago. In this workshop, you’ll use our Now/New/Next framework to quickly benchmark and prioritize your unified commerce capabilities to determine: 

• Where you stand relative to customer expectations and competitive forces 
• Which priorities you should focus the most time, money, and attention on to drive your unified commerce objectives 

• How to balance your experience portfolio to make the most of limited time and resources 

Workshops are available as an add-on for retail and brand executives attending #RICE23. If you are interested in registering, click here and log into your account, and add Workshops to your cart. If you would like to meet with me or my colleagues Kim Williams-Czopek, general manager of global commerce at Perficient, and Rupa Amin, Director, Commerce Strategy, at the conference, please connect and let us know. 

For those unfamiliar with OneStream’s reporting capabilities, the two most often used ways to view data in a user-friendly manner are Cube Views and Dashboards. This will be a three-part series that shows how you can create a simple Cube View, Dashboard and how to make them dynamic.

Part 1 – How to Build a Simple Cube View Report

Part 2 – How to Build a Simple Dashboard

Part 3 – How to Make Your Cube View and Dashboard Dynamic with Parameters

In Part 3 we’ll go over how to maximize the reporting capabilities of your Cube Views and Dashboards by adding dynamic parameters. We’ll discuss how to create them and how they look different in Cube Views and Dashboards.

A basic understanding of Cube Views and Dashboards will be required for this build.

We’re going to focus on creating a parameter to allow our users to choose the entity they want to see in our report. Start by going to your Dashboard page and opening the Product Maintenance Unit we built in the last blog post. Under components we will create a CPX_Entity_Select parameter and set it to the settings in the screenshot below.

Note the naming convention used for this parameter. We use .TreeDescendantsInclusive here so that we can see the options displayed according to their hierarchy (from top to bottom).

Starting with the Cube View, the only modification we need to make is the following change in the column Member Filter. We will replace E#TOT_MGMT with E#|!CPX_Entity_Select!|, leaving .DescendantsInclusive within the member filter.

Here, we’re calling the parameter we created. Since it’s meant to dynamically add the entity for us depending on our choice, we will replace the hard coded TOT_MGMT with the pipe function, |!CPX_Entity_Select!|. The pipe lets OneStream know that CPX_Entity_Select is not an Entity to look up, rather it’s a function, a piece of code to run.

A dialog box should appear when you run the Cube View, choose any Entity and run the report. With this we’ve completed the edit we needed to do to make our Cube View dynamic.

For the Dashboard, we will follow a similar process as when we created the individual components, dashboards and added them to the 0_Frame.

Since we already created the parameter, we will focus on creating a Combo Box which allows us to choose the parameter in the Dashboard when we run it. Combo Boxes are always shown unlike the select parameter dialog box in the Cube View.

Name the Combo Box CBX_Entity_Select. Note the small difference in the name compared to the parameter we built.

The formatting used for the Combo Box is: BorderThickness = 1, FontSize = 14, Height = 30, HorizontalAlignment = Left, IsMultiSelect = False, IsVisible = True, LabelBold = True, LabelFontSize = 17, LabelPosition = Left, MarginBottom = 10, MarginLeft = 15, MarginRight = 15, MarginTop = 10, VerticalAlignment = Center, Width = 375

Create a new Dashboard under Products_DBS and name it 2_Toolbar_Products and add the CBX_Entity_Select component to it.

Change the 0_Frame settings to what is shown below.

Add the 2_Toolbar_Products Dashboard to the 0_Frame as a component and click save.

You should see the following result when you run the Dashboard. In the toolbar, you can change the value of the parameter to whatever you want to choose. But you will need to hit the refresh button on the Cube View to view the changed results.

In this 3-part series, we have developed a simple Cube View and Dashboard. We have also added dynamic functionality to our reports by incorporating Parameters which allow for quick and easy changes to our desired POV or Member Filter.

For those unfamiliar with OneStream’s reporting capabilities, the two most often used ways to view data in a user-friendly manner are Cube Views and Dashboards. This will be a three-part series that shows how you can create a simple Cube View, Dashboard and how to make them dynamic.

Part 1 – How to Build a Simple Cube View Report

Part 2 – How to Build a Simple Dashboard

Part 3 – How to Make Your Cube View and Dashboard Dynamic with Parameters

In Part 2 we’ll go over how to utilize the previously built Cube View to build a simple dashboard. We’ll assume that you understand the basics of building a Dashboard and how to create and add the individual components.

Start by creating the required Maintenance Unit to house the Dashboard and name it Products. From there create the required components, in this example we’re only going to create the Label and Cube View components.

Note: the naming convention used for the components created.

The formatting used for the label is: HorizontalAlignment = Center, IsVisible = True, LabelBold = True, LabelFontSize = 20, LabelTextColor = #FF000000, MarginBottom = 25, MarginTop = 25

Create the Dashboard Groups. It’s best practice to create 2 groups, one to house and build the individual Dashboards and a master group that combines those Dashboards, and which is shown to end-users.

Within the _DBS group, create the individual Dashboards and add their respective components. Within the master (non _DBS Dashboard) create the master (0_Frame) Dashboard which will be shown to end-users. Remember to follow OneStream best practices when it comes to naming Dashboards as shown.

Note: for each type of component/section of your master Dashboard, you will need to create an individual Dashboard in the _DBS group. Currently we have 2, one for the Label and one for the Cube View. They are named 1_Header_Products and 3_Content_Products respectively.

Note the difference of the added components in the individual Dashboards versus the master Dashboard. One calls the components, the other calls the Dashboards themselves.

The settings for the 0_Frame_Products Properties should look like the screenshot below.

The completed Dashboard should look like the screenshot below.

We’ve now built out a very simple Dashboard that used the Cube View we built in the last blog post. We added individual components like Labels and Cube Views, modified the properties and formatting to show in a much friendlier way, allowing our end-users to view a polished report when needed.

In our next blog post, we will modify our existing Cube View and Dashboard and make them more dynamic by introducing parameters

For those unfamiliar with OneStream’s reporting capabilities, the two most often used ways to view data in a user-friendly manner are Cube Views and Dashboards. This will be a three-part series that shows how you can create a simple Cube View, Dashboard and how to make them dynamic.

Part 1 – How to Build a Simple Cube View Report

Part 2 – How to Build a Simple Dashboard

Part 3 – How to Make Your Cube View and Dashboard Dynamic with Parameters

In Part 1 we’ll go over how to utilize your underlying data to build a simple Cube View to make a user-friendly report. In our example we’ll be using the Golf Stream demo application. We’re assuming that the data is already loaded to the cube, consolidated and readily available to view. We’re also assuming that you know the basics of building a Cube View.

Below is a screenshot of the raw data in excel. Our goal will be to build a Cube View for the Product Income data in this blog and build on it in subsequent posts.

As you’ll see shortly, the cube with the data we’ll be retrieving from only utilizes the UD1 – UD3 dimensions to store the Cost Centers, Products, and Sales Regions data respectively. All other UDs will be set to None as they are not used. We’ll be looking at the income data stored in Account 60999. We’ll use the Row and Column member filters to pull specific data pertaining to product income by entity and product manufactured for our Cube View report.

First, we’ll create a new Cube View Group called Products, and create a new Cube View called Product Sales within the Products group. From here, we’ll edit our POV tab to point to the following information:

Note: this POV tab will look different on your system outside of the demo application as each Cube is built differently. The Parent Member should autofill based on what you enter for the Entity Member.

Within Col1, we’ll go ahead and make the following changes to the column name and set the member filter to point to the Entity we want to view. Here we are dynamically pulling each child-member within the TOT_MGMT Entity to view by using .DescendantsInclusive.

Within Row1, we’ll make the following changes to view the account we want. We will be using slightly advanced concepts by using the 2^nd member filter option that is made available to us by OneStream to view Data in a slightly more dynamic way. Data will be shown as a collapsible group so that we can view the total, or see the individual components based on what we set in the 2^nd member filter.

Note: We renamed the Row to NetSales_D – _D is meant to emphasize that this is a row containing Data, while _T would emphasize that this is a row containing the Total (not used in this build). Notice how we’re using the 2^nd member filter, pointed to UD2 (Product), to pull income data by product (this will show as a collapsible group in the report).

When you run the Cube View, the report should look like the screenshot below:

Notice here how we have multiple columns; this is the result of the .DescendantsInclusive we called on E#TOT_MGMT in the column we edited previously. You can also see the result of adding the 2^nd member filter and the way it makes our report more dynamic and user-friendly.

With this we’ve completed building out a basic Cube View to view in a user-friendly way utilizing data that’s already loaded. We also covered briefly how to make it slightly more dynamic by using the 2^nd member filter option given to us within the Rows.

In the next post we’ll discuss how to build a Dashboard based on this Cube View.

Customers’ expectations for their shopping experiences have drastically altered, largely in part due to Amazon. Gone are the days where you have to run to Foot Locker or Toys “R” Us to buy presents for your kids. Place an order online, and in some cases, get it delivered the same day.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced companies across industries to up their game. If they were not selling online, they are likely to now. If they did not have a mobile app, they probably missed out on opportunities to engage consumers.

Although the COVID-19 vaccines have rolled out and positive cases are dwindling, consumers are not necessarily going back to their old ways of shopping. Those new elevated experiences are too hard to forget and give up.

Perficient’s Justin Racine and Johnson & Johnson’s Jennifer Alexander discussed the new status quo of ecommerce in their webinar, “An Ecommerce Conversation with Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health.”

Here are some key takeaways from the webinar:

1. Companies must talk directly to customers, consumers, patients, distributors, and partners to best understand what’s important to them and what they need. If this isn’t possible, watch what they are doing. Listen to what the consumers are saying and not saying. Act on this. All consumer feedback can be used to create a better experience that results in increased loyalty, trust, and orders.
2. Ecommerce is as much of an art as it is a science. To best strategize, both quantitative and qualitative data must be analyzed. Data can paint a picture that you would have never imagined was possible.
3. The pandemic has caused a change in consumer demographics. A person who may have never frequented an online site before may have started doing so amidst the pandemic. Because of this, it is crucial to constantly review the data and analytics you have so you can adjust how you engage and converse with end users, provide medical information, and sell.
4. Ecommerce retailers must strive to perfect their digital shelf. How your brand and how your product shows up online needs to provide as much of that “real life” experience as possible. Brands and their products should focus on giving a real-life experience in lieu of the more traditional ways consumers and patients would interact with you. Can they readily see your product information and how much it will cost? Can they ask you questions online via a chatbot? Can the chatbot escalate people to a live agent if necessary?
5. Retailers must manage and exceed expectations as often as possible. For example, make the shipping and tracking confirmation readily available, and implement a process to update consumers if there is a change to the delivery status.

Catch a recording of the webinar below or here to get insight on how to elevate your ecommerce customer experience.