VTB Insurance: with QlikView we optimized interaction of users and IT

Andrey Nikitin: Prior to implementation of a specialized BI product for preparation of the reporting we used both standard means of information processing of Microsoft Excel, and the reporting means included in the accounting systems depending on tasks. At a certain stage of development such approach is justified, but with such dynamic growth of volumes of business which is observed at us, preparation of the reporting already takes away too much time and forces. For example, to prepare a number of reports, we should consolidate data from several accounting systems (1S:USK, the main accounting and accounting system, and IBS Insurance, a sheet system and also several more data sources and Excel files). It is obvious that the platform of the class Business Intelligence is necessary for problems of such level.

Alexander Yazykov: Our financial department became the main initiator of the project on QlikView. It is quite logical as financiers operate with the indicators, most difficult and resource-intensive for calculation. The financial statements in QlikView are under construction on the basis of two key accounting systems and a number of files with rules, plans and adjustments. Logically applications for financial department can be separated into managerial and operational. The management reporting is provided weekly to management of the company and also VTB Group and includes key performance indicators of the company: plan-fact analysis of sales, visualization of forecasts, reports on insurance products, business segmentations and so forth.

The operational reporting is available to employees to tracking of the current situation on a financial result (awards, insurance sums, unprofitability), magazines of losses (calculation of losses, RZNU, a share of overcautious persons), calculation of a number of reserves.

TAdviser: The project started more than 3 years ago whether in its course possibilities of a BI system were expanded? What departments and departments use QlikView now?

Andrey Nikitin: Today we develop more than 30 analytical reports of QlikView in different applications for finance departments, sales, risk analysis, the personnel, IT and the operational block. And a part of these reports is developed not only contractors, ATK consulting group, but also our internal specialists.

The initial stage of the project was the most difficult as he turned on creation of a data model from several data sources, with very large amount of attributes and diverse data and also calculation of difficult insurance indicators. At a stage of data collection and processing we achieved best quality data. Now a system is used by about 80 users, and their number will grow.

TAdviser: What can a system at the moment? Whether you are going to expand already implemented functionality?

Andrey Nikitin: Financial department – one of the most numerous and experienced users of a BI system. From QlikView financiers obtain all necessary information on losses, reserves, a financial result. And as, for example, RNP and RZNU they can calculate such serious indicators on the fly, on any date now. Underwriters also actively use finance applications for risk analysis on products, types of insurance and also analyze statistics of stealings.

To the operational QlikView block helps to increase quality of control of data: together with consultants of ATC we put into operation model on processing of malformed data which will recognize more than 100 types of the errors connected with operational input in the accounting systems. Specifics of the companies with a big branch network - a long cycle of work with agreements, since their receiving from primary selling divisions, finishing with diversity of payments and a binding of payments on them, processing of additional agreements. Now operational management will have in QlikView the tool for control of a cycle of the agreement, the analysis and process optimization.

Alexander Yazykov: We independently developed analytical model according to system CDI which contains all history on work and communications with clients, to sales and prolongation of insurance agreements for department of sales. Together with the product NPrinting and communications systems we configured preparation of reports for automatic client mailing by e-mail and the SMS. In the automatic mode we send reminders on prolongation of agreements and the forthcoming payments and also we generate lists of call-down of clients for call center.

Soon we also bring into operation the separate analytical application for personnel department including analytics of salaries, the motivational budget, routine of the personnel, etc.

TAdviser: How does QlikView interact with your data warehouse and other information systems?

Andrey Nikitin: On start of the QlikView project integrated a number of data sources, including our main accounting system 1S:USK to which we were connected through ATC of QlikView of 1C of the Connector. Soon at us changes of an IT landscape, implementation of a new sheet system for all types of insurance therefore we will need to rebuild the QlikView model taking into account new data source approach. In fact, it will be a question of creation of the wholly new application, with adaptation under it the existing reporting.

TAdviser: Tell about examples of use of a system? What specific business challenges with notable business result did it help to solve?

Alexander Yazykov: First, we considerably reduced a set-up time of the financial management reporting. If earlier the set-up time of reports was measured in the days, then now it is hours.

Secondly, the format of interaction of business users and IT concerning analytics at us considerably became simpler. We trained key users of financial department to work with QlikView and granted them the rights of designers of applications that instead of writing of terms of reference on small changes, they could correct independently visualization, bring additional measurement for the analysis out of a data model or add a new indicator. Naturally, this process took certain time, we needed to bring together competent group of business users to whom we can entrust access to analytical applications. But our efforts were worth it – now within financial department users are capable to prepare independently customized reports that sharply increased efficiency of analytics in the company. However such approach is possible exactly thanks to technical features of QlikView, simplicity of development of charts and features of model.

Thirdly, our employees have no restrictions on receiving any analytics necessary for their work now (except the access rights, certainly). For example, recently we ordered a research on marketing actions. The report with customer segmentation on profitability, brands of cars, age and 60 more others indicators was necessary for work of consultants. Before we did not collect so detailed reports, and without QlikView we would hardly manage it as it was necessary to involve many separate sources of information. It is remarkable that such report was developed by users independently in enough short time, here acted as IT as the consultant and the auditor of the solution.

TAdviser: How simple or difficult a system for your end users seemed? Whether you use the data obtained from systems not only within departments where it is implemented, but also within the company in general?

Andrey Nikitin: A system turned out rather simple in mastering though, as well as any new phenomenon, required extra time on its mastering and understanding. Intensive development of the solution went only after accession of critical mass of users to applications. When the number of users passed for 60, it became a powerful push, both for development of functionality, and for improvement of existing applications.

TAdviser: What plans VTB Insurance on further development of a BI system what projects you are going to start in the future?

Andrey Nikitin: In the strategic plan we want to make QlikView the main source of obtaining analytical information in the company, but we do not intend to do sharp transition yet. On the near future I would tell that development of QlikView will be characterized by organic growth as in terms of functionality and a data model, and the number of users and new data sources.

Alexander Yazykov: This year we want to connect to the system of new users from departments where QlikView is already actively used and also from department of HR where the application will be brought into operation soon. In order that it is the most effective to scale load of the analytics server, we are going to construct QlikView server cluster. After Hyperion budgeting system implementation, we integrate it with QlikView. The next plans for applications – development of analytics in P&L (profit&loss), HR and errors of operational input.