“ The benefit of quicker data delivery through things like automated workflows , cloud-based approvals , data solutions , AI and machine learning is how the company produces a variety of benefits to clients .”
— April Bacon , Senior Manager , Wipfli
Perkins believes the biggest role for data solutions is forming complex information into simple , digestible and actionable analysis for decisionmakers . When data is immediately available and presented in a concise manner — tailored to the needs of the end user — it allows that user to pivot quickly and make revenue-generating decisions with more confidence .
“ For Imagine This , it plays a critical role in planning out the required quantities needed to support each promotion , as well as insight into how to best optimize the promotion to maximize incremental revenue and profit ,” he says . “ This insight ultimately allows Imagine This to remove any risk that a casino might otherwise have to assume , such as purchasing excess product to satisfy the demand driven by each promotion .
“ The data that is shared with us allows us to tailor each promotion to the specific needs of our clients , while providing transparency that was previously allusive .”
The company is harnessing its massive data collection to shed insight on national trends relative to local and regional properties , according to Pekins . It is also further refining its analysis process to automatically generate reports that previously were more time-consuming tasks .
“ This evolution in the data process allows us to quickly generate and evaluate a client ’ s promotion history , which helps shed light onto the decision-making process for future revenue-generating initiatives ,” Perkins says .
“ The data that is shared with us allows us to tailor each promotion to the specific needs of our clients , while providing transparency that was previously allusive .”
— Craig Perkins , Senior Vice President of Data , Imagine This
Providing Important Tools
Various data solutions enable Wipfli to help customers obtain their daily sales and business information more timely , according to April Bacon , senior manager of the company .
“ The benefit of quicker data delivery through things like automated workflows , cloud-based approvals , data solutions , AI and machine learning is how the company produces a variety of benefits to clients ,” Bacon says .
“ This enables them to detect outliers more easily , proactively make business decisions before the month is over , assist in fraud mitigation , reduce month-end close time , reduce the risk of audit findings , and ensure tighter controls are in place for NIGC compliance to minimum internal controls .” It ’ s all provided in the Sage Intacct cloud-based accounting software . With the flexibility of Sage Intacct ’ s open API , Wipfli is able to automate data flow from its casino customers ’ various front-of-house solutions on a real-time basis to the general ledger for faster reporting , Bacon says . This helps alleviate inefficient manual processes , standardize processes , create more reliable data with less hand-keyed information , and utilize technology .
There are several options available to help minimize data entry errors and speed up the data flow process , Bacon asserts .
Flat file imports are fairly inexpensive and efficient ways of extracting data from front-of-house solutions and importing into Sage Intacct . API integrations are even more seamless for solutions that automatically connect , such as Martus Tools , for budget comparison reporting .
One can almost say the sky is the limit when using middleware platforms to help map data for solutions that aren ’ t able to connect directly , according to Bacon .
“ Middleware software is an iPass solution where data can flow from one system to the next without needing to be a specified format ,” she says . “ Typically , the middleware solution can ‘ map ’ data from various front-of-house solutions to the correct GL account and dimensions in Sage Intacct . Once mapped , the middleware software then pushes the data into Sage Intacct .”
42 Global Gaming Business MAY 2023