Case Study: WorldSmart achieves data-driven retail insights with Microsoft Power BI and Azure

Power BI harnessing the potential of data

WorldSmart, an Australian retail technology provider, faced the challenge of helping its independent grocery store customers unlock the value of their data to compete with larger chains. Their goal was to move beyond just providing point-of-sale systems and use customer data to drive smarter business decisions, improve loyalty programs, and offer advanced analytics that were largely unavailable in the Australian market at the time.

Microsoft provided the solution through its Power BI and Azure analytics services. WorldSmart built a turnkey analytics product, WorldSmart BI, on the Microsoft stack, which included Power BI for data visualization, Azure Stream Analytics for processing, and machine learning for forecasts. The results empowered retailers with real-time insights, leading to better inventory management, targeted marketing, and increased profitability. For instance, one grocer used these insights to optimize meat markdowns and significantly improve profits. Microsoft's technology enabled WorldSmart to transform from a point-of-sale business into a leading analytics company, serving over 400 retail customers.

Worldsmart

Sam Pons

Managing Director