Searching for a Business Intelligence Partner
As a McDonald's franchisee in Belgium, everything is about speed, structure, and quality. With seven restaurants and a team of approximately 500 employees, it is essential for Nancy Haenen (CEO of 7 restaurants) that everything runs smoothly and efficiently, from the kitchen to the checkout and everything in between.
The organization is structured like a well-oiled machine:
- Two operational supervisors keep everything running smoothly
- An HR director ensures that people can grow (and stay).
- Technical support keeps the engine running
- Store managers and assistants, together with shift managers, run the restaurants.
- Crew members and crew trainers ensure daily execution
Training is not an afterthought here, but a core ingredient. New employees are guided by experienced crew trainers, while managers actively participate on the floor. With over ten years of experience, the philosophy is clear: a strong, consistent operation is preferable to rapid, uncontrolled growth. The story began in Mol and continued to grow step by step, like a menu that is constantly refined.
But as in any fast-food environment, there's a lot more going on behind the scenes. McDonald's is extremely data-driven: everything is measured. Except... that data was spread across a lot of systems.
The challenge? From scattered data to a clear “menu” of insights.
Key pain points were:
- Data that was scattered across different systems
- Difficult-to-interpret reports
- Limited accessibility for employees without an analytical background
- Lack of speed in insights (and in this sector, speed is everything)
The solution therefore had to be as accessible as the menu above the checkout: clear, visual, and immediately understandable. Power BI turned out to be the ideal “sauce” to bring everything together.
When searching for a partner, clear criteria applied:
- A local partner
- Custom solutions tailored to the reality of the shop floor
- Training and guidance for employees
- Understanding the specific McDonald's context
- And above all: real collaboration, not a quick “drive-thru” solution
Cooperation with Scapta
The first contact with Scapta was made through online research and recommendations. What immediately stood out? Speed. And in this world, speed is not a luxury, but a must.
From the first conversation, the approach was clear: no detours, but straight “to the point.” They didn't just look at the technology, but especially at the people who had to work with it.
The collaboration makes us want more because:
- Fast and clear communication
- Honestly, what is and isn't possible
- Solutions tailored to different roles within the organization
- Employees are effectively trained to work with the tools
The implementation went surprisingly smoothly. Within a short time, workshops were organized, tested, and delivered, without long waiting times or complicated processes. No slow service, but fast service, as it should be.
Today, about thirty employees are actively working with the tool, each at their own level and with their own insights.
Impact and results
The biggest challenge, according to Nancy? Bringing together data from more than a hundred systems. Real “kitchen chaos” behind the scenes. Smart API connections brought everything together into one clear overview.
Today, data is used as a full-fledged ingredient in daily operations. Not only financially, but also operationally and commercially.
Some key insights served daily:
- Financial performance such as the P&L
- Operational speed and accuracy
- Complaints and quality monitoring
- Product mix and new product performance
- Inventory management (like defrosting processes – timing is everything!)
- Customer satisfaction through various channels
The result? An organization that can adapt faster, make better adjustments, and where employees understand what’s going on. No more dry figures, but clear insights that are immediately usable.
What truly makes a difference is the speed of collaboration. In an environment where everything is “fast,” your partner needs to be able to keep up that pace. And that's precisely where elem3nts excels: responding quickly, communicating clearly, and knowing immediately where you stand.
Future vision
The collaboration with scapta has transformed data from a side dish to a core component of operations. Where information was previously fragmented, there is now a clear and usable overview that helps to make better decisions, every single day.
But the story doesn't end here. Many opportunities still lie on the table. New insights, additional applications, and further optimizations can make the organization even stronger. But as in any kitchen: you have to take the time to choose the right recipe.
One thing remains central: people make the difference. Data can provide direction, but it's the teams on the floor that make it happen.
With a strong foundation, a clear vision, and a partner who can keep pace, this organization is ready for the next step.
“My whole life is fast and my data needs to be too.” according to Nancy Haenen.