In this episode of The Dashboard Effect, Brick chats with Landon, Director of Solutions at Blue Margin, about a surprising challenge faced while extracting data from NetSuite. Despite NetSuite’s well-developed API, handling massive datasets proved problematic. Landon shares how they solved the issue using an unexpected solution—the ODBC connector.

They discuss the limitations of the API, how ODBC outperformed it for large data sets, and the unconventional yet effective workaround using a virtual machine. If you’re working with NetSuite or other cloud-based systems and experiencing similar challenges, you’ll want to hear this episode.

Key Takeaways:

• Why NetSuite’s API struggled with millions of records
• How ODBC became the unexpected hero for pulling large data sets
• The importance of getting creative with data extraction

Listen in for tips and insights that can help with your own data pipeline challenges!

In this episode, Brick Thompson and Caleb Ochs discuss the critical role of good data models in making business intelligence tools like Power BI efficient and scalable. They cover the pitfalls of poor data models, including delayed reporting and data category issues, and offer insights into designing flexible, transactional-level data models that can grow with your business needs.

Key Moments:

- Example of a Bad Data Model
- The Benefits of Transactional-Level Data
- Why Developers Take Shortcuts
- Common Data Model Mistakes


Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by serving as their fractional data team. We advise on, build, and manage data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 300 companies to-date, expands multiples through data transformation, as presented in our book, The Dashboard Effect.

For a free, downloadable copy click https://bit.ly/3RmBGWQ, or buy a hardcopy or Kindle version on Amazon (https://amzn.to/3UTvTLm).

Get more episodes of The Dashboard Effect podcast on your favorite podcast app or at https://podcast.thedashboardeffect.com/

Visit Blue Margin's library of additional BI resources here: https://bit.ly/3fwNmcg

In this episode of The Dashboard Effect, hosts Brick and Caleb discuss the challenges and best practices for rolling out Business Intelligence (BI) solutions to large audiences. With a real-life example of implementing BI across 600 retail locations, they dive into how to navigate common pitfalls, ensuring user adoption and success. Whether your rollout is for a small team or a large enterprise, these insights will help you optimize your process.

Blue Margin increases enterprise value for PE-backed, mid-market companies by building and managing their data platforms. Our strategy, proven with over 250 companies to-date, expands multiples through data transformation, as presented in our book, The Dashboard Effect.