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Frequently asked questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does One51 work with organisations outside these four industries?

Yes. While our four primary industry verticals represent our deepest sector knowledge and most established track record, we regularly work with organisations across other sectors where our data, analytics and AI consulting capability is directly applicable.

Which industries does One51 specialise in?

One51 specialises in Energy and Utilities, Property and Real Estate, Retail and QSR, and Government. Within these sectors we have delivered over 350+ engagements covering data platform modernisation, AI strategy, data governance, analytics and managed support.

How does industry expertise change the quality of a data or AI engagement?

Industry context determines whether the right questions get asked at the start of an engagement. Understanding regulatory reporting obligations, operational data structures, procurement constraints and sector-specific technology environments allows us to design solutions that are fit for purpose - not just technically sound.

How long does a government data engagement typically take?

Timeframes depend on scope and the number of systems and agencies involved. A strategy and roadmap engagement typically takes 6 to 8 weeks. A platform implementation for a single agency typically runs 8 to 16 weeks. Cross-agency programs are scoped individually.

Are your Databricks resources located in Australia?

 Yes. We support critical infrastructure clients, and all Databricks resources are hosted within Australia to ensure local data residency and compliance requirements are met. 

What is Databricks used for?

Databricks is used for data engineering, large-scale data processing, machine learning, AI development, analytics and data governance. Built on Apache Spark and Delta Lake, it provides a unified Lakehouse architecture supporting both operational and analytical workloads at scale.

What is the typical first step for an energy organisation working with One51?

The most common starting point is a 90-minute Discovery Session. This gives your leadership team a clear view of the current data landscape, the highest-value opportunities, and what a realistic first engagement would look like - without any upfront commitment.

Has One51 delivered Databricks migrations for large complex organisations?

Yes. One51 delivered a major Databricks migration for several large complex organisations including Ausgrid - Australia's largest electricity distributor by population - migrating billions of records from Synapse to Azure Databricks with zero escalations at go-live.

Does One51 work with organisations at early stages of data maturity?

Yes. Many of our most successful engagements start with organisations that have limited data infrastructure or are just beginning to recognise the value of data as a strategic asset. We design engagements that are appropriate to your current state and build progressively from there.

Is One51 a Snowflake partner?

Yes. One51 has delivered Snowflake implementations for major Australian organisations including KFC Australia, where we were awarded Supplier of the Year in 2022 in the Data and Analytics category.

Can One51 help us evaluate technology options?

 Absolutely. We regularly help organisations assess data, analytics, and AI platforms, compare capabilities, and select technologies aligned to their business and technical requirements. 
 

What is data modernisation?

Data modernisation is the process of migrating legacy data infrastructure and rebuilding it on modern, cloud-native platforms such as Microsoft Fabric, Azure, Databricks or Snowflake - that are scalable, governed and AI-ready.

What is Unity Catalog?

Unity Catalog is Databricks' unified governance solution providing centralised access control, data lineage, cataloguing and auditability across all Databricks workspaces. One51 implements Unity Catalog as a standard component of every Databricks engagement.

Can One51 support a platform built by another vendor?

Yes. We have experience taking over support of data platforms built by other vendors, following a structured assessment and remediation process.

Can One51 help secure Microsoft funding for eligible projects?

Yes. Through our Microsoft partnership, we can help clients identify and secure Microsoft co-investment funding or cloud credits for eligible Fabric, Azure AI or other strategic Microsoft initiatives.

Can One51 help with demand forecasting?

Yes. We have delivered demand forecasting and predictive modelling for retail and QSR organisations, building ML models on historical sales, promotional, seasonality and external data.

How can data analytics improve portfolio performance reporting?

By connecting data from asset registers, tenancy platforms, budgeting tools and finance systems into a single, governed data environment, we can eliminate the manual reconciliation effort that slows most reporting cycles. The result is automated, accurate reports that are ready when you need them - not days later.

What retail business challenges can One51 help solve?

We help retailers address a wide range of challenges, including customer retention and personalisation, sales and performance visibility, inventory optimisation, executive reporting, operational efficiency and the adoption of AI and advanced analytics. Our solutions are designed to deliver measurable business outcomes.

What service levels does One51 commit to?

Service levels are defined in each agreement - typically covering response times for incidents of different severity, platform uptime targets, pipeline monitoring frequency and monthly reporting cadence.

What Microsoft certifications does One51 hold?

Our team holds certifications across Azure Data Engineering, Azure Solutions Architecture, Power BI, Microsoft Fabric and other relevant Microsoft specialisations.

What technology platforms does One51 use for retail analytics?

We are platform-agnostic and work across Microsoft Fabric, Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, Power BI, Google Cloud Platform and other modern data platforms. We recommend the right technology based on your existing environment, team skills and long-term requirements.

How does One51 approach vendor selection for a client?

We start with your environment, strategic direction, team skills and use case requirements. We evaluate relevant platforms against those criteria and provide a recommendation we can justify and stand behind.

Can data governance help prepare us for AI?

Yes. AI readiness and data governance are closely linked. By establishing clear data ownership, quality standards, lineage and access controls before AI projects begin, you dramatically increase the probability of reliable, scalable outcomes.

Is One51 technology agnostic when it comes to property data platforms?

Yes. We are certified across Microsoft Fabric, Azure, Databricks, Snowflake and Power BI and we recommend the right platform based on your existing environment, your team's skills and your long-term strategic direction - not based on vendor relationships.

Is One51 a Microsoft Fabric partner?

Yes. One51 is a Microsoft Fabric Featured Partner and Data Analytics and AI Specialist Partner, recognised for early adoption and deep implementation expertise. 

Does One51 work with Fivetran?

Yes. Fivetran is a leading automated data integration platform. We have used Fivetran to accelerate data ingestion for retail and media organisations.

What is a business glossary?

A business glossary is a shared reference of agreed definitions for key data terms and metrics. Without it, reporting inconsistencies are inevitable when different teams refer to the same concept differently.

What is Snowpipe?

Snowpipe is Snowflake's continuous data ingestion service for near-real-time loading from cloud storage or event streams. We use it for transaction processing, marketing event streams and operational monitoring.

How long does a typical data and analytics engagement take?

Timeframes vary by scope. A Discovery Session takes 60 minutes. A strategy and roadmap engagement typically runs 6 to 8 weeks. A platform implementation ranges from 8 to 16 weeks depending on complexity. We provide fixed timelines with clear milestones from the outset.

How long does an AI strategy engagement take?

A focused AI strategy engagement typically runs 4 to 6 weeks. An AI Readiness Workshop takes 60 minutes. Implementation timelines depend on the specific use cases selected.

How does customer analytics connect to marketing activation?

Customer analytics provides the insights - who customers are, how they behave, what they are likely to do next. We connect customer analytics to marketing platforms including Salesforce Marketing Cloud via Census and other reverse-ETL tools.

Can One51 help with AI readiness for energy organisations?

Yes. We offer an AI Readiness Workshop specifically designed for energy sector leadership teams. In 60 minutes, we assess your organisation across six dimensions - strategy, data and technology, people and skills, governance and trust, operating model, and use case value - and give you a clear view of where to start safely.

Should we use Microsoft Fabric or Databricks?

One51 will review and recommend the best solution for your organisation's needs. Fabric and Databricks can often work in harmony together.

Can you migrate our existing BI reports?

Yes. We use our Switchblade and VizShifter accelerators to migrate BI reports between platforms. Switchblade is designed for Fabric, automating the report migration process. VizShifter handles visual conversion across platforms.

What does AI actually mean for a property fund management business?

Practical AI for property organisations currently includes demand forecasting, lease risk modelling, natural language querying of portfolio data, AI-assisted investor communications, and automated document processing - such as lease audit automation using agentic AI. We focus on use cases that deliver measurable value in a reasonable timeframe.

What is an AI strategy and why does my organisation need one?

An AI strategy is a practical, sequenced plan defining where AI creates genuine value, what capabilities and data foundations are required, and how investment should be sequenced. Without one, organisations tend to invest in experiments that do not scale.

Does One51 have experience with Australian government procurement frameworks?

Yes. We have delivered engagements with state and Federal government agencies and understand the procurement, privacy and compliance requirements that apply to government data programs. We are listed on relevant procurement panels.

Is One51 a Databricks partner?

Yes. Our team holds certified Databricks professional qualifications across data engineering, AI/ML and governance. We delivered Databricks migrations for Ausgrid.

What is Snowflake?

Snowflake is a cloud-native data platform providing scalable, high-performance data storage, analytics, engineering, data sharing and AI. It is particularly well known for separating storage and compute, allowing independent scaling.

Can One51 help with AI for a specific business function?

Yes. Some organisations start with a focused AI use case in a specific function - for example, lease audit automation for finance, demand forecasting for supply chain, customer segmentation for marketing. We scope AI engagements at the function level and expand from there.

How does One51 approach Australian Privacy Act compliance?

We design governance frameworks that embed Australian Privacy Principle compliance - including data minimisation, purpose limitation, access controls, retention policies and breach response procedures.

What is data lineage?

Data lineage is the ability to trace data from its source through every transformation to its final use. For regulatory compliance, audit readiness and AI governance, lineage is critical.

Is One51 listed on government procurement panels?

Yes. We are listed on relevant government procurement panels, which simplifies the engagement process for government agencies. Contact us to confirm current panel listings relevant to your agency.

How does One51 measure success in a data or AI engagement?

We measure success against the business outcomes defined at the start of every engagement - not against technical outputs alone. This includes metrics such as time saved in reporting, accuracy improvements, speed to insight, cost reduction and measurable business decisions enabled by the delivered capability.

What is Lakebridge?

Lakebridge is Databricks' accelerator for data migrations. It automates SQL translation from legacy data warehouse platforms to Databricks - significantly reducing migration time, cost and manual effort.

What is the best way to start a conversation with One51 about a government data project?

The most practical starting point is a 60-minute Discovery Session with your leadership team. We will map the current data landscape, understand your reporting obligations and constraints, and give you a clear view of what a practical first engagement would look like.

Are One51 engagements fixed-fee or time and materials?

We offer both fixed-fee and time and materials engagements depending on scope and client preference. For clearly scoped deliverables such as strategy and roadmap engagements, we typically work on a fixed-fee basis. For ongoing managed services or more exploratory work, a time and materials or retainer arrangement may be more appropriate.

Do technology partnerships benefit project delivery?

 Yes. Partnerships provide access to product specialists, technical resources, solution accelerators, architectural guidance, and support channels that help improve delivery outcomes. 

What is the typical starting point for an analytics engagement?

Most analytics engagements start with a 60-minute Discovery Session where we assess your current capability, understand your highest-priority use cases, and design a practical first engagement.

What is MLflow?

MLflow is an open-source platform for managing the ML lifecycle - experiment tracking, model versioning, deployment and monitoring. One51 uses MLflow to build production-ready solutions on Databricks.

What data and AI services does One51 provide to energy organisations?

One51 provides end-to-end data, analytics and AI consulting services to energy retailers, distributors, generators and network operators. This includes data platform modernisation and migration, AI strategy and implementation, data governance and compliance, operational analytics and reporting, managed data support, and energy-specific accelerators for assets, reliability, DER, market and customer data.

What data and analytics services does One51 provide to property organisations?

One51 provides data platform modernisation, AI strategy and implementation, portfolio analytics and reporting, investor reporting automation, data governance frameworks and managed data support for property developers, fund managers and asset operators.

How can data and analytics improve customer engagement for retailers?

By bringing together customer data from multiple channels, retailers can gain a more complete understanding of customer behaviour, preferences and purchasing patterns. We help organisations leverage analytics and AI to improve customer segmentation, personalise experiences, strengthen loyalty programs and increase customer lifetime value.

What is Azure OpenAI Service?

Azure OpenAI Service provides access to OpenAI's large language models through the Microsoft Azure platform with enterprise-grade security, compliance and data residency. One51 uses it for generative AI applications, document processing and agentic AI solutions.

What is the best way to start a conversation with One51 about property data?

The easiest starting point is a 60-minute Discovery Session. We will map your current data landscape, identify the highest-value opportunities and give you an honest view of what a practical first engagement looks like - with no obligation to proceed.

What is the difference between data governance and data management?

Data management refers to the technical processes for collecting, storing and processing data. Data governance refers to the policies, standards and accountability structures that guide how data management is performed.

How does analytics support regulatory compliance reporting?

We transform regulatory reporting from manual, error-prone processes into automated, auditable capabilities with full lineage and auditability - delivered for energy distributors, government agencies and financial services organisations.

Does One51 work with Google Cloud Platform?

Yes. We have delivered solutions on GCP including BigQuery. Our primary focus is the Microsoft, Databricks and Snowflake ecosystems but we work with GCP where appropriate.

Does One51 work with Microsoft Power Platform?

Yes. Power Platform - including Power Apps, Power Automate and Power BI - is part of our Microsoft practice, used for workflow automation and low-code application development.

How does One51 ensure knowledge transfer to our internal team?

Knowledge transfer is built into every engagement, not treated as an afterthought. We work alongside your team throughout the project, document what we build, and design platforms that your people can maintain and evolve independently. For organisations that want to build internal capability, we also offer training and enablement workshops.

What industries does One51 deliver AI strategy for?

Energy and utilities, property and real estate, retail and QSR, and government. Our AI capability is sector-grounded - we understand the specific use cases, regulatory constraints and data environments for each industry.

Can One51 migrate our existing data warehouse to Snowflake?

Yes. We have delivered migrations from SQL Server, Azure Synapse and other platforms to Snowflake - including data profiling, schema translation, quality validation and parallel running before cutover.

What makes One51 different from a general data analytics consulting firm?

We combine deep technical delivery capability - certified across Microsoft, Databricks and Snowflake - with genuine sector knowledge built over years of working inside energy, property, retail and government organisations. That combination means fewer false starts and better outcomes.

How does customer analytics need to handle privacy compliance?

Customer analytics must be built with privacy compliance from day one - including data minimisation, purpose limitation, consent management and the ability to handle access and deletion requests under the Australian Privacy Act.

What is the difference between Snowflake and Microsoft Fabric?

Snowflake is a multi-cloud platform with strengths in elastic scaling and secure data sharing. Fabric is Microsoft's unified SaaS platform integrating data engineering, storage, analytics and Power BI. One51 is certified across both and provides unbiased recommendations.

What operational analytics use cases does One51 deliver?

We deliver operational analytics across asset performance, supply chain visibility, workforce planning, financial performance, KPI monitoring and regulatory reporting.

What is Power BI and how does it integrate with Fabric?

Power BI is Microsoft's business intelligence platform, now forming part of the Fabric suite. In the Fabric ecosystem, Power BI is natively integrated as the analytics and reporting experience, connecting directly to Fabric's Lakehouse data and semantic models without separate data movement.

How long does a data migration typically take?

A focused migration of a single legacy system typically takes 8 to 12 weeks. A larger, multi-system migration or greenfield platform build may take 12 to 24 weeks. We provide fixed timelines and clear milestones from the start. Migrations of reports only can be completed much faster using Accelerators.

What happens to data quality during a migration?

Data quality is assessed before, during and after migration using our Data Quality Framework. We profile incoming data, define quality rules, flag exceptions and validate the migrated data against the source.

Can One51 help with investor reporting automation?

Yes. We have delivered investor reporting automation projects that replace manual, Excel-based reporting cycles with governed, automated data pipelines that produce accurate, timely reports. This reduces the risk of errors and frees up finance and operations teams for higher-value work.

What is agentic AI?

Agentic AI takes action - it reasons about a problem, plans steps, uses tools to gather information, and executes tasks autonomously within defined parameters. One51 has built agentic AI systems for lease audit automation and operational use cases.

What does One51's AI Readiness Workshop involve?

A 60-minute facilitated session with your C-suite and senior leadership. We assess your organisation across six dimensions - strategy, data and technology, people and skills, governance and trust, operating model, and use case value. You receive a readiness profile, critical gap analysis, and prioritised recommendations.

Is One51 a Snowflake partner?

Yes. We have delivered Snowflake implementations for retail, energy and government organisations, including KFC Australia where we were awarded Supplier of the Year in 2022.

Is One51 a Microsoft partner?

Yes. One51 is a Microsoft Fabric Featured Partner with specialist certifications across Fabric, Azure, Power BI and Power Platform. We have delivered Fabric implementations for NSW Government.

How does One51 ensure AI delivers measurable value rather than just a PoC?

We design AI solutions to be production-ready, scalable and governed from the outset - defining success metrics at the start, designing for real data volumes, building appropriate monitoring and planning the path from initial deployment to scaled operation.

Can One51 help with real-time customer analytics?

Yes. For organisations that need to act on customer behaviour in real-time, we design and implement real-time event streaming architectures using Snowflake, Databricks or Azure-native streaming services.

Is managed support suitable for small organisations?

Yes. It is particularly valuable for small and medium organisations needing specialist data platform capability without the cost of a full-time specialist team.

How does One51 approach Snowflake data governance?

We implement Snowflake Horizon Catalog for cataloguing, lineage and governance. Role-based access control, row-level security, data masking and dynamic data policies are configured as standard in every deployment.

How long does a retail data analytics engagement typically take?

A Discovery Session takes 90 minutes. A strategy and roadmap engagement typically runs 6 to 8 weeks. A platform implementation or analytics build typically runs 8 to 12 weeks depending on scope. We provide fixed timelines from the outset.

What does a cross-agency data integration project typically involve?

A cross-agency integration project typically begins with a data landscape assessment across participating agencies, followed by the design of a shared data architecture that respects each agency's privacy and sovereignty obligations, according to Memorandums of Understanding (MoU). We then build secure integration pipelines and governance frameworks before onboarding teams and transferring capability.

How do I know which solution is the right starting point for my organisation?

The right starting point depends on your current data maturity, your most pressing business challenges and your available budget and timeline. The most effective way to determine this is through a 90-minute Discovery Session with our team, where we assess your current landscape and identify the highest-value first step.

Can Databricks work with Fabric and Power BI?

Yes. Databricks integrates with Fabric and Power BI through a native connector, allowing Fabric and Power BI to query Databricks data directly for reporting and analytics.

What is Microsoft Fabric and how does it differ from Azure Synapse?

Microsoft Fabric is Microsoft's next-generation unified data platform that replaces and extends Azure Synapse Analytics. While Synapse required configuring multiple separate services, Fabric provides a single integrated SaaS environment covering data engineering, storage, analytics, data science and BI in one place.

Is One51's team based in Australia?

Yes. Our full team is based in Australia - primarily Sydney. We do not offshore any work and do not use subcontractors. Every engagement is delivered by our certified, in-house consultants.

What types of data and AI solutions does One51 deliver?

One51 delivers six core solution areas: data modernisation and migration, AI strategy and implementation, data governance and compliance, customer and operational insights, analytics and business intelligence, and managed data support. These can be engaged individually or as a connected program.

How do I transition from project delivery to managed support?

The transition is planned as part of every project delivery. We design the handover documentation, agree service levels, and begin managed support before the project formally closes.

Can One51 deliver solutions across multiple technology platforms?

Yes. We are technology-agnostic and work across Microsoft Fabric, Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, Power BI, Google Cloud Platform and other modern data platforms. We recommend the platform that is right for your environment and requirements - not the one that is most convenient for us.

What is agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can reason, plan, make decisions and take actions autonomously - rather than simply generating text or producing predictions. One51 has designed and built agentic AI solutions for lease audit automation and operational workflow automation.

How long does a Databricks migration take?

A focused migration from a single legacy system typically takes 8 to 16 weeks. We use our accelerators including Lakebridge and proven migration frameworks to reduce timelines and risk.

Can managed support include ongoing analytics delivery?

Yes. Many arrangements include maintaining and updating dashboards, producing regular reports, developing new analytical outputs as requirements evolve, and supporting data-driven decision-making on an ongoing basis.

What is managed data support?

Managed data support is an ongoing service arrangement where One51 takes responsibility for the operation, monitoring and maintenance of your data platforms, pipelines and analytics environment - including incident management, performance optimisation, routine maintenance and analytics delivery.

What is a Databricks Lakehouse?

A Lakehouse combines the flexibility of a data lake with the governance of a data warehouse. Databricks' Lakehouse architecture on Delta Lake provides ACID transactions, schema enforcement, data versioning and high-performance queries on open format data.

How does One51 approach AI in a retail environment?

We focus on practical AI use cases that deliver tangible business value. Depending on business priorities, this may include demand forecasting, customer propensity modelling, recommendation engines, intelligent automation and advanced operational analytics. We help retailers establish the data foundations, governance and analytics capabilities required for successful AI adoption.

What is Power BI and when is it the right choice?

Power BI is Microsoft's BI platform. It is well-suited to organisations in the Microsoft ecosystem, offering strong self-service, tight integration with Fabric and Azure, and a large user community.

How does One51 approach self-service analytics?

Effective self-service requires a trusted data foundation, well-designed semantic models, and training that builds genuine data literacy. We address all three from the start.

Which property and real estate organisations has One51 worked with?

One51 has delivered engagements with property investment and fund management organisations across Australia, including working across data platforms in Fabric, Databricks and reporting in Power BI.

How does One51 approach AI adoption in government?

We take a careful, structured approach to AI in government - identifying use cases that deliver genuine public value, assessing governance and risk implications, and implementing solutions with appropriate guardrails, auditability and human oversight. We do not advocate for AI for its own sake.

What is Microsoft Fabric and how does it apply to energy organisations?

Microsoft Fabric is an all-in-one modern data platform that unifies data engineering, storage, analytics and data science in a single environment. For energy organisations, it is particularly well-suited to consolidating operational, asset and customer data at scale, with strong governance and security controls. One51 is a Microsoft Fabric Featured Partner and has delivered Fabric implementations for NSW Government.

Can One51 help modernise our data and reporting platforms?

Yes. We help retailers modernise legacy reporting environments and implement scalable cloud-based data platforms that provide trusted, real-time insights. Our expertise includes Microsoft Fabric, Azure, Databricks, Power BI and modern analytics architectures that support both operational and strategic decision-making.

How long does a data governance engagement take?

A maturity assessment takes 2 to 3 weeks. Designing and implementing a governance operating model takes 6 to 12 weeks. Ongoing monitoring can be provided as managed support.

Can One51 help with data governance for a property fund?

Yes. Data governance is often the foundation that makes everything else possible. We help property organisations establish clear data ownership, quality standards and compliance frameworks - building governance that works in practice, not just on paper.

What is a composable CDP and why would a retailer need one?

A composable Customer Data Platform is a bespoke solution built within your existing data infrastructure - rather than an off-the-shelf CDP. It integrates data from all customer touchpoints, applies identity resolution to create a single customer view, and connects to marketing activation platforms. One51 has delivered composable CDP solutions for major Australian food retail brands.

Does One51 work with Tableau?

Yes. We work with Tableau where it is the client's existing or preferred platform, and deliver migrations from Tableau to Power BI using VizShifter for organisations moving to the Microsoft ecosystem.

Can One51 migrate our existing Power BI reports to Fabric?

Yes, and we do this utilising our One51 accelerators. We rapidly and seamlessly accelerate migration to Power BI and Microsoft Fabric using our Switchblade and VizShifter accelerators.

Can One51 help build machine learning capability in-house?

Yes. We design and implement ML infrastructure, build and deploy initial models, and run enablement programs for your internal data team - building capability you can own and expand.

How do you stay current with the technology landscape?

Our team maintains active certifications across key platforms and participates in vendor partner programs providing early access to new capabilities. We have been early Fabric adopters since public preview.

What does One51 mean by "AI-ready" data foundations?

An AI-ready data foundation is one where data is connected, governed, of known quality and available in a form that AI models can reliably consume. Most AI projects fail not because of the AI technology itself, but because the underlying data is fragmented, inconsistent or ungoverned. We build foundations that make AI projects viable and scalable.

What BI platforms does One51 work with?

We are certified across Power BI, Microsoft Fabric reporting, Tableau and other leading BI platforms. We recommend the right platform based on your existing environment.

Which platform should I choose?

The right choice depends on your existing environment, team skills, data volumes, primary use cases and long-term direction. We assess these factors and provide a clear recommendation with supporting rationale.

Does One51 work with Salesforce CRM?

Yes. We integrate with Salesforce CRM and Salesforce Marketing Cloud, as well as Microsoft Dynamics, HubSpot and other CRM platforms.

Which energy organisations has One51 worked with?

One51 has delivered engagements with Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and other energy sector organisations across New South Wales. Our work has spanned asset data unification, network management analytics, single view of customer, regulatory reporting, and data platform migration.

What is Snowflake data sharing?

Snowflake's data sharing allows organisations to share live data with external parties - partners, regulators, suppliers - without copying or moving it. One51 used this to build VMI platforms for major QSR organisations, enabling secure real-time sharing with supplier networks.

How do you decide which platform to recommend?

We start by understanding your existing technology environment, team skills, data volumes and use cases, then evaluate the platforms most likely to deliver the best outcome for your specific context.

What is Microsoft Fabric and should we use it?

Microsoft Fabric is an all-in-one modern data platform that unifies data engineering, storage, analytics and data science in a single managed environment. One51 is a Microsoft Fabric Featured Partner and can help you assess whether Fabric is right for your environment.

How do you minimise risk during a data migration?

Risk is managed through phased delivery, comprehensive testing at each stage, parallel running where practical, and our proven migration accelerators. We maintain clear rollback plans and do not go-live without rigorous validation.

How long does a data platform engagement typically take for a property organisation?

Depending on scope and complexity, a discovery and strategy engagement typically takes 6 to 8 weeks. A platform implementation or reporting automation project typically runs 8 to 12 weeks. We provide fixed timelines and milestones from the outset of every engagement.

Do you work with on-premises and cloud-to-cloud migrations?

Yes. We work with on-premises to cloud migrations (SQL Server to Azure or Fabric) as well as cloud-to-cloud migrations (Synapse to Databricks, older Azure to Fabric).

What does a typical first engagement with One51 look like?

Most engagements begin with a 90-minute Discovery Session. From there, depending on the organisation's maturity and priorities, we typically progress to either a strategy and roadmap engagement or a platform implementation. Both are fixed-fee and delivered by our in-house team.

Why does One51 partner with multiple technology vendors?

 Different platforms have different strengths. Our partner ecosystem allows us to recommend and implement the technologies that best fit each client's requirements, rather than being limited to a single vendor. 

How does One51 approach AI governance?

AI governance is embedded into our strategy engagements from day one - including responsible AI policies, human oversight requirements, regulatory compliance assessment, and audit and explainability design.

What is the difference between Microsoft Fabric, Databricks and Snowflake?

Fabric is a unified SaaS platform best for Microsoft ecosystem organisations. Databricks is optimised for large-scale data engineering and ML. Snowflake excels at elastic scaling and secure data sharing. The right choice depends on your environment, volumes, use cases and team skills.

What reporting tools connect to Snowflake?

Power BI, Tableau, Looker, Excel and others through standard ODBC/JDBC and native connectors. We design and implement the semantic layer above Snowflake for performant, governed reporting.

What is data governance?

Data governance is the set of policies, processes, standards and accountabilities that determine how data is collected, stored, accessed, used and maintained. Good governance makes reporting reliable, AI projects viable, and regulatory compliance achievable.

How does One51 handle sensitive operational data in energy environments?

We follow strict data security practices including encrypted data in transit and at rest, role-based access control, multi-factor authentication and data minimisation principles. We comply with the Australian Privacy Act and work within your organisation's security and compliance framework throughout every engagement.

How does a composable CDP differ from a traditional CDP?

A traditional CDP is an off-the-shelf platform you license and configure. A composable CDP is built within your existing data infrastructure - giving you full ownership and complete flexibility to integrate with any current or future system.

Which government agencies has One51 worked with?

One51 has delivered engagements with NSW state government agencies including the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Infrastructure NSW and Crown Lands. We have also designed data sharing platforms connecting state and federal regulatory bodies.

Does One51 work with both large energy utilities and smaller retailers?

Yes. Our work spans large network operators such as Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy, as well as energy retailers and market participants. We scale our approach to the size and maturity of the organisation.

Are funding programs available through technology partners?

 In some cases, yes. Certain technology vendors offer funding, advisory services, workshops, or proof-of-concept programs that can support strategic initiatives. Eligibility depends on the technology provider and project scope. 

Can One51 help with ministerial and executive reporting requirements?

Yes. We have delivered real-time operational and ministerial reporting solutions that replace manual, fragmented reporting processes with automated, governed dashboards. These give ministers, executives and directorates accurate, timely visibility without the manual effort.

What is the Composer accelerator?

Composer is One51's proprietary metadata-driven data framework that automates end-to-end data ingestion pipeline construction - generating pipeline code from metadata configuration rather than manual coding.

What are One51's proprietary accelerators and how do they help?

Our accelerators are pre-built frameworks and tools that speed up common data and AI delivery tasks. Composer automates data ingestion pipelines. Switchblade migrates BI reports between platforms at speed. VizShifter converts report visualisations automatically. Customer360 provides an identity resolution model for a single customer view. The Data Quality FW automates quality checks and exception reporting. Composable CDP provides a composable Customer Data Platform with martech integration.

Does One51 offer ongoing support after an initial project?

Yes. We offer managed services arrangements that provide ongoing platform support, pipeline monitoring, incident management and analytics delivery. Many clients move from an initial project engagement into a managed support arrangement so their team can focus on strategic work rather than BAU operations.

What is data stewardship?

Data stewardship is the ongoing practice of managing and maintaining data quality, standards and definitions. One51 helps design stewardship operating models defining who is responsible for specific data domains and how stewardship is governed.

What does technology agnostic mean?

It means One51 does not have a financial incentive to recommend one platform over another. We hold certifications across competing platforms and our recommendations are based on what is right for your environment.

What happens during a critical incident?

Critical incidents trigger our defined response process - immediate notification, investigation and triage, regular status updates, and resolution within the agreed response time. Post-incident reviews prevent recurrence.

Does One51 provide ongoing managed support for Databricks?

Yes. We provide managed operations including pipeline monitoring, incident management, performance optimisation, cost management and ongoing analytics delivery.

What data and AI services does One51 provide to government agencies?

One51 provides data platform modernisation, cross-agency data integration, AI strategy within government compliance frameworks, ministerial and operational reporting, data governance and sovereignty frameworks, and citizen services analytics for state government agencies.

What does a typical managed support arrangement cost?

Entry-level arrangements covering basic platform monitoring and incident response typically start from a few thousand dollars per month. More comprehensive arrangements covering analytics delivery and dedicated support are scoped based on requirements.

What is the Switchblade accelerator?

Switchblade is One51's AI-powered BI tool migration accelerator. It automates migrating reports from one BI platform to another - significantly reducing time, cost and risk of platform migrations.

What is One51's Customer360 accelerator?

Customer360 is One51's proprietary identity resolution model that creates a single customer golden record from multiple data sources. It has been deployed for major Australian retailers and fast-food brands, combining tens of millions of customer data points into unique, persistent customer profiles.

What is the difference between Databricks and Microsoft Fabric?

Databricks is an open, multi-cloud platform optimised for large-scale data engineering, ML and complex AI workloads. Fabric is a unified SaaS platform better suited to Microsoft ecosystem organisations seeking simplicity and integrated Power BI. One51 is certified across both.

Does One51 only implement partner technologies?

 No. While we maintain strategic partnerships with leading vendors, our focus is always on delivering the right solution for the client. We can work with existing platforms and broader technology ecosystems where appropriate. 

What is the first step to working with One51 on a retail data challenge?

The easiest starting point is a 90-minute Discovery Session. We will map your current data landscape, identify the highest-value opportunities and give you a clear, honest view of what a practical first engagement looks like.

What property management and finance systems do you work with?

We have experience integrating with a range of property, fund management and finance systems including Yardi, MRI, ARGUS, Salesforce, various general ledger platforms and investor reporting tools. We assess your current environment at the start of every engagement and design integrations accordingly.

Does One51 have experience working with retail organisations?

Yes. One51 has delivered data, analytics and digital transformation solutions for leading Australian retailers and retail-adjacent organisations, including KFC Australia, Craveable Brands, Rexel Group and Kennards Hire. Our experience spans customer analytics, operational reporting, cloud data platforms, AI, business intelligence and enterprise data transformation.

How does managed support differ from a project engagement?

A project has a defined scope and end date. Managed support is an ongoing arrangement where One51 operates as an extension of your internal team. Most clients move into managed support after a project delivery.

Can One51 help with data strategy for the energy transition?

Yes. The energy transition is creating new data complexity - DER integration, EV load forecasting, renewable generation analytics, ESG reporting and AEMO regulatory change. We help energy organisations design data foundations and AI capabilities that are built to adapt as the sector evolves.

Can One51 help with supply chain and inventory analytics?

Yes. We help retailers improve supply chain visibility and inventory management through data-driven insights. Our work in this area includes Vendor Managed Inventory platforms built on Snowflake, supply chain performance analytics and demand forecasting solutions.

What tools does One51 use for data governance?

We work with Microsoft Purview for governance and lineage in Microsoft environments, our proprietary Data Quality Framework for automated monitoring, and Databricks Unity Catalog for centralised governance in Databricks environments. We also work with other data governance tools that our customers are using.

What does technology agnostic mean?

One51 does not favour or promote any single vendor. We hold certifications across competing platforms - Fabric, Databricks and Snowflake - so recommendations are based on what is right for your environment, not what benefits us commercially.

How does One51 take over support of an existing platform?

We begin with a structured handover and discovery period - reviewing existing architecture, documentation and known issues, assessing platform health, and identifying remediation required before taking operational responsibility.

Does One51 work with Azure Machine Learning?

Yes. Azure ML is part of our AI strategy and implementation capability - used for model development, training, deployment and monitoring.

What is Microsoft Purview?

Microsoft Purview is Microsoft's data governance and compliance platform, providing data catalogue, lineage, classification, access governance and compliance management across Microsoft and third-party sources. One51 implements Purview as part of data governance engagements.

What is the difference between business intelligence and advanced analytics?

Business intelligence describes what has happened - historical reporting, dashboards and KPI monitoring. Advanced analytics explains why and predicts what will happen next - statistical modelling, machine learning and AI. One51 delivers across the full spectrum.

Does One51 work with dbt?

Yes. dbt (data build tool) is widely used for data transformation within data warehouses and lakehouses. We use dbt within Databricks, Snowflake and other platform environments.

What is the typical timeline for a customer analytics engagement?

A focused single view of customer build typically takes 8 to 12 weeks. A broader customer analytics and marketing integration program may take 12 to 20 weeks.

What data foundations does my organisation need before implementing AI?

Successful AI requires data that is connected, of known quality, governed with clear ownership, and available in a form AI models can reliably consume. Most AI projects fail because these foundations are missing.

Can Snowflake support AI and ML workloads?

Yes. Through Snowpark (Python, Java and Scala ML development) and Cortex AI (generative AI and text analytics). One51 has delivered sentiment analysis solutions using Snowflake and Azure Cognitive Services.

What data systems do you integrate with in energy environments?

We have experience integrating with SCADA, ADMS, GIS, AMI smart meter systems, SAP, Maximo, Copperleaf, billing platforms, CRM systems and market systems including AEMO feeds. We take a pragmatic approach to integration - working with what the organisation has rather than requiring a wholesale system change.

Does One51 help with Fabric cost management?

Yes. We provide visibility and control over Fabric and Azure cloud consumption - identifying waste and optimising capacity management.

What is Databricks and when is it the right choice?

Databricks is a cloud-native data intelligence platform well-suited to organisations with large data volumes, complex data engineering requirements or significant machine learning workloads. We are certified Databricks professionals and have delivered migrations for Ausgrid. One51 is a Databricks Partner and can help you assess whether Databricks is right for your environment. 

Does One51 offer ongoing support after a project is delivered?

Yes. We offer managed services arrangements for data platforms, pipelines and ongoing analytics delivery. Many clients move from project delivery into a managed support arrangement so their internal team can focus on strategic priorities rather than BAU operations.

What does AI-ready actually mean for a data platform?

An AI-ready platform has connected, governed, quality-assured data available in formats AI models can reliably consume - including unified storage, clear lineage, consistent quality standards and appropriate access controls. We design this from day one.

Can One51 work with our existing technology investments?

Yes. We always start by understanding and working within your existing environment and look to maximise value of what you already have before recommending new investment.

Can One51 help an organisation that is just starting its data journey?

Absolutely. Many of our most successful engagements start with a Discovery Session where we help leadership understand the current state, identify the highest-value starting point and define a practical roadmap - before any significant investment is made.

How does Snowflake handle large data volumes?

Through separation of storage and compute. Virtual Warehouses scale independently of storage, and multiple warehouses query the same data simultaneously without resource contention.

What AI platforms does One51 work with?

We work with Azure AI, Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Copilot, Power Platform automation, Databricks MLflow and other leading platforms. We are technology-agnostic.

What data and AI technology platforms does One51 work with?

One51 is certified and experienced across Microsoft Fabric, Azure, Power BI, Power Platform, Databricks, Snowflake, dbt, Fivetran, Census, Azure OpenAI and other modern data and AI platforms.

What is a data governance maturity assessment?

An assessment evaluating your current governance practices across data ownership, quality standards, data catalogue, lineage, access controls and compliance posture - producing a clear picture of where you stand and prioritised recommendations.

How does One51 approach government data security and privacy requirements?

We design all government data platforms with security, privacy and sovereignty requirements built in from day one. This includes compliance with the Australian Privacy Act, state Government data frameworks, role-based access control, encryption in transit and at rest, and multi-factor authentication. We do not take shortcuts on security in government environments.

What is customer identity resolution?

Identity resolution is the process of matching customer records across different data sources to determine that multiple records represent the same individual. Without it, a customer who appears in multiple systems may be counted as several separate people.

Can One51 help with platform migrations?

Yes. Platform migrations are a core competency - from SQL Server to Snowflake, Synapse to Databricks, on-premises to Fabric, and between BI platforms using our Switchblade and VizShifter accelerators.

What cloud platforms does One51 use for government data work?

We work primarily with Microsoft Azure, Databricks and Microsoft Fabric for government engagements, given the strong security, compliance and sovereignty credentials of the Microsoft government cloud. We have delivered Fabric implementations for NSW Government as a Microsoft Fabric Featured Partner.

What is a single view of customer?

A single view of customer is a unified record combining all data about an individual customer from every system and touchpoint - loyalty, ordering, billing, CRM, digital channels and more. It enables better service, more relevant communications and more effective analytics.

How does One51 approach regulatory reporting for energy organisations?

Regulatory reporting in energy requires defensible, auditable data with clear lineage and consistent calculation logic. We design data platforms with governance built in from day one - including data quality frameworks, lineage tracking and compliance-aligned reporting layers. We have delivered regulatory reporting solutions for AER obligations.

How does One51 roll out AI Foundry?

One51 rolls out Microsoft Foundry using proven frameworks from discovery to solution decision, governance and guardrails into technical implementation, use case delivery and adoption.

What are Customer & Operational Insights?

 Customer & Operational Insights combine data from across the organisation to provide a complete view of customer relationships, operational performance, and business outcomes. These solutions enable leaders to make faster, more informed decisions.

What types of operational reporting does One51 deliver?

 We design and implement reporting and analytics solutions across sales, supply chain, customer service, incident management, people and culture, finance, executive reporting, operations, and other business functions.

Can you work with our existing reporting platform?

Yes. We work with organisations to enhance existing reporting environments or modernise them using platforms such as Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Azure, Databricks, and Snowflake.
 

How does Customer 360 fit into this solution?

 Customer 360 provides the trusted customer data foundation that supports customer analytics, segmentation, engagement, and AI-driven customer intelligence. 

Can these solutions support AI initiatives?

 Absolutely. High-quality, governed business data is essential for AI. Our reporting and analytics solutions establish the trusted data foundation required for predictive analytics, intelligent automation, and AI-powered decision making.