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Data analytics consulting

Data analytics consulting that turns every department's data into decisions

Data analytics consulting that joins finance, sales, marketing and operations data, so the CFO, COO and CMO decide from the same figures.

See how we work
Four sources, one governed model, decisions by roleCRM, ERP, accounting and marketing data feed one governed model, which serves CFO, COO and CMO dashboards that end in renew, hire and move-budget decisions.SourcesGoverned modelRole dashboardsDecisionsCRMERPAccountingMarketingOne definition per KPICFO viewCOO viewCMO viewRenewHireMove budgetEvery dashboard ends in a named decisionFour sources, one governed model, decisions by roleCRM, ERP, accounting and marketing data feed one governed model, which serves CFO, COO and CMO dashboards that end in renew, hire and move-budget decisions.SourcesCRMERPAccountingMarketingGoverned modelOne definition per KPIRole dashboardsDecisionsCFO viewCOO viewCMO viewRenewHireMove budgetEvery dashboard endsin a named decision

Hurtado Analytics is a data analytics consulting firm for leadership teams that have plenty of data and too few reliable answers. We design the data strategy, connect your systems, build the dashboards and stay until the numbers are used in the weekly meeting.

Our data consulting services start from the decision, not the tool. We ask what the CFO, COO or CMO needs to decide, which metric would change that decision, and where the data for it lives today. Then we build the shortest reliable path from source system to answer.

We work with companies in the US, the UAE and worldwide, delivering remotely and on site from our Dubai headquarters. Book a consultation to review your current reporting and the decisions it should support.

Sample dashboards

See the output first: three dashboards that each name a decision

Every build engagement ends in a working deliverable. These samples run on demo data and show the format and KPIs we would build for you.

Four sample dashboards, one governed data model

Demo data
Revenue (month)$4.21M▲ +3.1% vs budget
Gross margin37.9%▼ -2.0 pts since May
Operating cash flow$612K▲ +$94K vs prior month
Budget variance-2.3%▲ Opex over plan

Gross margin is falling in one entity

Gross margin by entity, %, May to Oct

30%35%40%45%MayJunJulAugSepOctEntity AEntity B40.3% in Oct: Entity B down 5.3 points30%35%40%45%MayJulSep40.3% in Oct: Entity B down 5.3 points
Entity AEntity B

So what: Review pricing and cost mix in Entity B before the board pack.

EntityRevenueMarginVs budget
Entity A$2.52M40.3%+6.8%
Entity B$1.69M34.2%-1.9%
View 1

Close the month with one reconciled view

CFO dashboard: revenue, gross margin, cash flow and budget variance by entity and month.

View 2

Know early if the quarter is at risk

Pipeline coverage, stage conversion, win rate and forecast against target, by team.

View 3

Spot the site that is slipping this week

Throughput, on-time delivery, backlog and cost per unit by site.

We walk through each sample in a consultation.

Challenges we solve

Analytics projects stall on definitions, not on software

The issue is rarely a lack of data or software. It is a clear line from business question to trusted metric to the person who acts on it. Analytics projects stall in the same few places, and each one has a fix that does not require a new platform.

  1. 1End the debate over whose number is right

    We define each metric once and publish it from one governed model, so meetings start with action. Finance, sales and operations stop pulling revenue from different systems with different filters, so the leadership meeting can move straight to what to do next. Agreed definitions also make audits, board packs and lender reporting simpler to prepare.

    Meetings can focus on actions.

  2. 2Build fewer dashboards that people actually open

    We start from each role's weekly decisions and design only the views that support them. Each view has an owner, a threshold and a review date, so it is opened every week by the people who need it. Leaders learn where to look, and the views stay relevant because each one answers a named question.

    Usage is tracked after launch.

  3. 3Free analysts from monthly copy-and-paste

    Automated pipelines from CRM, ERP and accounting replace manual exports and reconciliation. Reports refresh on schedule, the logic is documented, and the business no longer depends on one person to produce the monthly pack. Finance and analytics staff can spend that time on analysis, planning and support to the business.

    Month-end becomes routine.

  4. 4Trust CRM and ERP data again

    Cleansing, validation rules and named data owners fix quality at the source. Pipeline and customer reports become reliable again, and leaders stop falling back on instinct when the numbers look wrong. Validation at entry stops bad records before they spread into reports, automations and forecasts.

    Owners review exceptions weekly.

  5. 5Stop paying for tools nobody uses

    We map metrics to goals first, then decide which tools stay, change or go. Spend can fall without weakening reporting, because every remaining tool supports a defined metric and decision. An independent view means recommendations follow your needs, not a software sales target.

    Licenses are reviewed yearly.

  6. 6Keep reports current after handover

    Training, documented definitions, a named owner and an optional embedded data team keep reporting alive. Reporting evolves as the business changes, instead of drifting out of date in the months after the delivery team leaves. The named owner and documented logic make every change safe, visible and easy to review.

    Every change is documented.

Six reports disagree; one governed model settles revenueSix team reports show revenue between 3.96 and 4.62 million; after one governed model, every dashboard shows 4.21 million. Demo data.Six reports disagree; one governed model settles revenueOctober revenue as reported by each team, $MDemo dataFinance$4.21MSales$4.48MOperations$3.96MMarketing$4.62MBoard pack$4.30MRegional$4.05MSix filters, six answersOne governed modelDefined onceCFO$4.21MSales leader$4.21MCOO$4.21MSame figure in every meetingSix reports disagree; one governed model settles revenueSix team reports show revenue between 3.96 and 4.62 million; after one governed model, every dashboard shows 4.21 million. Demo data.Demo dataSix reports disagree; onegoverned model settles revenueOctober revenue as reported by each team, $MFinance$4.21MSales$4.48MOperations$3.96MMarketing$4.62MBoard pack$4.30MRegional$4.05MSix filters, six answersOne governed modelDefined onceCFO$4.21MSales leader$4.21MCOO$4.21MSame figure in every meeting

The six patterns below are common in companies whose reporting grew faster than its definitions.

Each pattern below has a cost. Leadership time is spent reconciling figures instead of deciding. Analysts become report assemblers. Investment in software grows while confidence in the numbers falls. And because the problems are spread across departments, no single owner feels responsible for fixing them.

Good data analytics consulting addresses the causes rather than the symptoms. That means agreeing definitions, fixing data at the source, automating the flow between systems and making adoption part of the plan from day one.

Data maturity shapes the right fix. A team still assembling reports by hand needs data preparation and integration first. A team with trusted dashboards may need change management, so leaders use them in the meetings where decisions are made.

A short assessment shows which pattern costs you most. It reviews current reports, data sources and the decisions they feed, then ranks the fixes by effort and business value. The output is a short list of changes, each tied to a decision and an owner, that leadership can approve or reject in one meeting.

That list becomes the first phase of work. Each later phase starts from the same question: which decision is still slow, disputed or made without data?

The pattern behind all six is the same: data was collected before anyone agreed which decision it should support.

What it is

Data analytics consulting means every dashboard supports a named decision

Definition

Data analytics consulting is the work of turning scattered business data into reliable answers that leaders use to make decisions. At Hurtado Analytics we frame it as decision intelligence: every dataset, model and dashboard we build exists to support a specific decision made by a specific person.

  1. In practice, that means five connected pieces of work. We define the data strategy and the metrics that matter. We collect and track data correctly at the source. We integrate it into a warehouse with governed definitions. We build business intelligence dashboards and embedded analytics people actually use. And we automate the processes around the data so reporting runs without manual effort.

  2. We are an independent analytics consulting firm. We recommend platforms based on fit, not resale margin, and we work across Power BI, HubSpot, Salesforce, GA4, NetSuite, Odoo, Zoho, QuickBooks, Airtable and automation tools such as Zapier, Make and n8n.

  3. The result is not a report pack. It is a decision system: the right metric, at the right time, in front of the person accountable for acting on it.

  4. Because each piece of work is tied to a decision, its value can be checked against business outcomes. That keeps the conversation about measurable ROI grounded in evidence agreed at the start, not in promises.

  5. It also means fewer, better reports, each with a clear purpose. Each role sees a small number of views built for its own decisions, as the examples below show.

Five layers of work sit under every decisionFive layers of work, from data strategy at the base to automation, all serve one named decision at the top.Five layers of work sit under every decisionWhat a data analytics consulting engagement builds, from the base upA named decision, made by a named person5 AutomationReporting runs without manual effort4 Dashboards and embedded analyticsViews built for each role3 Integration and governanceA warehouse with one definition per metric2 Collection and trackingData captured correctly at the source1 Data strategy and metricsWhich decisions, which KPIs, who owns themBuilt bottom to top; the decision at the top is what each layer serves.Five layers of work sit under every decisionFive layers of work, from data strategy at the base to automation, all serve one named decision at the top.Five layers of work sit underevery decisionWhat a data analytics consultingengagement builds, from the base upA named decision, made by anamed person5 AutomationReporting runs without manual effort4 Dashboards and embeddedanalyticsViews built for each role3 Integration and governanceA warehouse with one definition permetric2 Collection and trackingData captured correctly at the source1 Data strategy and metricsWhich decisions, which KPIs, who ownsthem

CFO: decide where cash and margin go

One reconciled view of revenue, margin and cash, with budget variance the board can rely on.

COO: decide which site or line needs attention

Throughput, utilization, on-time delivery and cost per unit, refreshed automatically with alerts.

CMO and RevOps: decide where the budget goes

Clean CRM data and attribution that link marketing spend to pipeline and revenue.

CEO: decide where to invest next

A single view of performance across departments, tied to the goals in the strategic plan. Investment cases rest on figures that every department accepts.

Board: decide with confidence

Consistent metrics from period to period, with documented logic behind every figure. Questions from directors can be answered from the same documented figures.

Data and IT leads: decide what to maintain

A governed architecture with fewer one-off reports and clear ownership of each dataset. Maintenance effort falls as one-off reports are retired.

Decide where cash and margin go

One reconciled view of revenue, margin and cash, with budget variance the board can rely on.

  • Revenue, gross margin and cash flow by entity
  • Budget variance by month
  • One number per metric across departments
Services

Data consulting services that run from strategy to adoption

Our data consulting services cover the full path from strategy to adoption. Each service can run as a strategy and implementation project, as ongoing advisory, or through a fractional or embedded data team that works alongside your staff. We also offer team training, workshops and an AI and data readiness assessment for companies preparing new initiatives.

Every service starts from the same question: which decision should this support, and who makes it? That keeps scope tight and makes the value of each piece of work easy to see.

You can start with one service and extend once the first decisions are supported. If you are unsure where to begin, an AI and data readiness assessment can come first, because it ranks the gaps between your data and the decisions leaders need to make.

Benefits

Benefits of data analytics consulting: faster decisions you can defend

The main benefit of data analytics consulting is speed to a trusted decision. An outside team brings structured methods, helps avoid common architecture mistakes and delivers working reporting while your people stay focused on running the business. The benefits show up in five areas.

These benefits compound. Once definitions are agreed and data flows automatically, each new report or dashboard is faster and cheaper to build than the last. Advanced analytics consulting questions, such as deeper profitability or customer analysis, become practical because the foundation is already in place.

Each new dashboard ships faster than the lastOn one governed model, build time falls from 6 weeks for the first dashboard to 1.5 weeks for the fifth (demo data).Each new dashboard ships faster than the lastBuild time per dashboard on one governed model, weeksDemo data0246weeks61st3.52nd2.53rd24th1.55thThe fifth dashboard takes a quarter of the time of the firstEach new dashboard ships faster than the lastOn one governed model, build time falls from 6 weeks for the first dashboard to 1.5 weeks for the fifth (demo data).Each new dashboard shipsfaster than the lastBuild time per dashboard on one governedmodel, weeksDemo data1st6 weeks2nd3.5 weeks3rd2.5 weeks4th2 weeks5th1.5 weeksThe fifth dashboard takes aquarter of the time of the first

The benefits also reach beyond the data team. Executives gain confidence in the numbers they present to the board, managers gain earlier warning of issues in their area, and the whole organization spends less time debating figures.

In short, data analytics consulting services shorten the distance between a question and a trusted answer. Leaders spend less time asking for reports and more time acting on them.

The benefits are concrete for each role. For the CFO, it is a board pack that reconciles the first time. For the COO, it is earlier warning when a site or line slips. For the CMO, it is a budget case that finance accepts.

Every benefit can be measured, and we measure each one at the start and at the end of the engagement.

  • Spend meetings deciding, not reconciling

    Shared definitions mean one number per metric across every department.

  • Give analyst hours back to analysis

    Automated pipelines replace exports and spreadsheet reconciliation.

  • Fix data once, improve every report

    Governance at the source lifts quality in every downstream report and automation.

  • See problems earlier

    Each KPI has an owner, a target and a review date.

  • Pay only for tools that earn their place

    An independent stack review shows overlap before more licenses are bought.

  • Build on a foundation that scales

    Each new report reuses governed data, so advanced analytics consulting questions become practical sooner.

What we offer

What data analytics consulting covers, from tracking to embedded dashboards

Analytics consulting spans more than dashboards. These capabilities can be combined into a single engagement or delivered one at a time, depending on where your data is today.

Tomorrow's data is captured correctly today

Data collection and tracking in GA4, tag management and CRM forms, with agreed naming. Consent is handled up front.

Customers see their data inside your product

Embedded analytics in your portal, with access controls for each viewer. Each viewer sees only their data.

Learn more about Embedded Analytics

Every capability follows the same principle: start from the decision, define the metric, then build the data flow that supports it.

You rarely need all six at once. A common first engagement fixes collection and integration, then builds the dashboards one leadership team needs. Governance, automation and embedded analytics follow once the first decisions are supported. Each step reuses the same data model, so later work is faster and cheaper than the first. The order is set by your priorities, not by a fixed package.

Each capability is delivered by one connected team, so nothing is lost in handoffs between strategy, data engineering and dashboard design. That continuity is what keeps definitions consistent from the first pipeline to the last chart, and it helps reports stay consistent as they grow.

For a growing group, the same capabilities scale across entities and regions without a new design for each one.

You choose the starting point; we make sure every later step builds on it without rework or duplicated logic.

Key figures

We measure success in hours saved and decisions made

We agree on success measures at the start of every engagement and report against them at the end. These are the outcomes we track.

Each measure is baselined at discovery and rechecked at handoverDumbbell chart: days to close 12 to 5, manual hours 86 to 18, KPIs defined 35% to 100%, dashboards in meetings 2 to 9. Demo data.Each measure is baselined at discovery and rechecked at handoverExample engagement (demo data), discovery vs handover; each row on its own scaleDemo dataDiscoveryHandoverClose the monthDays to reconciled report, lower is better125Return hours to analysisManual hours per month, lower is better861868 hours a month backOne definition per KPI% of KPIs defined and owned35%100%Dashboards in meetingsDashboards reviewed each month29Each measure is baselined at discovery and rechecked at handoverDumbbell chart: days to close 12 to 5, manual hours 86 to 18, KPIs defined 35% to 100%, dashboards in meetings 2 to 9. Demo data.Demo dataEach measure is baselinedat discovery and recheckedat handoverExample engagement (demo data), discoveryvs handover; each row on its own scaleDiscoveryHandoverClose the monthDays to reconciled report, lower is better125Return hours to analysisManual hours per month, lower is better861868 hours a month backOne definition per KPI% of KPIs defined and owned35%100%Dashboards in meetingsDashboards reviewed each month29
Measure 1

Close the month faster

Days from period close to a reconciled management report, before and after.

Measure 2

Return hours to analysis

Recurring hours spent exporting and reconciling data, removed by automation.

Measure 3

One definition per KPI

Share of leadership KPIs with a documented definition and a named owner.

Measure 4

Dashboards used in real meetings

Active users and the meetings where each dashboard is reviewed.

Measures are baselined during discovery and reviewed at handover, so improvement is visible and documented rather than assumed.

We do not promise figures in advance. We measure them, show the change and let the results make the case for the next phase.

Your leadership team agrees the measures with us, and the baseline is recorded before any build work starts.

Industries

One method, adapted to each industry's decisions

Data problems look similar across industries, but the decisions and KPIs differ. We adapt our data analytics consulting services to the metrics, systems and reporting rhythms of each sector.

Manufacturing: see output and margin together

OEE, yield, scrap and downtime joined with ERP cost per unit. Plant and finance leaders share one view.

Construction: catch margin fade before closeout

Job costing, WIP and change orders from project and accounting systems. Contractor CFOs see WIP without manual schedules.

Professional services: know which clients earn their margin

Utilization, realization and project margin from CRM, time tracking and accounting. Practice leaders see capacity and profit together.

SaaS: board metrics that hold up

Recurring revenue, churn and expansion reconciled across billing, CRM and finance. Finance and sales report the same figures.

Distribution and e-commerce: find where margin leaks

Inventory turns, fill rate and channel margin from storefront, ERP and marketing data. Planners act before stock runs short.

Multi-entity groups: close the group faster

Consolidation across entities and currencies, with entity-level drill-down. The board sees results by entity and in total.

We learn the vocabulary and systems of each industry before building anything. That shortens discovery, avoids generic dashboards and produces reports that operations, finance and commercial leaders recognize as their own.

If your industry is not listed, the same methods apply. We start from the decisions your leadership team makes and the systems that hold the data.

The pattern is the same everywhere. Operations data and finance data live in different systems, and leaders need both to make a decision. Our work joins them, defines the KPIs once and puts the result in front of the person who acts on it. Industry knowledge decides which KPIs come first, which systems to connect and which meetings the dashboards should serve.

Industry context also shapes the language of each dashboard. Regulation and reporting rules also differ by market. A UAE group may need VAT and corporate tax views across entities, while a US company may need sales tax and multi-state reporting.

A contractor CFO talks about WIP and margin fade; a plant manager talks about OEE and scrap. We use your words, not generic labels, so the reports feel familiar from the first day.

Comparison

We advise first, train where needed and implement only when you are ready

Our engagements follow a deliberate order. We begin with advisory work to understand your decisions, data and team, and to confirm that we can genuinely help. Where your team needs new skills, we provide training. We propose implementation only once the scope is clear and your organization is ready to adopt the result.

Advice first, implementation when you are readyAdvisory comes first and confirms whether we can genuinely help. Training follows where the team needs it. A fit and readiness check comes before implementation; if the organization is not ready, the work continues with advisory or training.Advice first, implementation when you are readyHow a Hurtado Analytics engagement progressesSTAGE 1AdvisoryDecisions, data and teamCan we genuinely help?STAGE 2TrainingIf requiredYour team can own the workReady?Fit and readiness checkSTAGE 3ImplementationOffered when you are readyBuilt to be adoptedYesNot ready yet: continue with advisory or trainingWe confirm that we can genuinely help before we offer implementation.Advice first, implementation when you are readyAdvisory comes first and confirms whether we can genuinely help. Training follows where the team needs it. A fit and readiness check comes before implementation; if the organization is not ready, the work continues with advisory or training.Advice first, implementationwhen you are readyHow a Hurtado Analytics engagement progressesSTAGE 1 · AdvisoryCan we genuinely help?STAGE 2 · TrainingIf requiredReady?Fit andreadiness checkSTAGE 3 · ImplementationOffered when you are readyYesNot ready yet: we continue withadvisory or training.Implementation follows confirmed fit.
Hurtado AnalyticsLarge consultanciesFreelancers
How the engagement startsadvisory on your decisions, data and team before any build is proposeda defined program scope, often agreed at enterprise levelthe tool or task the client requests
Fit check before implementationwe confirm that we can genuinely help and that the organization is readyreadiness assessments are available, often as a separate engagementdepends on the individual
Team trainingprovided where required, so your team can own and use the workavailable, often as a separate workstreamdepends on individual skills
When implementation is offeredonce the scope is agreed and the organization is ready to adopt itas part of the program, often delivered by separate teamsfrom the start, as the requested task
Who does the workthe consultants who advise also train and buildstaffing varies by programone individual
Continuity until adoptiona named team accountable through adoption, with optional ongoing supportusually a new engagement for each phasedepends on one person's availability; work can stall when priorities change
Platform stanceindependent, no vendor tiesvendor alliances vary by firmdepends on individual skills
Best fitmid-size companies that want advice before they invest in a buildenterprise programs with large budgetsnarrow, well-defined tasks

This order reflects how we measure our work: by the results a client achieves, not by the size of the engagement. If an assessment shows that implementation is premature, or that another provider would serve you better, we say so. The comparison below sets this approach beside the two alternatives buyers usually consider: a large consultancy or a freelancer.

How we work

Each stage of a data analytics consulting engagement ends in a sign-off

Every engagement follows the same sequence: five delivery stages and a final value review. Scope and pace vary, but the order keeps work tied to decisions and avoids building before the definitions are agreed.

Each stage ends in a signed-off decision

Select a stage, use Next or the arrow keys

Discovery. Discovery: agree the decisions that matter. We interview the leaders, list their decisions and audit systems, reports and data quality.

Step 1 of 6

The sequence matters. Dashboards built before definitions are agreed tend to be rebuilt later, and reports launched without an adoption plan tend to go unopened. These stages are designed to prevent both.

You stay in control throughout. You approve the scope at the end of discovery, the definitions at the end of design and each dashboard before it goes live. Each stage ends with a review and a written sign-off.

Delivery is mostly remote, with on-site workshops where they add value, and sessions are scheduled to fit your time zone, from the US to the UAE. Timelines are confirmed in writing after discovery.

The result is a reporting system your team owns and trusts. Documentation, definitions and access stay with you, so the work can be extended by your own staff, by us or by another provider.

Start with one decision you want to make with confidence

Tell us which decisions your leadership team struggles to make with confidence today. In a first consultation we review your current reporting, the systems behind it and the gaps between the data you have and the answers you need.

You leave with a clear view of the next step, whether that is a strategy and implementation project, advisory support, a fractional data team, training for your team or an AI and data readiness assessment. Book a consultation to get started.

A first call covers current systems, reporting pain points and the leadership decisions that matter most this year.

See how we work
Frequently asked questions

Data analytics consulting: questions buyers ask before they hire a firm

The basics3

A data analytics consultant helps a business decide what to measure, connects the systems that hold the data, builds models and dashboards, and makes sure leaders use them. At Hurtado Analytics, each piece of work starts from a specific decision and the KPI that informs it.

Pricing depends on the engagement model and scope. Strategy and implementation projects are scoped to defined deliverables. Advisory and fractional data team engagements run on a recurring basis. Training and readiness assessments are fixed in scope. We confirm the model and scope in writing after the first consultation.

The first step is a consultation, followed by a short discovery phase. We interview the leaders who will use the output, list the decisions they make and audit current systems and data quality. You receive a findings summary and a recommended scope before any build work is agreed.

Scope, cost and working with us3

Yes. We are headquartered in Dubai and serve clients worldwide. Most delivery is remote, with on-site workshops where they add value. We schedule work across time zones so leadership reviews and training sessions fit your business hours. Where a project needs local presence, workshops and leadership sessions are held on site.

We work with Power BI, HubSpot, Salesforce, GA4, NetSuite, Odoo, Zoho, QuickBooks, Airtable, Zapier, Make and n8n. We are independent of every vendor, so platform recommendations are based on fit with your data, team and budget rather than on any reseller arrangement.

We start every engagement from a specific decision and the person who makes it, rather than from a tool or a dataset. The same consultants advise and build, we stay independent of every vendor, and adoption is part of the scope, so dashboards are used in leadership meetings rather than left unused after handover.

Related resources

Next: pick KPIs and platforms before you invest

Practical guides for leaders planning their next analytics investment, covering KPI design, platform choice and reporting by department.

Each guide is written for decision makers and links to the services and platforms it describes, so you can move from reading to a scoped next step.