STREAMLINING DATA COLLECTION FOR THE OFFICE OF RAIL AND ROAD 

THE CHALLENGE

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), Britain’s railway regulator, faced a significant challenge in collecting performance data from Network Rail. The process was manual, leading to inconsistent data quality, and was further complicated by the varied formats of data returns from different teams. These inefficiencies made the collation, analysis, and consumption of crucial data extremely time-consuming and prone to error, particularly ahead of the critical five-year review of Network Rail’s plans and public funding allocations.

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THE SOLUTION

Determined to move away from the inefficient spreadsheet-based system, Whitetree and the ORR explored alternative methods for data collection. The solution was found in a custom application developed on Microsoft’s Power Apps platform. This innovative approach allowed for:

• A uniform user interface for data entry, which could be accessed across various devices, eliminating the inconsistencies of previous methods.

• Simple user forms within the app facilitated data input, while built-in data validation rules ensured data consistency.

• The integration of help and guidance tooltips within the app provided users with clear instructions and reminders about data requirements.

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IMPLEMENTATION & RESULTS

Upon submission, the data was automatically collated into a Power BI dashboard, transforming the way the ORR team interacted with the data. They could now:

• Access data in a standardised, easy-to-read format.

• Focus more on analysing data insights, thanks to the elimination of manual processing.

• Experience an overall more efficient, timely, and accurate data review process.

 

This Power Apps solution revolutionised the data collection and analysis process for the ORR, leading to improved data quality, enhanced efficiency, and better regulatory oversight of Network Rail’s performance and expenditure.