What it Means to Lead BI Strategy at Agoda

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, Business Intelligence (BI) has become increasingly pivotal for organizations aiming to make data-driven decisions that can steer them toward growth, innovation, and sustained success.

At Agoda, we rely on data to inform every aspect of our operations, from optimizing user experiences and enhancing customer satisfaction to refining marketing strategies and ensuring operational efficiency.

In this blog, Hadar Zaidi, our Head of BI strategy, delves into the core responsibilities, challenges, and rewards of this role, shedding light on how it contributes to Agoda’s ongoing journey of enhancing the travel experience for millions worldwide.

My Path to Agoda: Embracing New Horizons and Innovation

Agoda had been on my radar for a while, thanks to the many positive endorsements I received from acquaintances. The prospect of experiencing cutting-edge technologies, tackling fresh challenges, and immersing myself in diverse cultures was undeniably appealing.

What added to the allure was that Agoda’s mission revolves around travel — a personal passion of mine. I was excited about the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, leaving behind the familiar environment and embarking on a new adventure in a vibrant country like Thailand.

BI Strategy at Agoda

Within Agoda, the BI Strategy encompasses various crucial areas related to data.

• BI Infra Ops — deals with all Data Collection and Integration, collecting data from many sources and integrating them into our main core table, fact booking, for effective and easy data analysis.
• BI Infra Visualization — maintains all visualization tools and customized visualization solutions. We work with different tools like Tableau, Metabase, and Superset. We define best practices for visualization and provide knowledge and solutions for our users. Leverage the culture of a data-driven company.
• BI Infra DBA — maintain our services, DBs like Vertica and MSSQL, including reporting tools, software, etc.
• Data Quality & Governance — set up best practices and standards, provide data quality tools, monitor the data quality, metadata management, and privacy.
• Data Support — provide support for every related data question of our users in Agoda and partners that use our data.
• Continuous Improvement — Regularly reviewing and refining our strategy to adapt to the business needs and technological advancements.

Motivating and Aligning Our Team

Ensuring our team remains motivated and aligned with the company’s goals is vital. To achieve this, we employ several strategies:

• Agoda Values — In Agoda, our Agoda values are the pillars of our daily work. These values provide a compass for making the right decisions and create a foundation for internal and external collaboration.

• Skill Development & Opportunities — We want to ensure our teams develop their skills constantly. We prioritize continuous skill development, offering team members opportunities to learn new technologies through training sessions, workshops, and access to valuable resources. Staying updated with industry trends and a willingness to embrace change, pioneer, and experience new technologies keeps our team engaged and motivated.
• Emphasizing the Value of Their Work — Our team needs to understand the significance of their contributions to the company’s success. We make a concerted effort to connect the dots between their efforts and the broader company goals. For instance, we received feedback from a user who highlighted the value of our data support in helping them navigate complex data-related tasks. Other examples are the high usage of our fact booking table and user feedback about the quality tools we provide. Sharing such positive feedback helps team members see the real-world impact of their work and reinforces their motivation and high level of service.
• Open Communication and Feedback Loop — We encourage team members to voice their ideas, concerns, and suggestions, fostering a sense of ownership and involvement in decision-making processes.
• Recognition — We recognize and appreciate good work through positive feedback, and we also define clear technical career paths for BI developers, which helps them know the expectations and build a growth plan with direct managers according to the opportunities and their personal goals.
• Team Activities — We create a positive work environment through team-building activities to keep everyone connected.

Recent Innovations

We’ve introduced some innovations that have had a substantial impact at Agoda.

Fact booking: Although not a new addition, it’s so valuable. Its simplicity allows more and more users to get their required analysis easily in minimum time.

Data Validation Tool: Another noteworthy mention is our Data Validation Tool. This tool empowers users to configure data validations effortlessly, proactively identifying and addressing data quality issues before they impact end-users.

Navigating Life as a Manager

Being a manager at Agoda has been a unique experience for me. It marked my first international relocation and introduced me to a diverse range of people and cultures. Working alongside passionate individuals eager to solve problems and collaborate has been incredibly rewarding. The openness to learning and diverse perspectives within the organization is inspiring.

On the tech side, Agoda offers a dynamic environment to work in, with many challenges and opportunities to learn new things, impact, and do meaningful work. Having professional managers who provide mentorship and trust adds to the positive experience. Agoda also values investment in and support for manager development, offering training and growth opportunities.

Career Advice for Aspiring BI Professionals

To excel as a BI professional, you must possess a dual skill set that combines technological expertise with a deep understanding of business dynamics. The world of data is constantly changing, shifting towards big data, evolving technologies, and a plethora of tools.

Success in this field requires a genuine commitment to continuous learning, embracing new technologies, platforms, and tools, and tackling complex problems through analytical thinking. Above all, your passion and drive for innovation will make you truly shine in this ever-changing field.

Advice for Aspiring Women in BI and Tech Leadership

BI is such an exciting field that combines business and technology. It offers ample opportunities for self-development and growth. I want to share a valuable advice that resonated with me and was shared by our CEO, Omri Morgenshtern: “Be Yourself.” Don’t try to become a manager who isn’t authentically you. Be confident with who you are. Your skills and contributions have value and impact.