Data Infrastructure for Electronics Manufacturers: A Practical Guide

Written By Evan Jennings

Why a Modern Data Stack Matters in Electronics Manufacturing

Imagine being able to see—at a glance—exactly which jobs are behind schedule, which customers are at risk of churn, and which parts of your operation are costing you the most money. That’s the power of a modern data stack.

Most electronics manufacturing companies already have systems in place to manage operations (like Epicor), track customer interactions (like HubSpot), and run payroll (like ADP). But these systems don’t talk to each other, and that means leaders often have to rely on gut instinct, spreadsheets, or fragmented reports.

A modern data stack brings all that information together in one place. It gives leadership teams a single source of truth: clear dashboards, timely metrics, and insights you can act on. This guide walks through how any electronics manufacturer—especially one just starting to formalize its data strategy—can build that kind of system efficiently and cost-effectively.

1. Low-Code ETL Tools: Streamlining Data Integration

Integrating data from various sources doesn't have to be a complex coding endeavor. Low-code ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tools offer user-friendly interfaces to connect and process data efficiently.​

Option A: Tray.io

  • Compatibility: Supports integrations with Epicor ERP, HubSpot, and ADP Workforce Now.

  • Microsoft Integration: Offers connectors for Microsoft products, facilitating seamless data flow into Microsoft ecosystems.

  • Cost: Provides scalable pricing models suitable for mid-sized businesses.

  • Benefits: Visual workflow builder, real-time data syncing, and extensive library of pre-built connectors.

Option B: Skyvia

  • Compatibility: Supports a wide range of data sources, including HubSpot and ADP.

  • Microsoft Integration: Offers direct connectors to Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL Database.

  • Cost: Offers a free tier with basic features and affordable paid plans.

  • Benefits: Cloud-based platform with data backup, replication, and synchronization features.​

2. Cloud Data Warehouses: Centralizing Data Storage

A cloud data warehouse serves as the central repository for all integrated data, enabling advanced analytics and reporting.​

Option A: Azure Synapse Analytics

  • Microsoft Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft tools like Power BI, Azure Data Factory, and Excel, providing a cohesive ecosystem for data analysis and visualization.

  • Scalability: Offers both serverless and dedicated SQL pools, allowing organizations to scale resources based on workload requirements.

  • Cost: Provides flexible pricing models, including pay-per-query for serverless options and reserved capacity for dedicated resources, enabling cost optimization based on usage patterns.

  • Benefits: Combines enterprise data warehousing and big data analytics into a unified platform, supports real-time analytics, and offers robust security features, including data encryption and role-based access control.

Option B: Snowflake

  • Compatibility: Cloud-agnostic, running on AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

  • Microsoft Integration: Integrates with Microsoft tools through connectors and APIs.

  • Cost: Usage-based pricing, allowing businesses to pay only for what they use.

  • Benefits: Separation of storage and compute resources, enabling flexible scaling.

3. Business Intelligence (BI) Tools: Visualizing Insights

BI tools transform raw data into actionable insights through dashboards and reports.

Option A: Microsoft Power BI

  • Microsoft Integration: Native integration with Microsoft products, offering a cohesive user experience.

  • Cost: Offers a free version with basic features and affordable Pro and Premium plans.

  • Benefits: User-friendly interface, real-time data access, and robust visualization capabilities.​

Option B: Tableau

  • Advanced Visualization: Renowned for its sophisticated and interactive data visualizations, Tableau excels in creating detailed and customizable dashboards that cater to complex analytical needs.

  • Data Connectivity: Offers robust native connectors to over 75 data sources, including Epicor ERP, HubSpot, and ADP Workforce Now, facilitating seamless data integration.

  • Microsoft Compatibility: While Tableau is platform-agnostic, it provides connectors and integration capabilities with Microsoft products, allowing for interoperability within a Microsoft-centric environment.

  • Cost: Tableau provides various pricing tiers, including Viewer, Explorer, and Creator licenses, with costs ranging from $12 to $70 per user per month, depending on functionality and access levels.

  • Benefits: Combines powerful analytics with user-friendly design, enabling users to uncover insights through intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and real-time data exploration.

Next Steps

Building a modern data infrastructure doesn’t have to be overwhelming—but it does require making the right choices early on. The tools outlined in this guide are a solid foundation, especially for electronics manufacturers working with systems like Epicor, HubSpot, and ADP.

If you're exploring how to bring all your data together and unlock clearer, faster insights across your business, we’d love to help.

Click the "Free Consultation" button at the top of this page to connect with Quantify Consulting, and learn how we can guide you through the process—from tool selection to implementation and beyond!

Evan Jennings
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