How do I set up automated data refresh schedules in Periscope to ensure timely updates without impacting system performance? – Periscope

Introduction

Automating data refresh schedules in Periscope by McKinsey is essential for keeping your data timely and accurate without compromising system performance. This guide provides step-by-step instructions and best practices to help you configure automated refreshes efficiently, ensuring a smooth user experience and platform reliability.

Why Automated Data Refresh Scheduling is Important

Mastering automated data refresh schedules helps maintain up-to-date insights for pricing, promotions, and category decisions while minimizing the impact on system resources and avoiding service disruption.

Materials Needed

Access to Periscope scheduling and monitoring tools
Knowledge of your data sources and their external update frequency
Collaboration with your data and IT teams

Step 1: Analyze Data Update Frequency

Assess how often each data source updates externally. Understanding this will help you set refresh intervals that align with data availability, avoiding unnecessary refreshes that strain system resources.

Step 2: Configure Staggered Refresh Times

Schedule data refreshes at different times, especially during off-peak hours, to prevent simultaneous loads on the system. This reduces processing pressure and optimizes performance.

Step 3: Use Incremental Refreshes Where Possible

Enable incremental data refreshes for supported sources to update only changed data. This approach reduces processing time and conserves system resources compared to full refreshes.

Step 4: Leverage Periscope Scheduling Tools

Utilize the built-in scheduling features in Periscope to automate your refresh cycles reliably. Configure schedules carefully based on your analysis to balance data freshness with system load.

Step 5: Monitor System Performance

Use Periscope’s monitoring dashboards to track processing speed, latency, and any performance alerts during refresh windows. This information is critical to understand the impact of your refresh schedules.

Step 6: Adjust Schedules Based on Performance Data

If monitoring reveals resource constraints or delayed refreshes, modify the frequency or timing of your refreshes to optimize performance further.

Step 7: Coordinate with Stakeholders

Communicate your data refresh schedule with data teams and key users. Clear expectations help align workflows and ensure data availability aligns with business needs.

Step 8: Document and Review Regularly

Maintain thorough documentation of your refresh schedules, configurations, and any changes. Regularly review this documentation to adapt schedules as data needs or system capacity evolve.

Conclusion

Following these steps will help you set up automated data refresh schedules in Periscope effectively. This ensures your enterprise data stays current and reliable, while safeguarding the platform’s performance and your team’s productivity. For further assistance, contact Periscope support or explore additional resources in our Help Center.