DVI
Leveraging Data to Provide Visual Insights in Travel and Entertainment

Travel and entertainment is a type of business that thrives on customer satisfaction and positive feedback. In a world run by data, this referral-based value system, particularly favors the sector and their choices to improve their business. However, the value of that data can only be fully utilized if it is properly translated into real world parameters, making visualization a very important factor. Data Visualization Intelligence (DVI) is a data visualization technology solution provider that enables companies to make better decisions through visualizations based on their aggregated data resources.

The company utilizes the most confident data elements from multiple sources combined with computer science and advanced analytics to provide smart and powerful visualizations. This platform aids corporations to make the most confident decisions as DVI builds consistency and timeliness in data aggregation that manual harvesting is challenged with. In an interview with CIOApplications, DVI’s Chief Technology Officer Steve Harter shared his insights on how the company is successful in leveraging cutting edge technologies to analyze and visualize data best to help the players leverage their travel and entertainment spend to the highest potential.

Could you provide a brief overview of your company?

We are taking the guesswork out of corporations’ travel and entertainment programs through data aggregation, cleansing and tracking. There are three ways to gather data elements: 1. corporate travel agencies 2. corporate issued credit cards and 3. expense management systems. Once we collect the data, we use modern machine learning techniques and algorithms to clean and normalize the data. We process credit card data every day so as we collect information from our customers’ data sources, we can match them up in the most “real time” view ensuring that it issued to make future decisions. We bring the data together to produce one single answer. We remove time constraints and inconsistent matching measurements, allowing immediate action to be taken.

How does DVI vantage point work as a beneficial engine or a tool for your clients?

Vantage Point is our flagship application.

It runs in the AWS cloud with built-in security, PCI compliance, and GDPR from the get-go. Our main goal is to bring in the data, normalize it, and give it a simple interface that allows our users to have an actionable path in whichever area they want to focus. We can show them the exact areas where they could save money or how to satisfy their travelers. DVI provides them with all the information visually and in a high level of detail so that they can make critical decisions based on it.

Could you elaborate on the data visualization aspect?

Once the data is collected and normalized using machine learning algorithms, we use data analytics to understand what the problem is and what can be done to overcome it. Out of the analytics, a visual graph or statistical representation will be created in the form of infographics that show the details of the problem that company is facing. The infographics will be distributed across the company to various department heads, CXOs, and leaders of organizations to help them make informed decisions, negotiate deals, or make budgets that are conducive to the company growth.

How do you see DVI as being a unique offering in today’s market?

We are going through continuous improvements, based on the voice of our customers. Even as a startup, we knew the problem that we were going to solve and the expertise we required in the product, expense, travel space, and machine learning data processing. We had the right structure, straight from the beginning. We had our implementation, support, and account management team with the right resources on the product and design side assisted by a elite technology group. Right from the beginning, our company was structured to provide the right service, which was essential to scale and grow.

Could you mention a case study or success story with one of your clients?

One of the largest public property-casualty companies in the US that owns and operates multiple companies noticed staggering spending on meals. Even though the policy was in place, which capped individuals' daily meal spend at $65 for most cities, there was a loophole in the expense tool that allowed employees to spend well over the policy per diem. The company’s goal was $65 per day but actually averaged $205 per day per person. Meals were often purchased in airports or hotels, also causing a surge in per diems. We identified and corrected the expense tool date validation process to close the loophole. We also modified policy to reduce meal spend, including using mobile meal delivery services to reduce secondary associated costs (parking, fuel, drinks, tax, tip) and revisiting company travel policy to ensure daily meal per diems are communicated and practiced.

Could you talk about the future roadmap of the company?

DVI is witnessing some rapid growth, getting more and more recognition on its way in becoming a bigger brand name. Our customers appreciate the value of infographics, and they want more of that. We are designing version 2, which is an interface with the ability to have multiple drill downs allowing for more strategic decision making. We will have a benchmark engine to compare data metrics to peer companies, whether that be by size, region, business lateral, policy enforcement type etc. The biggest thing in our roadmap right now is infographics that will allow our customers to make better and more advanced decision making.