Metcash has integrated an observability platform from Dynatrace, working in collaboration with Deloitte. This observability platform replaces the need for up to 20 separate monitoring tools that were previously in use across the organization. This move is aimed at enhancing Metcash’s management of its extensive digital transformation program and streamlining its diverse business operations.
The decision to implement Dynatrace as the observability platform was influenced by the company’s successful utilization of Dynatrace within its e-commerce operations, which are powered by SAP Hybris, now known as Commerce Cloud. While Dynatrace came embedded with Hybris subscriptions, its adoption within other areas of Metcash operations began more recently in alignment with the ongoing digital transformation initiative known as ‘Project Horizon.’
Identification of various monitoring tools
This transformation project involves re-platforming core legacy systems onto Microsoft Dynamics 365 and deploying various cloud-native tools, including Azure Synapse Analytics. The initial requirement for deploying the observability platform was to ensure that all systems, including those undergoing transformation and existing ones, remained operational and connected.
Deloitte, as Metcash’s integration partner, played a significant role in the decision-making process. Deloitte conducted a thorough review of the challenges faced by Metcash in terms of observability and identified the various monitoring tools that were previously in use, amounting to over 20.
Consolidating multiple tools into a single view
As a result of Deloitte’s recommendations, the observability platform from Dynatrace was rolled out over a period of three months. This implementation involved the creation of dashboards to monitor different operations, collect and combine metrics, and visualize data. The key achievement was consolidating multiple tools into a single view, eliminating the need for using numerous tools and manual checklists for monitoring and troubleshooting.
Metcash’s utilization of Dynatrace extends into two primary phases. Phase one focuses on the understanding of the system landscape and ensuring operational effectiveness while identifying errors and issues. Phase two involves a more in-depth analysis of the data collected and stored by Dynatrace, helping Metcash understand the underlying causes behind failures and performance issues. Additionally, the company employs PurePath for transaction analysis, enabling detailed insights into application interactions and their impact across the entire technology stack.
Metcash intends to expand in the future
Automation of troubleshooting workflows is another aspect that Metcash is actively exploring. Dynatrace is being used to automate the initial stages of troubleshooting, and integration with Red Hat Ansible for orchestration is facilitating this process.
Metcash is planning to provide advanced metrics to various business units, allowing them to address specific problems with the help of Dynatrace. Business leaders have already expressed interest in using Dynatrace to solve business-related challenges. This represents an area where Metcash intends to expand in the future. Furthermore, customizations within Dynatrace enable it to communicate how IT events may impact relevant business functions, fostering collaboration between the IT team and different business divisions.
In conclusion, the implementation of Dynatrace’s observability platform has streamlined monitoring, troubleshooting, and automation processes for Metcash, enhancing its ability to manage and optimize digital transformation initiatives. The company is also exploring business observability as it continues on its digital transformation journey.