SPC FAME: Approach to Multi-Portal Data Migration and Visualization

Client Background

For more than sixty years, the SPC Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME) Division, which is part of the Pacific Community, has been offering scientific and technical knowledge to aid in the sustainable management of marine and aquatic resources in the Pacific region.

Collaborating with all 22 Pacific Island countries and territories, SPC FAME strengthens its members through research based on evidence, innovation, capacity building, and reliable partnerships that are culturally and contextually appropriate. Its objective is straightforward: to guarantee that fisheries and aquaculture resources are resilient and managed sustainably for economic growth, food security, and the conservation of the environment and culture.

Needs and Challenges

1. Lack of a centralized, cloud-based database to efficiently manage member requests, training information, and feedback across 22 member country portals.
2. Need for integrated Power BI dashboards with enhanced visualizations and data representation connected to the centralized database.
3. Requirement for data clean-up for accurate migration of existing data into the new system.
4. Inability to perform bulk data imports, limiting scalability and efficiency.

Are you also facing challenges like managing member requests across multiple portals, struggling with data clean-up, or lacking integrated dashboards for actionable insights, and want a centralized, scalable, and efficient solution?

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Here’s a closer look at our approach…

OpenSense Labs Approach

OpenSense Labs began by analyzing SPC FAME’s ecosystem, identifying gaps, and mapping out potential solutions. Among the options considered were custom-built database systems and third-party SaaS tools, but both lacked the flexibility and integration power required.

Drupal emerged as the ideal choice for centralized management, bulk data handling, and integration with Power BI. The chosen path balanced scalability, secure access, and advanced visualization to meet SPC FAME’s objectives.

Strategy

The strategy for the project was focused on building a scalable and centralized system that addressed SPC FAME’s distributed data challenges:

Drupal Microsite Setup: Established a Drupal-based framework to unify 22 country-specific portals under a single, cloud-hosted system.

Quick Country-Site Deployment: Designed the platform for rapid spin-up of new portals, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

Integrated Ecosystem: Connected three core components

1. A centralized Drupal database for structured content and data storage.
2. Microsoft Power BI for interactive, visual reporting.
3. Country-level portals enabling localized access and management.

Functional Access: Each country portal was provisioned with two primary capabilities

1. Member Requests Management
2. Training & Capacity Building Records

Implementation Details

Design

1. Designed a centralized interface consolidating the main site and 22 microsites into a single Drupal-based system.
2. Implemented role-based access to ensure clarity for different user groups.

Development

1. Leveraged Drupal as the foundation and implemented a custom module to handle data migration, mapping, and validation.
2. Built bulk import functionality to enable efficient handling of large datasets.
3. Redesigned Power BI dashboards with the Drupal database for real-time, visual analytics, and improved reporting capabilities.
4. Conducted comprehensive data clean-up to ensure accuracy and consistency during migration.

Technologies Used

1. Drupal for centralized management and scalability.
2. Power BI for advanced reporting and data visualization.

Clean, Intuitive, User-Friendly

The new SPC FAME platform unified fragmented systems into a clean, centralized portal. With role-based permissions, streamlined data entry, and visually rich Power BI dashboards, users now experience a secure, intuitive, and collaborative environment. Bulk import functionality further improved efficiency, while data clean-up ensured accuracy and reliability across all portals.

The Results and Impact

Within just four months, SPC FAME transitioned from fragmented systems to a centralized, cloud-based platform. Member countries now enjoy:

1. Real-time, secure access to consolidated data.
2. Developed structured data entry forms for Member Requests, Training, and Feedback, along with a bulk import feature to handle large datasets of these content types.
3. Improved reporting with redesigned Power BI dashboards and cleaner data integration.
4. Scalable infrastructure enabling future growth.
5. This transformation has significantly improved SPC FAME’s operational efficiency, collaboration.

Results at a Glance

1. 22 country portals consolidated into a single centralized system.
2. 100% data migration accuracy after comprehensive clean-up.
3. Bulk import functionality enabling large dataset handling.
4. Real-time Power BI dashboards for actionable insights.
5. 4-month project completion (March – July 2025).

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Lessons Learned

1. Expectation Management: One key lesson was handling evolving client expectations that emerged even after requirements were gathered. This highlighted the need for ongoing communication and clarity.
2. Adaptive Planning: Another lesson learned was the importance of flexibility in scope and timelines, as new requests required balancing feasibility with the client’s growing needs.
3. Best Practices: Combining robust PM practices with DevOps and JIRA workflows streamlined execution.
4. Future-Proofing: Modular architecture ensures scalability and adaptability for evolving needs.