Replica Data Library

Designed for seamless data exploration, the Data Library consolidates Replica's and third-party datasets into a single, user-friendly interface. This feature allows technical users to easily consume data for integration into their workflows.

Objective

The Data Library was developed to meet the growing demand for direct data access, highlighted by continuous inquiries from technical customers and internal teams.

Development Timeline

Feature discovery began in September 2022, leading to a successful beta launch in January 2023, with new data slices added monthly.

Initial Plan

Prior to formally defining the project's scope, we engaged in extensive discussions to understand the varied data requirements across our platform. This foundational phase revealed a distinct desire among our tech-savvy user base for an alternative to the front-end interfaces of Places Study or Trends Dashboards. Identifying this user segment was crucial, guiding us towards a discovery phase aimed at addressing this gap in data accessibility. Our approach sought to balance the demands for direct data interaction with the need for a user-friendly experience, laying the groundwork for a feature that would cater to a broad spectrum of data engagement preferences.

User Research

Leveraging an abundance of preliminary research, our exploration into user needs quickly honed in on two potential delivery mechanisms: an API for direct query execution by our most technical users, and a native app experience offering a more visual approach to data exploration. This exploration underscored a clear preference among technically adept users for API access. However, it also highlighted a crucial limitation: while essential, API functionality might exclude a significant portion of our audience who, despite being sophisticated enough to require detailed data analysis, lacked the technical expertise in SQL or Python. This insight was pivotal, steering us towards a solution that would democratize data access while catering to the diverse capabilities of our user base.

Changes and Improvements

Intuitive Native Interface

Developed a user-friendly interface for easy navigation and comprehension of data.

Efficient Data Access

Ensured users could repeatedly access specific data segments critical to their work.

Enhanced Dataset Schema

Expanded schema to include more attributes, download options, and larger data tables.

Centralized Data Entry Point

Designed to be the primary entry point for all new datasets, streamlining data addition.

Results and User Impact

The Trends Dashboard met the requirements to renew and secure a multi-million dollar contract with the state of New York. Subsequent large-value contracts and renewals followed due to demand for access to Trends data, thanks to its intuitive presentation and controls.