Magic Bus (www.magicbus.org) works with more than 3.75 lakh children and 10,000 young people living in poverty across 22 States of India to move them out of poverty. Founded over 20 years ago, Magic Bus uses a Childhood to Livelihood approach to help children and young people break out of the crushing cycle of poverty.
Magic Bus works with India's poorest communities and children using an award-winning activity-based curriculum culminating in a Livelihoods programme.
The Childhood to Livelihood approach enables children and young people move out of poverty by completing secondary education and getting a stable job. We equip young people with the skills and knowledge they need to grow up and move out of poverty.
Our youth-centered Livelihoods Programme connects the aspirations and potential of young people to available market opportunities. We build their employability skills and map job potential based on individual strengths and mobility.
Organisation BI Analytics and Reporting to Drive Performance and Impact
With around 400,000 beneficiaries across 22 states and over 10,000 volunteers, managing data and operations was a challenge for Magic Bus. Business leaders needed overall analytics and MIS to manage performance with ability to drill down from country to specific school level information. On one hand, Magic Bus needed custom report for donors, while on the other hand it needed standardized reports for frequent distribution to field operations.
The implementation of Microsoft Power BI provided them with the platform to view real time information on all programs across levels. This led to enhanced tracking of programs and performance. This data was used to drive performance, enhanced accountability and better impact.
Key Business Problem
Magic Bus has pan-India operations (spread across 22 states) and various programs driven by different funding agencies. Tracking program performance and meet the needs of donors required significant effort and was time consuming. In addition, Magic Bus had many disparate data sources and systems, which were difficult to maintain without a unified platform. This in turn had an impact on ability to monitor and control operations, as well as analyze data from programs.
Our Solution - Magic Bus BI Platform
Koita Foundation worked with Magic Bus to develop Magic Bus BI Platform - using Microsoft Power BI. This platform unified all data across the country into real time dashboards and reports - making information available across all organizational levels, programs and geographies. This led to more proactive resolution of issues, improved adherence to protocols and a deeper impact on beneficiaries. Moreover it also helped to manage internal processes more smoothly in terms of staffing, fund raising and resource management. Magic Bus BI Platform is also used for Donor reporting - providing clear tracking of funds and impact, significantly increasing donor confidence.
Microsoft Case Study
Microsoft selected our Magic Bus initiative as a Case Study for use of Microsoft Power BI by NGO organization.
At Magic Bus, Operations dashboards are powered using PowerBI. It effected a significant change in the way data is viewed and consumed within the organization. The newfound transparency and freedom in data availability and sharing is empowering users across levels in improving self and team performance. All this with zero dependence on IT or the need to be sitting in office.
PowerBI dashboards are rapidly being adopted across the organization across levels. As an organization, we have “one version of truth” for all operational parameters.
Reduction in MIS availability time enables apt and timely action by our delivery engine. This results in effective corrections, higher engagement levels across the delivery chain including the beneficiary and improved on ground performance. We envisage this translating into a win-win-win. Better results for us, better social ROI for our donors and higher impact for our beneficiaries.
Mr. Nitin Aurora
Chief Technology Officer