A new data platform puts Spar Nord in control 

The co-build “tandem” approach 

Rather than simply delivering a finished turnkey solution, twoday worked hand-in-hand with Spar Nord’s Centre of Excellence, Data & Analytics team in what has been described as a tandem approach. Michael Hjorth, Spar Nord’s Director of IT Operations and Development explains: 

“Initially twoday sat in the front and showed Spar Nord how to bike. But as we learnt and became more comfortable, we switched seats and twoday took the back seat leaving us to steer the project.” 

This collaborative setup allowed Spar Nord to take ownership of the new data platform project from the very start. During the development process, the Spar Nord team took part in a series of online and in-person courses held by twoday on Microsoft Azure, the cloud technology behind the new data platform. These sessions gave the Spar Nord team a solid grounding in the technology and the opportunities a cloud environment could give the bank.  

“More like colleagues than suppliers”

“A highly positive experience” is how Michael Hjorth, Director of IT Operations and Development at Spar Nord, describes the co-build approach. “We were involved in the decision-making processes and worked closely with twoday. There was a real sense of teamwork. It felt like twoday were new colleagues, passing on their expertise and skills to us at Spar Nord.”  

Mads Kronborg Eriksen, Senior Client Engagement Manager at twoday was also highly satisfied with the co-build process. He attributes much of the project’s success of the project to the close collaboration. “The Spar Nord team were able to contribute more than originally anticipated. Their willingness to learn and take ownership meant that we were able to finish on time and on budget.” 

Databricks, Microsoft Fabric and the Lighthouse Framework 

To streamline adoption of the cloud platform, Spar Nord chose to use the twoday Lighthouse Framework to create a clear structure around the solution. This framework, part of the Databricks analytics ecosystem, acted as an accelerator, enabling rapid development while ensuring a best practice in cloud architecture, governance and security. 

Spar Nord has now transitioned from its legacy servers to a modern Microsoft Azure-based data platform that integrates seamlessly with Power BI. The new solution improves data lineage and enables Spar Nord to run advanced analytics across the organization. Furthermore, as it is built in a high-security setup, the platform meets the tightened security requirements around DORA and NIS2, which are key components of its compliance framework. 

With the new platform and a skilled internal team, Spar Nord can handle data faster and more securely for a competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving and highly regulated financial market.