News & insights

Blog

News, updates and stories from the field. From partnerships to project outcomes.

Team discussing data insights and stories from practice

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Our knowledge base contains in-depth articles about data warehousing, cloud platforms, dashboards and data-driven operations.

Knowledge base 24 June 2026

What is Windmill? Automating workflows, scripts and internal tools

Windmill helps teams automate scripts, workflows, apps and AI steps reliably. Read what Windmill is good at and when another approach fits better.

Knowledge base 21 June 2026

Data Sovereignty and Cloud Data Platforms

Data sovereignty is about control over data, infrastructure and access. Learn how to choose a cloud, sovereign cloud, on-premises or hybrid data platform.

Blog 17 February 2025

Geopolitics & data warehousing: data away from the US

Geopolitics affects your data. How do we keep our data safe and away from US jurisdiction? European cloud alternatives and portability explained.

Knowledge base 15 January 2025

Microsoft Fabric: 7 points to consider

Microsoft Fabric is Microsoft's all-in-one data platform. What are the advantages and disadvantages, and when is an alternative wiser?

Blog 18 July 2024 Video

Query Tool updated: what you need to know!

Query Tool has been improved. Not just bug fixes - interesting new features have been added too. Watch the video here!

Knowledge base 18 July 2024

How your organisation can get more value from data

Want more value from your data? Reliable, complete and traceable data for everyone - how do you achieve this in practice? Read our vision.

Knowledge base 14 June 2024

Building APIs for a data consumer

APIs can incorporate input from other systems. How does this work and how do you make this process as seamless as possible?

Blog 30 May 2024 Video

Video report: Datalab Round Table Accountancy

The Datalab Round Table is a unique occasion to exchange ideas, hold in-depth discussions and make valuable connections.

Knowledge base 20 April 2024

What is a data warehouse and when do you need one?

A data warehouse brings data from different sources together. Learn when a data warehouse is the right choice for your organisation.

Knowledge base 18 April 2024

"Just give us everything."

Everything in your data warehouse? Gain insight into unlocking your data. Read the key considerations for optimal data quality.

Knowledge base 11 April 2024

Data warehouse benefits when using Power BI

Striving for efficient data processing, analysis and visualisation? A data warehouse forms the foundation for successful data-driven strategies with Power BI.

Knowledge base 21 March 2024

Scheduled Reporting in data-driven operations

Scheduled reporting ensures relevant data analyses reach the right people at the right time. Why it is essential for data-driven organisations.

Knowledge base 18 March 2024

Consistency in a potentially inconsistent environment

Datasets from very different sources can cause inconsistencies. A well-organised data warehouse ensures consistency through smart staging patterns.

Knowledge base 14 March 2024

What is data?

Data is a representation of a measurement. It only becomes information once you know what it means and how it is represented.

Knowledge base 11 March 2024

Choosing new software? Check data accessibility

Many organisations overlook one crucial aspect when choosing new software: how well can the data be extracted from the application? A checklist.

Knowledge base 26 February 2024

Matching data from different sources

How do you transform different data sources into a data warehouse? Learn the best approach for mapping entities and maintaining consistency.

Knowledge base 19 February 2024

Unlocking Google Ads performance data

Automatically unlock your own performance data via the Google Ads API? Read how you can easily gain insight into your data stream.

Knowledge base 12 February 2024

How do I choose the right data warehouse software?

Time for a data warehouse - but which software? Commercial or open source? Cloud-native or flexible? Read our step-by-step plan for making the right choice.

Knowledge base 5 February 2024 Video

Data catalogue: a must for 4 reasons

Essential for every data project: maintaining a data catalogue. Why this is so important and how it prevents costly mistakes.

Knowledge base 30 January 2024

Major changes ahead in traditional accountancy

There are numerous opportunities to take concrete steps in the accountancy sector quickly. And that reaches further than automated processes.

Knowledge base 30 January 2024

Migrating to a new system: practical tips

Changing applications? Read six tips for a smooth transition. Avoid pitfalls and develop a shadow migration strategy.

Knowledge base 15 January 2024

Data quality: prerequisite for data-driven work

Data quality determines everything in data-driven work. Learn why good data management is essential and how to prevent data silos.

Blog 2 January 2024

Data lakehouse: why it is not the ideal combination

Data lake, data warehouse or data lakehouse? Structured data storage is essential for combining data sources. We examine the trade-offs.

Knowledge base 21 December 2023

Data from Exact Online: connector or data warehouse?

Exact Online contains valuable data. A connector gets it out, but if you want to combine data with other sources, a data warehouse is the better choice.

Blog 16 October 2023

Alternatives to Power BI

Power BI is ubiquitous. Are there alternatives? Metabase offers extras like automated dashboards - no more DAX queries. A serious contender.

Blog 9 October 2023

Fizi workshop on data

Datalab delivered a well-attended workshop on data-driven work during the Fizi Annual Event 2023. View the presentation and key insights.

Blog 5 October 2023

Erratic practices: starting with data in practice

Legacy processes make data processing difficult. Data contradicts itself. How a data warehouse brings order to the chaos.

Blog 31 August 2023

From ecologist to data engineer - part 3

Jasper updates us on his progress from ecologist to data engineer. Read his experiences and discover what becoming a data engineer involves.

Blog 26 June 2023

A look behind the scenes: cashflow forecasting

Luc and Joris - master's students at Utrecht University, Applied Data Science - researched cashflow prediction. Read their findings.

Knowledge base 15 June 2023

Which cloud for data science? Preventing vendor lock-in

Working in the cloud has pros and cons. Four tips help you select the right provider. There are more options than Google Cloud, Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure.

Blog 6 June 2023 Video

Datalab introduces: QueryAI tool

Writing queries (complex data requests from the database) can be difficult. That is why Datalab introduces our self-developed QueryAI tool.

Blog 23 May 2023

Why is Power BI slow? Three smart tips

Power BI can be slow. Discover three practical tips to make Power BI faster: memory optimisation, data modelling and query reduction.

Blog 13 April 2023

Building input tools with R Shiny and dlinputtool

Within R Shiny there are ways to structure and reuse code: codes are separated and therefore reusable. Meet our dlinputtool package.

Blog 13 April 2023

From ecologist to data engineer - part 2

Jasper tells his story about the career switch from ecologist to data engineer. What challenges does he face? What goes well? And what's next?

Blog 9 March 2023

Data-driven work: not a goal in itself

Data is a broad concept, and so is working with data. At its core, it is about making evidence-based decisions or distilling signals about opportunities and threats.

Blog 21 February 2023

From ecologist to data engineer

Jasper blogs about his remarkable career switch: from ecologist to data engineer. Read his story and join the journey into the world of data.

Knowledge base 16 February 2023

Storing data in a structured data warehouse

A data warehouse is a central repository for all your organisation's data. What structure should you give the data? An overview of Inmon, Kimball and Data Vault.

Blog 6 December 2022

Starting with data-driven work: what you need to know

Starting with data-driven work is a process that must be well thought through. Max shares concrete tips for taking the first steps successfully.

Knowledge base 24 November 2022

Apache Airflow: the ETL tool

Extract, transform and load data with Apache Airflow. How do you set up data pipelines and what makes Airflow the orchestrator of choice?

Knowledge base 17 November 2022

Data and data security

Working safely with highly sensitive data, such as patient data or financial records, requires diligence. There is much you can do - Harmen explains.

Knowledge base 17 November 2022

Ethics, privacy and security in data-driven work

Privacy and ethics are more important than ever. Datalab applies an ethical framework based on EU guidelines and dares to say 'no'.

Knowledge base 10 October 2022

R Shiny: more than just dashboards

The number one use of R Shiny is creating beautiful dashboards. But R Shiny can do so much more - from data entry tools to interactive apps.

Knowledge base 1 July 2022 Video

Working in the cloud: why would you?

In the cloud, you can do everything you can with local IT infrastructure. What is involved in working in the cloud for business? Security, costs and more.

Blog 3 June 2022 Video

Data engineer in practice

What exactly is data engineering and why would you specifically want to hire someone for it? We ask Koen, our data engineer.

Blog 20 May 2022

DatalabFabriek is now Datalab

We have been building for over a year with considerable success. But it can always be better. We critically examined our proposition and saw an opportunity to improve.

Knowledge base 19 May 2022 Video

BI, Business Analytics or Data Science: the difference

What are the differences and similarities between Business Intelligence, Business Analytics and Data Science? Clearly explained with practical examples.

Knowledge base 1 April 2022

Getting your organisation enthusiastic about data-driven work

Data-driven work affects the entire organisation. Training, education and buy-in are essential for a successful transition.

Knowledge base 24 March 2022 Video

How do you build a data-driven organisation?

Many organisations want to work data-driven. It is not technology but soft skills that determine success. Read and watch what this delivers.

Knowledge base 1 March 2022 Video

Starting with data-driven work: how and where to begin?

Starting with data-driven work begins with critically examining where your organisation stands. Discover the steps and key considerations.

Knowledge base 14 December 2021 Video

Data lake or data warehouse: which do I need?

Which is better - a data lake or a data warehouse? We explain the differences and which type best suits your organisation.