Background
In the fast-evolving world of sport, data is becoming a critical asset not just for elite performance, but for driving participation, engagement, and operational excellence. Netball Australia, the national body for one of the country’s most popular team sports, recognised the need to harness the power of data to better serve its community, from grassroots players to national teams.
With a complex network of Member Organisations and disparate systems, Netball Australia partnered with Exco Partners to develop a unified data strategy and modern data platform. The goal: to unlock insights, streamline operations, and enable a more connected and data-driven future for netball in Australia.
The Challenge:
Netball Australia operates within a federated model, working alongside member organisations to support the sport at all levels—from elite competitions to grassroots participation. However, this structure presented several challenges:
- Fragmented data systems across different states and platforms made it difficult to gain a unified view of participants, competitions, and operations.
- Limited data governance hindered the ability to ensure data quality, consistency, and accountability.
- Missed opportunities for commercialisation and personalisation, due to a lack of integrated insights.
- Inefficiencies in reporting and decision-making, impacting the ability to support grassroots initiatives effectively.
- Recognising the strategic value of data, Netball Australia saw an opportunity to transform its data ecosystem to drive collaboration, unlock commercial potential, and better serve its community.
Our Approach
Exco Partners collaborated closely with Netball Australia and its member organisations to co-design a comprehensive Data Strategy. The goal was to create a strong foundation for improved collaboration, operational efficiency, and data-driven decision-making.
The engagement began with defining the data ecosystem—identifying what data was being captured, its value, and how it could be better utilised. This provided clarity on the current state and highlighted opportunities for improvement.
Next, Exco Partners helped establish a Data Governance Framework. This included clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and key activities to ensure accountability and consistency across the organisation.
To build momentum and foster engagement, Exco Partners facilitated data governance forums. These sessions encouraged collaboration, knowledge sharing, and a shared commitment to data stewardship.
Finally, a formal Data Strategy and Governance Charter was developed. This document outlined guiding principles and provided a roadmap for ongoing governance practices, ensuring long-term alignment and sustainability.
The Solution
To bring the strategy to life, Exco Partners designed and delivered a modern Azure Data Hub. This platform enables:
- Data integration across multiple competition management systems.
- Centralised reporting and analytics to support strategic decision-making.
- Operational connectivity that enhances the management of member and participant data.
- Support for personalisation and commercialisation of programs like NetSetGO Netball Australia’s entry-level participation program.
The Impact
With a unified data strategy and platform in place, Netball Australia is now better equipped to:
- Deliver cohesive national competitions.
- Personalise participant communication in real-time.
- Provide insights and reporting that support both national and grassroots initiatives.
- Drive commercial opportunities through improved data visibility and governance.
- Foster a data-driven culture across the organisation and its Member Organisations.
This transformation is enabling Netball Australia to not only manage the present more effectively but also to plan confidently for the future of the sport.