You don’t need a large team to implement Assette. In fact, we recommend keeping the team small. The most effective implementations involve a tight-knit core team with clear roles, quick decision-making, and minimal handoffs.
The Business Analyst #
They lead the charge on understanding what content needs to be produced and what data is required to make that happen. They define the inputs and collaborate closely with the Data Engineer to source data. Then, they shape the sourced data using Data Objects.
General IT business analysis knowledge and ability to bridge source data and content needs is required.
The Data Engineer #
They connect your firm’s systems to Assette. Optionally, they develop Data Blocks that prepare your data for reporting. They also support the BA in shaping data.
For connecting to source systems, requires knowledge of basic SQL or Python, depending connectivity supported by your sources. If planning to prepare data in Assette, then advanced Python knowledge is required.
The Author #
They assemble templates, manage brand themes, enter qualitative information and disclosures. They also define approval workflows.
This role has strong familiarity with your content, understanding of the data powering the content and a good eye for formatting. Also, the role requires power-user knowledge of PowerPoint, Word and Excel. A member from your marketing team is recommended for this role.
The Project Manager #
They coordinate the overall implementation effort. They keep the project on schedule, manage milestones, and ensure tasks move smoothly between the Business Analyst, Data Engineer, and Author. They’re responsible for communication, risk tracking, and ensuring decisions don’t stall progress.
Requires strong organizational and communication skills, and familiarity with project management tools or methods. Experience leading cross-functional software implementations is a plus.
After go-live, you’ll transition this team into your internal Assette Experts Team—a first line of support for new users and future automation.
Skills You’ll Need (and Where to Learn Them) #
A successful implementation requires a few specific skills, from working with data to designing templates. If someone on your team doesn’t already have these, we’ve linked resources to help them get up to speed quickly.
PREREQUISITES: Data Blocks – Python
ROLE: Data Engineer
ROLE: Data Engineer
REQUIRED SKILLS PRIOR TO TRAINING:
The Python Knowledge recommended for a developer engaging in Assette Data Block Layer varies based on the data ingestion model being used. For Grab & Show, where most of the calculations and data manipulations are done in source data platform(s), we recommend that the developers have intermediate knowledge of python. The following Udemy course can provide the necessary skills.
Required knowledge:
- Running Python
- Basic concepts such as arithmetic operations, variables etc
- Data Structures and operations
- Conditional execution
- Sequence types
- Strings
- Iteration
- Dictionaries
- Sets
- Comprehensions
Recommended course to gain above knowledge:
Python3 Fundamentals | Udemy
For a predominantly Prepare & Show approach, we recommend more advanced skills. The
following course in Udemy may help.
Required knowledge:
- NumPy and Pandas introduction
- Aggregating and reshaping data frames
- Basic data visualization
- Analyzing dates and times
- Importing and exporting data
- Joining data frames
Recommended course to gain above knowledge:
Pandas Boot Camp Advanced Python Data Analysis | Udemy
PREREQUISITES: Interfacing with Data – SQL
ROLE: Data Engineer
ROLE: Data Engineer
REQUIRED SKILLS PRIOR TO TRAINING:
Developers may need to interface with SQL databases when creating Extraction Data Blocks. Being able to write SQL queries, (e.g. SELECT Statements with Table JOINs) and use Aggregation functions are some pre-requisites for this purpose. Having a good understanding of SQL DML statements will be helpful.
We recommend below Udemy course to acquire this knowledge.
SQL Programming Basics | Udemy
SQL Boot Camp 2023: Complete SQL Course | Udemy
PREREQUISITES: Interfacing with Data – APIs
ROLE: Data Engineer
ROLE: Data Engineer
REQUIRED SKILLS PRIOR TO TRAINING:
Another common way to interface with your data platform(s) is via APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Note that some APIs may require you to embed SQL within API calls, thus requiring you to have SQL skills noted above.
A sound understanding of REST APIs and JSON would be required when working with APIs.
To learn more about how to work with APIs we recommend this online Udemy course.
Application Programming Interface: API and Web Services | Udemy
PREREQUISITES: Data Objects – YAML (optional)
ROLE: Data Engineer
ROLE: Data Engineer
REQUIRED SKILLS PRIOR TO TRAINING:
Data Objects arrange data (exposed by data blocks) in a marketer-friendly manner. YAML is used to arrange data. The Data Object Editor, a low-code tool, automatically generates YAML code corresponding to Data Objects created via the Object Editor Designer View.
If Developers are keen to understand code behind Data Objects, it is possible to navigate to the YAML view of the Object Editor Tool. While YAML skills are optional, we recommend below Udemy course for those interested in learning YAML.
The Ultimate YAML Course – Learn YAML from Scratch | Udemy
PREREQUISITES: Authoring – Advanced MS PowerPoint
ROLE: Author
ROLE: Author
REQUIRED SKILLS PRIOR TO TRAINING:
The Assette PowerPoint Editor is the primary editor to create most templates (in addition
to Word, Excel and digital/HTML editors). It is a marketer-friendly, no-code editor. You need
to have a robust knowledge of PowerPoint in order to setup templates in the most efficient
manner.
Outlined below are some of the key knowledge areas related to Advanced PowerPoint.
- Master Slides
- Ability to work with native PowerPoint Tables, Charts, Images and Text
- Table layout formatting / Chart and Text formatting
- How to re-use slide facility in PowerPoint
The below Udemy course is recommended for learning Advanced MS PPT.
A-Z Ultimate PowerPoint Course, Build PPTs like a PRO | Udemy