Most data consultancies start with tools.
We start with the problem.
At Select Distinct, “solution first” isn’t a tagline – it’s the way we think, design, and deliver. Whether we’re building onboarding dashboards, simplifying reporting workflows, or training teams in Power BI, our first question is always the same: what outcome matters most?
This post takes you behind the brand and into the mindset that shapes our work – a mindset built on clarity, empathy, and a commitment to solving real problems, not selling software.
Why We Work This Way
Before founding Select Distinct, I spent years inside large organisations. Consultants and solution providers would come in, listen just long enough to pitch their preferred product, and then try to steer us toward tools we didn’t need. The conversation was rarely about the problem we were trying to solve – it was about the software they wanted to sell.
As well as that, working in another IT consultancy that was partnered with some of the big vendors, there was a top-down approach to selling software from the vendors, rather than solving the actual problem.
That experience shaped one of Select Distinct’s core principles:
solve a problem, don’t sell a product
We’re not tied to a vendor stack.
We don’t push tools for our own benefit.
We don’t assume technology is the answer before understanding the question.
Instead, we focus on what genuinely helps the people doing the work.
If the right solution fits your existing processes, we build around that.
If a lightweight change solves the issue, we recommend that.
If a new tool is needed, we choose it because it’s the best fit – not because it’s the only thing we sell.
This principle sits at the heart of our solution‑first approach and guides every decision we make.
Real problems rarely arrive neatly packaged — so we untangle them first
In real organisations, problems don’t present themselves as neat requirements. They appear as everyday frustrations:
- A report nobody trusts
- A process that feels heavier than it should
- A dashboard that breaks every month
- A team drowning in manual work
- A workflow that “sort of works” but no one fully understands
It’s tempting to jump straight to a tool, a template, or a shiny new platform. But that’s how projects drift, stall, or become more complicated than they need to be.
Our approach is deliberately different.
We slow down. We ask questions. We map the scenario. We look at the people, the pressures, the constraints, and the real‑world context behind the request. Only then do we design the solution.
We don’t fix symptoms – we fix the root cause.
We design for clarity, not complexity
A solution is only valuable if people can use it confidently.
That’s why clarity sits at the centre of everything we build.
We prioritise:
- Plain‑English explanations
- Visuals that teach, not confuse
- Modular structures that teams can maintain
- Scenario‑driven examples that reflect real work
- Quick check‑ins that build confidence in using and presenting dashboards
- Solutions shaped around existing people and processes, not forced into an “ideal” workflow
- Independence from any single vendor stack, because we don’t set out to sell software — we solve problems
This independence matters.
It means we’re not here to push a particular tool, platform, or ecosystem. We’re here to understand what you already have, what your team already knows, and what will genuinely make your work easier.
Whether it’s a dashboard, a workflow, or a training guide, our goal is simple:
make it obvious, make it usable, make it sustainable.
We build with empathy — because data is ultimately about people
Behind every dataset is someone trying to get something done.
A manager making decisions.
An analyst under time pressure.
A team that wants clarity, not another layer of complexity.
A colleague who’s been “making it work” for years with spreadsheets and goodwill.
Our solution‑first approach is grounded in empathy: understanding the real‑world context, constraints, and frustrations of the people who will use what we build. We spend time listening, observing, and understanding how work happens – not how it looks on a process map.
This is why clients describe our work as “clear”, “calming”, and “finally makes sense.”
We don’t just deliver — we teach
A solution that only works when the consultant is present isn’t a solution.
It’s a dependency.
We design with the opposite intention: to make ourselves less necessary over time.
That’s why we build:
- Training that’s genuinely beginner‑friendly
- Documentation that’s readable
- Dashboards that explain themselves
- Workflows that teams can own and adapt
- Processes that don’t fall apart when someone leaves
We also stay close enough to support – through short, focused check‑ins – so teams feel confident using and demonstrating their dashboards to others.
It’s not hand‑holding; it’s empowerment.
Our aim is always to leave clients more confident than we found them.
We focus on long‑term impact
Quick fixes solve today’s pain but often create tomorrow’s.
Our approach is deliberately future‑proof:
- Clean, logical data models
- Clear category structures
- Repeatable processes
- Audit‑safe logic
- Documentation that survives staff turnover
- Solutions that grow with the organisation
We design with longevity in mind.
Not because it’s trendy, but because it’s responsible. Good data work should reduce friction, not add to it. It should make decisions easier, not harder. And it should continue delivering value long after the project ends.
The result? Solutions that feel effortless — because the thinking behind them wasn’t
Clients often say:
“It just works.”
That’s the point.
Behind every “simple” dashboard or “obvious” workflow is a lot of invisible thinking: mapping, testing, refining, challenging assumptions, and removing anything that doesn’t serve the outcome.
We do the heavy thinking, so the result feels light, intuitive, and dependable.
Solution‑first problem solving means doing the hard work, so your team doesn’t have to.
The Select Distinct difference
We don’t sell dashboards.
We don’t sell templates.
We don’t sell complexity.
We don’t push a single vendor stack or try to fit you into a tool you don’t need.
We solve problems – clearly, calmly, and with a focus on what matters.
If you want reporting that finally makes sense, or processes that feel lighter instead of heavier, we’d love to help.
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