Heading towards a greener tomorrow

Public‑sector organisations in the UK are under growing pressure to modernise systems, maximise the value of data, and deliver efficient, innovative services - all while adhering to strict procurement rules. Procurement frameworks provide a compliant, cost‑effective, and streamlined route for public bodies to access specialist data consultancy, cloud services, AI solutions, and broader technology services.

With the enactment of the Procurement Act 2023, the public procurement landscape has been overhauled. The Act aims to simplify and modernise procurement, ensuring public funds deliver the greatest public benefit, while improving transparency and encouraging access toa wider pool of suppliers, particularly SMEs such as Butterfly Data.

For a data consultancy like us, being on multiple frameworks means we are well-positioned to support public‑sector organisations efficiently, while remaining fully compliant with the latest regulations.

Key benefits of public sector frameworks for data and technology

Faster procurement

Under framework arrangements, public-sector organisations can “call off” services from pre-vetted suppliers rather than run a full tender process each time. This substantially reduces procurement lead times and speeds up project start dates. For initiatives like cloud migration, data analytics platform builds or AI implementation, this speed is often crucial to success.

Cost‑effective delivery

Frameworks reduce administrative burden and enable economies of scale. By pre-agreeing terms, pricing, and supplier criteria, public bodies can secure high-quality data or tech services with minimal overhead to deliver strong value for money.

Compliance, transparency and assurance

The Procurement Act 2023 defines clear legal parameters for public procurement. Frameworks fall under its scope: Section 45 and following set out how frameworks and any “call-off” contracts awarded within them must operate.

Through a framework, public-sector clients can be confident that suppliers meet rigorous standards around fairness, equality of treatment, transparency, value for money, and public benefit.

Access to innovation and specialist expertise

Frameworks give public authorities rapid access to suppliers who specialise in emerging technologies: cloud engineering, data platforms, legacy-modernisation, AI, data analytics and more. This allows organisations to adopt modern, future‑proof solutions without procurement delays or compliance risk.

Long-term and scalable partnerships

Many public‑sector challenges require more than a single project - whether modernising legacy systems, migrating data, adopting AI, or building new analytics pipelines. Frameworks support long-term engagement: once on a framework, a supplier like Butterfly Data can collaborate over multiple phases, helping organisations evolve over time.

The frameworks Butterfly Data is on

Butterfly Data is proud to be an approved supplier on abroad set of public-sector frameworks to give clients direct, compliant access to our full range of data and technology consultancy service:

G Cloud 14

Cloud support services via Lot 3, enabling secure and scalable digital infrastructure

Digital Outcomes and Specialists 6 (DOS6)

Specialist digital services spanning discovery, alpha, beta, and live phases for high quality delivery

Spark DPS

Advanced technology and data solutions, supporting public bodies to adopt modern digital capabilities

DALAS (Digital & Legacy Application Services)

Services for IT, application support and legacy-system modernisation for government and public bodies

AI DPS

Advisory, modelling, and implementation of AI solutions tailored for public sector needs

Technology Services 4 (TS4)

Application management, data services, and robust technical support

Neutral Vendor Framework for Innovation (NVfI)

Specialist data and digital services for sensitive sectors such as defence and healthcare

Naval Design Partnering (NDP)

Data consultancy and analytics for defence and marine engineering projects

Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE)

Rapid innovation and technical support for public safety, national security, and data driven initiatives

In addition, we are registered on public procurement portals such as Contracts Finder, regional and local authority e‑sourcing platforms, and other sector‑specific portals to offer multiple compliant routes for public-sector clients to engage our services.

What this means for our public sector clients

By working with Butterfly Data through a framework, public deparetments benefit from:

- Swift, compliant procurement - skip the delays and bureaucracy of full tendering and engage expert data and technology services immediately

- Trusted supplier standards - our inclusion on multiple frameworks proves we meet stringent procurement, security, governance and performance criteria under the Procurement Act 2023

- Flexible and relevant service options - whether you need cloud infrastructure, data analytics, legacy modernisation, AI, or digital transformation - you can choose a route that matches your needs

- Transparent pricing, reduced risk and better value for money - standardised terms and pre agreed contract frameworks simplify budgeting and procurement planning

- Long-term support and partnerships - from initial strategy through to implementation and ongoing evolution, Butterfly Data can support multi-phase, multi-year digital and data transformation

Learn more about how you can procure our services via frameworks and digital marketplaces.

Imagine this: your team has just made a major decision based on a dashboard full of data… only to find out later that several key fields were missing, inconsistent, or outdated. Suddenly, what looked like insight was actually misleading and the cost of poor data hits both your budget and your credibility.

The truth is, every organisation has data, but not all data is good data. And in an era where decisions are increasingly data-based, quality is everything.

Butterfly Data’s new whitepaper, “What Does Good Data Look Like?”, is a practical guide for organisations who want to move from “lots of data” to trusted, actionable data that drives real results.

Why Data Quality Matters

The whitepaper breaks down the critical points where data quality truly matters:

• Impact on decision-making: Poor data leads to poor decisions. Even small errors in critical fields can create cascading effects across operations.
  
  
• Responsibility is everyone’s: Data isn’t just IT’s job. Everyone who touches data must help maintain its quality.
  
  
• Practical strategies for improvement: Learn how to implement standards, monitor datasets, and fix errors systematically.

How to Assess Your Data 

At the heart of the whitepaper is DAMA UK’s six dimensions of data quality, which provide a clear, actionable framework:

1. Completeness - Are all critical fields filled? Missing essential information can compromise outcomes.
   
   
2. Validity - Do values conform to expected rules and formats? From UK postcodes to date formats, valid data enables automation and analysis.
   
   
3. Consistency - Are the values logical across datasets? A “UK-born? = Yes” paired with “Country of Birth = Germany” is a red flag.
   
   
4. Accuracy - Does the data reflect reality? Accurate data ensures reliable decisions and prevents costly mistakes.
   
   
5. Timeliness - Is the data current and available when needed? Outdated data can mislead forecasts or operational planning.
   
   
6. Uniqueness - Are records duplicated? Unique identifiers maintain clarity and prevent errors.

The paper walks through each dimension with realistic examples that make it easy to see how these principles apply in any organisation.

Making Data Quality Real

Good data doesn’t happen by accident. The whitepaper offers practical guidance, including (but not limited to):

• Using dropdowns and calendar pop-ups to standardise data entry
  
  
• Applying null-value standards to handle missing data consistently
  
  
• Implementing both technical and process-based solutions for monitoring quality
  
  
• Learning how to safely enrich your data with third-party sources, while ensuring it’s trustworthy and fit for purpose

By combining these approaches, you can reduce errors, streamline decision-making, and save both time and money.

Transform Your Data into an Advantage

Whether you are a data analyst, a manager, or a decision-maker, this whitepaper is a guide to:

• Identifying the datasets that matter most
  
  
• Implementing organisation-wide standards for reliability
  
  
• Building confidence in your reports, dashboards, and insights
  
  
• Using enriched data to drive deeper, more meaningful understanding

Good data is complete, valid, consistent, accurate, timely, and unique. When you have it, you can make decisions faster, with confidence, and with measurable impact.

→ Download the “What Does Good Data Look Like?” whitepaper

You can also find out more about our data quality services here to see how Butterfly Data can help you implement best practices and maintain high-quality datasets.

Cities around the world are under growing pressure to manage complex transport systems, especially when faced with disruptions from extreme weather, technical failures, or large-scale events. Each incident can ripple across the rail network, causing cascading delays, passenger congestion, and communication challenges for operators and policymakers alike.

Building on our success as Global Grand Champions of the SAS Hackathon 2024, we wanted to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with analytics and real-time data. We wanted to explore how analytics and real-time data could transform the way these challenges are managed. For our SAS Hackathon 2025 submission, our team developed a proof of concept for a Digital Twin of a regional rail network, built on SAS Viya.

What is the challenge?

Transport disruptions don’t happen in isolation. A single line closure, storm, or event can quickly affect multiple routes, impact passenger flows, and cause widespread knock-on effects. Yet, many transport networks lack the real-time systems needed to anticipate and model these impacts as they unfold.

Our challenge was to design a solution that could:

• Simulate and forecast the impact of rail disruptions in real time
• Enable operators to reroute services dynamically
• Forecast passenger numbers during peak hours or events
• Estimate financial and passenger impacts of delays and cancellations
• Support faster, data-informed decision-making

Our solution: The Event Horizon Digital Twin for the rail network

Using SAS Viya, we built a Digital Twin that integrates live data streams with forecasting, optimisation, and intelligent decisioning models to replicate the behaviour of a rail network under stress.

This system can:

• Predict disruptions caused by weather events, such as floods or storms, using live APIs and historical data
• Model the cascading effects of delays or closures across the wider network
• Suggest alternative routes or transport modes for passengers
• Forecast passenger volumes during events or peak travel times
• Automatically trigger alerts and rerouting workflows through Agentic AI

During the hackathon, we focused on one regional network to demonstrate how a framework like this could reveal where, when, and how disruptions matter most - not just for individual stations, but across the entire connected system.

How the Digital Twin works

Our approach brought together multiple SAS Viya components:

• SAS Studio – Data preparation and processing
• SAS Visual Analytics – Real-time dashboard and visualisation
• Model Studio & Model Manager – Predictive and forecasting model development
• Event Stream Processing – Integrating live API feeds (e.g. flood warnings)
• Visual Forecasting – Predicting passenger numbers at peak times and during major events
• Optimisation – Identifying the most efficient alternative routes
• Intelligent Decisioning – Automating alert workflows and rerouting logic

For example, when a flood warning API triggers an alert, the system immediately identifies the high-risk area, recalculates the most efficient routes using optimisation models, forecasts the impact on passengers, and automatically generates alerts to operators and customers.

All this information is displayed through a single Visual Analytics dashboard that updates as new data arrives, providing a unified, command-and-control view for transport planners and decision-makers.

The expected impact

By combining real-time data with predictive modelling and automation, our Digital Twin demonstrates how cities can move from reactive crisis management to proactive, data-driven transport planning.

Potential outcomes include:

• Reduced disruption impact through faster decision-making and automated rerouting
• Improved passenger experience with timely alerts and alternative travel options
• Stronger operational resilience for transport operators and emergency services
• Data-backed infrastructure investment decisions for policymakers

Ultimately, our goal is to help cities become more resilient, connected, and sustainable, ensuring public transport continues to run smoothly, even when disruption strikes.

About the SAS Hackathon

The SAS Hackathon brings together teams from around the world to collaborate on data-driven solutions that tackle real-world problems. Using SAS Viya’s powerful analytics, machine learning, and AI capabilities, participants design and prototype solutions across industries.

We are proud to have contributed an innovative approach to improving transport resilience and look forward to exploring how this concept could evolve into real-world applications for public infrastructure and mobility planning, and look forward to SAS announcing this year's winners in December.