Introduction to Data Connect

NDA Data Connect is a comprehensive data platform designed to serve as a central hub for foodservice data management, analytics, and reporting. The platform replaces M-TRAC and provides distributors and operators with powerful tools for ingesting, normalizing, and analyzing sales and purchase data.

How It Works

Data Connect functions as an ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) tool that:

1. Ingests data — Distributors upload sales and purchase data via SFTP

2. Processes data — Workflows match incoming files to schemas and process them on a schedule (daily, weekly, etc.)

3. Normalizes data — The system maps and links data across distributors, standardizing product names, operators, manufacturers, and units

4. Delivers insights — A built-in BI tool provides sales and delivery reporting

Why Normalization Matters

Different distributors often use different names for the same products. For example, one distributor might call a product "cheese, parm" while another calls it "parm cheese." Data Connect maps these together so you can see unified reporting across all your data sources.

Main Sections

• Monitoring — Track data processing status and file health

• Workflows — Configure how data flows from source to destination

• Connections — Manage external data source connections

• SFTP Sites — Create hosted SFTP locations for data uploads

• File Analysis — Review data quality and processing issues

• Customer — Manage accounts, users, and roles

• Data — Access and manage normalized reference data

• Tracking — Monitor programs, price sheets, and fees

• Analytics — Generate reports and access BI dashboards