Building business intelligence into applications is extremely important for businesses as they come to grips with fast-moving markets, formidable competitors, and in some cases, staff education and knowledge problems.
BI has also been a traditional IT concern, dating back to earlier times when user reports were cranked out with the help of fourth-generation programming languages. Now, however, BI is increasingly viewed as a way to leverage or gain intellectual capital in areas where there never used to be any.
This helps explain why cloud-based solutions are taking root. When these cloud service providers can bundle in accumulated expertise that enables companies to more quickly execute business processes and strategic thinking, customers gain market advantage and save money.
Enlightened companies also recognize that they need to leverage their own intellectual capital internally. This is why a major insurer made the decision to not only embed business intelligence on the 30,000 smartphones of its agents -- and on a second tier of application servers that interacted with these devices -- but also on the incoming batch-process performed on paper-based applications that were coming in from data entry operations. The result: high levels of customer satisfaction, zero defects on insurance applications, and the elimination of reworking.
Still, there are companies out there that don't know how to get the most out of their business intelligence investments. In one case, corporate IT unveiled a new warehouse management system that allowed persons in the warehouse to input alarm parameters and other metrics and monitoring buttons, and to define rules for warehouse operations through the use of a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI). The tool promised instant results to age-old problems, and also a different set of metrics and reports that more accurately reflect today’s warehouse operations.
Nevertheless, operations staff was hesitant to adopt the tool because they had become accustomed to a set of 20 reports that they had used constantly throughout the years. They already know the shortcomings of these reports, and how to work around certain situations in the warehouse.
From IT's standpoint, the system quickly became a tough sell because end users either didn't see or didn't want the solutions or its benefits.
If you're an IT pro, what is the best way to build business intelligence into the organization?
Understand the company’s mission. If you can see where the right kind of business intelligence can deliver the most value to the business, this is a good place to start.
Gain upper management support. Building a business case for BI and what it can deliver is the first step toward securing management sponsorship for a BI project. This sponsorship is critical, especially in cases where people might initially be fearful of new technology and how it will affect their jobs.
Find a champion in the end-user community. Dealing with change and new systems is never easy, so the best way to promote change is from within. Strategically, it is always to IT's advantage if it can find an end-user champion to help in training and in promoting the benefits of a new system.
While right-fitting BI to the business, don’t forget to right-fit it into your IT infrastructure. Often, business intelligence requires a specialized server to run it. In other cases, it can be run on an existing physical server or even on a virtual server. BI also is frequently cross-platform in the data sources and applications it uses. The workload and processing across this IT infrastructure should be designed by IT for maximum efficiency, reliability, and performance.
Measure results and do something about them. BI doesn't always show results right away. Determine what a reasonable period of time is in order to assess results, and then do it. If the BI isn't delivering what you thought it would, this is an excellent time to examine what is happening and to make adjustments. If BI is exceeding expectations, it's time to extend the vision and set new goals.
Re: Re : The Case for Business Intelligence – and How to Make It Happen
yes, I did heard about it...
but I think is more related to how human brain process information
in my case I got trained to follow patterns and instinct - it did help me to pass the test
but I do firmly belief repetition do make perfect...
in my case I'm a visual hands-on extrovert learner... to a fault...
as to be honest I'm still struggling with office ribbons
(never less I did pass Microsoft Office 2010 Pro exam with 90%)
when I test software I always mention in my reports it would be nice for end user to have more options/customization to his/her likings
or smart software follow user usage patters and customizing/giving options of customization - in accordance with the users patters/likes...
as at present time we have four main interchangeable combination's patterns of learning/processing information.
The big problem in the market/world today - we are creatures of habit and like to follow patterns/old paths
based our decisions on the assumptions... afraid to step out of the box "Paradigm"...
Once I got in the heated argument with my boss
Calculated risk vs Instinct power - based decision risk...
in the Math/Chemistry sometimes you do not know the equitation/formula
but you could pick the right answer out of many...
Calculated risk - example how correctly you could calculate bank/lender's futures options or derivative on the second mortgage in the New Orleans?
I could not figure out how you could calculate fear factor (potential unrest/riots) and e.t.
as in many cases you could not have access to real time updated hands-on (information from the ground) information/intelligence... - you could only base your decision on the instinct...
as globalization did create non repetition in the patterns of similar events...
Historic recurrence is the repetition of similar events in history but globalization is the new game changer...
what is my main concern with Business Intelligence you could have right info and date input
correct output, but still make a faulty decision as brain would follow the old faulty patterns/paths
I do think more training need it - how to process information correctly...
I could be totally wrong as my instinct (the way I process information) - could be based on the faulted understanding/misconception or corrupted based/basic information of the past events/knowledge base...
Re: Re : The Case for Business Intelligence – and How to Make It Happen
@ Mary:
True enough but how can you completly rely on these tools when it comes on to taking bigger decisions about your company.. These are softwares based on certain formulas and certain complexed decisions cannot be foecasted only with thse tools. I guess these tools has an effect of 20 - 25% when it comes for complexed decision making.
Re: Re : The Case for Business Intelligence – and How to Make It Happen
Hi Gigi,
Software bundling practices haven't changed much over the years, as you observe.
You get "more" from the vendor in exchange for the vendor locking you into his solution with proprietary software. This is why vetting the vendor and making a decision for the long haul are important before you adopt anyone's bundled BI solution.
Companies that wish to remain truly vendor-independent must either develop their own internal BI or seek solutions from the Open Source community.
Re: Re : The Case for Business Intelligence – and How to Make It Happen
Hi nimanthad,
It has where goals to improve business processes and decision making have been very specific.
One example is the spit-second decision to switch from outsourcing to insourcing manufacuring when fuel prices go up. Analytics modelling can quickly show what the costs savings would be (if any), and allow decision makers to make these types of calls early enough to make a difference in their profit margins.
Time could prove me wrong, white.space, but I see ERP as a tougher application for the cloud. Why? Because many companies have customized processes built around their ERP, and from those I talk to, the inclination is to maintain ERP on the inside. Secondly, ERP is really the "drive chain" of many companies' internal processes. This also makes them reluctant to farm it out.
Re: Re : The Case for Business Intelligence – and How to Make It Happen
agree, Business Intelligence is new reality, whatever you like it or not you need it... and with proper use you could outsmart your competition... or have advantadge on the field...
yes, new smart aproach in the Business Intelligence do deliver results .
Re: Re : The Case for Business Intelligence – and How to Make It Happen
How can we say, bundling of software or applications as Business Intelligence? Similar business strategy is adopted by Microsoft also, along with OS, they will provide Internet browser, Windows live chat etc. From their point of view it may be BI, but they are forcing us to use the bundled products. Moreover they can make the other applications in compactable with their products too. In my opinion, the way of forcing customer to use their products cannot be Business intelligence.
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