How BI Solutions Impact Modern Business Strategies?

Explore the transformative influence of BI solutions on contemporary business strategies.

Collecting and analyzing data from various sources is essential for companies as it will contribute to achieving their business goals. Therefore, companies are turning to business intelligence (BI) solutions to address operations and support growth objectives adequately.

To better understand BI solutions, we will answer the most important questions regarding business intelligence and what it represents.

What is Business Intelligence?

Before looking into BI solutions, we must answer what business intelligence is.

BI is the process of collecting, analyzing, and storing data in a company to make effective business decisions. BI covers many technologies and methods, from how data is organized, analyzed, and kept to how the findings are reported.

What are BI Tools?

When implementing an effective business intelligence solution, a company must know what BI tools are.

Business Intelligence tools are both proprietary and open-source software applications. They gather, process, analyze, organize, filter, and report extensive data from internal and external systems. The goal is to convert raw data into valuable insights for business-related objectives.

BI tools can be immersed into applications and processes to support data analysis within one workspace without switching between separate systems.

The Evolution of BI Solutions

The first mention of Business Intelligence was in 1865 by Richard Millar Devens, when he presented the phrase “Business Intelligence” (BI) in the “Cyclopædia of Commercial and Business Anecdotes.” He used it to describe how Sir Henry Furnese, a banker, profited from data collecting and analysis by acting on it before his competition.

Then, in 1958, an IBM computer scientist named Hans Peter Luhn wrote an article describing the potential of gathering BI through technology. His research helped establish methods for creating some of IBM’s early analytics platforms.

In 1968, only individuals with highly specialized skills could translate data into usable information. A computer scientist and mathematician, Edgar Codd, noticed the challenge of storing data from multiple sources in siloes. He published a paper in 1970 and altered how people thought about databases. He proposed developing a relational database model, which became increasingly popular and quickly adopted worldwide.

A relational database organizes data into rows and columns, forming a table collectively. The decision support system (DSS) was the first database management system to be developed. The DSS assists an organization’s mid- and high-level management by analyzing huge volumes of unstructured data and accumulating information that can help solve problems and affect decision-making.

The number of business intelligence vendors grew in the 1980s as organizations discovered the value of using data to make better decisions. Additionally, more tools were developed during this time to access and organize data in simpler ways. OLAP, executive information systems, and data warehouses were some of the tools designed to work with DSS.

Online analytical processing (OLAP) – A software for performing multidimensional analysis on large data volumes at high speeds. The most crucial asset is the OLAP cube. The cube makes it possible to process and analyze multiple data dimensions much more quickly and efficiently than a traditional relational database.
Data Warehouses – The ETL process is a fundamental data warehouse concept. Usually, the ETL process helps companies extract, transform, and load data. In addition, a massive amount of information in various forms can be accessed from anywhere.

Benefits of Implementing BI Solutions

According to a MarketandMarkets report, the global BI market is expected to grow from 23.1 billion dollars in 2020 to 33.3 billion in 2025.

In addition, as stated by Accenture, 67% of the global workforce has access to business intelligence tools. But why do companies turn to data to reach their business goals?

Data accessibility drives informed decision-making, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of business functions. Additionally, business intelligence (BI) tools facilitate extracting more profound insights, ultimately enhancing decision-making processes for strategies and operations.

BI solutions offer real-time reports to managers on demand from any location, thereby minimizing the potential for errors by delivering precise data for improved decision-making and future forecasting. Thus, it’s essential to implement an effective business intelligence solution.

BI tools primarily benefit a company’s operational insights and planning activities by aggregating and visualizing key data from across the business.

Here are some of the benefits that come from implementing BI solutions:

Getting аccurate and high-quality data
Faster reporting
BI solutions can operate on mobile or smart devices, allowing users to access and manage data in real-time from anywhere
Competitive analytics is primarily used to differentiate the company’s products and services to reach the optimal market position
Finding growth opportunities
Business intelligent solutions track KPIs and alert users when they’re off track, allowing quick responses
Enhancing customer satisfaction
BI tools provide a complete view of a company’s operations, helping managers make informed decisions, identify issues, and enhance efficiency, ultimately boosting sales revenue
User-friendly BI solutions allow data to be personalized for better communication and collaboration among departments

Challenges of Implementing BI Solutions

Choosing the Right Software

Finding the right BI software to match the company’s specific needs can be tricky as there is an increasing number of solutions available in the market. Comparing the features of different tools and determining which ones solve the current data analytics issues is one way to find the right solution.

Spiraling Costs

The actual cost of acquiring a solution isn’t just the purchase price.

There are other factors related to implementation, such as training and scaling. While cost is one of the biggest implementation challenges, the right solution can yield a significant return on investment (ROI) worth the initial cost.

This comes in the form of:

Better strategic planning
Reduced costs through automation of time-consuming tasks
Increased revenue via better customer engagement, retention, and satisfaction-
Development of a competitive edge

Training

A lack of technical skills can affect the implementation of business intelligence software, making it harder to get buy-ins and preventing the system from functioning to its total capacity. Therefore, it’s essential to anticipate how much training will be needed in the early stages of the implementation.

Identifying KPIs

Selecting the right Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the company’s BI solutions is crucial to measuring the most relevant metrics that align with the organization’s goals and objectives. Select KPIs that engage stakeholders and ensure data accuracy for effective business intelligence.

When selecting KPIs, it’s essential to follow a structured approach. Begin by identifying the overarching business goals that the KPIs should support. Involve key stakeholders to gather their insights on metrics most crucial for measuring progress. Compare these chosen KPIs with industry benchmarks to ensure they align with broader standards.

Tailor KPIs to the specific needs of different departments or areas within the organization. Opt for easily measurable and actionable KPIs and prioritize the selected KPIs based on their importance to the business objectives. Establish clear targets for each KPI to provide a tangible goal for performance evaluation.

It’s vital to regularly review and adjust the chosen KPIs to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with evolving business priorities.

Additionally, ensure that your Business Intelligence (BI) system can effectively handle and analyze the selected KPIs. Provide adequate training and education to users on effectively interpreting and leveraging these metrics.

Finally, focus on data quality to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the KPI measurements.

Complex Reporting

Business intelligence solutions can be very technically focused, making it hard to understand and deploy successfully. Sometimes, only IT staff or analysts can navigate the information stored in data warehouses and use complex BI tools to extract the key insights.

BI software may never reach its full potential without the correct access to the employees who best utilize these insights and drive positive outcomes.

How to Align BI with Business Objectives?

The business intelligence strategy needs to be aligned with the company’s goals. Аn organization should follow a few steps to make the BI strategy more effective.

1) Creating a BI Vision

A company should start by understanding its current situation. Analyzing data sources to set objectives and priorities is crucial to align business intelligence with the company’s goals.

2) Assembling a BI Team

A business intelligence team is essential for data analysis and connecting with end-users. The roles of the BI team include:

BI project manager (bridging business and tech)
BI architect (setting up BI infrastructure)
BI analyst (mining and analyzing data)
ETL developer (managing data processes)
Data visualization analyst (creating data visuals)
System administrator (managing hardware).

3) Establishing BI Architecture

Choosing data architecture is based on the company’s needs. There are four stages of data sophistication:

Source data
Data lake
Data warehouse
Data mart (data designed for specific uses)

Different BI architecture approaches have specific capabilities. A company can select one-tier, two-tier, and three-tier architecture:

One-tier architecture is designed without domain-specific data mart layers.
The two-tier architecture is focused on adding data mart levels between the data warehouse and the user interface.
The three-tier architecture allows multidimensional data analysis with the help of OLAP cubes.

4) Selecting BI Software

Top players on the market provide a wide range of functions in their BI tools, such as Oracle, Tableau, IBM, and Looker. However, a company has first to assess its specific business requirements.

Ready-made solutions are limited in solving unique problems. At the same time, they can offer too many features that likely the company wouldn’t use at all. Custom software development can be a win-win option when an organization is looking for an adaptable solution that specifically answers its needs.

5 )Choosing a BI Platform & Environment

There are deployment options available, like on-premises, cloud, and hybrid.

On-premises – a model where infrastructure is installed locally and totally under the company’s control.
Cloud – a model where data processing and management are performed by third-party providers in the cloud.
Hybrid – connects on-premises data and public clouds that are integrated.

Platforms like Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and IBM Bluemix are leaders in the cloud environment.

6) Developing a BI Roadmap

Creating a visual roadmap with planned activities, dates, KPIs, deliverables, and milestones is essential for organizing the time frames for each task. The company needs to make sure it’s technical but also engaging for end-users.

Key Components of a BI Strategy

A business intelligence strategy typically consists of several key components essential for effective implementation and success.

These components include:

Data Integration – To establish a robust data warehouse, BI software must be designed to ensure seamless information delivery and integration.
Ad Hoc Analytics – Analyze and address specific questions. In contrast to traditional BI reporting, ad-hoc analysis provides immediate and detailed insights into business processes and short-term decision-making.
Predictive Analytics – Unlike descriptive analytics, which analyzes historical data for decision-making, predictive analytics allows BI professionals to forecast future events.
BI Dashboards – These are advanced reporting tools that present key business metrics through user-friendly data visualizations.
Business Analytics Strategies – Strategies for analyzing and deriving insights from data to make effective business decisions.

Future Trends in BI

The field of business intelligence solutions is evolving rapidly and holds exciting and promising future trends. Here are some of the most notable developments shaping the future of BI.

Integration of AI & ML

Incorporating AI and machine learning into business intelligence is a significant trend. AI and ML algorithms excel at analyzing vast datasets and uncover patterns that may evade traditional BI methods. This enables organizations to gain insights into customer behavior, optimize operations, and foster innovation.

Collaborative Business Intelligence

Collaborative BI involves sharing data and insights across different organizational departments and teams. It facilitates informed decision-making at all levels, fostering transparency, accountability, and cross-functional cooperation.

Augmented Analytics

Augmented analytics integrates AI and machine learning into business intelligent tools to automate data preparation, analysis, and visualization. This accelerates and enhances the accuracy of insights, even for users without extensive tech knowledge.

Voice-Activated Business Intelligence

Another influential trend in the future of BI is voice-activated BI. It employs natural language processing (NLP) and voice recognition technology to allow users to ask questions and analyze data through voice commands.

Technology’s fast growth in assessing and using data allows organizations to leverage the power of data analytics and, thus, make more informed decisions, optimize processes, and gain a competitive edge.

BI tools’ insights not only enhance strategic planning but also pave the way for organizational growth and innovation. Hence, adopting BI solutions becomes crucial for staying competitive and ensuring long-term success in the dynamic corporate environment.

Written by the Shortlister Editorial team

Sources

Business Intelligence (BI) Tools

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