| Every business generates huge amounts of data that | | | | business is running. They will 'pick up' on trends and in |
| is usually collected, stored and treated as a priceless | | | | some circumstances will even be able to forecast the |
| asset. Sadly, stored data is often completely worthless. | | | | future. Business intelligence trained staff can actually |
| The reason is quite simple: In many companies the | | | | prevent problems by recognising the signs and |
| people who make the decisions don't understand how | | | | pro-actively dealing with difficulties before they happen. |
| to extract useful information from their data and, | | | | The positive benefits to staff training are just as easy |
| worse still, they don't know how to change this | | | | to understand: The ability to predict sales trends and to |
| situation. Training can help, read on to see just how | | | | link sales opportunities for cross-selling can offer a |
| much | | | | huge competitive edge. Business intelligence can help |
| Every business generates huge amounts of data that | | | | you to recognise new opportunities, plan more |
| is usually collected, stored and treated as a priceless | | | | effective marketing campaigns and develop powerful |
| asset. Data storage and backup is recognised as an | | | | sales strategies. All you need to do is to train your |
| ongoing cost. Sadly, stored data is often completely | | | | staff to understand what your business data is telling |
| worthless. The reason is quite simple: In many | | | | them. |
| companies the people who make the decisions don't | | | | The first step is to get 'buy-in' from your senior |
| understand how to extract useful information from | | | | managers. These guys should already be using |
| their data and, worse still, they don't know how to | | | | business intelligence to make their decisions. If they are |
| change this situation. | | | | not then they need to be trained first. It doesn't take |
| When it comes to running a company, comprehensive | | | | long to explain the benefits of business intelligence to |
| business intelligence is the most effective way to | | | | staff and the effects can be astounding. Imagine how |
| ensure the right decisions are made. In well-run | | | | useful it would be if you knew what people were going |
| companies, business intelligence is extracted from data | | | | to buy before they did? |
| by specialised computer programs and interpreted by | | | | Sales people quickly recognise the added commission |
| people trained to understand how to use and | | | | or bonus opportunities that business intelligence can |
| disseminate the information they are given. | | | | offer. Marketing people are swift to capitalise on new |
| The business information concealed in company data | | | | opportunities to promote their organisation and |
| is absolutely vital to the health and well-being of the | | | | managers at all levels feel empowered by the extra |
| organisation that owns it. Accessing and sharing this | | | | knowledge that business intelligence can deliver. |
| information is just as important as storing it so it doesn't | | | | The biggest challenge you face when implementing a |
| make sense to spend money on a business | | | | business intelligence system is an inability to change. |
| intelligence system without training staff to operate it | | | | Business intelligence can present you with huge |
| effectively. | | | | rewards but you must educate staff to enable them |
| The advantages to training are quite obvious: Well | | | | to take advantage of the benefits it can bring. Think of |
| trained, business intelligence focussed staff are able to | | | | it this way: Anyone can drive a high performance car |
| detect and recognise even tiny changes in the way a | | | | but everyone starts out by getting a few lessons first! |