| Today's business world continues to evolve into hyper | | | | Who will use the Business Intelligence solution? Senior |
| competitive environments that require immediate | | | | management must be fully on board in implementing a |
| responses from customers, suppliers and employees. | | | | Business Intelligence solution. If senior managers are |
| The business professional is constantly being voice | | | | not using the analytical tools provided, mid and lower |
| mailed and e-mailed with "urgent" and "immediate" | | | | mangers will follow suit. Including one individual from |
| responses required. Less time is available, but more | | | | each department will also insure that the organization |
| time is required regarding business analytics because | | | | gains the greatest benefit from the solution. |
| of how quickly the market place can change and the | | | | Test Drive the Business Intelligence solution. Many |
| massive amount of information that must be analyzed | | | | different types of solutions exist in the market with |
| to make an informed business decision. Business | | | | slick interfaces and great looking dashboards. But a |
| Intelligence is quickly becoming more of a necessity | | | | solution has to be matched for needs of a specific |
| then a luxury. | | | | company which can vary greatly between companies |
| When considering BI solutions, the following questions | | | | and industries. Ask for prototypes with your |
| should be asked to perspective vendors and within | | | | company's data and trial periods so that your |
| your organization: | | | | company can validate that this is the correct solution |
| What will the Business Intelligence solution provide to | | | | for your enterprise. |
| the enterprise? This seems like an obvious factor, but I | | | | How long is the implementation time line? - Again, this |
| am always surprised that during initial kick off sessions | | | | may seem obvious, but many Business Intelligence |
| with new clients it becomes very clear that they do | | | | solutions are very powerful but can be difficult to |
| not know what they want their solution to provide | | | | implement and / or attach to certain databases, |
| them with. More often than not, I find that customers | | | | account programs or ERP systems. The cost of the |
| know what they don't want not what they want. Make | | | | software may be just the tip of the iceberg. Talk with |
| sure your organization has a clear understanding of | | | | existing customers and ask how long the |
| what it wants from the solution, it will save time and | | | | implementation stage was? |
| money. | | | | Designate an internal project manager for the Business |
| Chose a user friendly system. The BI solution is much | | | | Intelligence implementation. When companies implement |
| different than an accounting software or and ERP | | | | new accounting systems or ERP systems they |
| system in that a significant number of people use | | | | typically identify a project manager - one person that is |
| everyday. While you may look at the results or | | | | managing the process and keeping a close eye on |
| information that a BI solution is providing in the form of | | | | implementation deadlines. Business Intelligence solutions |
| a dashboard, the analytical side of the program is | | | | typically lack this type of internal resource allocation |
| usually not used on a daily basis by everyone, as you | | | | which can result in missed deadlines or unclear |
| would for an accounting program. The easier the | | | | communication between the vendor and the company. |
| program is to uses the better, if people forget how to | | | | Allocate an internal manager; it is an important step |
| use software - they just will not use it. | | | | that will increase the chances of a successful |
| Mapping - Business Intelligence solutions can typically | | | | implementation |
| be attached to a number of databases or ERP | | | | The following seven issues are typically the areas that |
| systems, once the vendor understands were the data | | | | can cause significant delays or failures in |
| exists. In order to save time and money, find out up | | | | implementations. Be sure to discuss all of these issues |
| front if your vendor has the mapping for your system | | | | in detail with your potential vendors and you will be |
| and is familiar with the data location of your existing | | | | significantly increasing the chances that you will pick |
| accounting or ERP system. The more familiar they are | | | | the correct BI solution and will gain all the benefits from |
| with the architecture of your existing system, the less it | | | | a properly matched and implemented solution for your |
| should cost you in consulting or implementation fees. | | | | enterprise. |