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December 22, 2009
Can Your Company Afford to Invest in Business Intelligence?
Should you invest in business intelligence in such uncertain times?
A lot of business analysts say that in all actuality, you can’t afford not to. Many businesses are simply hunkering down and waiting with bated breath in the hopes that they can survive current economic turmoil. They’re afraid, and rightly so. But if you don’t invest in business intelligence, you’re leaving yourself more exposed to risk than necessary.
What does BI do for you?
Business intelligence tools help you analyze your business in a way that lets you make educated business decisions. In terms of economic timing, now is the time to analyze your company closely. Micromanaging every detail of your business is what will enable you to stay afloat in difficult times. And thanks to BI reporting, micromanaging doesn’t have to be as tedious and labor intensive as it sounds. Through BI reporting you can analyze every aspect of your profits and your costs so that you can maximize the former and minimize the latter. Data can be your friend if it’s presented in a way that makes it usable.
BI tools that exist today can help you:
•Run reports instantly. On-demand BI tools mean that you don’t have to wait for someone to get you a report. You can log in to your dashboard and quickly get the info you need.
•Get reporting without putting stress on your network. Traditionally, a lot of reports were only possible when systems were shut down. That’s not the case with today’s technology because you can utilize cloud computing and Software as a Service (SaaS.)
•SaaS also means that you don’t have to continually upgrade and deploy new versions of software and you don’t have to worry about supporting the software because your business intelligence provider does this for you. This means zero strain on your already taxed IT staff.
Whether you want to cut costs, reduce order cycle time, determine areas for improvement, or just give every staff member access to data that can help them do their job better, today’s business intelligence tools enable you to do that cost effectively. While there is an investment in the tools and time to get the system implemented, the return on that investment can mean the difference between holding your breath and hoping you survive difficult times and moving forward confident that you have the tools and knowledge to expand and grow your business.
Posted by Sasha Grebenyuk at 9:30 AM | Comments (26)
December 17, 2009
Real Time Business Intelligence Options – Why Are You Still Waiting for Your Data?
Having access to comprehensive business reports is something that's vital to many business people. Having access in real time to those reports that are needed can help you be better at doing your job. This is the case whether you're an individual contributor or are a decision maker. There are a lot of different available business intelligence tools that companies use. These tools can enable users to access data. Solutions exist such as those by:Pivotlink, Host Analytics, SpotFire, and Oco-Inc's business intelligence solution.
Not long ago, businesses would attempt to run reports internally. They'd buy software packages to write reports for them and maybe they'd ask their IT department to write new reports and they'd have to wait for them. Very often, they'd have to wait a while for those reports and by the time they arrived, the information would no longer be current. Often, you'd have to factor in a margin of error due the inability to obtain real time reports.
Today, more companies than ever are looking to get help with their BI needs. A business intelligence solution can provide dashboards, reports, and analytics on an on-demand basis. And one of the bonuses with today’s solution offerings is that IT departments don't want to have to bring systems down regularly to run department reports and users don't want to wait for information. Because of the various SaaS (Software as a Solution) offerings that exist: resources are freed up, information is more readily available, and the information is far more usable. Companies can set access and restrictions at a per user level so that the right information can be seen by the right individuals. Regardless of whether your environment is heterogeneous or not, you can quickly gather data from multiple systems. The right data can change the way you do business --- for the better.
Comparing BI Solutions
Because there are so many solutions available, you can compare various business intelligence solutions so that you can choose the right one for you. Test drive a few options, analyze features and benefits of competing solutions, contrast costs, and meet with account managers to let them pitch you on their value added proposition.
Cost isn't everything, as you well know. Some solutions will be more expensive but may provide more bells and whistles that appeal to your business model. The most expensive solution isn't going to necessarily be the "best in class" either. Taking a step toward improved data analysis is going to involve looking at your options and your needs and determining the best fit based on your needs today and on your needs going forward.
Be sure that the business intelligence solution you choose is going to provide a great return on your investment and meet your needs as your business evolves. Depending on your business model and your needs, during your analysis you might find that Pivotlink has what you need but you might also find Oco Inc. has the solution that suits your business model. The point is that you don't have to keep waiting for essential data. You can find a consultant who can take raw data and make it both usable and immediately accessible for you, without your having to shut down all your systems to get it. Reading case studies from companies who have recently implemented on-demand BI solutions demonstrates that the ROI on this type of solution can be huge!
Posted by Sasha Grebenyuk at 9:15 AM | Comments (0)
December 15, 2009
Supply Chain Conference in Phoenix, AZ
Retailers and manufacturers share one supply chain.
Now they share one supply chain conference.
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) are pleased to announce the inaugural Supply Chain Conference: Bringing It All Together, jointly hosted by the FMI-GMA Trading Partner Alliance (TPA).
As cost pressures grow and the concept of the shared supply chain continues to evolve, trading partners are innovating more than ever before to increase efficiencies, cut costs and streamline the entire value chain. Combining the best aspects of FMI's annual Supply Chain Conference and the GMA Information Systems and Logistics/Distribution Conference (IS/LD), the 2010 Supply Chain Conference will bring retailers and manufacturers together in one forum to showcase the latest insights and tools that will help these trading partners develop new solutions to traditional and emerging challenges throughout the CPG supply chain.
Conference Benefits
•Build stronger relationships throughout the supply chain to foster more efficient and collaborative execution
•Learn model practices that are saving companies time and money
•Get ahead of the curve on emerging issues such as shelf-ready packaging and aisle-ready product delivery
•Discuss new ideas and challenges with your peers in informal discussion groups
Designed by retailer and manufacturer supply chain executives for retailer and manufacturer supply chain executives, the conference is a can't-miss event for vice presidents, directors, regional managers and managers of:
•Logistics
•Operations
•Supply Chain
•Direct Store Delivery
•Distribution
•Transportation
•Technology
•Customer Service/Logistics
•Strategic Development
Contacts
Registration: please contact Allison Conway at / aconway@gmaonline.org.
Program content: please contact Jeanne Iglesias at / jiglesias@gmaonline.org or Pat Shinko at / pshinko@fmi.org.
Sponsorship opportunities: please contact Jonathan Downey at / jdowney@gmaonline.org.
Hotel logistics and housing: please contact Liz Cookson at / ecookson@gmaonline.org
Posted by Sasha Grebenyuk at 8:30 AM | Comments (0)
December 8, 2009
Tomorrow - Free Webinar - 5 Reasons of Using SaaS for your Divisional BI Needs
http://www.oco-inc.com/landing/december-9-webinar/Using-SaaS-for-Your-Divisional-BI-Needs.asp
Leading companies are choosing Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business intelligence (BI) solutions to provide reporting and analytics for divisions and business units. There are some specific use cases where a SaaS model quickly delivers business value and grows with the business' needs. It is a faster, less expensive option that can meet all your needs.
Learn how divisions are using SaaS-based business intelligence solutions to meet the varying needs of their business users to get a more complete picture of how the organization is performing.
Posted by Sasha Grebenyuk at 12:45 PM | Comments (0)
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