Business Intelligence/Data Warehousing
The fourth technology pillar is business intelligence and the need to make it available beyond the traditional group of specialists is to allow customers to be automatically present with relevant information.
Supporting Business Intelligence platforms in mid to large organizations is not just about technology nor is it solely about the information that the technology delivers. Striking the right balance between the type of information required and the framework for delivery requires a defined and methodical approach built on solid governance principles that merge business drivers with appropriate enabling technologies.Organizations have seen the fruits of implementing data warehouses and are moving at rapid speed to establish Business Intelligence models that seek to leverage an often under utilized and valuable asset – information.
The challenge with many of these efforts centers on :
- - defining the strategy and building the supporting infrastructure to ensure the overall success of the program.
- - Establishing a Data Quality Czar with primary dedicated resources charged with correcting identified errors, conducting independent audits of existing data, and establishing a metrics program aimed at fostering improved data entry and production support.
- - Ensure that engaging the respective business partners across the Enterprise at the same time to ensure that data mart development is not done in a vacuum. As many functional areas and service teams use the same data in different ways so we look at the data marts from a functional AND service channel perspective as well.
- - Avoid the “build it and they will come” mentality by engaging the business and having those stakeholders engage key customers to get a sense of not just what data they are looking for but what they are looking to accomplish with the information.
- - Re-focus ROI opportunities away from the typical “less time” to produce reports and instead incorporate increased capacity estimates, headcount avoidance and demand forecasting from a reporting perspective.
- - Avoid a common mistake that organizations make when implementing new technologies – Do Not over Customize. We believe in delivering accurate and reliable information in the most streamlined manner possible has to remain the primary goal of the effort.