Download this step by step guide to learning how mid-size companies can benefit from Business Intelligence. You'll learn the benefits of BI and why mid-size companies need it for effective decision-making and improved results.
White Paper Business Intelligence for
Mid-Size Organizations:
It's Not Just for Industry Giants
Improve the Ef?ciency and Effectiveness of Your
Organization-Regardless of Its SizeAuthor: Michael A. Schiff, MAS StrategiesContributors: Jennifer Ambrose, Diane McBurnie, Jaylene Crick, MaryLouise Meckler, April Reyes, David TownleyAudience: This paper is intended for mid- to senior-level IT leaders and business leaders whoneed to get better information to make more informed decisions.
Business Objects . Business Intelligence for Mid-Size Organizations: It's Not Just for Industry GiantsContents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ivSigns Your Organization May Need Business Intelligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 What Is BI and Why Mid-Size Organizations Need It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2How BI Is Helping Mid-Size Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2BI Components Explained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 The Bene?ts of BI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Approaches to Implementing BI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8What to Look for in BI Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10What to Look for in a BI Vendor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12About MAS Strategies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13About Business Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Business Objects . Business Intelligence for Mid-Size Organizations: It's Not Just for Industry Giants iiiIntroduction
Your organization's focus has been on acquiring customers, increasing revenues and pro?tability,and outpacing the competition. And while your organization has continued to improve itsoperating ef?ciencies (sometimes by quickly learning from past mistakes), you feel your companyshould be spending more time analyzing what's going on and planning for the future-ratherthan having its employees constantly run around trying to solve operational problems and putout ?res.
You realize your organization does not have the resources of a Fortune 500 company, but youbelieve-man-for-man and woman-for-woman-your company's employees are more passionateabout their jobs and more committed to its customers. Your company may be relatively smallright now, but it's on a high-growth path. You've heard the term "business intelligence" andknow large companies-and maybe even your direct competitors-are using it; however, yourorganization's primary analysis tool is a spreadsheet.
You were there when your company's ?rst location was in its founder's garage. Now that youroperations have graduated from the garage to real of?ces, isn't it time your company's analysiscapabilities graduated from spreadsheets to more powerful tools as well?
iv Business Objects . Business Intelligence for Mid-Size Organizations: It's Not Just for Industry GiantsSigns Your Organization May Need Business Intelligence
The following scenarios represent typical situations that could bene?t from improved businessintelligence (BI):Multiple versions of the truth. Interdepartmental meetings frequently turn into shoutingmatches as participants argue about whose spreadsheet has the correct ?gures.Inability to perform in-depth analysis. Your company knows which of its retail outlets havethe greatest sales volume, but it doesn't know which products have the highest sales.Unable to locate important information. Fred in accounting mentioned that a reportshowing year-over-year growth for each customer has been posted to the company's intranet.But you have no idea how to ?nd it.Lack of data privacy and security. Fred also menti... [download for more]
