Implementing Business Intelligence – alone or with a partner?

Business Intelligence – the Gartner Report 2021

The last decade brought about an increase in the popularity of Business Intelligence tools, not only among globally operating companies, but also in our own backyard. Many companies offer comprehensive implementation methods. But how to choose the right Business Intelligence tool? The annual Gartner report is instrumental in making the right decision. It is the most important comparison of Business Intelligence tools, presenting an evaluation of such tools and making it possible to compare the results on the BI market. The Gartner Report 2021 does not herald any dramatic changes when it comes to global industry leaders. The leading vendors again include Microsoft, Qlik and Tableau. I will not juxtapose the different tools against each other, exposing myself to the proponents of a competing solution. Instead, I will try to answer the questions which bother entrepreneurs, such as: “Why do I need a Business Intelligence tool?” and “Should I implement and maintain a Business Intelligence tool alone or with a partner?”

Why do I need a Business Intelligence tool?

In a nutshell, a Business Intelligence system provides answers. To what questions? In fact, to various questions about data. Seems simple? It is, to a point, but in order for the answers to bring business value to the decision-making process, all necessary data sources must be defined at the pre[1]implementation analysis stage. It is also necessary to remember to verify their correctness and create a suitable process of loading them. Suitable means fast and least burdensome for the data source itself. After all, the source may be an already operative transaction system that – if additionally burdened with queries – could cease to operate optimally. At this point, it is worth considering the involvement of a Business Intelligence partner. Following the data and answers to the questions we have been asking, I will briefly outline the issue. However, let us start from the beginning, i.e. the data model.

The right data model

When implementing a data analytics system, one needs to create the right data model. Here, a competent and experienced team of Business Intelligence consultants will help. The work of such a team consists of remodeling relationally linked data into an efficient data model. Without this step, i.e. correct data transformation and optimization of the model in the right direction, Business Intelligence solutions will not be efficient. With the growing amount of data and number of users, responsiveness decreases and maintenance requirements increase.

Business Intelligence – application example

It is worth observing if there is seasonality in a given industry. Let us take a closer look at the sales industry. We are not able to pick up all the details based on our own observations alone. This is where sales history over a longer period, for example spanning several years, can be helpful. Thanks to a Business Intelligence tool, we can adopt an appropriate strategy depending on whether increased sales of a given product occurred in certain periods or not. We can also observe which goods did not sell in a certain location, and then think about how many of them will be needed for the next year. We can also shift them to a more profitable distribution point where, for example, the number of units sold of those goods will be four times greater. Look into the future Prediction is important not only in the context of running a business and planning sales, as in the example I gave. When implementing Business Intelligence, we also need to remember to predict the future. As the company grows, we will probably have more data, source systems or users. It is worth keeping in mind the growth of data as the organization and our reporting apps grow. An experienced Business Intelligence partner who has completed many implementation projects will help you take the best direction as you grow.

Look into the future

Prediction is important not only in the context of running a business and planning sales, as in the example I gave. When implementing Business Intelligence, we also need to remember to predict the future. As the company grows, we will probably have more data, source systems or users. It is worth keeping in mind the growth of data as the organization and our reporting apps grow. An experienced Business Intelligence partner who has completed many implementation projects will help you take the best direction as you grow.

After Business Intelligence implementation – some advice

Business Intelligence audit

If we already have a Business Intelligence solution, it is worth asking ourselves – after a longer period of use – about the condition of the entire designed environment. Adding new dashboards and including new data sources – whether in the form of files or specific new databases – affects the way the data analysis tool operates. The answer may be an audit to help determine if we are developing the model and solution according to best practices. Or maybe we have overlooked some important elements in the rush to get it up and running? An audit will not necessarily indicate that something is wrong. However, it can show what to do to make it even better.

Training for users

Business Intelligence solutions are constantly evolving and increasing the capabilities of a given system. Business Intelligence projects are highly dynamic. Therefore, we should remember to train the staff responsible for the development and maintenance of our solution. This is also an opportunity to exchange knowledge among colleagues who probably have experience with slightly different sectors as well as implementation cases.

Support from an external partner

If for some reason the team in the organization cannot or is not able to develop the implemented tool, they can always hand it over for maintenance to another entity – for example in the form of an SLA. They can also benefit from the knowledge of experienced Business Intelligence consulting teams, who will share the knowledge they have gained during numerous implementation cases. An IT partner will provide consulting services in the area of apps and infrastructure overview and will conduct security workshops

The role of a Business Intelligence partner

We have analyzed situations that can be encountered before, during and after implementation. So, should one develop a Business Intelligence tool by themselves? Or maybe these tasks should be entrusted to an external company, for example as part of outsourcing Business Intelligence services? A trusted and experienced partner can always help with all the situations and problems I have described.

An outsourcing partner – why it is worth having one

• They have experienced teams of consultants who have worked on many such implementation cases, thanks to which other organizations can benefit from cross-sectional knowledge. For example, JCommerce has implemented solutions for companies such as Eko-Okna, Samsung or Burda Media.
• They take care of the teams’ knowledge by providing regular training and certification. A Business Intelligence service provider provides their teams with access to knowledge. Thanks to outsourcing support, it is possible to exchange knowledge with the vendor’s expert teams.
• They offer ongoing support, including 24/7 if necessary. The organization’s internal team is rarely able to provide 24/7 system support. Additionally, thanks to the partner’s services, the issues of replacements, HR problems or employee rotation are no longer our problem.

Summary

If we are wondering whether to entrust the implementation and maintenance of a BI tool to an outsourcing partner, it is worth considering all the pros and cons. I hope I have managed to present situations in which the support of an experienced vendor will prove invaluable. Regardless of the level of our knowledge and the stage we are at, a partner and their knowledge will not hurt, but can certainly help us.