FD Insights Issue 5 | Page 29

| software focus Tania Draper, First Distribution’s IBM Software Brand Manager “We’re seeing software develop to the point now where we can use the strength of computers to analyse and interpret data in order to really enhance business profitability.” tured, in motion and at rest. Big data holds valuable insights that can transform a business. Predictive Analytics First Distribution’s IBM Software Brand Manager Tania Draper emphasised the strength of IBM’s Business Analytics portfolio, saying “We’re seeing software develop to the point now where we can use the strength of computers to analyse and interpret data in order to really enhance business profitability. Studies have also shown that organisations that apply analytics generally outperform their peers. IBM offers a really strong set of analytics products which tap into all types of information, empower people to explore and interact with that information, optimise decisions and provide insights from all perspectives and time horizons.” most profitable directions with timely, reliable insights, scenario modeling and transparent and timely reporting. But without analytics, big data is just noise. Discover subtle patterns and associations and develop and deploy predictive models to optimize decision-making. Analytical Decision Management Empower workers and systems on the front lines to get the most out of every customer interaction and improve outcomes. Risk Analytics Make risk-aware decisions and achieve profitable growth with smarter risk management programs and methodologies. These include: Regulatory Compliance Business Intelligence Harness the data explosion, meet your organization’s needs for flexible business intelligence deployment options and satisfy user expectations with powerfully simple analytics you can’t outgrow. Performance Management Guide management strategy in the Sustain profitability and improve decision making while keeping pace with increasing regulatory demands. Turn Data and Analytics into Competitive Advantage The amount of data in the world is growing every second, and taking on more forms—structured and unstruc- Running analytics on a wide range of existing data combined with new data sources gives a more vivid picture of your business and the forces that affect it. Three things you must get right...to transform your business, using big data and analytics: 1. Build a culture that infuses analytics everywhere. Empower all employees to make data-based decisions, instead of relying on instinct and past experience. 2. Be proactive about privacy, security and governance. Ensure that the data being analyzed is safe, secure and accurate. 3. Invest in a big data and analytics platform that is tuned to the task of handling all types of data and analytics, regardless of form or function. Tania concludes: “If you’re interested in Business Intelligence or in Analytics and the effect it can have on your business, get in touch with First Distribution. There are some really great products out there, and we’d love to show you around.” 27 | www.firstdistribution.co.za