data and its quality, making sure it is |
ganisations, there is an obvious business |
In addition, he noted that there are still |
|
correct on input or, when it is derived |
opportunity for software vendors. As a |
many organisations that haven’ t invested |
|
from other information, that the quality |
result, there have been many new entrants |
in business intelligence or that many |
|
is inherent with the transactional process, |
in the market leading to what Christian |
business users still haven’ t got access |
|
that all information comes from the |
describes as the risk that“ these are not |
to these tools.“ If you look at numbers |
|
same source. Then we need to ensure |
yet enterprise class and [ that businesses |
from IDC, only 27 % of the people in a |
|
all users have access to the information, |
end up ] with many disparate solutions |
typical organisation are served in some |
|
and how it is presented will depend on |
to manage and maintain”. |
way by that organisation’ s business in- |
|
the level of detail required at the time.” |
telligence investments. Really, we see a |
||
Many BI projects that we’ ve seen have |
lot of the evolution in reaching out to |
||
The question then becomes about |
been very IT-centric; much of the focus |
those 73 % of users. Growth is going to |
|
whether business users are able to ask |
has been on the technology. However, |
be a fundamental element of business |
|
the right questions of the data. Busi- |
successful BI projects put the business |
intelligence.” |
|
ness users are becoming increasingly |
analysis with the business user and the |
||
sophisticated in the types of insights |
data management, which is a very techni- |
As more users get access to the tools, |
|
they want and in using that informa- |
cal discipline, with the IT department. |
there will be changes in how the tools |
|
tion more wisely. While the role of the |
are used and deployed. Dell expects a |
||
data scientist is becoming well known, |
“ We’ re enabling the technology side of |
broadening of the user base as staff with |
|
he’ s seeing the marketing scientist, who |
the house to focus on the things that |
lower level technical skills access data. |
|
understands the intersection between |
they’ re better at. It isn’ t producing re- |
This will drive further innovation in |
|
data, algorithms and business issues, as |
ports. It’ s managing data. It’ s security. |
the tools so that user interfaces make it |
|
a new role that’ s developing. |
The tools enable business users go to |
easier to gain meaning from data and |
|
places they haven’ t be able to get to |
present information that can be used |
||
IT delivery teams have, when they’ ve |
before,” said Sands. |
for intelligent decision making. |
|
worked effectively in delivering solutions, worked with end users to deter- |
Looking ahead |
The reality is that the next few years |
|
mine requirements that were used to |
So, what’ s next? Are the next few years |
will see a perfect storm of business |
|
develop and deploy systems. With BI, |
going to be simply incremental changes |
needs and evolving technology. Grant |
|
Sands prefers the term“ business user” |
on what we are seeing today? Now that |
Christian from Information Builders |
|
rather than“ end user”. This is because |
big data is just data and business intel- |
said,“ Big data, cloud, social media, |
|
end user suggests the end of a process. |
ligence and analytics tools are quite |
predictive analytics and mobile. More |
|
But business is ongoing activities, so |
mature, it’ s easy to imagine a period |
than buzzwords, these technologies are |
|
by shifting the focus away from what |
of consolidation. |
allowing organisations to leverage data |
|
users want to what the business needs, |
to accelerate business. Used together, |
||
BI projects have a greater chance of |
Mark Sands from QlikView sees a future |
these five business intelligence trends |
|
delivering business value. |
with even more diversity.“ If we look at |
are converging to transform the way |
|
how the market has evolved over the |
critical business decisions are made, and |
||
As business intelligence and analytic |
last few years, we have recognised that |
opening opportunities for new services |
|
8 |
tools become more prevalent within or- |
there isn’ t a one-size-fits-all solution |
and new revenue.” |