Every business generates huge amounts of data that is
usually collected, stored and treated as a priceless asset.
Data storage and backup is recognised as an ongoing cost.
Sadly, stored data is often completely worthless. The
reason is quite simple: In many companies the people who
make the decisions don't understand how to extract useful
information from their data and, worse still, they don't
know how to change this situation.
When it comes to running a company, comprehensive business
intelligence is the most effective way to ensure the right
decisions are made. In well-run companies, business
intelligence is extracted from data by specialised computer
programs and interpreted by people trained to understand
how to use and disseminate the information they are given.
The business information concealed in company data is
absolutely vital to the health and well-being of the
organisation that owns it. Accessing and sharing this
information is just as important as storing it so it
doesn't make sense to spend money on a business
intelligence system without training staff to operate it
effectively.
The advantages to training are quite obvious: Well trained,
business intelligence focussed staff are able to detect and
recognise even tiny changes in the way a business is
running. They will 'pick up' on trends and in some
circumstances will even be able to forecast the future.
Business intelligence trained staff can actually prevent
problems by recognising the signs and pro-actively dealing
with difficulties before they happen.
The positive benefits to staff training are just as easy to
understand: The ability to predict sales trends and to link
sales opportunities for cross-selling can offer a huge
competitive edge. Business intelligence can help you to
recognise new opportunities, plan more effective marketing
campaigns and develop powerful sales strategies. All you
need to do is to train your staff to understand what your
business data is telling them.
The first step is to get 'buy-in' from your senior
managers. These guys should already be using business
intelligence to make their decisions. If they are not then
they need to be trained first. It doesn't take long to
explain the benefits of business intelligence to staff and
the effects can be astounding. Imagine how useful it would
be if you knew what people were going to buy before they
did?
Sales people quickly recognise the added commission or
bonus opportunities that business intelligence can offer.
Marketing people are swift to capitalise on new
opportunities to promote their organisation and managers at
all levels feel empowered by the extra knowledge that
business intelligence can deliver.
The biggest challenge you face when implementing a business
intelligence system is an inability to change. Business
intelligence can present you with huge rewards but you must
educate staff to enable them to take advantage of the
benefits it can bring. Think of it this way: Anyone can
drive a high performance car but everyone starts out by
getting a few lessons first!
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Business Intelligence is all about making sure that a
business owner and their staff knows what is going on in
their business. This is just what Contemporary a leader in
the field of Business Objects offers. Training, hardware
and software can all be provided. See
http://www.contemporary.co.uk
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