Our Advice On Integrating Business Intelligence And ERP
Business intelligence (BI) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) have been in the spotlight the last couple of years because of the global financial crisis. Businesses now need to know in rapid fashion what is happening in their organizations and why. Despite having the right intentions, a lot of businesses have struggled to implement business intelligence systems. Others have rolled it out but aren’t using it correctly, for example using it in a reporting role rather than taking full advantage of it’s potential. Business intelligence is a powerful too when used properly, and using trends analysis alone has fueled company growth of over 20%. Here is a run down of key points for successful business intelligence integration:
Consider the end goals for business intelligence. Jumping in head first without the end goal means that you’ll be flying blind. The role of business intelligence is to convert ERP records into information that can be used to make important decisions. Decide what you will be analyzing, what your key performance indicators are, and what outcomes you wish to achieve before getting started.
Success comes from within. A deep understanding of your own business operations is required in order to get the best results. Don’t outsource the project. Have someone within your own organization manage the project.
Get a business intelligence vendor that provides adequate support. Don’t go it alone with business intelligence software. A vendor with experience with business intelligence project management and your particular industry will be invaluable.
Business intelligence is not a simple reporting tool. This is not the true function of business intelligence. Used properly, business intelligence will provide up to date information on the state of the business, and provide valuable insights that that allow decision makers to do great work. Focus on strategic insights rather than reporting.
Contact MXI for experienced business intelligence advice, or download a free trial of Tableau business intelligence today.