Importance of Mapping to Business Intelligence data
Mapping data provides true insight.
The ability to see business data with a location context, layered with other relevant data naturally provides real insight. BI data mapped Example
Business Intelligence (BI) means different things to different users. BI often refers to complex business applications, tools, and technologies focused at understanding business metrics and performance. This includes such concepts as data warehouses, data cubes, dimensional analysis (where time is often one of the dimensions), and performance monitoring. BI often involves users accessing this data in spreadsheets, pivot tables, and reports. BI typically represents systems where business data is aggregated from different enterprise systems with the goal of uncovering trends and insights.
Part of the issue is BI tools require sophisticated understanding and specialized skills. Portals now feature in many BI scenarios, where business data can be visualized in score cards or dashboards providing quick access for targeted use i.e. VP of Sales can log into their intranet portal site and see sales trends and details.
Naturally data mapping is ideal for data visualisation.
The term Data Visualization is often used in these scenarios and applications are targeted at providing better visualization of business data. Some Geospatial Information System (GIS) vendors have been offering solutions and services in the BI space, in which data can be analyzed geographically. However this does not typically address the issues of cost, complexity, and ease of use. Most organizational datasets have a location component, such as assets, competitors, sales territories etc.
The ability to see business data with a location context, layered with other relevant data naturally provides real insight.
However, more often than not, these applications are point solutions i.e. solutions implemented specifically for a short term departmental need and not part of a larger strategy. Enterprise needs to review BI features as a set of capabilities that can be leveraged over and over again quering in a rapid fire ad hoc fashion. Business Intelligence vendors offer various products that enable business intelligence and data visualization solutions. This includes capabilities for creating business data and data aggregates, storage of spatial and non-spatial data, processing and querying of business data, with reporting and data visualization.
Jan 2012 Whitepaper - The Power of Mapping
For example Industry Microsoft’s Business Intelligence strategy enables better business insights for all users, not just specialized BI, GI. Web mapping platforms like Bing Maps also add specific value to Business Intelligence solutions, providing intuitive and cost effective data visualization capabilities. This can be enabled by using familiar reports (with embedded maps), tools (e.g. Spreadsheets), maps, and portals to allow any users to access business insights in an intuitive manner.
Industry leaders in this category include Qlikview, Tableau and Spotfire. Tableau is rated by Gartner to be the most effecting data mapping and Geo coding specialist particularly with the release of Tableau Version 7 in January 2012