Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Business Intelligence
Road Ahead “Fundamentals of Business Analytics”
RN Prasad and Seema Acharya
Copyright 2011 Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Learning Objectives and Learning Outcomes
• Need for better and faster transfer of information extracted by decision support
systems to the people who consume that information
• The Roadblocks
– Small screen for viewing reports and KPIs; hence lack of detail.
– Poor resolution
– Poor connectivity
– Poorly equipped browsers.
– Information is sent to recipients on fixed schedule. However, recipient has no control over it.
– Small amount of transmitted data
– Limited user interactivity: no analysis capability; no drill-down; no drill-through to sub-
reports
– No freedom to query either.
– Low on memory and processing power.
– Very limited functionality on keyboard. “Fundamentals of Business Analytics”
RN Prasad and Seema Acharya
Copyright 2011 Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Overcoming the Shortcomings
• Wireless e-mail
• Larger screens
• Advanced browser
• A native application for the device that is specially designed for the mobile
screen to provide superior interactivity
– Push Reporting
– Pull Reporting
– Apple iPhone
– Apple iPad
“Fundamentals of Business Analytics”
RN Prasad and Seema Acharya
Copyright 2011 Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Data Security Concerns for Mobile BI
• Device Security
• Transmission Security
– Any user who has access to the Internet can use the cloud and the services
provided by it.
– Since all these services are connected, users can share information between
multiple systems as well as with other users
– Local computers need not take the heavy load when it comes to running
applications. The network of computers that forms the cloud handles the load
instead.
– Due to this hardware and software demands reduces on the user’s side.
“Fundamentals of Business Analytics”
RN Prasad and Seema Acharya
Copyright 2011 Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
Answer a Quick Question
• Software as a subscription
• Reduced software maintenance
• Increased reliability
• Increased scalability
• Cost reduction
• Matches current computing trends
• Portability/accessibility
• Efficient use of computer resources
• Version-less software
• Environment friendly
• Pay per use
• Faster ROI
• Scalability
• Flexibility
• Greater Visibility
• Benefits of ERP
– Consistency and reliability of data across the various units of the organization
Will ERP serve the analytical and advanced reporting needs of the organization?
“PlusSales” has humungous amount of data in a multitude of systems. Most, if not all, of
the organization’s financial data is safely housed in the ERP system. But Kevin, a senior
executive, looking to gain a quick view of how the business is progressing requires not only
the financial data but also the data from sales, inventory, CRM, etc. His needs can be
satisfied from a merged data set that combines data from all the systems.
Business Intelligence could do just that, i.e., it can include data from internal and external
sources; it can support information access to external parties, vendors and customers, etc.; it
can provide real-time actionable business insights; it can provide single version of the
critical information; it can support the analytics and reporting needs of the organization; and
much more.
• ERP today is considered as “Trusted Data Source” and hence basing decisions
on ERP data is considered more “Safe” by decision makers.
• Employs customized analytics to meet business needs.
• Enables users to perform “what if ” forecasting.
• Enables users to develop customized reports.
• Presents key information in dashboard views using charts, pivots, gauges, etc.
• Drills down to view data at a more detailed level.
• Drills across from dimension to dimension at the same hierarchical level.
• Merges information from multiple varied systems to provide a “unified source”
of data.
• Performs trend analysis using historical data.
• Searches for hidden patterns.
• Social CRM requires dealing with conversations and relationships with social customers in
addition to the data or information that you might have about them.