Small businesses new to business intelligence systems may feel overwhelmed at first by all the data coming in. It’s a “kid in the candy store” feeling where you don’t know what to look at first because it’s all so wonderful. After struggling for a long time with different data sources and no easy way to access data, a new business intelligence system can be cause for celebration. Yet knowing how to use your new BI system to its fullest capacity can be a challenge.
Data-Driven Business or a Business Using Data?
Your first task is to decide what type of business you want to be. Do you want to be a data-driven business, or a small business that happens to use data? The two are very different.
Data-driven businesses rely upon the insights gleaned from their business intelligence systems to form opinions and investigate options. Business decisions are backed by data, not made in a vacuum. It’s a systematic approach to running and operating a business that relies upon data to inform decisions about every aspect of your company from marketing to sales, operations and human resources.
A small business that happens to use data, on the other hand, may install a BI system yet fail to use the rich resources derived from it to build the business. They may make decisions first, then turn to the data and hunt for the one or two bits of data that support the decision.
Three Ways to Get the Most from Your New BI System
Becoming a data-driven business isn’t always easy, and it may take time and effort on your part to lead your company into growth. As with any changes, the direction comes from the top. A small business is no different. The more you can lead you staff into and through the change to a BI system, the better.
Other ways in which you can encourage your company to get the most from their new BI system includes:
- Keep it simple: With so many options to choose from, it can be tempting to create complicated new reports and procedures to replace old ones. You want to get the most out of your system, but complicating matters doesn’t mean you’re getting more use out of your system. It just means you’ve added complexity and increased the risk of error. Instead, keep it simple and focus on your goals for your BI system. What do you hope to achieve from the implementation? Focus on your end goal, and you’ll be able to get more out of your BI system.
- Centralize the information: If you’re accessing many different reports now to get the business intelligence you need, it may make sense to find a solution that integrates data from multiple points throughout your organization into one location. A single dashboard can make it much easier to access information than remembering which programs to access for different data.
- Cloud-based solutions: To ensure the easiest access for everyone on your team, consider a cloud-based solution. Cloud-based solutions use a centralized website to access the software. This means that no matter where you are, or what kind of device you’re using, you can look at the same data as people in your home office. It’s a great way to keep everyone on the team using the same data as the basis for decision making.
Choosing a great business intelligence solution is only part of the process. Getting the most out of your new software takes time and diligence. With a little help and a lot of leadership, you’ll soon gain the most value from the system.
BAASS Business Solutions, Inc.
BAASS Business Solutions, Inc. is dedicated to helping your business succeed. Whether you are looking at business intelligence solutions or methods to integrate data, we can help. Bring us your questions and we’ll help you find the answers. We offer small businesses like yours powerful technology to even the playing field. Contact us or call 1-888-650-5544.
