Top 10 Business Intelligence (BI) Implementation Tips

“The Implementation of Business Intelligence (BI) solution can be a game-changer for any business as it offers integrated insight into data from all aspects. In spite of all its promises, the implementation of BI is more often than not faced with mixed outcomes. So, what ideas and tips get you the best possible result? Let’s find out!!”

Chances are you need Business Intelligence (BI). The past few years have seen big data and BI become an essential aspect of analyzing data. The use of real-time insight into data makes businesses more active, guarantee better customer satisfaction, and in control of its strategic growth prospects.

A business intelligence plan implies all steps undertaken in implementing business intelligence. It covers all BI process (define goals, key stakeholders; assess the situation) and finding performance indicators to aid measure efforts in achieving this process. Business intelligence implementation is not a simple task, as it entails several preparations in advance. But the benefits beat its costs.

Why Do I Need a Business Intelligence (BI) Plan?

The endless advantages offered by big data and BI accounts for the increased response in the use of business intelligence and data analytics software currently flooding the market. The benefits of BI are many and undisputable. Applying BI is essential, and below are a few reasons to have one in place:

• BI gives an in-depth view of your business information and understands it.
• BI give your solution a path and a goal.
• BI lets you find the perfect match for your needs.
• BI simplify and unclutter the decision-making process, which usually is its number one goal.

With the many benefits and implications of not owning a good BI rising, it is easy to desire the adoption of a quick solution. Regrettably, this method could turn out disastrous. So, if you are beginning from scratch, or seeking migration to a new platform; it is essential to have a BI strategy or roadmap in place.

Top 10 Business Intelligence (BI) Implementation Tips

So, you understand the need for BI software and getting better value from your data. With an active list of vendors, you can go through the proof of concepts, and secure a BI software that fits your business and product. But the next stage of Implementation is crucial as well.

The BI implementation stage is where BI’s potential gets outlined, and it can either make or break your acquisition. Roughly 70% of BI acquisitions fail to achieve full implementation. From BI Survey Analysis of 2500 User Responses, the top three issues linked to BI implementation were:

• Shortage of resources.
• Unclear user demands, and
• Software-related problems.

Besides, problems with proper training were also considered to be the most significant. So, what are the possible solutions? In the implementation of Business Intelligence software as a strategy to enhance your business process, several considerations have to be noted and adequately addressed. Below are the top 10 of Business Intelligence (BI) implementation tips you need to consider for a successful process:

1. Know Your Needs
2. Get Everybody Involved
3. Maintain Simplicity
4. Begin with Small and Quick Victories
5. Ensure Data Is Clean
6. Employ Constant Implementation Process
7. Create Manageable Parts for BI Implementation
8. Use Proper Project Documentation
9. Data Accumulation through Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) Processes
10. Using Self-Service Business Intelligence (SSBI) to make BI Implementation Friendly

Tip 1: Know Your Needs

Following Socrates’ advice (“know thyself”), it is essential to define what “successful” implementation of business intelligence software would mean to your business. Becoming prepared for BI software implementation experiences entails knowing what questions you are trying to answer (whether it is analytics, databases, resource management, real-time data, and more).

Knowing your needs should start early and be amongst the first things to internally describe what you consider success for your BI tool. Gathering all the critical requirements from stakeholders in the business soon enough would save loads of extra rework. It would also help produce a set of shared expectations for the Business intelligence software, thus streamlining the implementation strategy to suit your business product. For tip 1, you would want to:

• Ensure expectations get well-defined, along with other few project’s deliverables.
• Involve key stakeholders vital to implementing BI.
• Know which Key Performance Initiatives (KPIs) or Specific Factors needs focus and improvement.
• Know what to track before implementation.

Tip 2: Get Everybody Involved

Similar to needing definite knowledge of your needs to keep track, you also need to get Everybody Involved. Knowing you have the right support from every department on the implementation of BI software gets everyone ready. Also, to get every party involved, the following are essential:

• Ensure the understanding of BI implementation will be as simple as possible for new users.
• Ensure key stakeholders, SMB owner, and other leaders involved would advocate for BI implementation.
• Get advocates involved in understanding the value of implementing BI.
• If possible, attain executive sponsorship. (usage of senior-level execs is a recommendation for BI implementation)

Tip 3: Maintain Simplicity

If a selected BI software turns out challenging in terms of usage, it would not be easy to get popular support. Inventively in selecting a BI software, take note of simplification during the process of BI implementation. Several BI software allows the definition and set up KPI’s within them. Also, to maintain simplicity during BI implementation, the following are essential:

• Apply various learning strategy in software implementation and usage.
• Ensure the selected Bi software is easy to use. (A crucial criterion for more significant enterprises.)
• Provision of basic orientation to in-depth training should be available for selected BI software.

Tip 4: Begin with Small and Quick Victories

Your BI implementation should start with achieving more modest goals that are key to the bigger picture. You can begin with the rollout of departmental programs for quick wins. These small and fast victories offer the best argument to help employees adapt quickly. Small victories tend to aid BI spread organically, as employees get excited about the implementation process. For the implementation process for BI, the following would be helpful:

• Conduct no less than one new BI and analytics initiative on small victories to authenticate your strategy.
• Create a small shift for rolling out the BI application to separate departments, with a focus on resources.
• Know which data is essential, and start with them.
• Learn the process with data would help you become ready to use BI.
• Use the outcome for a small win to apply for program expansion.

Tip 5: Ensure Data Is Clean

Clean data implies entering information in a way the BI software would understand and give better output. The use of clean data is vital to your program, as every output depends on the information you import. Errors can cost your implementation a lot if the data going into your BI software turns out dirty and erratic. The BI implementation would focus on data cleaning instead. To ensure clean data, you do not need to know the coding process. Essential ways to prevent “dirty” data include:

• Avoiding inconsistencies and other data entry mistakes.
• Use the prescribed process.

Tip 6: Employ Constant Implementation Process

BI Software implementation is more demanding, stressful, and time-consuming, but would eventually worth it when you see the outcome. The actual implementation process entails the organization and willingness to do new things that are data-driven. The implementation process is technically a one-time thing, which means agility and open to alteration. Agility is particularly key data that is continuously changing. The following tips are essential:

• Noting and tracking all key metrics that are important to your business process.
• The use of agility is not just beneficial; it is necessary.

Tip 7: Create Manageable Parts for BI Implementation

Creating Manageable Parts for BI Implementation makes the process easier and enhances faster completion time. Also, key stakeholders would feel happier with the level of work completion and deliverables coming in regularly. With manageable parts to aid BI implementation, problems like late deliveries would be cut out. Some essential tips for applying include:

• Breaking the project into multiple parts to enable iterative progress.
• Constant interaction with key stakeholders to enable developmental process remain on course.
• Ensure to get feedback from stakeholders to aid in making timely changes where necessary.

Tip 8: Use Proper Project Documentation

While implementing BI, it is also essential to get proper project documentation for the process. Different teams may come up with various versions (which may be correct) for a similar term. Some important tips to note in attaining Proper Project Documentation includes:

• Creating up-to-date information for all commonly reported and likely issues alongside suitable solutions.
• Ensuring the terminologies are adjusted to serve all departments.
• Support the use of a sole version for all terminologies.

Tip 9: Data Accumulation through Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) Processes

Most businesses today have some level of an online presence. There are several data accumulation processes. For BI implementation, delays in the result are common when obtaining data through Online Transaction Processing (OLTP). However, with the ETL process, you can monitor every field, observe data capturing, and get update mechanisms for every part. The ETL Is a Nodal Point that features an Extract, Transform, and Load tool with extreme adaptability. Critical tips to Data Accumulation through ETL Process includes:

• Generating a detailed training process for every data process. (creating user manuals and support mechanism).
• Sort substantial organizational data using a standardized approach.

Tip 10: Using Self-Service Business Intelligence (SSBI) to make BI Implementation Friendly

Notably, small business ventures face regular cash crisis, which could affect the swift implementation of BI. Nevertheless, with the arrival of SSBI, the implementation process can be less costly. Several suggestions, always point small business with limited finance to seek BI implementation process that features flexible timeframe and falls within budget. Some essential tips to Using Self-Service Business Intelligence (SSBI) to make BI Implementation Friendly includes:

• Avoiding aggravated fees and stressful framework for BI programming.
• Use SSBI stages for a more cost-effective approach.

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, BI is more of a mindset tool that comes with the desire to improve continually. BI implementation process remains a valuable tool, but it not a one-time thing. The implementation process of BI requires regular fine-tuning to enhance your business growth and continuous transformation. Deploying the various tips above for the phases of BI implementation would make the process effortless. Having your Business Intelligence software up and running signals better things to come as it seeks to improve your overall business process.

What BI implementation tips do you consider successful? Kindly share your thought in the comment below, as we seek more tips to help every potential buyer looking in the direction of Business Intelligence.

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