Those of us that are unfortunate enough to have dabbled on Tinder know how utterly soul-destroying it can be. The same can be said for finding the right business intelligence software (BI).
All these potential ‘matches’ shoved in our faces, some with lengthy bragging bio’s, others with just model-like headshots and zero content…and then there’s always the guy with his top off in the gym, not to mention the dreaded catfishes! All with the same intention, to catch your eye and ultimately match with them. It’s exciting for all of 30 seconds until you realise you’ve still not successfully swiped right a week later - the one’s you have swiped right on can’t hold a conversation / they claimed to be funny, they’re not / the gym photo is from 5 years ago and the six-pack is now a keg – you realise, finding the right match for you is more tricky than you initially thought.
Business intelligence (BI) software on the other hand, one that’s going to be perfect for your business - hundreds of shiny solutions claiming to compliment your business needs by sweeping in on a white horse with a bunch of roses in hand and promising you to rid you of all your disjointed data can be a little confusing; how do you weed through the suitors and find the perfect BI software for you? Much like online dating, you need to take the approach of being sure in what you need to make it a successful partnership.
It all starts with initial attraction - much like dating, first impressions count - you might be drawn into a sleek interface or maybe some cheeky, unique compelling features or glowing reviews. Then you spend time assessing their compatibility and ‘getting to know them’; do their values and aspirations align with your business’ ecosystem? Just like you would ask your potential dates questions around their background and interests to understand their personality, you’d want to find out more about the functionality, scalability, and integration options with your potential business intelligence solution. Which leads to going on dates to test your compatibility further and BI compatibility testing isn’t too dissimilar; having a demo or trial to test the performance and data compatibility helps see if there’s that connection and chemistry to assess the long-term potential. Strong support and effective communication are vital in both personal relationships and software partnerships, you don’t want to be left unread for days on end with a potential date and the same can be said for a BI software partner too; making sure there’s collaborative communication channels so you can foster a healthy partnership. Then, when you’ve weighed up the pros and cons, you’ve evaluated and you decide to commit long-term, you’ve got to be willing to put your time, trust, and effort into your new BI spouse just as much as they have with you.
The basic considerations for business intelligence selection
-
Consider the industry you’re in and what you want to be getting from business intelligence software. If you have a solid idea of what your needs are, that’s half the battle. Some BI software is better suited to specific industries, so bear that in mind and swipe left on any that don’t demonstrate success in yours.
-
Can it integrate with your existing ERP and other data sources? Consider the types of data sources you need to connect with, and the level of data integration required.
-
How customisable can it be? For example, being able to access the right data from multiple sources to then drill down into specifics and create visible, meaningful, real-time reports for sales, KPI’s or even budgeting or forecasting might be a non-negotiable for you. So, making sure you understand the depths and capabilities in how customisable a BI solution truly is, is key.
-
Cloud-based or on-premise? Some business intelligence software is purely a cloud-only offering, others can be more flexible. It might not seem like a ‘red flag’ but if you want your solution to be scalable, or you have a requirement for reduced IT infrastructure, then cloud might be best.
-
How important is the interface to you? I mean, we all like to look at something that is aesthetically pleasing, but is something quite straightforward yet robust going to meet your specific business needs? Or do you need something that can offer more customisation and allows you to tailor dashboards and reporting views?
-
What does their future roadmap look like? Being astute and checking whether they release regular updates and new features means that they’re likely doing a good job of staying ahead of their game. Plus, it gives you a good indication as to whether their software aligns with your long-term business plans.
It’s a BI Match!
Whilst drawing parallels between online dating and the process of choosing the right business intelligence software is fun, it is a huge decision to make…but getting it right for your business undoubtedly has endless positive outcomes that contribute to your business’ success and growth. Better data-driven decision-making leads to maximum efficiency and productivity, comprehensive views of business metrics and KPI’s through enhanced visuals means you can identify trends and weaknesses so you can proactively take the right actions. You’ll have the ability to unlock the full potential of your data, customise and transform it into meaningful insights that, in this data-driven business landscape of today, will give you the edge against your competitors.
Lastly, we’re not suggesting you break up with your current BI spouse if you have one. But if you aren’t reaping the benefits outlined above, give us a call or drop us a message – we love playing BI matchmaker!