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Select and Implement a Reporting and Analytics Solution

Select the right analytics solution with our data-driven approach.

  • Statistics show that the top priority of 85% of CIOs is insight and intelligence. Yet an appetite for intelligence does not mean that business intelligence initiatives will be an automatic success. In fact, many industry studies found that only 30% to 50% of organizations considered their BI initiative to be a complete success. It is, therefore, imperative that organizations take the time to select and implement a BI suite that aligns with business goals and fosters end-user adoption.
  • The multitude of BI offerings creates a busy and sometimes overwhelming vendor landscape. When selecting a solution, you have to make sense of the many offerings and bridge the gap between what is out there and what your organization needs.
  • BI is more than software. A BI solution has to effectively address business needs and demonstrate value through content and delivery once the platform is implemented.
  • Another dimension of the success of BI is the quality and validity of the reports and insights. The overall success of the BI solution is only as good as the quality of data fueling them.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

  • Business intelligence starts with data management. Without data management, including governance and data quality capabilities, your BI users will not be able to get the insights they need due to inaccurate and unavailable data.
  • When selecting a BI tool, it is crucial to ensure that the tool is fit for the purpose of the organization. Ensure alignment between the business drivers and the tool capabilities.
  • Self-serve BI requires a measured approach. Self-serve BI is meant to empower users to make more informed and faster decisions. But uncontrolled self-serve BI will lead to report chaos and prevent users from getting the most out of the tool. You must govern self-serve before it gets out of hand.

Impact and Result

  • Evaluate your organization and land yourself into one of our three BI use cases. Find a BI suite that best suits the use case and, therefore, your organization.
  • Understand the ever-changing BI market. Get to know the established vendors as well as the emerging players.
  • Define BI requirements comprehensively through the lens of business, data, architecture, and user groups. Evaluate requirements to ensure they align with the strategic goals of the business.

Select and Implement a Reporting and Analytics Solution Research & Tools

Start here – read the Executive Brief

Read our concise Executive Brief to find out why you should select and implement a business intelligence and analytics solution, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and understand the four ways we can support you in completing this project.

1. Launch a BI selection project

Promote and get approval for the BI selection and implementation project.

Select and Implement a Reporting and Analytics Solution preview picture

About Info-Tech

Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your IT problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Need Extra Help?
Speak With An Analyst

Get the help you need in this 3-phase advisory process. You'll receive 9 touchpoints with our researchers, all included in your membership.

Guided Implementation 1: Launch a BI selection project
  • Call 1: Socialize the idea of BI and educate the executives on BI.
  • Call 2: Identify staffing needs.
  • Call 3: Create project plan.

Guided Implementation 2: Select a BI solution
  • Call 1: Plan requirements gathering steps.
  • Call 2: Discuss use-case fit assessment results.
  • Call 3: Discuss Vendor Landscape.

Guided Implementation 3: Implement the BI solution
  • Call 1: Discuss evaluation results.
  • Call 2: Conduct a contract review.
  • Call 3: Plan for implementation.

Author

Crystal Singh

Contributors

  • Emilie Harrington, Lowes
  • Randy Bartlett, Blue Sigma Analytics
  • Sharon Blanton, Hawaii Pacific University
  • Eileen McEvoy, BusinessObjects - Crystal Reports
  • Haluk Demirkan, ISACA
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