| Business Intelligence (BI) is one of those terms | | | | integrating, and analyzing transactional and |
| that conjure up an air of convert operation. | | | | operational data from multiple sources; |
| However, the core role of the technology is to | | | | - A query tool for asking questions from the |
| facilitate decision-making. Like a good spy, once | | | | database; |
| deployed, it assists its "handler" in making | | | | - A reporting tool for generating ad hoc reports |
| informed decisions. Until recently, applications of | | | | based on a query or series of queries; |
| business intelligence were limited to large and | | | | - An analytical tool for generating projections, |
| mid-size enterprises, but the technology is gaining | | | | conducting forecasts, and creating alternative |
| popularity. BI promises the type of information | | | | scenarios; |
| support every business manager or | | | | - A search tool for locating information, |
| decision-maker could use. This article provides an | | | | discovering underlying patterns, and augmenting |
| overview of this potentially powerful business tool. | | | | analysis; |
| What is business intelligence? | | | | - A dashboard functionality providing for quick |
| The simple answer is there is no single universally | | | | viewing and sharing of results. |
| used definition for BI. Developers may define the | | | | What are desirable qualities in a business |
| technology in ways that favor the features of | | | | intelligence system? |
| their own brand of business intelligence software. | | | | Given the relatively high cost of deploying, running, |
| Regardless of the exact wording of a definition, | | | | and maintaining a BI system, it is important that |
| the following applies across BI brands: | | | | the product you select possesses the following |
| - BI is not a single tool. Most frequently, it is a | | | | qualities: |
| collection of related technologies, tools and | | | | - Ease of use, especially from the point of view |
| functions. These components explain why the | | | | of the intended primary users in the enterprise. |
| technology is often characterized as a system. | | | | - Flexibility of customization, to improve the best |
| - The core function in a BI system is to gather, | | | | chance of adoption success |
| coordinate, and transform data into information | | | | - Best fit to enterprise needs and existing |
| efficiently. Not surprisingly, the more integrated | | | | systems, to enhance the ROI of the technology |
| the software, the more diverse its data analysis | | | | Conclusion |
| capability. | | | | Today's competitive environment requires |
| - BI deployment is customizable to fit enterprise | | | | enterprises to be agile in all aspects of business |
| and industry needs. | | | | operations. Few will debate the benefits of having |
| In essence, business intelligence is what your | | | | business intelligence technology as part of the |
| enterprise makes of it - depending on usage and | | | | performance management toolkit of an |
| functionalities. | | | | enterprise. Properly deployed, BI tools and |
| What are the key components of a business | | | | functionalities improve the timeliness, objectivity |
| intelligence system? | | | | and transparency of business decisions. However, |
| What constitutes a BI system varies by | | | | realizing these benefits hinges on how well the |
| developer. However, most integrated systems | | | | chosen product fits the specific needs of the |
| have the following tools and functionalities: | | | | enterprise. |
| - Data management tools for collecting, cleaning, | | | | |