There is a reason why people still purchase cars via distributors. It's a vast choice and helps to discuss your unique needs with somebody. Do you buy or rent? Standard or automatic? Electrical or hybrid? Cabinet or SUV? Beige blend-in or red cherry stand-out? You want to personalize your transportation from form to function—and guidance—that works with your lifestyle. You would also like help after-sales. You may also wish to update the choice if your requirements evolve. The same applies to the platform for business intelligence (BI) and data analysis. But, again, this is not a stand-alone shopping kind, and it's a significant decision like purchasing a vehicle. And hundreds more solutions and suppliers appear to have comparable capabilities on the market.
While the platform itself is essential, it works with the appropriate supplier – a partner with you who delivers a personalized, adaptable, scalable solution. So what do you need in a platform and in a vendor to make the best of it?
Make The Most of Your BI Roll-Out
Your company provides a vast number of data, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. You want the data to become workable insights. But there's no single-size answer, not one you would wish to. You realize it will take more than buying licenses and accessing a 1-800 helpline to satisfy your specific requirements.
The best analytical platform will rely on your data volume and diversity and the current IT infrastructure and technical skills of your staff. It also depends on your business objectives, and the proper supplier might help with this. Finally, as data analytics solution are continuously evolving, partly through progress in machine learning and artificial intelligence, you want the ability to develop your platform quickly together with innovations, such as new ways of visualizing and interacting with data or dealing with complex data structures.
You may need some assistance and advice on the journey, like buying a vehicle. Software is, after all, only one jigsaw component. So you want to consider things like customized assistance, hands-on training, and interactive resources, together with your technological specifications, so that your "ride" takes the best use of it. The proper supplier should assist and personalize the right platform to fulfill your demands via this process.
Highlights for Suppliers and Platforms
It begins with the development of your BI and data analysis strategy. How will the analytics solution assist you in achieving particular business objectives (such as client retention, new ones, or more profits)? Who are your users, and who are they? Do you have data scientists or want analytics for power users or business managers to be more broadly available?
Take a comprehensive approach to analytics platform. Essential functions are crucial, and consider the instructions, support, and other resources accompanying your purchase. Of course, you prefer a single platform to cater to all your BI requirements, but the service and support component is vital.
It is not enough to pick a provider to check the boxes from a functionality perspective when buying software—particularly BI tools. Search for a seller that regards your shopping for a partnership; take the time to help you get there before and after-sales. Consider assistance that goes beyond a helpline of 1-800. Do you want a specialized representative to personalize the platform? Will this individual be available permanently, not only before sales? Have you accessed expert assistance or a support network, possibly R&D?
Find personalized demonstrations, pre-sales training, and idea evidence. Find materials to assist keep your analytical journey informed, including documents or certificates. You also want access to continuing training, tutorials, and consultation services; it is a clear benefit to access a user community.
You must also satisfy specific technical standards in your analytics platform. Consider how your IT infrastructure, including existing systems and third-party data sources and cloud platforms, may be integrated. For example, you would want to aggregate data from several designs on a single dashboard to provide a one-stop-shop for all your BI requirements. The connection with current programs and systems is critical behind every successful roll-out.
Consider also the degree of assistance and support your users need. Are all users, from developers to analyzers to non-technical users (specifically self-service analytics solution), supported via a user-friendly interface? How easy are dashboards to comprehend and report? You won't gain users' buy-in if it's too complicated. Has the dashboards and reports customizable? The platform should serve the present demands of users but also the future objectives of the company.