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.