This study collected data from 223 executives across the globe and revealed that top performing organizations are using a self-service methodology to improve analytical pervasiveness and equip managers with the business insight required for an 18 percent improvement in customer retention.
Due to the speed of today’s business world and requirements for timely data, companies relying solely on IT to deliver reports and provide business analysis to their operational managers are at a disadvantage. As a result, many companies are adopting a self-service delivery model and are leveraging a pervasive BI strategy that allows for analytical tools to be used creatively by line of business managers and frontline employees without extensive involvement from the IT department.
With this type of approach, companies reduce or eliminate IT intervention and allow for “analytical curiosity” to run its course with the LOB mangers. A self-service model also creates an environment wherein analytical views, reports and models can be created, applied and distributed to a wider audience within the organization.
The top drivers for adopting self-service BI at the LOB level include lack of visibility into departmental business drivers (43 percent), inadequate utilization of LOB data (37 percent), decisions based on gut-feel as opposed to fact (34 percent), budget reductions for IT expenditures (29 percent) and departmental decision-making is not aligned with corporate strategy (21 percent).
Forrester analyst Boris Evelson notes that self-service BI is one of the new and game changing trends, along with agile BI, BI SaaS, in-memory analytics and others. “This is truly where vendors differentiate themselves and, much more importantly, what makes a true difference for the users of BI,” Evelson stated in a blog. He also warns that not all BI self-service capabilities are created equal, and advises how to determine if a vendor truly provides end-user BI self-service.
The Aberdeen report was underwritten by vendors Noetix and SAP. To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit: http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?spid=30410182&cid=6447&camp=2.
Julie Langenkamp is editor-in-chief of Information Management. She can be reached at julie.langenkamp@sourcemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JulieLangenkamp.
Be the first to comment on this post using the section below.