What Does a BI Project Really Cost? Where Your Budget Actually Goes
There is no meaningful way to answer the question of how much a Business Intelligence (BI) reporting project costs without first understanding its scope. The same requirement – “we want a management dashboard” – can represent two weeks of work or an entire year, depending on how many systems the data comes from, the quality […]
When Excel Is No Longer Enough: 7 Signs You Need a Data Warehouse
Despite the standard sales pitch from many BI consultants, Excel is not the problem. In many business situations, it is still one of the best tools available – fast, flexible, and familiar to everyone. The problem begins when a report stops being a file and becomes a process: it has an owner, a deadline, a […]
AI or BI? Why Artificial Intelligence Doesn’t Work Without Strong Data Foundations
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a top priority for CIOs and business leaders over the past few years. The pressure to implement AI as quickly as possible often leads organizations to overlook one crucial question: what data are these AI tools actually using? Framing the discussion as a choice between AI and Business Intelligence (BI) […]
What I learned before we rolled out business intelligence — and what I’d do differently
Interview with Mark K., Director of Operations A year after introducing a business intelligence system, I can say one thing clearly: it didn’t matter which tools we used. What held us back was everything we hadn’t sorted out before we called anyone in to implement anything. This isn’t a post about technology. It’s about organization, […]
The five reports every small business owner should be looking at — and what they’re actually telling you
I used to think I knew how my business was doing. I’d check the bank account, talk to my sales manager, and go by gut feel for the rest. Especially when the company was smaller, I had everything at my fingertips; I could anticipate what was going to happen and knew what to expect and […]