4% very satisfied with data integration and analysis

Recently the Economist Intelligence Unit published a paper (jointly sponsored by Intel and SAP) entitled "Business Intelligence: Putting information to work" The key findings here echo those my company has found in it its own research and vendor views given in partner briefings.

Key points

  • 4% of respondents are "very satisfied" with their companies' data integration and analysis
  • 80% agree that company operational performance would improve with broader dissemination of BI data - that is too few people have access to information needed to be effective in their jobs.
  • 40% believe there staff make poor decisions based on inadequate data.
So what is inhibiting things?

Typical inhibitors identified by the EIU are:

  • Lack of a top down corporate approach, too many systems meeting tactical departmental needs often funded through department budgets.
  • Too many disparate BI platforms in use (15% of respondents have eight or more BI platforms)
  • Lack of quality around corporate data and compatibility between systems, especially where companies have grown through merger and acquisition
  • Inappropriate metrics being used for performance measurement
All this goes to show that master data management, rationalisation of platforms and developing business lead KPI measurements are key to implementing a successful corporate BI strategy