Achieving organisational excellence

Data warehouses became a distinct type of computer base in the late 1980s to meet the growing demand for information management. However, over the years, the concept has evolved through numerous fundamental stages, ranging from operational to real-time integrated systems, not only to manage the growing amount of information organisations accumulate over time, but to minimise organisational risk due to the increasing competitive nature of business.

In fact, the demands being placed on businesses today, whether public or private, big or small, have certainly increased tenfold - creating an escalating need to obtain the right information from the right place, and more importantly, at the right time.

As the business landscape becomes progressively complex, and risks continue to present themselves in one form or another (most recently the economic recession), managers, decision-makers and CEOs not only want to, but need to know almost every aspect of their businesses, customers and competitors, in order to compete effectively.

Such pertinent knowledge is obtained through effectively analysing and using information that resides in an organisation's data warehouse - which certainly emphasises the importance of implementing and using such an information management system.

In fact, it is through the implementation of solutions like business intelligence (BI), within a company's existing data warehouse, that the crucial information needed to remain competitive can be extracted and used to further facilitate the process of reporting and analysis. As such, organisations should look to integrate and assimilate data across a converged platform and implement a BI solution to ensure the information that is collected now and over time can be - and is - used to the organisation's benefit and advantage.

A BI solution offers an organisation more than just data collection and integration.

Martin Rennhackkamp is COO of PBT.

A BI solution offers an organisation more than just data collection and integration, but rather the ability to assist an organisation in acquiring a better understanding of its commercial environment, and then turning that information into a useful asset, from identifying and reacting to problems, to anticipating opportunities within and outside the organisation - all aspects that ensure innovation is always top of mind for executives, and that dynamic market conditions are easily adhered to.

Data stored in a BI system can be accessed by any managerial person, to analyse the information and highlight the real-time trends and risks that are being seen in that and any other sector, integrating business and technology. Additionally, a BI solution can help an organisation determine areas within the business that are under-performing, as well as where critical problems lie, and essentially provide the right information to the relevant parties involved to mitigate risk, ensuring individual roles can be properly implemented and managed.

Furthermore, during difficult economic uncertainties, organisations have to make crucial business decisions as to where they can cut costs, reduce potential threats or where to increase profitability or productivity. This can be achieved through using proper, timely integrated accurate information - exactly what a business can expect from a correctly implemented BI system running against the organisation's data warehouse.

Although times are tough and cost optimisation across industries is essential, it is important to remember that the economic climate will turn, and when it does, organisations within any sector should be ready to go full steam ahead.

Remember, businesses achieve organisational excellence and in the long-term, sustainability, when services promised are effectively produced. Investment in a BI solution within a solid data warehouse platform allows organisations to achieve this, during good times and bad.