Like so many other elements of the IT marketplace, business intelligence (BI) continues to evolve, and with it the challenge to understand what is relevant to your organisation, says Len de Goede, Vice-President Systems Integration, T-Systems in South Africa.
Indeed, one often has to hit the pause button on technology to allow the business to drive technology and not the other way around. The key is to understand South Africa's unique challenges and how these should be met, with the understanding of local constraints such as regulatory requirements.
However, in order to make these decisions, it is important to have a clearly defined strategy. In the case of BI, one version of the truth has always been the mantra both providers and companies should subscribe to. Ultimately, BI is a key enabler for organisations to understand and act on intelligence to better execute their strategy. This explains why year after year, it remains a hot topic within CIOs' agendas.
And the good news is, BI continues to offer exciting strides - the key is to understand what advancements serve your company's own requirements. For example, in the operational reporting space, fast analytic turnaround and processing times are critically important. Counter that with the strategic importance of executive information which is based on longer trends, but where the presentation of the information is key, combined with ease of use and mobile accessibility.
One technology that is enjoying considerable hype and addresses the above is in-memory computing, which enables companies to analyse huge volumes of data at the speed of thought, detect patterns quickly and adjust their operation almost immediately. Data can therefore be analysed in seconds rather than hours, providing an edge to adapt to an ever-changing demand.
Consider this
Clearly, in-memory is taking BI to a whole new level and represents a tremendous leap in the application of it; however - as with most technology developments - it also brings a new set of considerations.
As mentioned, one version of the truth is a fundamental principle of classic BI; in the case of in-memory computing, the principle stands.
Improved performance created by in-memory computing makes BI mobility an accessible and achievable reality.
Most organisations run a number of legacy systems that have been harmonised and consolidated in a data warehouse - one set of data throughout the enterprise. The objective of in-memory computing is to support and not replace this - for now at least.
There is considerable value in in-memory computing; the key is to determine whether or not it is relevant for your organisation right now, and if so, what information should be accelerated considering the current cost of in-memory computing.
Pressure on Capex
While in-memory computing is relatively new in the BI space in SA, there are other developments that are impacting the marketplace. One of the most important is the increasing demand for Opex-based models, which in essence sees BI and enterprise performance management (EPM) offered “as a service” and at a fixed monthly rate.
Companies are therefore saying that BI is not their core focus and they may choose to outsource BI to partners with the skills and technology infrastructure associated with ensuring it meets business demands in a reliable and effective manner.
Clearly, the BI industry is going through some exciting changes; however, as an organisation, T-Systems continues to find that it is critical to understand why companies require BI. For one, BI is and remains a discipline that helps it focus on effectively and efficiently executing its strategy; technology is purely the enabler.
BI should remain the foundation from which decisions are made and this emphasises the importance of carefully considering technology within the context of your strategy.
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Deutsche Telekom
Deutsche Telekom is one of the world's leading integrated telecommunications companies, with over 129 million mobile customers, almost 34 million fixed-network lines and 17 million broadband lines (as of 31 March 2012). The group provides products and services for the fixed network, mobile communications, the Internet and IPTV for consumers, and ICT solutions for business customers and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in around 50 countries and has over 235 000 employees worldwide. The group generated revenue of EUR 58.7 billion in the 2011 financial year - more than half of it outside Germany (as of 31 December 2011).
T-Systems
Drawing on a global infrastructure of data centres and networks, T-Systems operates information and communication technology (ICT) systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions. T-Systems provides integrated solutions for the networked future of business and society. The company's 48 200 employees combine industry expertise and ICT innovations to add significant value to customers' core business all over the world.
T-Systems generated revenue of around EUR 9.2 billion in the 2011 financial year.
Since the inception of T-Systems in South Africa in 1997, the company has cemented its position as one of the most successful T-Systems companies outside of Europe. A leading ICT outsourcing service provider locally, T-Systems offers end-to-end ICT solutions in both the ICT operations and systems integration markets. Its extensive portfolio of services covers the vertical, horizontal, IT and PC space. T-Systems South Africa's head office is located in Midrand, with another major office in Cape Town, and 20 further representative offices in locations throughout southern Africa.
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