The tried-and-tested BI method

Although the fundamentals of business intelligence (BI) are well known and the core technology is becoming extremely mature, organisations embarking on BI implementations still struggle to achieve their objectives.

There are several ways to implement a suitable BI solution. Ultimately, companies should opt for a tried-and-tested method, which has evolved over the last few years, keeping variations in mind to suit their needs.

In nearly all cases where BI has become a battle, it's because the business has either ignored or underestimated the implementation issues and challenges associated with the solution.

Companies looking at new cutting-edge methodologies should ensure they already have a stable environment off which to work, because if the project should fail, there needs to be a fallback plan to minimise risk. Either way, partnering with a provider that has the ability and understanding to adapt and deliver, is the key to any successful BI implementation.

It is important to remember that a BI project is not an end in itself.

Nitesh Vallabh is director at the PBT Group.

Having said that, it is also important to get the right people involved from the business side from the very beginning of implementation. The project sponsor needs to become integrally involved in implementation, as he/she will need to manage the solution and ensure the rest of the business shares the BI vision to take the initiative forward. Under the project sponsor, there needs to be a project manager and his/her team for operational day-to-day running of the solutions.

The earlier they become involved in the implementation, the easier it is for them to understand the intricacies and methodology of the solution, minimising reliance on the vendor through a good skills transfer plan. It is also critical to include a data modeller or data architect in the team to ensure there is a custodian who understands the data in relation to the business. This person will be well positioned to decide on the method to best present the data, to ensure relevant details/meaning can be achieved at the business level.

Despite precautions, there will always be challenges that arise during the implementation process. Often the issue of organisational 'buy-in' arises as the lead-time from setting expectations to meeting them is frequently timely and the business is reluctant to comply, as it wants to see tangible results. This challenge goes hand-in-hand with the issue of getting the sceptics to believe in the potential of BI. Additionally, there are often technical delays, caused by infrastructure issues that are only discoverable once testing begins.

Using a farm analogy, the business can be seen as a fertile piece of land that needs to be cultivated to obtain value. To do so, seeds need to be planted to produce crops that can be reaped for benefit. Farming then becomes an ongoing process that requires continual re-planning, tweaking and revision to ensure benefits can be reaped annually.

The same applies to a BI solution. Planting the seeds and nurturing a BI solution is important to any business competing in today's globalised market.

Therefore, it is essential to acknowledge the following elements to ensure successful implementation and maximise BI potential:

* Understand the methodology to be followed.
* Make sure a dedicated team is in place.
* Ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place.
* Timing is important to ensure maximum commitment and impact.
* Identify the business area in which to start the implementation to ensure value-add can be easily seen and organisational buy-in is easier.
* Break the solution down into small phases so that manageable iterations can be identified and business value can be easily and quickly seen.

It is important to remember that a BI project is not an end in itself, but rather a foundational tool and an ongoing process that needs to be managed and monitored to maximise return on investment and deliver the value promised.

It is therefore imperative to choose an experienced partner and link payment and investment to successes in each iteration, to not only share risk, but to distinguish and measure business value.

By taking note of these critical factors, half the battle of a BI implementation is already won.

* Nitesh Vallabh is director at the PBT Group.