Business Intelligence Blog

Litex Industries (Litex), designs, sources and manufactures ceiling fans, lighting fixtures and patio furniture for customers across America. The company sells thousands of products from dozens of vendors. So data analytics makes it easy to find the hidden data — to help people better understand why products may be trending down in sales or to address underperforming vendors and sales reps.

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Topics: Case Study, Job Role - Sales, Job Role - IT, Industry - Electrical, ERP - Infor, decision-making, ERP -JD Edwards Oracle

Even though the business world is abuzz with business intelligence tools  and the internet is filled with endless information about data and the results it can deliver, there are many organizations that don’t use BI. Perhaps it’s because people believe their current system works fine, or they think the cost of business intelligence is prohibitive, or maybe it’s about the complexity they think is involved in implementation. Whatever you reason, we challenge you to consider BI in different ways.

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Topics: Business Intelligence Basics, Job Role - IT, Strategy, Management and Performance, Job Role - Executive, decision-making

Mobile business intelligence or mobile sales enablement is defined as the capabilities and technologies that allow access to reports and insights while away from the desk, working remotely or in the field. Devices used to access mobile BI include smartphones, tablets, and dedicated hand-held devices. Sales people using mobile BI have a competitive advantage of those who don't have access to these tools.

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Topics: Business Intelligence Basics, Job Role - Sales, Job Role - Executive, decision-making

Gustave A. Larson Co is a leading distributor of commercial and residential HVAC parts and refrigeration equipment operating across 16 American states. Epicor Data Analytics (EDA) helps the business to leverage all of its ERP data as well as analyze call center logs, the IT helpdesk information and weather data. The EDA solution has sped up the delivery of actionable information across the business—helping everyone—make more timely and accurate decisions.

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Topics: Case Study, Job Role - Sales, Job Role - IT, Industry - HVAC/Plumbing, ERP - Epicor, decision-making

Effective business management means managers improve their own efficiency while building a team of productive employees who can achieve company goals.  All businesses in the digital age work best with autonomous employees and self-managing teams, who are confident and encouraged to make their own decisions. This blog will explore key elements to effective business management that you can implement today.

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Topics: Job Role - Executive, decision-making, data analytics

The ability to generate accurate, relevant and timely reports is critical if a company is to remain competitive in today's marketplace. However, as many business managers know, traditional (static) reporting methods have a range of shortcomings. In this blog we will discuss a few key solutions to the challenges of static reporting. 

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Topics: Job Role - Finance, Job Role - Sales, Job Role - IT, Strategy, Management and Performance, decision-making, Dynamic reporting

Eastern Industrial Supplies opened its doors in 1980 in Greenville, South Carolina and has grown to have branches in six different states across America. Eastern specializes in the quality distribution of pipe, valves, fittings and commercial plumbing products. Two years ago, it set up an e-commerce division which has helped maintain healthy growth. Data drives the decision-making, as everyone relies on Phocas data analytics to validate responses and add value to their work.

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Topics: Case Study, Job Role - Sales, Job Role - IT, Industry - HVAC/Plumbing, ERP - Epicor, decision-making

 

Business intelligence (BI) systems provide a single source of truth for data management across all of your operations’ data. BI aggregates the data in a way that makes it easier for you and your team to access and analyze information for more strategic decision-making. Tracking key metrics across inventory, customer behavior, finance, and other areas of your business has never been more important with the uncertainties that are impacting practically every industry today. As you evaluate your BI strategy and the role analytics plays in your future, consider the following six dos and don’ts for data management to make data more accessible and meaningful to your teams.

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Topics: Business Intelligence Basics, Job Role - Executive, Job Role - Inventory/Operations, decision-making, business intelligence dashboards, data visualizations, KPIs and metrics

Business leaders want to make decisions faster and with more efficiency.  Without visible data that is accessible and organized, it’s nearly impossible to make well-informed decisions. Liked driving a car on a foggy road at night, you will have difficulty identifying the best route or avoiding potential obstacles on the road. However, with data visibility, you have the clarity to make good decisions at the right time, as well as the flexibility to respond to potential challenges.

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Topics: Industry - Electrical, Job Role - Executive, decision-making, data analytics

The world is experiencing a data boom. We create as much as 2.5 quintillion bytes of data every day, and counting. Data generated by your customers, ERP systems and partners has the power to give your company an enormous competitive advantage. However, this information needs data refinement – it needs to be prepared, collated and analyzed in the right way. Today, data needs to be handled more like manure, not gold. 

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Topics: Business Intelligence Basics, Job Role - IT, Job Role - Executive, decision-making