How IT Managers can slash reporting times

The IT manager is often burdened with ad hoc report requests and solving organizational data challenges. These tasks take you away from important jobs like improving the business by adding or upgrading systems or driving efficiencies with your tech stack.

Data volumes are doubling in size every two years. Next year, a mid-market business will create and copy 44 zettabytes or 44 trillion gigabytes of data annually. More data equals more headaches for the IT manager. But it doesn't have to be that way.

So how does a business planning and analytics platform help IT departments? And more importantly, how can IT managers slash reporting times through this software?

When IT are generating reports for management, you may often be asked for more information because what is presented doesn't include all the necessary information. Industry specific business planning and analytics platforms enable businesses to draw data from your ERP, and other data sources, into a single interface so all the key data is included.

A business planning and analytics platform will provide interactive dashboards that proxy as the new reports and executives can answer their own questions by drilling down into interactive financial statements. 

IT and finance may need to be involved in the implementation of the dashboard or financial statements when users decide what elements of the business they want included but it means a lighter workload for IT moving forward.

Business planning and analytics platforms assists users with informed decision making - producing information that is consistent and reliable but also information that can be aggregated and compared across different regions.

Allowing users to generate their own reports which can eliminate, or greatly reduce time spent on simple report creation and opens resources for more advanced analysis efforts.

Business planning and analytics software can benefit the IT team in the following ways:

• shifts the constant demand for information and reports away from the IT department
• introduces on-demand insights for users to access a consolidated and accurate view of business data
• IT can choose to allow and restrict access to data at all levels. IT can also manage data sources, dashboards and software features
• resourcing. Self-service reporting reduces the need for business analysts and consultants.

Business planning and analytics platform for IT

Phocas is self-service business planning and analytics platform that is IT governed. It consolidates relevant organizational data sources into data analytics solutions designed for everyone from the CEO to sales reps.

Phocas enables decisions makers and staff to have one version of the truth. Introducing self-service significantly reduces the expectation on IT to produce and/or alter cumbersome reports to satisfy business needs. IT still gets to maintain the flow and restriction of the data - ensuring that staff only access data that is relevant to them.

For more information on how a business planning and analytics platform can help IT managers reduce the burden of reports download this eBook