One of the most valuable elements of any technology is its ability to provide data that informs managers and supports effective decision making. But are you getting the most out of your business intelligence? Below are five indicators that you may not be.
1. Too much data
It’s a common misconception that the more data we can get, the better. In reality, too much data is just as bad as not having enough, because it prevents effective analysis and makes it difficult to make effective strategic decisions. Effective reporting isn’t collecting as much data as possible; it’s identifying the right data to inform a particular subject.
2. Too many sources
If your reports pull their information from multiple sources then they are probably inefficient and susceptible to errors. Effective data management is critical for any organisation – that’s why “input once; use many times” has become a mantra at Trapeze. Make it one of yours, too!
3. Excel overload
Excel is a fantastic tool for manipulating data, but if you are spending time exporting and importing information data, rather than managing and manipulating it within a dedicated reporting package, it suggests either your reporting package isn’t as good as it should be, or perhaps you could benefit from training to help you use it more effectively.
4. Inconsistent reports
When reports are allowed to evolve naturally, they tend to lack uniformity. This leads to situations where managers have their own processes and ways of interpreting data. Not only is this needlessly time-consuming; it also creates a skills gap when staff leave and nobody can interpret the information they previously reported.
5. Managers aren’t managing
Do your managers spend so much time creating spreadsheets and reports that they never get round to doing the things they were originally employed to do? By streamlining and automating reporting processes, managers can instead focus their attention on areas of their jobs that truly help the organisation to be successful.
Would you like training on how to use your existing reports? Or is there a specific report you would like Trapeze to create for you? Get in touch today!