Phases of Business Intelligence Journey
Starting a Business Intelligence (BI) journey involves several key phases. Instead of deep explanation of every phase of software development or project management, we'll give a simple overview of the BI process. This approach will help us clearly map the challenges of each phase, making it easier for those new to BI or IT solutions to follow along.
Understanding these phases sets the context, and will allow you to grasp the challenges more effectively. Let's take a quick look at each phase of the BI journey.
The journey of BI is ordered into three phases −
- Planning Phase
- Development Phase
- Deployment Phase
Planning Phase
The BI journey starts with the planning phase. It is the first phase of the BI journey which lays the foundation for the BI journey. This phase does not have any fixed duration of time it can last from weeks to years, depending on the priorities of organization and the resources.
If BI is an urgent need and resources are available, the process can kick off quickly. However, often the initiation phase faces delays due to limited resources. It begins with the birth of the BI vision and ends when management approves the BI initiative.
This is where the organization defines the scope, sets goals, identifies key stakeholders, and assesses available resources. Its also the stage for evaluating existing data sources, choosing the right technology, and creating a roadmap for implementation.
A well-executed planning phase ensures everyone is aligned and ready, setting up the BI journey for success. Both phases are crucial as they shape the direction and pace of the entire BI initiative.
Challenges in Planning Phase
- BI solutions implemented in the past often had implementation timelines that stretched over several years or, in some cases, seemed to never reach completion.
- Some employees or departments worry that the Business Intelligence (BI) initiative might reveal gaps and inefficiencies in their current systems, processes, finances, or ways of working.
Development Phase
The development phase is where the actual work of building your BI solution happens from the moment the project gets started until the system goes live for users.
This phase covers everything: planning, hiring the right team, gathering business requirements, designing the system, setting up hardware and software, building data models, coding, testing, and finally, launching the BI solution.
If youre doing it all in-house, your team handles everything. If youre outsourcing, the external team takes care of most of the technical tasks, while your team manages the project. Sometimes, its a mix of both, with responsibilities shared between your team and the external partner, depending on whats agreed in the contract.
The implementation phase is all about turning your BI plans into reality, step by step, to get your solution up and running.
Deployment Phase
The live phase starts when the BI system is fully deployed and available to users. This phase continues as long as the organization is active because BI is an ongoing process, not just a one-time project.
Once the project is live, it enters a cycle of further development, maintenance, and possible upgrades.
This includes −
#1) Further Enhancement and Development − This involves adding new data sources, creating additional dashboards and reports, and integrating new features.
For example, suppose a company initially launches its BI system using data from sales, customer management, and inventory systems. Later, they decide to include data from a new employee management system to enhance their reporting capabilities.
#2) Maintenance − This includes fixing issues, performing upgrades, and making necessary adjustments to keep the system running smoothly.
#3) Monitoring and Troubleshooting − After the BI system is live monitor its performance and data quality closely for the first few weeks. This helps identify and resolve any issues quickly.
Following this, assess how the BI system is impacting your key performance indicators (KPIs) and adjust your strategy as needed.