Data Analytics capabilities you need

Success in analytics we all need as we are excessively working with data. We need to understand the value analytics brings to each user, and matching capabilities to user needs. I am talking about users in your organization and your business partners, from customers to stakeholders.

The range of analytics features and functions available today mean that some will be a better fit than others. Consider not only what you need (and be willing to pay for) today, but also what will satisfy you and win over new customers.

Every analytics project starts with interactive dashboards, reports, and data visualizations. If all you need is a few simple charts for a handful of business analysts, you may decide to stop there. However, most application teams need analytics that will win users and separate them from the competition—and basic data visualizations will never be enough. They need a modern analytics platform that supports sophisticated capabilities such as predictive analytics, integrated workflows, and adaptive security.

Ask these questions to determine what analytics capabilities are most important to you and your customers:

1. What is the value of analytics?

For each group of users, identify the problems analytics can help address, and then qualify and quantify the value analytics brings. Usually, value can be expressed as increasing revenue, reducing costs or improving customer satisfaction!

2. How do we match common analytics with our user profiles?

Match the customers you’re serving to analytics profiles and outline what each group needs to work with data.

Are they information consumers? Consider a sales representative who is tracking her activity levels and quota goals. Consumers could also be anyone from an executive who wants to keep an eye on his team’s KPIs to a factory floor worker who needs to monitor standard metrics to make sure he’s keeping pace.

Are they content creators? Think of a sales manager who wants to track team performance against annual goals who may one day want to author his own personalized dashboard. These users need to be able to author new reports and make new queries of the data to answer questions quickly.

3. What functionalities match our needs?

With analytics, there’s certainly a lot of functionality that can overwhelm users; this includes any of the visualizations, interactivity, and data that is displayed. But for many users, and especially for those who are just starting out, you need to give them only the functionality and specific data they need to work smarter. More functionality and data should be released as adoption grows and new questions arise.

Construct a set of stories demonstrating how different users may need to use analytics. Then use a capabilities map that shows a wide range of functionality and hone in on the capabilities you need for those particular users:

* Visual workflow

* Customizable reports

* Interactive dashboards

* Creating reports andvisualizations

* Multi-dimensional data analysis and experience

* Data exports

This is what we do when we run our trainings on Data Science and Analytics and use Advanced MS Excel and Powerful Data Visualization with MS Power BI.

4. How should analytics be integrated?

Think about how analytics capabilities will be integrated into the user experience for each of your user types. Consider other applications that embed analytics deep into the context of the application workflow. This could very well be a way to improve the user experience and provide management with the information needed to make the right decisions in increasing revenues, reducing costs and improving customer satisfaction.

In conclusion, to compete in the world of tomorrow, companies need to stay with technology trends. But they have to realize that innovation isn't just a technology process. A cultural shift, setting innovators free to try new things and keeping employees involved, bridges emerging tech adoption with innovation. You may remember one of my previous columns where I outlined that leaders have to shift from being ‘commanders’ to becoming ‘coaches’.

Let me repeat: new technologies can drive innovation — provided people come first. We have to see key technologies like data analytics more as a chance than a threat.

If assistance in data analytics and training in Advanced MS Excel and Powerful Data Visualization with MS Power BI is needed; contact me at [email protected]