Solving Operational Business Intelligence with InfoSphere Warehouse Advanced Edition

4 Solving Operational Business Intelligence with InfoSphere Warehouse Advanced Edition

1.1.3 Challenges for complex warehouse environments

Many existing data warehousing solutions have limitations that make it difficult

for organizations to fully use the power of information. Technological barriers

often restrict the types of information that businesses can use, the people who

can access the information, and the speed at which it can be accessed.

Limited reach

Business users must access and analyze a broad array of information, from the

unstructured information in call center notes, emails, and blogs to the structured

information in databases, spreadsheets, and other data sources. Yet, current

infrastructures often have limited reach. The proliferation of transaction systems

and the emergence of new data sources available outside the business force

users to cast a wide net to gather the information they need to support better

decision making.

Limited access

Business intelligence and analytics tools can help, but only if they are widely

available rather than limited to high-level decision makers and specialized

analysts. Enterprises must deliver useful and timely information to more people

as part of everyday business processes to drive innovation and reduce costs.

Limited depth

Many existing information infrastructures also have limited depth. Often business

users are unable to get answers to complex ad hoc questions. IT teams need

flexible tools that can capture and deliver more types of information in the way

that users need it, when they need it, where they need it and how they need it.

Poor flexibility and responsiveness

Older BI systems often restrict the type and quantity of data that certain users

can access. Organizations need ways to support a large numbers of diverse

users and enable those users to quickly and easily customize how they receive

information based on their specific needs.

In many cases, existing information systems lack the responsiveness required by

today’s business landscape. Organizations can gain a significant advantage over

competitors if they can quickly analyze a wide range of information and deliver

actionable insights to executives and frontline decision makers. They need

solutions that can be implemented swiftly and then deliver rapid results.

Costly and complicated

Some BI solutions can be costly to acquire, difficult to deploy, and complex to

manage. Organizations need solutions that can be implemented quickly and