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Using open source BI in your business is similar to using any other type of business intelligence: find the right fit for you, initiate the project, and allow time for adoption. One of the many benefits of open source software is that other users are constantly improving it and that you can find support from the community at a moment’s notice. Here you will learn how to get your open source business intelligence initiative started.
Find the Right Fit
Finding the right open source BI for you business takes a bit of research. This requires someone in your company who is knowledge about both the needs of your company and the intricacies of open source software to start scouring the web for all of the options available. Most BI companies have their own specialization in the business intelligence realm, so a search for “reporting” or “data warehousing” will yield different results for the person doing your research. Usually the person best suited to conducting this research will be the head of your IT department. This individual will be able to recognize what will help your company achieve its goals and what won’t. He or she will also want to look at upgrade options and how these options will affect the open source business intelligence software if your company needs to upgrade. Occasionally, companies will need more than open source has to offer and will need to purchase a commercial business intelligence package or upgrades to open source offerings. The person doing your research should make sure that if your company ever reaches that point the transition would be a smooth one.
Initiate Your Business Intelligence Project
Once you find the best open source BI software for your company, you’ll need to start implementing it. Depending on what you’re looking at and how large or new your company is, this could be a relatively quick painless process or it could be a bit more complicated. In either case, it will behoove you to set one person as the point person for the entire project. This person will be able to help you track the benefits of the project, keep the data going into the system clean, and help you decide when and if you might need support for your business intelligence software outside of the open source community. The person can also help with adoption within the company to ensure that the project is a success.
Adoption
Most companies struggle with adoption for their business intelligence initiatives, whether their software is open source or not. Resistance to the project occurs when employees aren’t properly trained on how to use the new system and are left to their own devices. More often than not, they eventually return to old, unreliable systems, simply because they are familiar and provide expected, although error-ridden, results. Your business intelligence point person will be able to train employees on how to use the new system correctly and serve as a go-to person who can answer any questions and deal with any issues as they arise. By having someone well versed in the software available, you will increase the likelihood that your program will be adopted both quickly and correctly.
Once your business intelligence program has been initiated you will start see benefits for your company both short-term and over the long haul. By following these simple steps, you’ll be able to complete the process without any major roadblocks or issues.
