ABOUT OUR APPROACH

Five Key Tenets

We believe that a data-driven enterprise evolves over time as data and data sources change, processes change, and technology advances. Our goal is to ensure that we not only “fix” the immediate problems, but create a dynamic data-driven environment. As a result, our approach is based on five key tenets:

• Focus on your most pressing issue or problem then expand out. We recommend that you pick your “biggest problem” first and perform an Analytic Audit. During it, we work with you to understand your business problem, look at ways in which you can solve it based on the data that you have or can acquire, and then develop the analytics (KPIs), forecasts, etc., as well as the business rules to support your goals. As we look at other issues or problems, we are able to use the initial audit results as a baseline and expand upon it.
• Build a model, then iterate. Once the audit is complete, we develop a flexible model to solve it. The model that we build, along with the software solution that supports it using our own Analytic Platform, is designed to be flexible. This enables us, and the companies we work with, to take an iterative approach as we build in new features and functionality to support expanding analytic needs. In other words, as a new analytic challenge is addressed we simply add to the existing solution. From a support, maintenance, and cost basis, this is not only the most economical approach but also allows us to perform fast release cycles.
• Measure success quantifiably with demonstrable ROI. Analytics are focused on deriving facts from data and using those facts to drive decision-making. In turn, fact-based decision making drives operational efficiencies, lowers costs, and maximizes profitability. Consistently measuring ROI throughout analytic initiatives demonstrates in a powerful way, why other parts of the enterprise or other business initiatives should become data-driven.
• Promote quick wins. “Boil the ocean” analytic initiatives, where many large business problems are tackled at the same time, often become mired in the research phase which can take many months or up to a year to complete. This, in turn, has a negative impact on personnel because there is no perceivable value—nothing is “fixed.” We recommend companies consider the advantage of quick wins to promote and build support for larger initiatives.
• Create a viral adoption pattern throughout the organization. Departments, business units, and enterprises do not become data-driven overnight. Corporate cultures change over time and the fastest way to impact that is to have a number of successful programs that demonstrate the power of analytics. Put simply, demonstrate that analytic initiatives are a “must have” for success and a viral adoption pattern will occur.