While some business executives think of the term “mobile BI” as so five years ago, it’s this type of thinking (of mobile BI as a buzzword past its prime) that will get businesses nowhere - or somewhere, but at a slower pace.
Think of and use mobile BI in the traditional sense - as a resized extension of the desktop for executives’, IT’s and business analysts’ eyes only - and you’ll get the same results you’ve always had. Drop the conventional thinking though, and you can capitalize on mobile BI and analytics’ role in business and digital transformation by putting analytics in the hands of all employees to:
- Share and collaborate on relevant information more quickly
- Make better and more informed decisions
- Proactively improve the customer experience
- And identify trends and new business models
In a new TDWI Report, Best Practices for Maximizing the Potential of Mobile BI and Analytics, senior director of TDWI Research for business intelligence David Stodder delivers six best practices for those organizations ready to leap ahead with democratized mobile BI and analytics.
Stodder notes that in many cases, it’s the employees who are putting pressure on the organization to empower them with more data and insights via their mobile device. So once an enterprise organization is ready, adoption is not a hard sell, as long as you deliver the best mobile experience.
What are TDWI’s recommendations for making the most of mobile BI and analytics?
- Focus mobile BI and analytics development on game-changing opportunities. Examples here include improving operational efficiency and increasing customer satisfaction.
- Aim for clarity and ease of use in mobile app design. Simplicity and efficiency are key with mobile’s reduced real estate, but designers must also think about incorporating collaboration capabilities and the polished aesthetics users are accustomed to in consumer apps.
- Analyze user experiences to improve satisfaction. Every tap, share or swipe on the screen generates data. Organizations must be able to monitor and track usage to continue to improve the experience to maximize the app’s potential.
- Use native device functionality to improve the user experience. Voice integration, camera, video and geolocation functionality are all there. Learn how to make the most of it.
- Follow the rules of your organization’s overall security strategy. Carefully addressing this concern at the start is key.
- Move beyond analytics consumption to turn insights into action. One feature that can be useful for creating data-driven mobile applications is write-back functionality. This makes it possible for users, including customers and partners, to input data from mobile devices into business applications such as ERP, CRM, OLTP, or other system-of-record applications.
Now that you’ve seen TDWI’s six best practices, are you ready to learn how to make the most of each? Download a complimentary copy of Best Practices for Maximizing the Potential of Mobile BI and Analytics to get TDWI’s insights and an actionable checklist.
Director, Social Media & Content Marketing at MicroStrategy
Tricia Morris is the Director of Content Marketing and Social Media for MicroStrategy. Tricia brings 20 years of marketing and publishing experience to her role with a focused background in product marketing, content marketing and analyst relations. Prior to joining MicroStrategy in 2017, Tricia served as a Senior Product Marketing Manager for Microsoft. With a previous focus on customer experience and a passion for research and writing, Tricia has been recognized as an International Customer Management Institute Top 50 Customer Service Thought Leader, among the 20 Best Customer Experience Blogs You Must Follow and the 20 Customer Service Influencers You Must Follow. She now brings that same research and writing passion to the business intelligence space for MicroStrategy. Tricia is a West Virginia University alumna and holds a Bachelor of Science in News-Editorial Journalism.