What Is Involved in Business Intelligence Implementation?

Business intelligence implementation begins with planning. In this early stage, executives might meet with Information Technology (IT) professionals and business analysts to determine the solutions they can benefit from and how to go about implementing a system that is effective. Once planning has occurred, executives should inform all involved parties of the plan so that team members are on the same page. At this point, professionals might begin designing IT systems that are compatible with existing systems, to allow users easy access to business intelligence that is presented in a clear way. Business intelligence implementation often concludes when all parties are trained and granted access to a new system.

In most cases, business intelligence describes information that impacts the business decisions that professionals make. This information might reflect an organization's status concerning factors such as customer relations, value, cash flow, assets, and budgeting. Business intelligence also might describe exterior information regarding markets and competitor practices. For many professionals, business intelligence is inseparable from IT systems, such as software and telecommunication devices, that help users to access, organize, and share information.

Before business intelligence implementation can begin, professionals often must define the parameters of the solutions they hope to find. It is common for business intelligence solutions to be divided into categories such as asset management, customer relationship management, and marketing analysis. After determining the business intelligence models an organization can benefit from most, executives then consult analysts who can organize and analyze data to suggest a solution that makes sense.

Planning for business intelligence implementation often requires meetings with IT professionals. Executives might meet with these professionals to discus software options, security concerns, and other issues that might impact the effectiveness of a business intelligence solution. Depending on the needs and size of an organization, as well as the complexity of required software, the next step in implementation might require actions as simple as installing new software or as complicated as the redesigning of IT architecture.

Once a business intelligence system has been implemented, professionals usually test it before moving over data and functions to the new system. For example, users might experiment with sample data to ensure that intelligence is accurate and that programs run smoothly. In most cases, IT professionals must alter aspects of a new system before it is fully implemented.

Business intelligence implementation ends when all employees are trained to use a new system. IT professionals might begin transferring all data and functions. Clients, shareholders, and other relevant parties might be notified of changes and given specific instruction for accessing data, processing orders, and performing other regular activities.