The Blind Date (and what we found first)

What is research but a blind date with knowledge?

- Will Harvey

And there you have it, welcome to the first awkward and not-so-awkward moments of our "Blind Date" with SAP Business One in our Data & Analytics research project.

A Primer (or look in the mirror)

For those who are unaware, we (Know Know Labs) have started a research project into the why’s, what’s, where’s, how’s (and how much $$$) of solving Data & Analytics issues for SAP Business One users. Our research has been graciously funded for this endeavor by NewIntelligence, who have their own QuickStart for SAP Business One solution which we will use as a point of reference as we release findings via blog articles like this one.

An unlikely match?

No. Data & Analytics are an inherently necessary combination for all size companies yet many of the SAP Business One customers seem to be elusively missing getting value out of both. Maybe it is too much swiping left (or right) ... never used that app ... but essentially there is an inherent lack of compatibility between organizational budgets, capabilities and the supporting role of their partners.

Speaking of (implementation) partners, we've identified dozens who support the Americas SAP Business One ecosystem and there are even more around the world. We will occasionally speak in generalities (hopefully seen positively!) about these partners. If we do name a partner, we will ensure we only name those whom we hear something good about in our Research Survey or conversations with SAP Business One customers.

We are definitely looking forward to hearing good things! Click Here to Take the Survey

Back on track, there is a real relationship between an organization's data (starting with their ERP typically) and their analytics. That might be an obvious statement but invariably, for many of you, there is a dysfunctionality between

"ASKING QUESTIONS" and "GETTING ANSWERS".

No need to blame data relationship issues on the report writer, excel magician or the fortune teller with the Crystal Ball (not to be confused with a Crystal Report even though the report might not tell you much either!)

In order for the relationship with data to thrive, in your organization, there needs to be reliable information presented consistently. In all seriousness, the ERP (or any other system for that matter) was not built to dynamically or reliably allow you to ask questions and get answers. The reason for this is the ERP is too busy doing work. No time for anything else; well at least not when you really need data!

The ERP is always serving up the business processes of your organization and storing those transactional details. The ERP does not have the capacity to support the important things you want to do with data.

This is where a data warehouse comes into the picture. A data warehouse delivers the focused platform for giving full attention to the requests for data made from it. Data is often acquired from the ERP at regular intervals (daily, multiple times a day, etc…) much more efficiently than reports and the data is stored in a separate data structure; typically a database.

As an example, NewIntelligence’s QuickStart for SAP Business One builds a data warehouse within a SQL Server (either On Premises or in your cloud).

Without a data warehouse, it is REALLY impractical to have a meaningful, long-term relationship with data-driven, decision-making. Part of the reason is your data is potentially more volatile in the ERP. All changes happen to data in the ERP for a reason (generally) BUT if you want to understand the impact of those changes and preserve the ability to look back historically, you need a data warehouse (more depth on this later).

Let’s change topics…

This brings us to the other party in this relationship, Analytics. Analytics can provide immense value and support looking into recent history but are super powerful when they fully leverage the data in the warehouse to see what has happened over time. The data warehouse courteously serves up data to be beautifully presented in analytical visualizations.

Even before this research, our staff have experienced with many ERP customers the commonly, uncomfortable situation where tools were explored (or worse purchased) and the net result was the same. No progress and never an ability to replicate the “Good Looking” visuals or analyses they saw on the demo. If we were sticking with the dating metaphor, we would say the customers were “catfished” often by the analytics they see in an ERP demo vs what they end up with after go-live.

The reason for analytics not simply just working is often due to a reliance on the data in the ERP not changing. A flexible solution allows for the revision of the data warehouse to ensure it aligns nicely with analytics the organization wants to see. In the case of NewIntelligence’s solution offering, this means they have a fully coupled Data & Analytics solution in a couple of weeks.

Together, Data & Analytics make quite the pair and based on our evolving research, there are plenty of opportunities for SAP Business One customers to take advantage of this formula for decision making success.

Just the Facts (and some first impressions) …

Our research might be equivalent to a blind date but the information we are uncovering has WAY more truth than the average dating profile.

You see there are approximately 80,000 customers of SAP Business One globally. It would be fair to hypothesize many of them use reporting built into the ERP (or have it modified by a partner).

Anecdotally, we know plenty of reasons the journey with data stops here.

Of the dozens of partners implementing SAP Business One, very few go any deeper into data than building reports.

^^^^ This is not a criticism. It is just reality! ^^^^

Based on this question in the survey, we are hoping YOUR answers causes us to re-write the point above…

Want to click and answer the above? Please do here!

We are really keen to get quick answers in the 2-minute, 10 question survey PLUS shine a big, positive light on the work of SAP partners in the process!

So, if Data & Analytics are a “meant to be” combination, why are not more customers using SAP Business One data in a data warehouse?

Don’t talk about past experiences on the first date…

The truth of the matter is there are some patterns as to why organizations don’t move beyond simple reporting and there’s really no “baggage” to be shared but let’s review the obvious issues:

1. Expertise –

No finger pointing/no “it’s me not you” sort of stuff – just practically, consulting partners and SAP Business One customers have not built robust decision-making solutions. Plenty of reports have been written but on the maturity spectrum (see below from phData.io), there’s just not a particularly strong skillset for building the solution.

(graphic provided by phData.io)

2. Tools/Technology

Well, this research was sponsored by a technology solution to better Data & Analytics for SAP Business One customers, for good reason. The out of the box technology does not really move a customer along the maturity spectrum, and often, yields some less than favorable results. Using built-in SAP Business One reporting or doing Excel magic does not really satisfy the more difficult or valuable requirements when it comes to analyzing your business.

Don’t get us wrong, it is a start, but it is an icebreaker that becomes pretty dull and boring the deeper you get into your Data & Analytics relationship.

3. Bandwidth

Time, you’re either looking at the clock on the blind date OR time escapes you entirely. For businesses (including partners), there is NO time to skill up and do more with data. So, bandwidth (or lack thereof) leads to lonely days and nights in front of incomplete or information less reports. We’re eager to learn how bandwidth influences decision making bliss (or boredom)!

4. Financial Support

Next to time, having actual funding to support a solution for better data and analytics can be a limiting factor. Many believe there are no “cheap dates” when it comes to getting a technology solution to answer the questions the organization has, efficiently.

Note: We believe YOU can get great Data value for a fair price. Follow our socials on LinkedIn as we collect feedback here. We’ll talk about it in our next blog post!

5. Growing beyond “Gut Feel”

The other limiting factor is SAP Business One, as a platform, has OFTEN lived alongside the growth of a business.

SAP Business One works WELL for organizations of all sizes.

Our research into companies shows that you can easily have a 10 person or less company running SAP Business One and that organization (or one like them) could have many times that number of employees. It is a real testament to SAP Business One’s scalability. BUT, organizations in their earliest stages of an ERP, manage too much based on “Gut Feel” and “Knowledge under their Roof”. This means the need for true data and analytics didn’t manifest itself until the organization realized they truly “don’t know” their business.

The good news is updating your Data & Analytics tools can reacquaint the business with itself … not so much of a blind date, after all!

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Don't Go without giving us feedback...

Answer 10 questions in two minutes on our SAP Business One Data & Analytics Survey!

If you’d like to talk to us about our research, offer "data & analytics" dating advice or tell us where we’ve got it all wrong, feel free to contact us through the Know Know Labs contact form on the site.