Self-service analytics arose from the need for non-technical employees within a company to use Business Intelligence. It therefore allows users across the organisation to access data and create insights without the intervention of a technical expert, external consultants or IT. We class self-service analytics as a form of Business Intelligence (BI).
We train entrepreneurs and employees to create queries and reports on their own and independently, with minimal use of advanced IT skills. Employees can also create their own dashboards. The ability to create their own reports and dashboards lets individual workers within the company react very effectively to particular needs in a very short time and at the same time allows flexibility and agility in the use of analytical tools.
The key distinguishing feature between traditional Business Intelligence and self-service analytics is that IT does not act as an intermediary for data analysis, but lets end users drive their own analysis. And it does so without giving up control over how data is ingested and managed.
How to Approach Self-Service Analytics
The first and most important step in implementing self-service analytics is careful documentation of the stored data, the existing data pipeline procedures and transformations. This step is important so that individual employees in the company can find their way around afterwards and know what data they can use for their reports.
This is followed by training of rank-and-file employees with regard to their job duties and the data they need to obtain to carry them out. In the training we familiarise users not only with the individual tools, but also with the data they have available. Understanding the available data then makes the work of those employees easier.
In companies that have adopted the self-service analytics approach, specialists create only the most important reports, which gives them more time by eliminating requests for routine operational reports.
What Will Self-Service Analytics Bring You?
So why should you start thinking about self-service analytics? First of all, it will make your work easier. These tools let you use relevant data more easily and quickly, which leads to faster decision-making and more effective management of the company's business. Reports that you would previously have waited several days to weeks for you now get within a few minutes, so you receive relevant data immediately. Nowadays this approach is worth implementing already because of the heavy workload of IT teams, who need the time mentioned above to generate a specific report.
Skipping the IT Team
Managers who need information about their revenue for a specific period therefore no longer have to deal with the IT team. Instead they open the relevant report themselves, get the important data and make further business decisions based on it.
Lower Costs
Using self-service analytics also helps reduce the costs of the IT department, because users can create and manage analyses and reports independently.
Higher Productivity and Better-Informed Company
Self-service analytics also increases the productivity of individual users and employees in the company. These tools let them work with company data faster and more efficiently and make its analysis easier. This ultimately leads to higher efficiency and productivity.
Following on from easier work and higher productivity comes the potential for improved information management and general awareness of the business. This synergy allows the company's employees to use their limited resources effectively and respond flexibly to situations that arise. This removes the time delay, so employees can follow data on a daily or weekly basis and manage the company more effectively.
Higher Flexibility and User-Friendliness
As already mentioned, self-service analytics is also advantageous in terms of flexibility and user-friendliness. These tools are designed for a wide range of user levels, from those who have no technical knowledge to users advanced in data analytics. When you need information immediately and perhaps regularly too, self-service analytics is extremely beneficial. At the same time today's data visualisation tools (Looker Studio, Power BI and so on) are relatively cheap.
In conclusion we can say that self-service analytics represents a new standard in analytics and Business Intelligence. It allows simpler and faster use of company data without the help of the IT department. In the end this solution can bring significant benefits to the organisation.
Self-service tools enable fast and effective data analysis, which results in better decision-making by the company's managers.
At the same time today's data visualisation tools (Looker Studio, Power BI and so on) are relatively cheap.
If this topic interests you and you are looking for a solution for your self-service analytics, look no further. Our Archetix team can help you with this. We will help you understand your data better and use its potential for better decision-making.
We offer a comprehensive solution, including analysis of your data, the design and implementation of self-service analytics and support during the deployment of the solution. Thanks to our solution you will gain a competitive advantage and be able to base your decision-making on data.
Don't wait and contact us today to find out more about our services.