White Papers

• EMR1001WP – Return on Investment (ROI), The Cost vs. Value Equation for Offshore Software and Technology Projects

When you engage an offshore service provider, you must predict measurable results and achievements in order to justify the cost of acquiring the service. Ideally, the value of the service should exceed, or at the very least, be equal to, the monetary investment. If the value of a service or product is particularly unique, the organization may be willing to pay more for that service or product. This document includes some recommended value factors for your consideration. We have also included two approaches to analyze vendor value. One is a ‘risk’ assessment and the other is a ‘weighted value’ assessment. You may use one of these two methodologies to calculate the value of a vendor service offering versus the quoted cost or fee.

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• EMR1002WP – How to Select and Partner with an Offshore Service Provider

When your enterprise engages an offshore service provider, you begin a journey toward a short term project goal, or a partnership for long–term support. But, the successful offshore partnership does not happen by accident. If you give appropriate attention to the selection of the offshore service provider, and to the management of this partnership, you will significantly increase the likelihood of a continued relationship, increase your enterprise productivity, and ensure that you achieve your goals for ROI, and the strategic objectives for your offshore project.

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• EJBIR1012WP – Achieve a Complete Business Picture with a Business Intelligence (BI)
  Dashboard

With the right BI solution, any enterprise can improve performance, decrease time to market, analyze and forecast data, and achieve a competitive advantage. It is important to consider the true value of a specific BI solution; namely whether it provides timely, clear data and integrates data from every possible source within the organization. Users must have an intuitive snapshot of performance and personalization options to manage information in a way that is meaningful to their role. Flexible browser-based access should provide information to multiple locations, and to partners, suppliers, stakeholders and customers. The enterprise must carefully consider its specific requirements and choose a solution that provides the right information to the right user at the right time.

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• EJBIR1011WP – Business Intelligence (BI) Solutions Buy vs. Build

When an enterprise considers the benefits of a Business Intelligence solution, it must anticipate the questions involved in approval of any solution purchase or budget to build a solution. In every enterprise, there is a trade-off consideration. Should the organization spend precious resources, time and money on a BI solution or some other pressing need? If the enterprise management team understand the true value of Business Intelligence, and is sold on the idea of its benefits, the Buy vs. Build question may arise. By considering the issues presented in this white paper, the organization can effectively present a picture of competence, capability and recommendations to ensure that the enterprise remains focused on core business issues and skills and invests its money wisely to achieve the lowest Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and a swift Return on Investment (ROI).

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• EJBIR1010WP – The Competitive Advantage of Business Intelligence (BI) Forecasting and Predictive Analysis

Today, technology and new business intelligence solutions have made it possible for the average enterprise to leverage complex predictive analysis using simple, intuitive tools. Whether the organization needs to understand trends in customer demographics, plan and achieve sales forecasts, predict new product features to improve market share, or plan for financial investments, forecasting can play a critical role in improving the planning and decision process. Predictive analysis is key to the competitive success of an organization, and the enterprise that is privy to clear concise product, customer, sales and market predictions will always have the competitive advantage in its market of choice.

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• EJBIR1009WP – Integrating Business Intelligence (BI) with Enterprise Business Applications
  Can Add Value for End-Users

While ERP solutions and enterprise business applications may integrate information from legacy systems and specialized best-of-breed software, most enterprise solutions do not provide a simple dashboard, or analytical approach to information presentation. Standard reports provided by business applications do not satisfy the need for on-the-fly, end-user reports that enable the kind of sophisticated decision-making and monitoring power you need. This white paper will suggest an integrated solution that will offer more value to the end-user and eliminate the frustration of working with standardized enterprise application reporting, and reporting software packages, and spreadsheets, and the expense and delays incurred by customized reporting requests.

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• EJBIR1008WP – ERP Vendors Can Improve Competitive Advantage & End User Value
  with BI Integration

Today, organizations are cautious about IT investment, and everyone is looking for the best return on investment (ROI) with timely results. ERP vendors are anxious to respond to this need and are looking for a competitive advantage in the ERP software solutions market. Existing ERP clients are re-evaluating their investment and the ongoing cost of licensing, maintenance and upgrades. Where the value of an ERP solution is stymied by cumbersome reporting or ineffective integration of information, clients may choose to abandon implementation or expansion of ERP solution integration.

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• EJBIR1007WP – Business Intelligence (BI) as a Tool for Middle Management

To achieve a complete picture of the business environment, and make the best decisions, middle managers must have access to Business Intelligence (BI). Access to an integrated organizational knowledge base allows middle manager to make better day–to–day decisions at the department level, and to provide educated advice to senior managers. To achieve this vision, the organization must understand the relationship among the various business components and select a Business Intelligence (BI) tool that will be easily accessible to middle managers, no matter where they reside in the enterprise, and flexible enough to meet the reporting needs of each department.

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• EJBIR1006WP – The Value Proposition of Business Intelligence (BI) for Small and
  Medium Enterprises (SME)

No matter the size of the enterprise, access to critical business information and integrated reporting is important to market success. Small to medium sized enterprises (SME) should not discount the importance of Business Intelligence (BI). Most SME business owners make decisions based on a best guess or on their perception of business stability, and even if the owner understands the value of a Business Intelligence (BI) system, he/she believes the value of such a system is not worth the investment expense. In truth, the SME does not have to empty its coffers to purchase a large, overwhelming system. Some new Business Intelligence (BI) products offer web based, and even hosted services without the expense of installation and maintenance, making sophisticated Business.

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• EJBIR1005WP – Essential Business Intelligence – The Key to Defining and
  Leveraging Business Data within the Enterprise

Business Intelligence (BI) resides in many corners of the enterprise, and even outside the walls of the enterprise. BI is hidden in industry publications, staff knowledge, market research, sales data, project schedules, spreadsheets and packaged and legacy software applications. Without a true and complete picture of all available business intelligence, an enterprise cannot effectively plan for success or appropriately leverage a Business Intelligence (BI) system.

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• EJBIR1004WP – Reporting Tools vs Business Intelligence

Reporting has been of significance to businesses by providing a platform for users to get immediate access to business information by using simple analysis. However, Business Intelligence (BI) caters to strategic, tactical and operational needs; providing a platform for complete, comprehensive performance management for today’s global, competitive businesses. This paper discusses the comparisons between standard reports and BI in terms of functionality, capability, architecture, process and management benefits.

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• EJBIR1003WP – Business Intelligence vs Spreadsheets

Spreadsheets have been used by small and mid–size organizations to satisfy their demands for analysis, to give them a competitive advantage. But the concern for business confidence in spreadsheet data and results is a challenge. Today, competitive companies realize the importance and impact of Business Intelligence as the next biggest business related focus area to equip organizations for a competitive future. This paper discusses the merits of BI versus spreadsheets in today’s global changing scenario.

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• EJBIR1002WP – Operational Business Intelligence

Adopting traditional Business Intelligence Tools and Solutions, organizations have been able to have valuable insights on past activities and results. However, with Operational Business Intelligence that is different from standard strategic and tactical BI existing in most organizations; promptness of information and data is established. This paper discusses the appropriateness and merits of Operational BI for timeliness and accuracy of business decisions for improving operational efficiency and results.

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• EJBIR1001WP – Commercial Open Source vs Proprietary BI

Commercial Open Source Business Intelligence (COSBI) is making the rounds for open source Business Intelligence. However, COSBI has its significant demerits as compared to Proprietary Business Intelligence, and it has still a long way to compete with the Business Intelligence (BI) markets. This paper discusses the comparisons between COSBI and Proprietary BI.

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