We invite you to explore our latest knowledgebase articles and to join the Smarten user community on Smarten Support Portal.
Visit and Explore Our Blog
Discover the Elegant MicroWeb Difference
We all know the saying, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words.’ When it comes to business problems, opportunities and reporting, images and pictures can tell a story that dry data cannot match.
As your business moves toward metrics and measurable results and embraces analytics, it is likely to consider the implementation of augmented analytics across the enterprise.
‘The real beauty of Smart Data Visualization is that it is built within an Augmented Analytics environment that is designed for the average business user without advanced technical skills.’
Gartner predicted that, ‘augmented analytics will be a dominant driver of new purchases of analytics and BI as well as data science and machine learning platforms, and of embedded analytics.’ The decision to invest in augmented analytics and in data democratization means that your business users will need tools that are easy-to-use and provide sophisticated functionality. And, when it comes to the presentation of data, users will want new and improved ways to tell the story. Whether you are presenting in a staff meeting, sharing data and reports across teams or talking through a problem, smart data visualization is going to help you make a better decision, because it provides a clear picture of results and ensures that data is not misunderstood or misinterpreted.
In this article, we explore Smart Data Visualization and the concept of a ‘picture is worth a thousand words’ to discover how data visualization can make a real difference in your analytical environment and in supporting decisions.
What is Smart Data Visualization?
Once a user has gathered the data they wish to analyze, Smart Data Visualization uses auto-suggestions and recommendations to help you choose the right way to visualize your data and produce reports based on data type, data volume the nature of the data, the patterns and the dimensions. Smart Data Visualization and Visual Analytics allows business users to analyze, share and present information without waiting for assistance from visualization experts or programmers. With augmented data discovery tools, business users can cut through that mountain of data to find those elusive nuggets of information that have the most impact on business results.
How Does Smart Data Visualization Work?
By combining cutting-edge technology and machine learning on the backend, with an intuitive user experience on the front end, business users can easily leverage sophisticated tools with suggestions and recommendations on how to personalize data displays to create meaningful views and collaboration. Machine learning provides guidance to determine the visualization technique that will be the best fit for the data business users want to analyze. It allows for better understanding of data, and identifies unusual patterns in data, and achieves the best output and results.
What Can My Business Do with Smart Data Visualization?
Visual Analytics tools enable users to identify relationships, patterns, trends and opportunities and to explore detailed data with simple drill down and drill through capabilities and make sense of data from all sources, with a guided approach that allows users to identify patterns and trends, and quickly complete analysis with clear results.
The real beauty of Smart Data Visualization is that it is built within an Augmented Analytics environment that is designed for the average business user without advanced technical skills. Users can leverage sophisticated features to get that one picture that will tell the story – all without involving IT or data scientists, so the day-to-day work of decision-making can go forward with confidence and accuracy.
‘Smart data visualization is going to help you make a better decision, because it provides a clear picture of results and ensures that data is not misunderstood or misinterpreted.’
Explore the advantages of Augmented Analytics Products And Services, and Smart Data Visualization. Let us help you implement a solution that will be suitable for your team members and your business results.
Original Post : Smart Data Visualization Tells the Story of Your Business!
There has been a lot of press about the concept of Data Democratization and the resulting improvement in data literacy across the enterprise and yet, many businesses still see this democratization effort as restricted to middle managers or to the use of analytics within the four walls of the headquarters or regional offices of the enterprise.
But, as with any other discussion of ‘democracy’, there is no true benefit to this concept unless data is truly democratized across the business landscape. The real focus on data democratization is meant to reach the front line workers so that every team member has access to simple, easy-to-use analytics and can use data in a way that is meaningful to their job. It isn’t enough to ask a team member to use data in reports. If the business user and team member does not see or feel the value in their everyday tasks, the business has failed at data democratization.
If you are willing to acknowledge that the real operational decisions are – and must be – made on the front lines, then it is wise to give your team the tools they need to make those decisions in a more efficient, effective manner.
The first step is making the data available to every user. That means planning for and rolling out analytics across the board, typically by starting with one business unit or area and then rolling the initiative out from there until the entire enterprise has access to appropriate, timely, integrated data for use in analytics and decision-making.
If you are managing a financial institution, that would mean giving access to these tools to your loan officers and your customer service representatives. If you are in sales, your sales reps need to be able to see data and metrics for products, conversion of prospects to customers, returning customers, bundled product and sales initiatives, upcoming discounts and promotions, and more. If you are working in manufacturing, your production line employees need to see and anticipate scheduled maintenance and identify issues with equipment performance, downtime, etc.
Give your line workers, customer-facing representatives and team members access to augmented analytics that are easy to use and will not frustrate them as they attempt to solve problems and identify opportunities to improve or create new ideas to improve results. Predictive analytics can help users define the risk inherent in approving a loan for a particular client or it can help sales reps to establish a reasonable target and not overestimate sales for a particular season or location.
The team members on the front lines are the ones that have to make the tough decisions and, while they have targets and goals and marching orders, the use of analytics to make day-to-day decisions will help everyone by establishing a baseline and measuring whether certain tasks or activities are supporting those goals. It will also help your team by making them more accountable and empowering them with the tools they need to make a confident decision. There is no time for guesswork or opinion in today’s competitive, rapid paced environment.
If you are willing to acknowledge that the real operational decisions are – and must be – made on the front lines, then it is wise to give your team the tools they need to make those decisions in a more efficient, effective manner.
Giving a Sales Manager an analytical tool allows them to monitor and measure performance by location, region, sales representative, product, and other factors. Giving a Sales Representative an analytical tool allows them to make a difference, to see what is working in real time and to share, collaborate and make decisions that will truly affect the bottom line. It isn’t enough to report on the history. Give them the right tools and democratize your data for front line workers and you will help them MAKE history.
Consider the logic of a store manager keeping the key to the stock room on a key chain. If workers have to find the store manager every time they need something out of the stock room, there is a loss of productivity and empowerment. If a stock room has a lock that is opened by swiping an employee ID card, the employee gets what they need, the customer is served and the business has the data it needs to govern and manage its stock safely.
Data is a tool. Data is a part of your product and service offering. That data should drive your decisions on pricing, changes in workflow and activities, planning and forecasting and resource and equipment management. When you put data analytical tools in the hands of your front line workers, you improve the agility, flexibility and performance of your business.
Original Post : Data Democratization On the Business Front Line!
Considering a Digital Transformation Initiative? PLAN, PLAN, PLAN!
If your business is planning a Digital Transformation (Dx) project, you probably know by now that these initiatives take planning and commitment from all levels within the organization.
How Can Tally ERP Users Leverage Their Favorite App to Perform Analytics?
Gartner predicted that, ‘a scarcity of data scientists will no longer hinder the adoption of data science and machine learning in organizations.’ If businesses wish to fulfil this prediction, managers must choose self-serve tools that will allow for analytics and fact-based decision making without hiring a team of professional data scientists AND they must leverage the tools already in place to enable user adoption of analytics.
But how?
‘To enable analytics in the Tally ERP environment, the enterprise must carefully consider the ease-of-use of the solution, whether it requires training, how accessible the solution is and whether the business user can accomplish tasks easily.’
In this article, we discuss the use of Tally ERP and how your business users’ favorite business application can be used to engender analytics and more accurate decisions.
- With integrated analytics, business users can leverage Tally ERP to gain access to and better understand results, and analyze and report data, using integrated analytics to explore, and clarify via the web or mobile applications.
- Users have near real-time access to recent transactions and can work inside or outside the office to access Tally data and analyze, report and collaborate.
- The organization can implement and start using integrated analytics quickly so there is no wait time or extensive training required. The enterprise can encourage data democratization, allow users to leverage domain and industry knowledge and the data within Tally ERP to perform analysis.
- Out-of-the-box analytics and intuitive dashboards and reports allow for analysis of sales, purchasing, banking and cash, payables, receivables, inventory, taxes, cost centers, account statements and other reports, all with drill-down capability.
‘Discover how your business users’ favorite business application can be used to engender analytics and more accurate decisions.’
With easy-to-use tools and the ability to leverage the familiar Tally ERP solution, users do not have to choose between day-to-day tasks and analytics. They can do both, in the office or in a mobile environment. Because team members often resist change and new responsibilities, the enterprise must carefully consider the ease-of-use of the solution, whether it requires training, how accessible the solution is and whether the business user can accomplish tasks easily without having to deal with data in a silo environment. Integrated access and easy tools are key!
Find out how the addition of SmartenApps for Tally will support analytical initiatives and provide benefits to your users and your enterprise. Users can Download And Register for SmartenApps for Tally and use Tally data to analyze, explore and clarify and to provide insight to clients, colleagues, management and team members.
Original Post : How Can Tally ERP Users Leverage Their Favorite App to Perform Analytics?
Your Enterprise Can Leverage Mobile BI to Achieve User Adoption and Enterprise Results!
Gartner has predicted that ‘augmented analytics will be ubiquitous, but only 10% of users will use it to its full potential.’ Perhaps one of the most important aspects of user adoption is to provide the business intelligence tools at the place and time the user needs them. That means that a solution considered by the organization must be one that supports mobile devices.
‘The organization should look for a ‘design once, use anywhere’ approach that allows for maximum flexibility.’
In this article, we discuss how the organization can assess and choose the right Mobile BI solution to ensure optimal results and user adoption.
Convenient Access for Users
The augmented analytics, business intelligence solution that offers out-of-the-box mobile access for all types of mobile devices, tablets and desktops allows users to perform analytics, collaborate and report on the road, in the office, in hotels – in short, anywhere. With mobile BI support, the enterprise can provide a self-serve BI tool that encourages user adoption and supports data democratization and analytics for all team members without expensive customization or restrictive dashboards or reports. The Mobile BI solution that supports all devices and screen sizes allows users to access analytics using any device they leverage for work-related activities.
Dependable Performance to Support Technology Infrastructure and Future Needs
The enterprise must assess its business intelligence needs and plan for the future but not every evolutionary path is predictable. So, a Mobile BI tool that supports current and future data and user volume is an imperative. The organization should look for a ‘design once, use anywhere’ approach that allows for maximum flexibility. As devices change and evolve and users, locations and data changes, the organization can meet its needs without additional licensing or developmental costs.
Integrated Mobile BI Tools
If the augmented analytics solution and BI tools are comprised of comprehensive features to allow for easy-to-use dashboards, reporting, and graphs, charts and key performance indicators (KPIs), those features must be designed to seamlessly display and function on any type of device, any screen and any resolution, so users are not frustrated and access is simple and intuitive.
‘Perhaps one of the most important aspects of user adoption is to provide the business intelligence tools at the place and time the user needs them.’
Find out how Mobile BI And Augmented Analytics can support data democratization and improve your business results. Let us help you achieve your vision and improve productivity and insight across the organization.
Original Post : Choose the Right Mobile BI App and Get Results!
How Should My Citizen Data Scientists Work with Data Scientists and Analysts?
Gartner has predicted that, ‘30% of organizations will harness the collective intelligence of their analytics communities, outperforming competitors that rely solely on centralized analytics or self-service.’ What does this mean for business Citizen Data Scientist initiatives? It does NOT mean that the organization should turn away from this type of initiative. What it DOES mean is that a business should recognize the value and purpose of each aspect of its analytical community.
3 Reasons to Integrate Augmented Analytics for Tally ERP to Leverage Analytical Trends!
Rutgers Business School and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) recently announced the formation of the Rutgers AICPA Data Analytics Research Initiative for further integration of data analytics into the audit process and advancement in the public accounting profession. As research firms, technology analysts and industry leaders embrace the concept of analytics in accounting and finance, it is prudent to consider the impact on enterprise solutions and software.
‘If a business wishes to embrace the analytical trends for this industry, it must provide easy-to-use tools that are cost-effective and allow for swift integration, implementation and user adoption.’
If organizations are to increase the return on investment (ROI) for these existing solutions and, at the same time, embrace the analytical trend, these businesses must find a way to provide the right tools to business professionals – and those tools had better not be designed for IT or data scientists or there will be no hope of getting users to adopt new techniques and leverage analytics in their day-to-day environment.
In this article, we discuss three advantages of integrating analytics with Tally ERP to stay abreast of industry trends.
Designed for Business Users of Tally ERP
The accounting, inventory, purchasing, sales and other finance-related modules in the Tally solution are popular with users and are used on a daily basis for data entry, simple reporting and completion of workflow tasks. Adding augmented analytics to the functionality and features provides support for new business goals so management, IT and analysts can enable business users with analytics and add value to clients and to the organization without requiring business users to take data science training or to have advanced technology skills. Business users can leverage their domain and professional expertise to find and analyze data and test theories, solve problems and gain insight to be shared with the organization and clients. If a business intends to follow the trends of financial and accounting analytics, it must ensure that any new tools are designed for the average business users and will allow them to follow existing workflow and business processes.
Integrated with Tally Functionality for Easy Access and Intuitive Use
Any new augmented analytics solution must be easily integrated with Tally ERP in order to be cost-effective and to avoid delays in implementation and user adoption. Mobile access is fundamental to success, as many team members today are on the road, working remotely or accessing data from client locations or other office locations. Providing integrated functionality allows business users to work within the Tally ERP solution, using familiar tools and views while, at the same time, leveraging new, sophisticated analytical functionality that will improve their performance and value to the organization.
Flexible, Pre-Built Reporting for Clear Results
Tally ERP does provide reporting capability but, if the organization is going to advance to true analytics and ask its business professionals to get on board, it must provide simple, easy-to-use reporting capability that will offer powerful results. Reports should include overview reports with top and bottom analysis, contribution analysis, KPI analysis, and sales and purchasing reports for monthly, quarterly and annual trends, top customers, detailed sales registers, etc., as well as bank and cash reports so users can compare historical and current results. Payable and receivable reports should allow for reporting by creditor, debtor, product, service and overdue collections trends. Inventory reporting and analysis should encompass overstock, understock, suppliers, products, shipping and distribution. Other reports should include taxes with estimated obligations, cost center analysis and balances by account and group, ledger entries and balances with drill-down to voucher level, account statements for statutory review and submission, etc.
‘If organizations wish to embrace analytical trends, they must find a way to provide the right tools…and those tools had better not be designed for IT or data scientists or there will be no hope of getting users to adopt new techniques.’
If a business wishes to stay ahead of the competition and embrace the analytical trends for this industry, it must provide easy-to-use tools that are cost-effective and allow for swift integration, implementation and user adoption.
Find out how the addition of SmartenApps For Tally will support analytical initiatives and provide benefits to your users and your enterprise. Users can Download And Register for SmartenApps for Tally and use Tally data to analyze, explore and clarify and to provide insight to clients, colleagues, management and team members.
Original Post : Stay Abreast of Trends with Tally ERP Integrated Analytics!
Why Does My Business Need an iPhone Mobile Application to Serve Customers?
It is no secret that mobile devices are everywhere. If you take a moment to look up from your smart phone, you will notice that everyone around you is looking at THEIR phone! So, if you are a business manager or senior executive, it is likely you are looking to expand your market by creating a mobile application to sell products or services, or make your data or information more readily available to consumers or business users on-the-go.
Why Spend Time and Money Developing BI? Embed BI in Your Software Product!
The research and technology consulting firm, Gartner predicts that ‘By 2023, overall analytics adoption will increase from 35% to 50%, driven by vertical and domain-specific augmented analytics solutions.’ Whether your software business produces solutions or modules for a vertical market, a specific industry or a government or public service market, building an analytical solution to serve your clients or partners is an expensive, complicated proposition and one that will require significant funding and skilled resources.
