Tag: Data Literacy

BI Tools and Augmented Analytics That Ensure User Adoption and ROI

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May 7, 2025

Ensure ROI, TCO and User Adoption with the Right BI Tools

When a business sets out to implement BI tools or self-serve augmented analytics, it must consider the entire technology landscape of the business, the expectations of end-users, the cost of the solution, how easily it can be upgraded and integrated and, well…so much more!

 

‘To ensure user adoption and achieve the ROI and TCO the business deserves, take the time to do the work. Develop requirements, consider the features and functionality of a solution and compare those to your use cases and your user expectations.’

 

Management teams do not take kindly to poor Return on Investment (ROI ) or Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and if the business has had difficult projects in the past, the next time a software solution is presented for approval, senior managers will remember the challenges and failures of the past!

 

Still, when you are attempting to transition business users into Citizen Data Scientists, there is bound to be some pushback from users and that pushback, combined with senior management concerns can and WILL bring your project to its knees if you do not anticipate and address these concerns.

 

Here are some statistics that will help you to understand the issues faced by businesses in implementing BI tools and analytics:
  • The global BI adoption rate is 26%
  • On average, businesses use at least four different BI tools
  • 97% of the data gathered by businesses is not used
  • 74% of employees express dissatisfaction and are overwhelmed when working with business data

 

In order to assure successful deployment, user adoption, improved Return on Investment (ROI) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), the business should include detailed requirements in its solution selection. When choosing a BI tool and augmented analytics solution for your business, one of the most crucial concerns is the features and functionality of the prospective solution and how this solution will meet user and organizational needs. When planning for deployment of BI tools and augmented analytics, the business should take the time to work through a process, ensuring that it has considered what users need and want to ensure user adoption and the ease-of-use and features the solution will provide.
To Achieve User Adoption, ROI and TCO Goals, Select the RIGHT BI Tools and Augmented Analytics
It is important to remember that there are also specific features a business should consider, like embedded BI and easy-to-employ Integration APIs, that will assure user adoption and appropriate ROI and TCO. These considerations will affect how well the solution is received, whether users will adopt it and be satisfied with the selection, and how the investment will perform when considering total cost of ownership (TCO) and return on investment (ROI) when compared to other possible uses of the same investment funding.

 

With this foundation of documented features, services, skills and capabilities, the business can implement, manage, upgrade and support Business Intelligence and Augmented Analytics capacity and growth within the organization.

 

‘When you are attempting to transition business users into Citizen Data Scientists, there is bound to be some pushback from users and that pushback, combined with senior management concerns can and WILL bring your project to its knees if you do not anticipate and address these concerns.’

 

To ensure user adoption and achieve the ROI and TCO the business deserves, take the time to do the work. Develop requirements, consider the features and functionality of a solution and compare those to your use cases and your user expectations. INVOLVE your users and middle managers in planning to understand how and when to deploy the tools and how to support your business users as you transition them into Citizen Data Scientists.

 

To find out more about how to ensure Return on Investment (ROI) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) results, and enable user adoption, read our free White Paper, ‘A Roadmap To ROI And User Adoption Of Augmented Analytics And BI.’ To find out more about our Augmented Analytics And BI Tools, Contact Us. Keep pace with changing enterprise needs and support business agility. Let us help you realize your business goals and objectives with fact-based information, and flexible, scalable technology solutions that will support Citizen Data Scientist initiatives, and improved data literacy and data democratization.

 

Original Post : BI Tools and Augmented Analytics That Ensure User Adoption and ROI!

Is the Citizen Data Scientist Approach Right For My Business?

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March 20, 2025

Find Out the How of the Citizen Data Scientist Approach

In 2016, the technology research firm, Gartner, coined the term ‘Citizen Data Scientist,’ and defined it as ‘a person who creates or generates models that leverage predictive or prescriptive analytics, but whose primary job function is outside of the field of statistics and analytics.’

‘When business users make the transition to Citizen Data Scientists with access to augmented analytics solutions, they can provide additional value to the team, to managers and executives and allow IT and data scientists to focus on strategic goals.’

In the ensuing years, the Citizen Data Scientist role has become more refined, and those businesses that embrace this approach have seen real benefits. But just who are Citizens Data Scientists, and how does a business recognize candidates and benefit from enabling this role?

What Does the Citizen Data Scientist Concept Entail, and Can My Business Capitalize On Its Potential?

How Do I Find Citizen Data Scientist Candidates Within My Business? You will find your Citizen Data Scientist candidates among your business users and team members. They are curious and eager to learn new skills to contribute to the organization and to hone their skills for career advancement. Team members who make great Citizen Data Scientists are often power users, and are acknowledged as leaders within their own team. They are NOT IT professionals, analysts or data scientists but they share a common characteristic for precision and wanting to get it right the first time.

What Does a Citizen Data Scientist Do? Within the context of their roles and responsibilities, every business user needs clear, meaningful information to make fact-based decisions and recommendations. Citizen Data Scientists use data to create reports on a daily basis. As the Citizen Data Scientist role evolved, team members have leveraged the advantages of this data to share reports, to create and format presentations for recommendations and suggested changes to support pricing decisions, hiring, production, new products and services, financial investments, marketing and advertising campaigns, and many other decisions. As the movement grows within your organizations, you can enable data democratization and improve data literacy. Citizen Data Scientists can also work with IT, data scientists and business analysts to share their research and analytics when the business feels it is necessary to take the analytics to another level to ensure credibility for strategic decisions.

What Tools and Training Does a Citizen Data Scientist Need? One of the primary reasons the Gartner predictions have come to fruition is he evolution of the business intelligence (BI) and augmented analytics market to support the concept of Citizen Data Scientists. Today’s analytics solutions are easy-to-use, self-serve tools driven by Natural Language Processing (NLP), and machine learning, as well as Artificial Intelligence (AI). All of these technologies come together to support the business user and provide tools that are sophisticated in their functionality, yet intuitive and easy for a business user. These tools do not require IT skills or data science knowledge. When the team uses these tools, they can adopt a common language and techniques to work with IT and data scientists to create use cases and refine and share reports, formats and outcomes. The more complete, and intuitive the solution, the less training and onboard time the user will require. There are simple, Free Training Courses available that can help your business and your team understand the uses and benefits of this approach and enable user adoption.

When business users make the transition to Citizen Data Scientists with access to augmented analytics solutions, they can provide additional value to the team, to managers and executives and allow IT and data scientists to focus on strategic goals. Using Augmented Analytics Tools like self-serve data preparation to gather and prepare data, and smart data visualization to receive suggestions and recommendations on how to best view data, users can combine predictive analytics to forecast and model, and sophisticated tools like anomaly monitoring, key influencers, and sentiment analysis to gain crucial insight into changes in customer buying behavior, supplier issues, product time-to-market, trends, patterns and opportunities with dependable metrics to make data-driven decisions.

‘The Citizen Data Scientist role has become more refined, and those businesses that embrace this approach have seen real benefits.’

If your business wishes to capitalize on the potential of the Citizen Data Scientist approach, it important to work with an IT Partner who can help you define your requirements and strategize for optimal success, providing the augmented analytics tools and knowledge of the industry that is required to position you for success.

Original Post : Is the Citizen Data Scientist Approach Right For My Business?

Why Choose Augmented Analytics with Low-Code, No-Code Development

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February 26, 2025

Low Code No Code Development Supports Analytics Performance

Within the very near future, it is estimated that 70% of all software and application design will include a component of low-code or no-code development. So, it is no surprise that analytics software and tools are also affected by this trend. While advanced analytics and augmented analytics solutions provide a sophisticated, complicated underpinning of algorithms and analytical techniques, the average enterprise expects (and should look for) tools that are easy to use, so they can improve data literacy and data democratization and leverage analytics within the organization at the business user level, to improve results and efficiency.

It may be difficult to understand how such complex systems can benefit from the no code, low code approach, since the very concept of this approach seems at odds with the complexity of an analytical solution, but nothing could be further from the truth. When applied appropriately, these techniques can benefit the foundation of the augmented analytical solution and the users of those solutions.

  • Time and Expense – In a world where new features and functionality must keep pace with market demand, the emergence of no-code and low-code allows developers to add analytical functionality quickly, while controlling costs and time to market.
  • Business and Market Requirements – As organizations and business users embrace analytics, the need for new types of visualization, reporting and features changes quickly. In order to stay abreast of these changes and offer businesses the products they need, analytical vendors can quickly leverage, modify and develop new approaches to satisfy user requirements. Vendors can accommodate business-specific needs and data visualization requirements without time-consuming, expensive customization.
  • Integration of Third-Party Apps – Low-Code, No-Code capabilities support the easy integration of other enterprise applications and solutions and allow data analysis across the organization.
  • Performance and Scalability – Low-Code and No-Code solutions and platforms enable high-performance, scalable solutions and ensure that businesses can accommodate an expanding user base and data volume.
  • Compliance, Data Security and Industry Standards – No Code, Low-Code development includes data encryption features and user access security controls to mitigate risk, and protect data integrity and privacy.
Augmented Analytics with Low-Code, No-Code Development Provides Performance and Adaptability

If you are still wondering whether low-code and no-code approaches are appropriate for software and applications, consider these predictions and statistics from technology research organizations:

  • Gartner predicts that 75% of new software solutions will incorporate a low-code approach to development.
  • By some estimates, the use of low-code, no-code and artificial intelligence in analytics solutions has increased user access to analytics by as much as 56%.
  • Gartner predicts that organizations that lack a sustainable plan to operationalize and manage data and analytics will face a two-year setback in their data and technology efforts.

Choosing the right self-serve, augmented analytics solution can help the enterprise build a crucial foundation for analytics, for transition of business users into a Citizen Data Scientist role and for improved time-to-market, decision-making and collaboration. The use of new and cutting edge technologies and the seamless incorporation of these technologies is critical to the success of the analytical application implementation and to return on investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership (TCO) metrics.

Select and implement an Augmented Analytics Solution with business intelligence (BI) and advanced capabilities and enjoy the benefits of advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) And Low-Code, No-Code (LCNC) techniques to ensure affordable, flexible solutions that every user can leverage, no matter their skillset or technical capabilities. Read our free article, ‘The Benefits Of Low-Code No-Code in Augmented Analytics.’

Original Post : Why Choose Augmented Analytics with Low-Code, No-Code Development!

Low-Code/No-Code Analytics Design Engenders Solution Agility!

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November 18, 2024

Look for Analytics with Low-Code/No-Code Technology!

The advent of low-code, no-code app and software development has enabled rapid, innovative changes to all types of development projects and that new environment is evident in Modern Business Intelligence (BI) and Augmented Analytics products and solutions.

Continue reading “Low-Code/No-Code Analytics Design Engenders Solution Agility!”

Why Should Business Users WANT to be a Citizen Data Scientist?

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November 7, 2024

Making the Case for Citizen Data Scientists!

When a business decides to undertake a data democratization initiative, improve data literacy and create a role for Citizen Data Scientists, the management team often assumes that business users will be eager to participate, and that assumption can cause these initiatives to fail.

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Citizen Data Scientists Can Partner With Data Scientists!

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August 6, 2024

A Citizen Data Scientist Initiative Can Optimize Data Scientists and Encourage a Data-Driven Culture!

According to some estimates, the average salary of a Data Scientist in the United States is over $150,000 per year. If your business wishes to accommodate a ‘data-first’ strategy to improve metrics and measurable success and avoid guesswork and strategies that are based on opinion rather than fact, it can either employ a team of expensive professionals, or it can take a different approach.

‘Citizen Data Scientists can use their knowledge of a business sector, industry, function or market to drive questions and develop reports and presentations to illustrate issues, identify problems and find opportunities for growth and competitive positioning, and share this data (and the search and analytical techniques) with other users.’

Citizen Data Scientists are business users who have a place on your team and are hired because of their professional and career experience in a particular industry, business function or discipline. When they are given access to data analytics, they can merge their knowledge of an industry, e.g., research, healthcare, law, finance, sales, supply chain, production, construction etc., with data integrated from databases, best-of-breed software programs, ERP, SCM, HRM and other systems and use sophisticated analytical tools in an easy-to-use, intuitive environment to gather and analyze data and produce insightful, concise results that are meaningful to their role.

Leverage Citizen Data Scientists to Augmented Data Scientist Teams

Depending on the size, market and industry of your business, you may choose to augment your staff with one or more data scientists to refine results produced by Citizen Data Scientists on a day-to-day basis. So, if a power user or business users discovers a challenge or an opportunity and your management team wishes to further explore the issue to understand its strategic or operational value, a Data Scientist can take the predictive model or other analytical report produced by a Citizen Data Scientist and refine the results for executive review.

Whether you choose to employ the services of a Data Scientist, provide business analysts or IT professionals to support your business users, you can create a comprehensive foundation for analytics across your organization.

By democratizing data analytics you can achieve many benefits, including:

  • Improved Data Literacy Across the Enterprise
  • Improved Productivity of Data Scientists, IT and Business Analysts (who can spend time on strategic initiatives rather than producing daily reports)
  • Optimized Return on Investment (ROI) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for all software and systems
  • Fact-Based Decisions and Metrics-Driven Strategies, Goals and Objectives
  • Team Member Career Advancement
  • Optimization of Resources and Improved Team Productivity

A comprehensive self-serve augmented analytics solution will include Modern Business Intelligence (BI) and Reporting with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Self-Serve Data Preparation, Assisted Predictive Modeling, and Smart Data Visualization with auto-suggestions to drive the analytical techniques and illustration of data based on data type, volume, etc., and other tools like Embedded BI, Mobile BI, Key Influencer Analytics, Sentiment Analysis, and Anomaly Alerts and Monitoring.

With these tools, the Citizen Data Scientist can leverage Natural Language Processing (NLP) and search analytics with machine learning to ask questions using simple human queries and receive insightful answers. They can use their knowledge of a business sector, industry, function or market to drive questions and develop reports and presentations to illustrate issues, identify problems and find opportunities for growth and competitive positioning, and share this data (and the search and analytical techniques) with other users.

Citizen Data Scientists can predict customer responses to new product features, and to new marketing campaigns, analyze the likelihood of fraud or risk, identify supply chain issues, etc. These tools can also help the organization to foster collaboration and data sharing and encourage business users to innovate, create and explore opportunities using data-driven, factual information.

‘When Citizen Data Scientists are given access to data analytics, they can merge their knowledge of an industry, e.g., research, healthcare, law, finance, sales, supply chain, production, construction etc., with data integrated from databases, best-of-breed software programs, ERP, SCM, HRM and other systems and use sophisticated analytical tools in an easy-to-use, intuitive environment to gather and analyze data and produce insightful, concise results that are meaningful to their role.’

These are just a few of the factors you must consider when implementing a Citizen Data Scientist approach. Business users who are interested in becoming a Citizen Data Scientist must be willing to embrace new technology and tools and working at the leading edge of a new approach to collaboration and decision-making. initiative. Consider engaging an expert for your Citizen Data Scientist. IT consultants with experience and skill in this area can provide crucial support to help you succeed with your Citizen Data Scientist initiative and can provide simple Training Programs to bring your team on board and help them see the value to themselves and to the organization.

Original Post : Leverage Citizen Data Scientists to Augmented Data Scientist Teams!

Augmented Analytics Provides Benefits to Data Scientists!

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May 17, 2024

When an enterprise undertakes an Augmented Analytics project, it is typically doing so because it wishes to initiate data democratization, improve data literacy among its team members and create Citizen Data Scientists. The organization looks for a solution that is easy enough for its business users and intuitive enough to produce clear results; one that also provides sophisticated functionality and features and will produce a suitable Return on Investment (ROI) and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

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White Paper – Enabling Business Optimization and Expense Reduction Through the Use of Augmented Analytics

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May 9, 2024

White Paper – Enabling Business Optimization and Expense Reduction Through the Use of Augmented Analytics

No matter the reason or the goal, when an enterprise chooses the right Augmented Analytics solution and carefully plans for and executes its implementation, it can optimize business results, reduce expenses and improve its market position, customer satisfaction and user adoption, and it is key to transforming business users to Citizen Data Scientists to improve results and team skills. Here, we examine the benefits of Augmented Analytics and how to plan and successfully execute an Augmented Analytics initiative.

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Use Smart Data Visualization to Improve Decisions!

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May 8, 2024

Smart Data Visualization and Personalized Dashboards Improve Data Insight and Team Collaboration!

Augmented Analytics was designed to remove the barriers erected by the traditional business intelligence and analytics solutions. In order to achieve data democratization and improve data literacy among team members within an enterprise, the organization must provide simple, easy-to-understand solutions that display analytical results in a way that is meaningful and intuitive.

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Case Study : Smarten Augmented Analytics Provides Comprehensive Solution for India’s Largest Jewelry Brand

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February 21, 2024

Smarten Augmented Analytics Provides Comprehensive Solution for India’s Largest Jewelry Brand

The Client is India’s largest omni-channel jewelry brand, and is recognized and renowned by India consumers. The Client has 165 retail stores in 66+ cities across India, as well as a thriving jewelry eCommerce presence online. Its product line includes rings, earrings, pendants, necklaces, chains, bangles, bracelets, mangalsutra, and nose pins, as well as 22k (916) and 24k (995) gold coins with certification and BIS Hallmark stamp guarantee. The Client customer base is growing rapidly, and to attract and retain customers, the business provides new designs and uses a mobile application to bridge the gap between brick-and-mortar stores and the virtual world. The mobile app provides a Virtual Try-On feature that allows customers to ‘try on’ jewelry and designs using a virtual reflection and image.

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