Compiled Solutions

When a plane makes a bank turn, the forces at play are so perfectly balanced that the turn is undetectable unless you happen to be looking out the window to see it happening. This is why savvy travelers prefer aisle seats. And why flight attendants don’t need to “get their sea legs.” It’s also why, before the invention of avionics, early pilots tended to crash when flying through clouds. They needed Analytics. Real time Intelligence. Metrics. And they needed Dashboards.

At the end of the day, every organization is unique. Its specific goals will vary not just from other organizations (even ones it competes with), but will also vary over time. This is why flexible, scalable, open technology platforms are so important. But good technology only gives you the means, not the ends. Whatever type of organization you are, you have a Raison d'être, a reason for being. In other words, you have goals.

To be objectives instead of wishes, goals must be measurable. You need to know when you cross the goal line. For something to be measurable, there must be a means by which to measure it. When running a business, this means operational data. This imperative led directly to the invention of writing over 5,000 years ago. We have obviously come a long way from pressing the ends of reeds into clay tablets to keep track of bundles of wheat. But the idea is the same.

Today, you can have your data as you like it. In rows and columns or charts with eye-popping color. Delivered to your desktop or to a mobile device. Or all of the above. We build to suit: Interactive dashboards with multiple levels of drill down; Real time inventory reports; Web analytics; Actual versus Plan. Even communal metrics accessible by those with a need to know.

As in so many other ways, the very openness of Open Solutions means it is generally straightforward to pull data from them. Even when legacy systems are in the mix, we find ways to access the necessary data, even if this means flat files and chron jobs. With data in hand, it can be ingested and digested and transformed into bite-sized, actionable information. Information that helps you stay the course. Or, if need be, change course.

Strategy is your flight plan. Analytics are your gauges and dials. Never fly by the seat of your pants again.