Executive Summary For Mobile Business Intelligence and Analytics

Looking at the huge demand of smartphones, tablet computers and mobile solutions we will discuss the benefits, challenges, data management issues and recommendations for mobile business intelligence and analytics. It may be Apple's iPad or any other similar device on consumer electronics website we will see that the entire marketing is only as per consumer's wish like gaming, video calling, and watching movies in HD or just browsing the internet. But seeing at the immense use can these devices do anything for the experience of consuming, sharing or interacting with business data?

Business users are getting more excited to know whether they can use their smart devices for transforming the role of information in customer interactions, planning and forecasting, performance management or take their daily operational decisions while on the go. Business Intelligence can do all these, they are critical if mobile devices are to live up to their potential in the workplace. The pairing of both is not an easy task. Today's smartphones are cool, glitzy and fun to own and are selected by customers as per their choice. With the help of mobile solutions they can download apps as per their wish from the app stores or access them through web browsers. Customers desire to get mobile applications shaped as per their use and in a personalized fashion. Business Intelligence is something different from this as they aim to provide users with repeatable analysis and high-quality, consistent data and reports.

With the release of recent tools and latest mobile applications that allow users to get some more self-service opportunities and data visualization choices but considering IT's performance, security, other constraints and costs allow personalization to go only so far but not as far as they use the devices. IT managers are excited but not in a positive manner. The most important concern is of data security because it is adhered to regulations that threaten punishment if personally identifiable information (PII) and other data if exposed. But in mobile BI it may be not as scary or risky as it is feared by businesses and IT managers but it can be considered to be a major barrier while deploying BI and analytics on mobile devices.

When the need for real-time data arises there could be another tough challenge which is to meet the expectations for performance and availability. BI directors or IT managers are excited when it comes to any technology that is capable to raise opportunities for delivering right data to the right users at the right time: the credo of Business Intelligence. This is because it is less relevant of users at what time and what place will they interact with data or receive the alerts about changes and trends that make impact on their responsibilities. Mobile devices can fulfill all these objectives that are behind BI deployments.

It is wise to enable BI and analytics in the great mobile devices that has amazing features like content-interaction, collaboration features, touch screen etc. Being so attractive and appealing for customers these devices could bring a revolution in BI experience for customers and especially among non-technical persons.

This article is useful for those users who are on the go and for IT departments who can support mobile users with BI deployments.