The springtime of BI

Domo brought in grilled burgers and brats today for lunch. Since I usually bring lunch and eat at my desk, it was nice to spend some time outside while it is light out. Today is a beautiful sunny day here in Utah County and feeling the warm sun reminded me how summer is just around the corner.

Having lived in Utah for almost 20 years now, I love the period between spring and summer. The temperatures start pushing into the 80's, but the mornings and evenings are still brisk. The flowers begin to bloom and everything becomes green once again. This change in seasons has caused me to reflect on other things that are changing in exciting ways.

Business Intelligence is in the midst of a resurgence right now, with every major vendor making efforts to capitalize on shifts in technology by creating more usable solutions. Additionally, a number of new players are introducing new solutions that are reshaping the industry. "Big Data" is a hot topic right now, but I see a larger force at work.

BI consumers have been told for years what they would be able to measure, but now they are realizing that they don't have to settle any longer. The technology and the practices behind BI have evolved to the point that practically anything is possible. On top of that framework, solution providers are realizing that BI projects will only be successful if the users get what they need and actually use the tools to improve their performance.

It is a great time to be a consumer of BI. The long winter of discontent with inadequate or difficult to use tools is quickly coming to an end and new, powerful and usable solutions are beginning to become available. As someone who has worked long hard to make these changes a reality, it is very satisfying to see the reactions of these users who are finally getting what they have had to go without for s long.