'Right-time' operational intelligence is key to better business performance

What separates business leaders from laggards is the ability to generate timely and relevant business insight to support operational decisions, rather than simply relying on “gut-feel,” according to a new Aberdeen Group study.

In Operational Intelligence: Boosting Performance with “Right-Time” Insight (download the report), the Aberdeen Group explores the decision-making processes of 260 end-user organizations. The report found that among best-in-class companies, 93 percent of key operational information is delivered to decision makers in “right time,” which can vary from instantly to hourly depending on a company’s needs.

“Regardless of the function – manufacturing, sales process, finance, etc. – companies are noticeably dissatisfied with their ability to create better operating processes and improve business performance,” said Mike Lock, senior research analyst for Aberdeen Group and author of the report. “Business intelligence tools and strategies can alleviate these challenges by providing daily or even real-time visibility into operating information, allowing for faster identification of bottlenecks and inefficiencies.”