The picture above is a great looking piece of toast – why is it so hard to accomplish?

I am astonished at how many times I’ve ordered toast over the years at various restaurants or fast-food places and received a burnt piece of bread. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it comes with a scrumptious breakfast or as a side with chicken tenders. How a waiter or waitress can deliver a charred piece of bread on a plate and smile and say, “Here’s your order – hope you enjoy!” I’ll never understand. I’ve often thought someone should write an app called BurntToast – its one goal – to expose all the restaurants who don’t seem to understand that blackened bread is not good like blackened chicken – which by the way is not burnt. What does this have to do with BI? How many business processes do you have producing “burnt toast”? Do you know? Obviously not, or you would change them. Right?

We, as BI professionals, can use analytics to provide objective views into your business to identify areas that can be improved using your data. We can help provide insights that can guide your business to become the best version of itself. We can do some amazing things with your data. But all this goodness will not turn into anything if you are not willing to do two things as a business:

1. You must be willing to capture and analyze all of your data – even the less appealing views of your business. It seems that companies sometimes ignore poor data gathering practices and miss out on essential data necessary to gain honest insight. They feel the process of gathering is insignificant compared to other aspects of the business.  Or they think that the data itself will just reveal “the way we’ve always done it”. Some, I think, fall into the belief that “if we don’t see it, it doesn’t exist.” Always let your data tell its whole story. Don’t hide the results of your analysis. If it’s how the business has always done it, categorize the measurements that way and reveal that mindsight through objective visuals. It is important for your business’s success. 

2. If you are willing to allow us to capture comprehensive data about a business process, we will be able to produce actionable insights that will improve your organization. The key word here is “actionable”. You must be willing to act timely on this data so that you can gain the maximum benefit from the change. Sometimes insights have an expiration date. The business data itself can be volatile and insights can come and go. Part of our analysis can include not only what changes could be made but also when is the best time to make them. I remember a previous project where the data recommended that a subset of stores remain open an hour later to maximize profit – only during certain months of the year.  We can provide insight and timing – you must be willing to engage accordingly.

I know you do not want your business producing burnt toast without your knowledge. I also believe you do not want your staff to accept burnt toast as an appropriate business practice. Here at ConradBI we can help your organization gather the right amount of data and help provide guidance on how to implement changes suggested by your data in a responsible and profitable manner.  Let’s have good toast together soon!