How can you measure and communicate the value of EDI data mining to your stakeholders and partners?

1 Define your goals and metrics

Before you start mining your EDI data, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. For example, do you want to reduce order errors, increase fill rates, optimize inventory levels, or enhance cash flow? Depending on your goals, you can choose relevant metrics, such as error rate, fill rate, inventory turnover, or days sales outstanding. You can also use benchmarks and industry standards to compare your performance with your peers and best practices.

2 Use visual and interactive tools

One of the best ways to communicate the value of EDI data mining is to use visual and interactive tools, such as dashboards, charts, graphs, and reports. These tools can help you present your data in a clear and engaging way, highlighting the key findings, trends, patterns, and anomalies. You can also use filters, drill-downs, and slice-and-dice features to allow your stakeholders and partners to explore the data in more detail and customize their views.

3 Tell a story with your data

Another way to communicate the value of EDI data mining is to tell a story with your data. Crafting a story with your data can help you connect the dots between your goals, actions, and context. To create a good story, you must have a clear structure, an engaging narrative, and a powerful message. Start by capturing your audience's attention with a surprising fact, question, or problem. Then provide background information on your data source, goal, and approach. Next, use visual and interactive tools to showcase your analysis and insights. Connect these results to your metrics to show how they improve performance and value. Finally, invite your audience to take the next steps such as implementing a solution or making a decision.

4 Align with your stakeholders and partners

Finally, to communicate the value of EDI data mining effectively, you need to align with your stakeholders and partners. You need to understand their needs, expectations, and preferences, and tailor your communication accordingly. For example, you may need to use different levels of detail, different formats, and different channels for different audiences. You may also need to address their concerns, questions, and objections, and provide evidence and examples to support your claims. By aligning with your stakeholders and partners, you can build trust, credibility, and collaboration.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?