Why business intelligence is broken

If you think you’re hearing the term “business intelligence” less and less these days, it turns out you’re right. Declining Google searches show that the business world is moving on, learning about the next generation of data technology and insights. And if we look at the limitations of BI—and what has actually been delivered—I can’t really blame them.

On a good day, most BI systems churn out reports that are not meant for human consumption. By the time leaders finally see results, the information may no longer be relevant, and has probably been run through a car wash of political filters. Here’s one of the big dirty secrets of modern business—if you’re in a job with VP or above in the title, people are editing the data they give you. They hold meetings to debate which numbers to show you, adjusting based on your potential reaction. Have you ever shoved less desirable numbers to the back of a PowerPoint deck, knowing the meeting will likely run over and those numbers will never see the light of day? Sure you have. It’s natural, it’s human nature—but it’s no way to run a business. 

And make no mistake, traditional BI is no picnic for data analysts, either. I’ve never met a superstar analyst in my life that is happy grinding to get the same old monthly report out the door, just to email out an attachment that never gets opened. Collecting, filtering, sorting, and manually combining data sources is hard work. Analysts would rather spend their hours where it counts—finding insights that can make a difference and using data in creative ways to achieve a view of the business that no one else has even considered before, and that can drive real dollars.

The reality is that most BI isn’t real time. It’s not smart. It’s still an email attachment without context or a PPT slide that’s met with glazed eyes. BI checks the box for data and insights without tackling the real problem modern businesses face—how to connect the people in your organization with the data they need.

All if this is why I joined Domo. I’m here because I know data can change the way the world does business, but also because I’ve seen firsthand how using data the old way can hold a company back. Leaders have been promised that data can give them an advantage, only to be met with week-long waits and “we can’t get that number until June” responses to every question. Domo is here to change all that, and I’ve seen how powerful data becomes when it’s connected to your people (and yes, that includes you).

We want leaders at all levels of every company in the world to ask “how can I make things better?” and actually have an answer.

Over the next few months, I’ll be talking in more detail about how information is changing, and what’s ahead in our world here at Domo. Let’s leave the old ways of business intelligence behind and get ready for the next generation of data and connection. Stay tuned.

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