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Challenges with legacy business intelligence systems

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Legacy business intelligence (BI) processes often struggle to meet the demands of modern businesses due to several challenges. In turn, these challenges can hinder business growth by restricting the level of insight needed to make timely, smart business decisions. 

Here are some of the key issues associated with legacy BI systems:

1. Data Silos

Legacy BI systems often rely on separate databases and tools for different departments, leading to data silos. This fragmentation makes it difficult to get a unified view of the business, causing delays in decision-making and potential inconsistencies in data.

2. Limited Data Integration

Older BI systems may struggle to integrate with modern data sources, such as cloud-based applications, social media, or big data platforms. This limitation restricts the scope of data analysis and prevents businesses from leveraging all available data.

3. Manual Processes

Legacy BI processes frequently involve manual data entry, report generation, and analysis. These manual tasks are time-consuming, prone to errors, and can lead to outdated insights by the time reports are generated.

4. Slow Processing Speeds

Legacy BI tools often lack the processing power to handle large volumes of data efficiently. As data grows in complexity and size, these systems can become slow, leading to delays in generating reports and insights.  Did you know only 3% of businesses can retrieve their business data in seconds?

5. Poor User Experience

Many legacy BI tools have outdated, non-intuitive interfaces that require significant training to use effectively. This steep learning curve can limit adoption among non-technical users and hinder widespread data-driven decision-making.

6. Lack of Real-Time Data

Legacy BI systems often operate on batch processing, meaning data is updated at intervals rather than in real-time. This lag in data availability can lead to decisions based on outdated information, which is particularly problematic in fast-paced industries.

7. Inflexible Reporting

Older BI systems often have rigid reporting capabilities, requiring specialized IT skills to create or modify reports. This inflexibility can lead to delays when new business questions arise or when different departments require customized reports.

8. High Maintenance Costs

Maintaining and upgrading legacy BI systems can be expensive and resource-intensive. As these systems age, they may require more frequent maintenance, which can divert resources from other strategic initiatives.

9. Security Risks

Legacy BI systems may lack modern security features, making them vulnerable to cyber threats. As these systems were often designed before current security standards were established, they may not adequately protect sensitive business data.

10. Limited Scalability

Older BI systems may not scale effectively with business growth. As data volumes increase and new data sources are added, these systems can struggle to keep up, leading to performance issues and the need for costly infrastructure upgrades.

11. Difficulty in Incorporating Advanced Analytics

Legacy BI tools often lack the ability to incorporate advanced analytics, such as machine learning, predictive analytics, or AI. This limitation prevents businesses from gaining deeper insights and can leave them at a competitive disadvantage.

12. Dependency on IT Departments

Legacy BI processes often require significant IT involvement for data extraction, transformation, and loading (ETL), as well as for report creation and modification. This dependency can create bottlenecks and slow down the delivery of insights.

13. Inadequate Support for Mobile and Remote Access

Many legacy BI systems were not designed with mobile or remote access in mind, limiting their usefulness in today’s increasingly mobile and distributed work environments.

14. Compliance and Regulatory Challenges

Legacy systems may not be equipped to handle new compliance and regulatory requirements efficiently. This can lead to challenges in ensuring that all data and processes meet the latest standards, increasing the risk of fines or legal issues.

15. Resistance to Change

Organizations may face resistance to upgrading from legacy BI systems due to the perceived complexity, cost, and risk associated with migration. This resistance can hinder the adoption of more modern, efficient BI tools and processes.

What is the solution?

These challenges highlight the need for businesses to modernize their BI processes, adopting more agile, integrated, and user-friendly tools that can meet the demands of today's data-driven landscape.

The solution to this is artificial intelligence (AI). AI can take data analysis to the next level by extracting deeper insights in real-time and makes your business intelligence process more efficient and powerful. 

To discuss your business intelligence process and identify where improvements could be made, please contact us today and take a look at the Data Connector available with Opera 3 SE.

Posted On: August 20, 2024