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Mobile BI tools, trends and best practices guide
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Article
The mobile BI bus is coming -- are you ready to get on board?
Deployments of mobile business intelligence tools are spreading rapidly. Before you take the mobile BI plunge, read advice on how to make it work. Read Now
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Article
Survey shows smaller companies leading the way on mobile BI
New survey results document how smaller businesses are leading the mobile BI charge. Read Now
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More corporations make mobile BI programs a priority
The growing use of tablet PCs and smartphones is spurring demand for mobile business intelligence capabilities from end users. Are you ready? Read Now
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Mobile BI software, collaboration tools form natural partnership
Mobile BI and collaboration tools are natural partners, but supporting that kind of an environment may require more philosophy than technology. Read Now
Editor's note
As the use of smartphones, tablet PCs and other mobile devices escalates in the workplace, so does the interest in mobile business intelligence applications among corporate executives, sales teams and other end users. As a result, BI managers at more and more companies are evaluating the benefits, cost-effectiveness and challenges of implementing a mobile BI strategy.
Mobile business intelligence applications that offer BI-on-the-go capabilities can increase the productivity of business users, whether they're in meetings or on the road. But with new technologies come new challenges to consider, and mobile BI is no different. For example, experienced users and BI consultants cite potential complications such as data security concerns, the small screen-size and limited memory of mobile devices and issues with supporting the myriad tablet computers and smartphones on the market as part of bring yourown device policies.
This guide, featuring articles and multimedia content published by SearchBusinessAnalytics and other TechTarget websites, offers a one-stop resource for BI managers and professionals who want to get up to speed on mobile BI trends and get advice on how to create effective mobile BI apps and successfully deploy mobile BI tools.
1High profile companies implementing mobile BI
Organizations across various industries have deployed mobile business intelligence tools to support their business objectives. In this section, IT leaders from different companies discuss how mobile BI tools and capabilities have worked for their users.
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In-memory mobile BI application speeds sales for food manufacturer
More mainstream companies are finding uses for in-memory applications that facilitate mobile business intelligence. Read Now
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U.K. health service unit taps mobile BI to improve patient care
NHS Trust is using a mobile business intelligence system from Yellowfin to improve clinician performance and patient healthcare Read Now
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Early adopters implement mobile BI tools
The iPad is helping to drive increased interest in mobile business intelligence, which is opening up BI data to new business users without tying them -- or existing users -- to their offices. Read Now
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Mobile BI proves to be a business helper at furniture maker
OFS Brands Application Manager Tim Hopper explains why the national furniture supplier pursued a mobile BI strategy and the ways it's paying off. Read Now
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Mobile BI software an effective Rx for healthcare supply company
Realizing the ubiquity of mobile devices among medical professionals, health care supplies contracting services provider Novation LLC plunged into the mobile business intelligence movement. Read Now
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Auto retailer gets behind the mobile business intelligence wheel
Mobile business intelligence and advanced analytics are the latest evolution of the BI program at national auto retailer Sonic Automotive. Read Now
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New business model fueled by mobile BI works for CIO
Mobile business intelligence has lagged the deployment of other business mobile apps; that’s changing as more CIOs realize strategic gains from mobile BI. Read Now
2Best-practices advice for implementing a mobile BI strategy
Implementing mobile BI capabilities may be a good idea for your organization, but there are challenges to be aware of. The stories and expert responses featured here offer practical advice on extending business intelligence programs to mobile devices and avoiding the pitfalls along the way.
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How to integrate and secure mobile business intelligence apps
All types of businesses should embrace mobile business intelligence applications as part of their overall information strategy. Read Now
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Growth of mobile BI drives need to downsize, customize apps
Mobile business intelligence adds new challenges for BI teams, especially in designing apps. Don't overdo it on data, say BI managers and analysts. Read Now
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Mobile BI deployments require attention to back-end IT issues
Back-end factors such as network performance and server hardware are key elements of building an effective mobile business intelligence architecture. Read Now
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Don't get off-track in designing mobile BI dashboards
Designers creating BI dashboards for mobile devices must balance the need for functionality with expectations of an optimized mobile user experience. Read Now
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Weighing the benefits and obstacles of mobile business intelligence
Developing and delivering mobile business intelligence applications poses various challenges that can derail a mobile BI strategy if not avoided. Read Now
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Mobile BI tools: The importance of making the business case
End users increasingly want to run business intelligence applications on mobile devices. But mobile BI investments need to be justified, analysts say. Read Now
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Mobile BI apps succeed with practical design approach
To be successful, mobile business intelligence projects must provide useful capabilities, not just cool-looking apps, BI managers and analysts say. Read Now
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Expanding your business intelligence architecture to mobile devices
Get tips on expanding a business intelligence architecture to support mobile devices and mobile BI software. Find out about the BI capabilities, strengths and weaknesses of mobile devices. Read Now
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The real value of mobile business intelligence (BI)
Thinking about adding mobile business intelligence (BI) tools to your BI and analytics strategy? Find out where the real value of mobile BI resides and get real-world examples. Read Now
3Multimedia content on mobile business intelligence software
Listen to BI consultants and managers discuss first-hand experiences and offer tips on selecting, deploying and managing mobile business intelligence software in these videos and podcasts.
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Podcast
Advice for deploying mobile BI applications: Dos and don'ts
Learn some best practices for deploying mobile BI from Forrester analysts Boris Evelson and Michael Facemire. Listen Now
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Podcast
William McKnight: Key steps to deploying effective mobile BI systems
In a podcast, BI expert William McKnight discusses best practices and action items for managing deployments of mobile business intelligence tools. Listen Now
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Video
Claudia Imhoff on how to build collaborative programs with mobile BI
Claudia Imhoff discusses the challenges of combining collaboration with mobile BI and shares tips on how businesses can get over those hurdles. Watch Now
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Video
Big data analytics, mobile BI help trucking company optimize operations
In a video Q&A, Timothy Leonard of U.S. Xpress explains how the trucking company uses big data analytics, real-time BI software and mobile BI apps in unison to make important business decisions. Watch Now
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Mobile, self-service and collaborative BI video series
In a series of video Q&As, business intelligence analysts and IT vendors discuss the current state of self-service, collaborative and mobile BI tools and offer advice on deploying and using them. Read Now
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Podcast
Podcast: Mobile BI survey results from analyst Howard Dresner
Security risks and form factor limitations top the list of concerns around mobile business intelligence, according to a new survey by Howard Dresner. Listen Now
4Industry research and analysis on mobile BI applications
Sometimes it's helpful to get an outside opinion and review the available research before deploying a technology. The articles contained here offer survey findings and insights from top BI consultants on mobile BI adoption and issues.
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There's more to mobile BI than making data look good, analyst says
Mobile BI continues to revel in popularity. But to take advantage of the technology, businesses need to make sure their data houses are in order, a Gartner analyst says. Read Now
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Gartner shares strategies for building a solid mobile BI business case
According to a recent Gartner survey, mobile technology is the second most important priority for CIOs in 2012, but building the business case is easier said than done. Read Now
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TDWI report reveals security concerns, other challenges on mobile BI
Interest in mobile BI is growing, but democratizing data also presents hurdles for building a business case, according to new research from TDWI. Read Now
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Business intelligence becomes a top mobile priority, survey says
Mobile business intelligence has become a top-three priority for businesses, according to new research by analyst Howard Dresner. Read Now
5Glossary of mobile BI terms
Getting tangled up in the terminology? Here's a helpful glossary explaining some of the key terms related to mobile business intelligence and mobile BI tools.
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Definition
business intelligence (BI)
Business intelligence (BI) is a technology-driven process for analyzing data and presenting actionable information to help executives, managers and other corporate end users make informed business decisions. Read Now
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Definition
mobile business intelligence
Mobile business intelligence is an extension of business intelligence (BI) from desktops and laptops to mobile devices such as Blackberry, iPhone, and iPad. Reports, charts, graphs, and alerts are designed for viewing on smaller mobile screens. Read Now
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Definition
business intelligence competency center (BICC)
A business intelligence competency center (BICC) is a team of people that, in its most fully realized form, is responsible for managing all aspects of an organization's BI strategy, projects and systems. Read Now
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Definition
business intelligence dashboard
A business intelligence dashboard is a graphical interface that displays the current status of metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for an enterprise. Read Now
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Definition
BYOD (bring your own device)
BYOD (bring your own device) is the increasing trend toward employee-owned devices within a business. Smartphones are the most common example but employees also take their own tablets, laptops and USB drives into the workplace. Read Now
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Definition
IT consumerization (information technology consumerization)
IT consumerization is the blending of personal and business use of technology devices and applications. Gartner traced the trend to the dot-com collapse, when enterprise IT budgets shrank and many IT vendors shifted focus to the potentially bigger consumer IT markets. The result has been a change in the way technology enters the marketplace. Read Now
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Definition
enterprise mobility
Enterprise mobility is an approach to work in which employees can do their jobs from anywhere using a variety of devices and applications. Read Now
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Definition
mobile enterprise application platform (MEAP)
A mobile enterprise application platform (MEAP) is a development environment that provides tools and middleware to develop, test, deploy and manage corporate software running on mobile devices. Read Now
6Quiz: Deploying and managing mobile BI apps
Now that you've read the articles and listened to the multimedia content in our guide, test your understanding of mobile BI by taking this brief quiz.