EDITOR'S NOTE

Next Steps in Business Intelligence

Maybe you have an ERP system but want to take your data a step further to anticipate events and discover trends. Maybe you have a handful of transaction systems but need to integrate your data across the organization. Or maybe you have brilliant analysts creating reports in isolated departments but no clear system for enterprise reporting.

So how can you mainstream analytics and business intelligence in your organization? Thornton May addresses this question in his IT Frontiers column, and his answers might surprise you. Technology is important, of course, but May highlights the cultural issues that hinder the use of analytics.

His first piece of advice is to champion the analytical work that’s making a difference in your organization. For example, in this issue, four SAS customers tell us how they’re saving money and improving operations for their organizations:

• Internet provider EarthLink reduces customer churn while increasing loyalty and product adoption.
• ICICI Bank integrates data sources and manages information across the organization.
• RCI Global Vacation Network forecasts demand for vacation properties and estimates time-share worth.
• Online bank ING Direct aligns its risk strategy with its business goals.

How are you using SAS to improve your organization? Share your SAS success story with us, and you could help mainstream analytics, too. Start by telling us your story online. 

Alison Bolen 
Editor-in-Chief