The Importance of Business Dashboards for Decision Making

A dashboard visually displays the most important information about the business. Multipeers allows the information to be updated in a permanent and automatic way, so that you have the most up-to-date information about everything that happens in your company. By using a dashboard, you can easily see if your business goals are being met and what is the best route to take. In today’s article, we talked about the importance of business dashboards for decision making!

Add enterprise information in one place

In this field, care must be taken not to have a dashboard that is too full, that is, information that is not relevant to your decision making. This will only create visual noise and complicate your analysis. You should create an easy-to-read dashboard with only the data that really matters to you. If you can create a dashboard with current and useful information, it will be much easier to know what decisions to make.

Business objectives that are always present and well distributed

By using a dashboard, you can easily see if your business goals are being met. Linking KPIs with day-to-day activities is essential if individual and global goals are to be achieved more simply. Only with an effective knowledge of what is happening in the company and the evolution of the

Permanent evaluation of the real state of the business

One of the main advantages of using dashboards is that you can constantly analyze the present and past of your business and thus plan the future more effectively. With a dashboard, it’s easy to analyze company history and find patterns of past behavior that will help you make present-day decisions that do not compromise the future!

Real-time identification of important changes

Managers are not always able to identify deviations from work routines in a timely manner, which compromises business productivity. The dashboard will aggregate the history of the company’s operations and can set defaults to detect deviations and anomalies in real time. So the system is able to realize that something is not right and to alert you right away so that you can act before it becomes a serious problem.

Managers are not always able to identify deviations from work routines in a timely manner, which compromises business productivity. Dashboards combine the history of the company’s operations and can set defaults to detect deviations and anomalies in real time. Thus, Multipeers is able to realize that something is not right and to alert you right away so that you can act before it becomes a serious problem!

5 Reasons for your company to use a real-time management system

It is no longer news that business is happening at an accelerating pace. Companies need to be always aware of everything that happens, because only then will they be able to remain competitive and proactive, something that the market demands more and more. Nowadays, it is no longer possible for a company to survive only based on information with a few days: it is necessary for the manager to monitor in real time all the events that happen in your business. In today’s article, we’ll give you 5 reasons that indicate that your business needs a real-time management system!

You need to make more conscious decisions

When the manager knows exactly what is going on in the business, it is much easier to make the right decision and this is undoubtedly the most immediate and most important advantage of using a real-time information system. Most managers base their decisions on reports with a few days, which makes their action reactive rather than proactive. Analyzing the business in real time allows you to have all the necessary inputs so that you can consciously decide on the best route to take, since the information you are going to analyze is as current and reliable as possible.

Faster identification of business opportunities

With real-time business monitoring you can identify opportunities right when they appear, allowing you to stay one step ahead of the competition. A fluctuation in demand for a product, for example, could lead you to launch a specific campaign, increasing sales and improving company results. In an age where competition is so intense, having this competitive advantage is essential to win.

Setting up business alerts so you always know what’s going on

Business monitoring software such as Multipeers allows the definition of business alerts so that you are warned whenever a situation goes beyond your previously defined standard. Wherever you are, you will be notified by SMS or email about any changes to your previously set standards and you can act immediately, even before there are serious damages to the organization.

Connect to all data sources to reduce the search for information

Real-time business monitoring software interacts directly with all your data sources such as databases, web services, MDX, Microsoft Excel, RSS feeds, multimedia content, e-mail, applications, among others. You can even build your own connectors using the provided API so that no information from your organization is lost. So, in a single dashboard you will find complete and up-to-date information on everything that goes on in the company!

Lower probability of error

The use of real-time data analysis systems reduces communication failures and speeds data consolidation, thereby reducing the likelihood of making business-critical errors. All company information will be condensed only in one place, which makes analytical processes more agile and efficient.

 

Analyzing data in real time is increasingly a reality in companies around the world. Business happens at a very fast pace and it is essential that you know what is happening in your company to make the most appropriate decisions for your business. Download our e-book and learn how a BAM tool can help your management!

How should the manager of the future be?

The manager of the future can not be the same as the manager of the past. The business world changes at an amazing pace, so it is necessary that the manager is always aware of the latest changes in the market, because only then can you remain competitive and make the right decisions for the future of the business. The manager of the future is expected to be more proactive than now and not expect situations to happen to act. In today’s article, we cover the key aspects about what a future manager should have!

More than one manager should be a leader

The manager should be an example to follow and should be able to motivate his team to work in the direction that he believes is the most suitable for the business. The manager can not be someone who gives orders and expects them to be fulfilled blindly. It should be a leader within the organization, because only then can you make a difference.

Know how to listen

This advices fits into any area of personal and professional life. People say that as we have two ears and only one mouth, we should talk less and hear more! In the business world, the leader must know how to listen to his employees because only then he will be able to find problems and implement improvements. When the leader listens to his or her employees, a closer relationship is established between them and together they will be able to find answers that will be beneficial to management.

Constantly evaluate the business

“A business that produces nothing but money is a poor business”: the celebrated phrase is by Henry Ford and still stands today. A good leader should evaluate a business as a whole and not just focus on money. The manager should be able to assess the financial aspects, but also the aspects related to employee motivation, working conditions and social impact of the business

Simplify processes

“Simplicity is the supreme sophistication”: this phrase was on the first flyer of Apple and was a philosophy followed by Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs eliminated all the accessory elements and focused only on what was really important. Managers tend to complicate everything from creating reports to holding extensive meetings. A good manager should be able to present the information to his team in a simple and easy-to-understand way so that the work can flow at a good pace. This increasing need for this simplicity was one reason why software such as Multipeers has emerged, allowing you to analyze information in real time in a simple, practical and intuitive way.

Know the technology

It is not expected that the manager of the future is a technology expert, but must be aware of existing offerings in the market that can improve the organization’s productivity. Technology has more and more impact in the business world, so this area must be closely monitored by the manager.

7 immediate advantages of real-time data analysis

Real-time information is an ever-present need in today’s business life. Managers can no longer leave their decisions for later and it is not advisable to use reports with a few days as the data source to decide. Business life happens now, at every moment, so it is indispensable that the managers have a current and reliable knowledge of all the situations of the company. Softwares like Multipeers will be more and more a constant presence in companies. In today’s article, we’ll introduce you to 7 immediate advantages of real-time data analysis for your business!

More Conscious Decisions

When the manager knows exactly what is going on in the business, it is much easier to make the right decision and this is undoubtedly the most immediate and most important advantage of using a real-time information system. Analyzing the business in real time allows you to have all the necessary inputs so that you can consciously decide on the best route to take, since the information you are analyzing is up to date and reliable.

Setting up business alerts

Business monitoring software such as Multipeers allows you to set up business alerts so that you are warned whenever a situation goes beyond its standard. Wherever you are, you will be notified by SMS or email about any changes to your previously set standards and you can act immediately, even before there is damage to the organization. This proves to be a huge competitive advantage because it enables immediate action and prevents negative consequences for the business.

Consult information on any device

Almost all real-time information management programs offer the possibility of being used on mobile devices, which is a huge advantage as the business market is increasingly mobile. With this tool, you can be in a meeting or a trip and have real and updated information about the true state of your business.

Early detection of possible problems

A failure in the production process can mean serious problems with customers, suppliers and partners if it is not detected and corrected in time, destroying complete production lines and damaging the relationship with stakeholders. Monitoring the production process in real time allows identifying faults and their timely correction. In this way, any deviations will be corrected as soon as possible.

Using multiple data sources simultaneously

With the use of a real-time analysis system, it is possible to aggregate all the company information in a single system. In this way, the access to information becomes much easier and intuitive, reducing the time previously spent by the manager to condense information from various data sources.

Decreased likelihood of error

The use of real-time data analysis systems reduces communication failures and speeds data consolidation, thereby reducing the likelihood of making business-critical errors. All company information will be condensed only in one place, which makes analytical processes more agile and efficient.

Fast identification of business opportunities

With the use of a real-time analytics tool you can identify opportunities at the very moment they arise, allowing you to stay one step ahead of the competition. A change in demand for a product, for example, could lead you to launch a specific campaign, which will increase sales and improve overall results.

 

Analyzing data in real time is increasingly a reality in companies around the world. Business happens at a very fast pace and it is essential that you know what is happening in your company to make the most appropriate decisions for your business. Download our e-book and learn how a BAM tool can help your management!

How is the decision-making process in successful companies?

Decisions, decisions and more decisions: this is the day-to-day of a manager. Any decision interferes with the success (or failure) of the business, so it is essential to have adequate and up-to-date knowledge when deciding. Decisions must be made consciously, for when we decide intuitively, without concrete facts and figures, we may be seriously damaging our business. In today’s article, let’s realize how the decision-making process is in successful companies!

Step one: problem identification

In most situations, decision making aims to solve a problem. Thus, it is necessary to identify its origin and list all possible solutions. This step seems basic but it is one of the most important because it will give us the data needed to know which path to choose. In the end, the decision taken will have to agree with the identified problem. If this doesn’t happen, the decision you make may be completely ineffective for the company’s needs.

Step two: data collection

At this stage, it is important to collect the data needed to make the decision. It is here that a complete analysis of the situation is made. Increasingly, managers need to have access to the data in real time. Solutions such as Multipeers allow the manager to have access to all information coming from all of the company’s data sources. This scenario is best suited to make the decision made right for the business, since the manager knows, at every moment, exactly what is going on in his business. Real-time information is increasingly a necessity and a reality in companies around the world.

Step Three: Evaluate all the ways

Before making a decision, the manager must identify and analyze in detail all available alternatives. The same problem can have several solutions and the manager should rely on the help of his team to choose the best way forward. In this way, not only does the company win, because everyone’s opinion will certainly be better than that of a single person, as employees will feel more motivated because they feel that they are an integral part of the process.

Step 4: decision and follow-up

The last step is to choose the most appropriate alternative to the reality of the company. However, the decision-making process should not be extinguished at the time it is decided. In order for business to evolve positively, all decisions must be monitored continuously to see if it really was the right decision for the business and to make changes if necessary.

Analyzing data in real time is increasingly a reality in companies around the world. Business happens at a very fast pace and it is essential that you know what is happening in your company to make the most appropriate decisions for your business.

Get to know the advantages of the BAM system and learn how these tools can help your business!

 

 

Find the main industrial indicators and know how they can help you in your day-to-day

“What can not be measured can not be controlled”: this phrase makes perfect sense in the business world and, increasingly, managers are aware that it is necessary to evaluate each of their actions. Only with an effective follow-up of everything that goes on in a business it’s possible to apply improvement measures and achieve high levels of performance. KPI – key performance indicators – are fundamental in the process of managing, evaluating and continually improving a business. In today’s article, let’s talk about key industrial indicators and explain how they can help you in everyday life!

Production Indicators

In any industry it is fundamental that there is continuous production monitoring, in order to analyze its efficiency and uptime. Production indicators, when properly applied, help to reduce production costs, improve productivity levels and increase profitability. Some of the most commonly used production indicators are the number of products produced, the downtime of a machine or a collaborator and hours worked in production.

Order Indicators

These indicators give us information about stocks, liquidity, inventories, among other aspects. These are indicators that allow us to have an overview of what we have at the moment for sale, which applications are still to be completed and what our financial profitability is. The main indicators of this type are: turnover, percentage of unfulfilled orders, index of inventory for sales and percentage of orders delivered on time.

Economic indicators

The economic indicators are transversal to all activities and have a very significant weight for the industry. These indicators give us all the information regarding the financial health of the business. The main indicators in this area are: contribution margin, profit percentage, economic break-even point, EBITDA, average ticket and amortizations.

How can these indicators help me on a daily basis?

  • Relevant information for conscious decisions: KPIs provide a lot of information about the company and to that extent make decision making more efficient and easier. Managers often complain about the lack of information about the company in order to be able to decide consciously and these performance indicators gain a prominent role in making decisions about the future of the company. Managers can only make assertive and sound decisions if they have a full understanding of business reality. And nothing better than KPI’s to provide all that knowledge.

  • More realistic and more easily met objectives: analyzing the performance of a company on a constant basis ensures that more attention is paid to meeting the objectives. An efficient process must be planned and controlled. Continuous performance monitoring plays a key role in planning and subsequent control because it provides information on processes developed by the organization. The effectiveness of any control strategy depends to a large extent on the correct suitability of developed performance metrics and KPIs.

  • More knowledge about business strategy: it is essential that each employee of the company or organization knows their KPIs and that they are updated with some frequency. “If we do not know where we are going, any way is good”: the same goes for companies. If we are not aware of the results we should achieve with our work, we can do anything, and this may not be in line with the organization’s overall objectives. Defining the indicators of each employee and connecting to the monitoring system is essential for obtaining a global and integrated view of the state of the company and the performance of each one. It is also important to mention that each employee should have access only to the indicators that are important for the continuation of his work, so as to have a more focused and organized day-to-day.

Having a broader view is key to being able to keep up with the business and make the right decisions. In today’s hectic business day-to-day and with the ever-increasing demands of consumers, knowing the market is a must-have weapon to win. Download our business monitoring e-book and learn how a BAM system can help your business grow steadily!

5 common mistakes in information management you need to eliminate right now

Information is the most valuable asset of companies. With each passing day, companies store more data that needs to be addressed to provide the inputs needed for effective and informed decision-making. When the information is not well treated and analyzed, the more likely the company is to make the wrong decisions that will undermine its functioning. Thus, it is essential to know how to deal with the information and it is necessary to eliminate all the barriers that prevent the good treatment of the data. In today’s article, we present the 5 most common errors in the treatment of information you need to eliminate right now!

Error # 1: Working without Goals

In today’s business world, which is so competitive, it is very important that companies set general and specific goals, because only then will they know what strategy to follow in order to achieve the desired results. Each employee must work with specific KPI’s that are appropriate to their function, because only in this way will they be able to evaluate the data and transform it into useful and beneficial information for the pursuit of their work.

Error # 2: Fail to keep pace with rapid technological change

Today, technology is evolving at breakneck speeds, making companies constantly face the challenge of being up to date constantly. Nowadays, real-time analysis is already a reality in many companies. If it was enough years ago to know what was happening in the company a few days after the events, today this reality is completely changed. Analyzing business information in real time is the first step (and we can risk saying that it is the most important) to be able to decide consciously and effectively. Many companies still make the mistake of basing their reporting on a few days. Systems like Multipeers are becoming more and more indispensable in today’s business world.

Error # 3: Give the same access to all employees

This error is linked to information security, which is one of the most important aspects, but that companies still do not pay attention to this. Company information should not be accessible to all employees in the same way. Each employee must have access only to part of the information they need to perform their work. This will allow the collaborator to focus more easily and, at the same time, will allow to discover the origin of an eventual leak of information.

Error # 4: Do not back up the data

It seems like a very basic advice, but unfortunately many companies have not yet implemented a serious backup policy. We live in an increasingly connected world and with more and more virtual threats. Therefore, it is essential that you be prepared for any situation that could put the security of your information at risk. These days, putting a security password in your most important files is no longer enough. Making backups of data frequently is a critical step in ensuring that you will not lose sensitive data of the utmost importance. In addition, it is advisable to use a disaster recovery system such as RAAS. Disaster recovery should be regarded as a must have in companies as it is the guarantee that the most important information of the company is safeguarded and that the company will continue to function properly even when computer problems happen.

Error # 5: Create complex reports

The tendency of managers is to create reports with many pages and complex terms that make it difficult to analyze them. The ideal is to make short reports that contain only the information essential to making the right decisions for the business. Create appealing and easy-to-read graphics because through these elements it will be easier to convey your message and better understand the data. If you complicate too much the presentation of the information, it will discourage the employees who have to make their analysis!

 

The main pillars of information security in companies

We may venture to say that “security” was the most widely heard word for business needs in 2018. Following the entry into force of the new general data protection regulation, companies were effectively concerned with ensuring that their information was secure , adopting new tools and new ways of dealing with the giant wave of data that is generated daily. But what are the main pillars of information security in companies?

Confidentiality

Confidentiality concerns all procedures and policies that allow you to restrict and regulate access to sensitive and confidential information. It is important that in a company the access to information is regulated and that it has several levels, according to the positions and the need of access of each employee. Most computer attacks are from internal sources, so you have to be careful that the company’s most important information does not fall into the wrong hands.

Integrity

Integrity is an important pillar since it allows us to identify if there has been any change in the process or the sending of the data. Data integrity is essential for the smooth running of a business and it is important that the data remain unchanged even after passing through successive people. Confidential data of a company can not be changed by any employee, and there must be a defined procedure for this situation.

Availability

Data must be available whenever it is necessary to access it. Information security can not allow the data to be “in a distant place,” where many steps are required to be able to visualize them. Cloud storage has been gaining more and more “followers” over the last few years as it allows data to be available anywhere, anytime, from any device. However, it is essential that there be care with the safety of the devices used in the company. Having a good antivirus, not opening suspicious emails or visiting unreliable sites are rules that should always be followed.

Authenticity

Authenticity is one of the fundamental pillars of data security. We must know the source of the data we deal with, because only then can we guarantee that they are reliable and current.

It is no longer a novelty that companies need to protect their information more and more. We live in a highly digital world and therefore the threats have proliferated at a very fast speed. Nowadays companies need to effectively use data security solutions, otherwise they will see their confidential information exposed. A security breach can be dramatic for a business, and can even dictate the end of it. In today’s article, we’ll realize how much does a security breach actually cost.  Threats to data security are getting bigger and more sophisticated, making it harder to ensure data security in the business. Protecting the information your company generates on a daily basis is essential for business success and at this stage when the new general data protection regulation has already come into force, it is even more important to work towards securing company and its stakeholders.

5 Reasons not to manage your data in Excel

Many companies still use Excel to manage their sales, marketing, and other data. However, although it is fairly easy to work with Microsoft Excel, this program has too many limitations and is ultimately insufficient to manage all the information in a company. As companies grow, managers feel the need to use more sophisticated tools to manage business information. But despite this growing need, many managers insist on using Excel as their primary work tool, and this is because of ease of use and resistance to change. In today’s article, we give you 5 reasons not to manage your data in Excel!

Excel is not secure

Excel is a manually managed program that works based on formulas that not every employee in a company understands. Thus, managing an organization’s data through Excel can be quite confusing, as a contributor simply changes a formula so that all data is corrupted. In addition, Excel has a large security gap because it doesn’t allow you to create hierarchies at the document editing level, which greatly compromises data security.

High consumption of time

Entering data in Excel is time-consuming and takes up a human resource that could be dedicating itself to another task. There are studies that show that managers spend about 50% to 80% of their work time collecting data and inserting it into programs such as Excel. The ideal is to use a tool such as Multipeers that brings together in a single platform all the information coming from the most diverse sources of data of the company. And everything in real time and automatically.

High probability of error

Excel files are handled manually and so there is a high probability of human error. In the business world, you need to have great confidence in the data, because only then can you make the right decisions for the business. A wrongly entered data in Excel can affect all information entered and can trigger a bad decision that seriously damages the company.

Danger of data loss

Fortunately, we already have the option of using Excel online through Office 365. However, most people continue to work on files stored on their computer and this compromises data security. In the event of a computer disaster or hacker attack, there is a high likelihood that the file will be lost forever. If you use Excel, the best decision to make is to use it in Office 365 so that you can automatically save changes and save the file to the Web.

Lack of integration

To manage a company well, it is necessary to work with several Excel files, but it is quite complex to get them to “talk” to each other. There are formulas that allow a changed data file to impact other files, but this makes the documents too heavy and sometimes does not work correctly.

 

 

Are companies ready to adopt RPA technology? (part 2)

By Adriano Ribeiro, CEO & Partner bwd and Rui Raposo, CCO & Partner bwd

You can read the first part of the article here.

And what are the advantages/benefits generated by the passage of these human tasks to robots?

First of all, people welcome this technology because they hate the tasks that systems do, relieving them of growing work pressure.

Another advantage immediately recognized by the users of these RPA solutions is the significant increase in the productivity of the organization as employees are freed from time consuming tasks to start to perform more stimulating tasks.

Additionally we can add as advantages of RPA solutions:

  • the high scalability of operations without the need to increase the workforce;
  • the elimination of activities related to manual data collection and human error;
  • the monitoring of the speed of the business, due to the speed gains that the solution allows to obtain.

All this without any use of code, allowing teams in various business areas to create robots autonomously for the tasks they wish to automate, with the rapid attainment of increased operational efficiency.

Is the adoption of these RPA solutions a small investment?

Yes, and being a small but variable investment, your return is always less than a year. So if a RPA tool is inexpensive and additionally does not require great IT skills to implement, its implementation turns out to be a no-brainer. The implementation of RPA solutions is, in fact, simple, allowing very fast results. This is particularly important when, as we all know, in our organizations often, the business wants something relatively small, but the IT department having larger fish to fry puts these requests and materials last. Once this reality is realized, the only major concern regarding the implementation of this RPA solution has to do with the disruptive effects. For this reason, we often find IT teams in denial about RPA and what it can do. The solution lies in the use of a competent partner in the implementation of these solutions that can understand all the impacts that these encompass for the IT structure, in total alignment with the IT teams and ensuring that the designed RPA solution is conveniently embedded in the overall strategy from you.

Do these solutions easily integrate with organizations’ information systems?

This is another of the advantages in implementing these solutions – its simple and easy integration with any legacy or non-legacy systems architecture. It is very interesting that the adoption of automation programs, because they are neutral technologies, allows the organizations to maintain a high rate of modernization with the internalization of the rapid advances that are realized in this area, unlike other IT investments in which the organizations are obliged to rethink your approach every time you adopt a new technology. In addition to this alignment with the IT strategy, the implementation of an RPA solution within an automation strategy in order to be successful must be fully aligned with the business and operations strategy. More than simply automating an activity, advances in artificial intelligence, software robotics, machine learning, and innovative technology platforms enable companies to redefine their processes and consistently evolve to modernize their organization. Therefore, workplace automation provides a significant opportunity for improvements in the performance and overall efficiency of organizations.

The main objectives identified in the adoption of technologies such as RPA are:

  • Reducing risk – Many companies automate processes to reduce the risk of malware and other threats. The risks inherent in upgrades and migrations also drive organizations to software as a service (SaaS) and cloud computing. Finally, the risk of inactivity is another driver to select the new generation of RPA, ITO, BPO and XaaS.
  • Increased efficiency – Companies that embrace RPA implementation often do so because automation leads to significant productivity improvements and increased organizational flexibility
  • Increased Compliance – By recording all actions and identifying and removing data gaps between multiple sources, RPA assists in performing reviews and recognizing compliance issues.
    Higher quality information available.

The methodology applied in the implementation is also fundamental. If properly implemented, automation can provide tremendous improvements in all these areas. But the balance of benefits can vary with different technologies and approaches. The right balance for any organization will depend on your overall strategy and your business goals. Automation programs should therefore start with a clear articulation of the problem. Each project must be able to identify where and how the automation can offer improvements and show how these improvements are linked to the overall strategy of the company. To maximize return on investment, companies must be careful not to specify, overstate, or overspend on investments in automation. Choosing the right level of complexity to meet current and future predictable needs requires a deep understanding of the organization’s processes and systems.

It seems clear from our experience that the most successful RPA solution implementation projects have the following characteristics:

  1. Decentralization in terms of governance in project management. Decentralization in functions or business units as responsible for automation initiatives, with or without support from a core team. Conversely, experiences in less successful organizations are those where a central team is the sole responsible for delivering automation throughout the organization.
  2. The expansion of Buy-in in automation throughout the organization. Encouraging a truly enterprise-wide program and pursuing the adoption of more advanced cognitive automation technologies.
  3. The involvement of the IT function. The success of automation programs also depends on the early involvement of the IT function. First and foremost, IT teams from these organizations are more likely to have automated their own processes. Your involvement in the automation effort is definitely a differential in success.

In conclusion, the evidence suggests that Artificial Intelligence solutions like RPA deliver real value to business and can be a powerful force for disruption. The first to adopt AI solutions that combine strong digital capacity with proactive strategies have higher profit margins and stand out in terms of the performance of other companies. Numerous success stories in implementing retail, utilities, manufacturing, healthcare and education companies highlight AI’s potential to improve forecasting and sourcing, optimize and automate operations, develop targeted marketing, price management, and improve experience.

The importance of implementing the AI ​​solutions as RPA in a correct digital strategy for each organization means that there are no shortcuts to the companies in this regard, otherwise they run a serious risk of implementation failure.

Companies cannot even delay the start of their digital journey, including IA. The first to adopt, will create great competitive advantages.

A successful program requires companies to address many elements of a digital and analytical transformation: identify the business case, set up the right data ecosystem, build or purchase appropriate AI tools, and adapt workflow, resource, and culture processes .

AI promises benefits, but it also poses challenges that run across companies, and workers and teams need to be prepared to exploit the RPA and resist competing with it.

So we asked: Is RPA technology ready and available for companies, large or small, but are companies ready to embrace RPA technology?