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Top 8 Business Intelligence Acronyms

Have you ever started a new job in an industry you have no experience in? Learning the industry jargon can be overwhelming. I can personally attest to this because prior to working in the

Business Intelligence (BI) and Corporate Performance Management (CPM) worlds, I was in the food, public relations, and entertainment industries, and did not have much experience in BI or CPM. If you have recently been exposed to BI tools, such as report writers, budgeting and planning solutions, dashboards, data warehouses (DWs) and you feel like a deer in headlights, there is no need to panic. In this article, we will discuss ten acronyms in the BI/CPM realm that will help you understand and enhance your experience with BI and CPM processes.

Here are the top 8 business intelligence acronyms that may be resourceful when dealing with BI & CPM solutions

1. Extraction, Transformation, and Loading (ETL)

ETL represents three database functions that are combined into one tool to extract data from one data source. The ETL process is the practice of extracting data from data sources and transferring it into the DW. ETL isn’t necessarily three defined steps, but rather a broad process.

2. Data Warehouse (DW)

Informatica defines a DW as an acronym for data warehouse meaning, “technology that aggregates structured data from one or more sources so that it can be compared and analyzed for greater business intelligence.” The term “Data Warehouse” was coined by William H. Inmon, an American computer scientist. This is an analyst’s dream because all the metrics about the organization’s activities are gathered in one place. You can find out more about the details of a successful data warehouse here.

3. Relational Database Management System (RDBMS)

A RDBMS is a program that enables users to administer, create and update a relational database. Commercial RDBMS typically use the Structured Query Language (SQL) to access the database. A relational database is described as “a set of tables containing data fitted into predefined categories” by TechTarget.

4. Online Analytical Processing (OLAP)

OLAP, also known as “OLAP cube,” performs multidimensional analysis of data and offers the ability for complex calculations, advanced data modeling, and trend analysis.

5. Key Performance Indicator (KPI)

A KPI is a lot like a GPS navigation system as it allows the driver to be in complete control when making decisions about where to steer next. KPIs are navigational tools that your company will utilize to understand whether the business is on a successful route or whether it’s veering off. According to Klipfolio, a KPI is “a measureable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.” You can learn more about KPIs and KPI strategies in detail in the following articles: 10 Steps to Successful KPI and Metric Design Using Dynamics GP, Part 1 and 10 Steps to Successful KPI and Metric Design Using Dynamics GP, Part 2. Keep in mind that there are vertical specific KPIs; therefore, do some research.

6. User Interface (UI)

In the IT world, UI is designed into a device within which a user can interact. This includes keyboards, display screens, a mouse, and a desktop. It can also include how a user interacts with the application or the website. Companies’ dependence on applications has led organizations to prioritize improving the user’s overall experience, also known as UX.

7. SQL Server

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system that was developed by Microsoft.

  • SQL Management Studio (SSMS) – SSMS is an integrated environment used to administer a SQL Server Infrastructure. If you’re not familiar with a SQL Server, it is a relational database management software developed by Microsoft.
  • SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) – SSIS is used to execute a wide range of data migration tasks.
  • SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) – SSRS is also part of the SQL Server services. It is a server-based report generating system that stores metadata and object definitions. You can learn more about the SQL Server on the Microsoft site.

8. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS is a subsidiary of Amazon, and offers cloud computing platforms. AWS is also the competing platform against Microsoft Azure, formerly known as Windows Azure. Companies will be more exposed to AWS and Microsoft Azure as the cloud gets bigger. Cloud Computing platforms provide an easy way to access storage, servers, databases, and applications. It also provides quick access to flexible and low-cost resources.

If you are in the BI/CPM space, you may have seen the terms above used widely. For those who are new to the industry, I hope defining and laying out these terms give you a better understanding of the BI/CPM industry as well as the industry jargon. We’re happy to answer questions and generally review Solver’s web-powered, easy-to-use Excel and mobile BI tools with both real-time or data warehouse integrated analysis, budgeting and collaboration as a way to accelerate your company performance management experience.

Solver enables world-class decisions with a leading web-based CPM suite made up of budgeting, reporting, dashboards, and data warehousing, delivered through a web portal. Solver is reinventing CPM with its next generation solution. BI360 empowers business users with modern features including innovative use of Excel in the model design process. If you’re interested in learning more, our team is excited to hear about your organizational needs and goals.

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10 Steps to Successful KPI and Metric Design Using Dynamics GP, Part 2

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This article is the second part in planning for a KPI design project.

KPI1A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a lot like a GPS navigation system. A GPS navigation device allows a driver or a passenger to be in charge when making decisions about where to steer next. KPIs are the navigational tools that the team will use to understand whether the business is on a successful journey or whether it’s veering off. As mentioned in the previous article, a KPI can help your company understand if your company is on the right track and if it’s not, it can help your company understand where to focus your attention. According to Klipfolio, a KPI is “a measureable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives.” Organizations use KPIs at many levels to assess their success at reaching targets. High-level KPIs focus on the overall performance of the organization whereas low-level KPIs zoom in on processes in departments. In this article, I will cover the last 5 steps in planning for a successful KPI design project for Microsoft Dynamics GP users based on the “Designing Metrics and Key Performance Indicators chapter” of Business Dashboards, a book published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Read more

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10 Steps to Successful KPI and Metric Design Using Dynamics GP, Part 1

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This article is the first part in planning for a KPI design project.

KPI1A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) can help your company understand if your company is on the right track, and if it is not, it can help your company understand where to focus your attention. Love them or hate them, but KPIs might become the backbone of your business. A true definition of a KPI is a metric that is meant to be a measure that truly matters and that ideally can be acted on. KPIs are financial and non-financial metrics used to help a company define and measure their progress toward company goals. A metric can be the number of customers, the number of sales, or total revenue. Once you have defined your business goals, identifying and aligning the KPIs for your business will be easier and simpler. In this article, I will cover the first 5 steps in planning for a successful KPI design project for GP users based on the Designing Metrics and Key Performance Indicators chapter of the Business Dashboards published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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