The “avoidance principle.” We all do it. Well…most of us anyway. We know something needs to be fixed or updated – but the hassle of change and uncertainty of the outcome prevent action. Rather than get stuck in analysis paralysis, we instead incorporate workarounds to overcome the challenges that may seem easier in the moment, but in the long run – they cause more inefficiencies and potential harm to the business than we realize.
Your Acumatica ERP system comes with reporting features – but how do you know when you’ve outgrown the built-in capabilities? And what is the downside to utilizing workarounds instead of making the move to a better Business Intelligence & Reporting solution?
Sign #1: Reports take forever to run.
Workaround: Run them at night.
Downside: Decisions are made based on outdated information, limiting timely responsiveness.
Sign #2: Users can’t customize reports themselves.
Workaround: Rely on IT or developers to make changes.
Downside: Weeks or months pass before updates are implemented, leaving management without timely insights.
Sign #3: Difficulty in manipulating and optimizing data.
Workaround: Create numerous Excel spreadsheets.
Harm: Excessive spreadsheets become a maintenance nightmare, increasing the risk of errors and inaccurate information/faulty decision making.
Sign #4: Only managers have access to reports and make key decisions.
Workaround: Managers review reports and selectively share information with their teams.
Downside: Decision-making bottlenecks occur. Managers are overloaded, and staff members remain uninformed and unable to contribute effectively.
Sign #5: Extracting meaningful and consistent metrics takes too long.
Workaround: Employees spend excessive time reviewing, comparing, and consolidating data.
Downside: Managers are forced to make decisions based on guesswork rather than accurate insights. Wasted time and increased risk of falling behind competitors who leverage modern, automated solutions.
The appeal of these workarounds is temporary. Over time, they create more harm than good, leading to inefficiencies, lost opportunities, and poor decision-making. If it is time for more substantial reporting and analytics, keep these key points in mind:
- Speed Matters. Every report and dashboard should load in under 10 seconds.
- Ease of Use. Reports should be user-friendly and customizable without requiring extensive training or technical expertise.
- Dynamic Data Access. Users should be able to effortlessly access and manipulate live business data.
- Insight for Everyone. Business analytics should empower all levels of the organization, from frontline employees to executives.
- A Single Source of Truth. Metrics should be centrally defined to highlight key performance indicators, anomalies, and outliers, enabling more strategic decision-making.
- Technology Evolution. Staying competitive requires leveraging modern solutions, falling behind in technology could mean falling behind your competitors.
DataSelf Analytics seamlessly integrates with your Acumatica ERP to transform your decision-making process and boost profitability. When it comes to making the best possible decisions for your business, some improvements are worth prioritizing – and accurate data, reporting and analytics are critical to success.
