14. BI & Analytics Architectures for Small and Medium Enterprises

^{Markus Begerow}

This paper aims to highlight the upcoming challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the digital age. The starting point for the considerations is the following first section, which describes a review and the status quo on the current initial situation in recent years for SMEs in general. This is followed by a delineation and classification of the current initial situation of SMEs in relation to new topics that are drivers of innovation (Section 14.2). The following section 14.3 looks at the consequences for SMEs of the new innovations. It distinguishes between possible scenarios and approaches to implementation, including weighing the pros and cons. Finally, section 14.4 takes up the previously mentioned arguments and evaluates them in a conclusion with an outlook on the challenges.

14.1 Initial situation

In times of globalization, pandemics, growing markets, ever faster market participants and changing technological trends, the strategic and operational demands on companies are also increasing.

A company that wants to maintain its competitive edge must react quickly to market changes as well as recognize opportunities, minimize risks and costs, and act accordingly. Meaningful information derived from the data available in the company often forms the basis for unerring corporate decisions.

However, the rapid increase in data volumes, especially in recent years, has led to companies finding it almost impossible to manually process and harmonize the information for meaningful, overarching information decisions. This is where business intelligence systems can provide a supporting remedy. With certain tools and corresponding technologies, the departments are supported in the collection, preparation and analysis of existing data. While the topic was mainly of interest and discussion in large companies in recent years, it has now also become very important for SMEs.

However, many SMEs today are also facing other challenges that were rather ticked off as uninteresting a few years ago. The topics of planning and consolidation, for example, are becoming increasingly important. As a consequence of the last financial crisis, banks are now subject to stricter lending guidelines and attach more importance to verifiable variables such as balance sheet ratios or a functioning reporting system in controlling.

A further challenge for SMEs is to continue to exist in the markets already mentioned and to be able to hold their own there. In order to be able to assess market opportunities in the future, market, customer and competitor behaviour must be analysed, evaluated and placed in relation to one's own company and the results interpreted.

The competitive situation has also changed considerably for SMEs as a result of globalisation. Especially regional companies are nowadays more and more in direct competition with globally operating groups. A functioning reporting system can help SMEs to cope with these challenges and speed up a decision considerably. Meaningful reports and good evaluations based on reliable and up-to-date data can serve as a basis for decisions and increase the responsiveness, effectiveness and competitiveness of companies.

In addition to the challenges already mentioned, new issues have now emerged as drivers of innovation that SMEs need to address in order to continue participating in the economy.

14.2New issues as drivers of innovation

This sub-section presents the key business and technological drivers for innovation. In each section, the description of the basic situation is given first. Then, the perspective for SMEs is taken in order to derive possible challenges.

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