What is Operational Intelligence & Why do We Need it?

When it comes to making smart decisions, the brightest of bulbs tend to crumble under pressure. This is why school examination tests a student’s ability to not just reproduce data, but apply it in proper context in a limited window of time.

In educational institutes, we’re often taught that there are many different types of intelligence. And it’s certainly no different in the world of business.

Beyond the generic debate of “street smart” versus “book smart”, lies an important business concept of innovation and possibility. While we all know the monumental significance of an effective business intelligence strategy in a data-driven economy, we’re equally indebted to operational intelligence (OI) for its ability to generate value and competition with in-memory computing technology.

But what is OI and how is it different from BI? What’s more important and relevant to your industry?

We spoke with Aneesh Gupta, Director of Centelli to discover the answers to these important questions.

Difference between BI & OI

Also referred to as Business Process Intelligence—but significantly different from BI—operational intelligence is a form of immediate intelligence that enables real-time visibility and insight for quick and executable decisions.

How is this different from business intelligence, you ask?

Unlike BI, OI is not generated over a long span of time, nor does it provide insight for static data sets. Whereas business intelligence identifies long-term trends, operational intelligence focuses exclusively on capturing short-lived business opportunities for on-the-go decision-making.

In other words, BI may be used for budgeting, financial planning, recruitment and product launches (among other things), while OI may be used for more immediate goals like product recommendations, preventing cyber-attacks and detecting system downtime.

Leveraging OI for Optimum Results 

Going over these differences, you can probably see already that both BI and OI have their unique place in the ever-evolving world of business. Having one, by no means, diminishes your need for another, as each targets different areas of growth, sustainability and risk aversion—no matter what your industry.

As more and more organisations prepare for the future with cutting-edge BI analytics software, they’re also realising the importance of timely action and an optimised workforce.

For more information on OI and BI modernisation, get in touch with a data management consultancy that can help you navigate the world of intelligence.

Whether you work in manufacturing or transportation, contact an intelligence expert today and learn how to gain a competitive edge in your industry!