This year, we decided to look at the conversion of operational transaction data into actionable insights in real-time or near-real time. We believe that these insights are critical to driving success. Retailers finally understand that PROCESS is important and are moving from a “whatever it takes” mode to something more engineered: process driven by ACTIONABLE INFORMATION. Further, CLOSING THE LOOP between operational systems and BI is important because the “lag time to action” is getting shorter all the time. 

As it turns out, our retail respondents agree. They believe the potential of real-time or near-real-time business intelligence is enormous, but recognize they have a long way to go in realizing that potential.