Frequently Asked Questions

Business intelligence en dashboards

What is business intelligence?

Business intelligence, often abbreviated as BI, is the process of collecting, combining and visualizing business data so you can make better decisions. Instead of separate Excel files, manual reports or figures from different systems, you get one clear overview of your most important KPIs. Examples include revenue, margin, cash flow, inventory, customer churn, project profitability, transport costs, production efficiency and outstanding invoices. Business intelligence helps you not only look at figures, but above all understand faster where opportunities, risks and deviations exist.

Why does an SME need business intelligence?

Many SMEs already have a lot of data today, but they do not use it enough to manage their business. Data is often spread across ERP, CRM, accounting, Excel, WMS, TMS or other systems. As a result, reporting takes a long time, discussions arise about figures and decisions are still often made based on gut feeling. With business intelligence, you bring that data together in clear dashboards. This gives business owners, CFOs, sales managers, operations managers and other teams faster insight into what is going well, where margin is being lost and where action is needed.

What is the difference between a dashboard and a report?

A report usually shows figures for a fixed period. A dashboard is more interactive and helps you find trends, deviations and causes faster. A good dashboard does not only show what happened, but also helps explain why it happened. For example, why margin is falling, which customers are ordering less, which products are loss-making or which projects are exceeding budget.

Can business intelligence replace Excel?

Business intelligence does not always replace Excel completely, but it does reduce dependency on it. Excel remains useful for ad hoc calculations or temporary analyses, but it is less suitable as the central source for management reporting. With BI, data is retrieved, combined and visualized automatically. This helps you avoid manual copying, multiple versions of the truth and a lot of time lost during monthly reporting.

What are examples of KPIs you can track with BI?

The relevant KPIs depend on your company and sector. Common examples include revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, cash flow, outstanding receivables, inventory value, order intake, delivery reliability, project profitability, trip margin, production efficiency, churn, forecast accuracy and sales by customer or product group. The goal is not to show as many KPIs as possible. The goal is to make the right KPIs visible so you can decide faster and adjust more effectively.

InsightData and the InsightData Apps

What exactly does InsightData do?

InsightData delivers advanced business intelligence Apps that turn raw data into valuable insights. We link existing systems to use that data to support companies in optimizing processes and making data-driven decisions.

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What are InsightData Apps?

InsightData Apps are ready-to-use BI solutions for specific business processes. Each App contains dashboards, data models, KPIs and analyses around a clear theme. Examples include the Finance App, Sales Intelligence App, Sales Pipeline App, Project App, Operations App, Transport App, Supply Chain App, Production App and HR App.

Which InsightData App best suits my company?

That depends on the biggest information need within your organization. If you want better control over P&L, balance sheet, cash flow or consolidation, the Finance App is the most relevant. If you want more grip on revenue, margin, customers, products and sales performance, the Sales Intelligence App is a better fit. For transport companies, the focus is often on trip and customer profitability. For production companies, efficiency, costs, planning and output are important. During an initial conversation, we look at which processes currently need better insights most urgently.

Can multiple Apps be combined?

Yes. The greatest value often arises when multiple business processes are analyzed together. Sales data, for example, can be linked to margin, inventory, planning, cash flow or operational capacity. This allows you to see not only how much is being sold, but also whether those sales are profitable, deliverable and operationally feasible.

Are the Apps standard or fully custom-built?

The Apps start from a fixed, proven structure for each business process. This makes implementation faster, clearer and more affordable than a fully custom BI project. Within that structure, dashboards, KPIs, filters, definitions and data sources are tailored to your company. InsightData is therefore not a blank custom project, but it is not a rigid standard package either.

What types of companies is InsightData intended for?

InsightData is especially relevant for SMEs and growing companies that already have structured data in systems such as ERP, CRM, accounting, WMS, TMS or other business software. Typical customers are companies with multiple departments, many customers, many products, different branches, multiple legal entities or complex operational processes. In such environments, it is often difficult to obtain reliable insights quickly without a BI solution.

Which sectors does InsightData work for?

InsightData works for companies in sectors including wholesale, transport, construction, production, logistics, e-commerce, food, machinery, services and project-driven organizations. The sector often determines which KPIs matter most. A transport company looks at profitability differently from a production company, wholesaler or construction company. That is why the Apps are built around concrete processes and sector-specific information needs.

Integrations with ERP, CRM, and data sources

Which systems can InsightData connect to?

InsightData can connect to different types of systems, such as ERP, CRM, accounting, HR software, TMS, WMS, databases, cloud storage and other data sources. Examples of systems commonly used include Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Odoo, Exact Online, SAP, Salesforce, HubSpot, Teamleader, SQL databases, SharePoint, Snowflake and other business software. Here you will find a more comprehensive overview of existing integrations.

What if my system is not on the list?

If your system is not on the list, that does not automatically mean a connection is impossible. Data can often be retrieved through an API, database connection, export files, SFTP, cloud storage or other technical methods. The first step is to assess where the data is located, how accessible it is, how reliable it is and how often it needs to be refreshed.

Can you work with Excel files?

Yes. Excel can be used as a data source, for example for budgets, targets, corrections, mapping tables or information that is not yet available in a source system. For structural reporting, however, we prefer automatic connections to source systems. This reduces manual work and lowers the risk of errors.

Can multiple data sources be combined?

Yes. That is one of the key benefits of business intelligence. Data from ERP, CRM, accounting, Excel, WMS, TMS or other systems can be combined into one data model. This gives you insights that are often not visible in a single separate system. For example, margin by customer combined with inventory, delivery reliability, outstanding invoices or sales pipeline.

How often are dashboards refreshed?

That depends on the data source and the information need. For management reporting, a daily update is often sufficient. For operational processes, a higher frequency may be needed. During implementation, we determine together which dashboards should be updated daily, several times a day or at another frequency.

Does all data have to be perfect before we can start?

No. In practice, data is rarely perfect. A BI project often makes data quality visible. Errors, missing fields, duplicate customers, inconsistent product groups or unclear definitions become apparent more quickly. That is not a reason not to start. It is often an important benefit, because you finally see where data and processes need improvement.

Implementation and technical operation

How does an InsightData implementation work?

An implementation starts by clarifying the information need. Which decisions do you want to improve? Which KPIs are important? Which data sources are needed? Who will use the dashboards? After that, the data sources are connected, the data is structured and the dashboards are configured. Users then test the insights, and definitions, filters, KPIs and screens are adjusted where necessary.

How long does an implementation take?

The lead time depends on the number of data sources, data quality, the number of Apps, the desired KPIs and the complexity of the organization. Because InsightData starts from existing App structures, implementation is usually faster than a fully custom BI project. The concrete timing is agreed per project based on scope, data availability and testing moments. Typical lead times are 4 to 6 weeks.

Do I need a data warehouse or data lake?

Not necessarily. InsightData can operate with an embedded data warehouse approach, eliminating the need to first establish a large data warehouse project to begin with BI. If your company already has a data warehouse, data lake, or central data layer, InsightData can connect to it.

What is the difference between a data warehouse and the InsightData Apps?

A data warehouse is primarily a technical layer where data is collected, structured, and prepared. An InsightData App does that too and goes further: it also includes dashboards, KPIs, analyses, and business logic for a specific business process. In other words: a data warehouse organizes data. An InsightData App does that too (embedded data warehouse) and makes that data usable for decisions.

Does my company need technical knowledge to use InsightData?

No. The dashboards are intended for business users. Users can filter, drill down and perform analyses without writing technical queries. For technical connections, data models and more complex changes, InsightData provides support during and after implementation.

Who should be involved internally in the implementation?

Ideally, both business and IT are involved. Business determines which questions need to be answered and which KPIs are important. IT or the system administrator helps with access to data sources and technical alignment. For financial reporting, involvement from finance or the CFO is important. For sales dashboards, sales management and the executive team are crucial. For operational dashboards, involvement from operations, planning or logistics is strongly recommended.

What determines the complexity of a BI project?

Complexity is mainly determined by the number of data sources, data quality, the number of entities, the desired KPIs, historical data, the reporting structure and the extent to which definitions are already clear. Building a dashboard is usually not the hardest part. The real challenge lies in reliable data, clear definitions and solid agreements about what each figure means.

Qlik, licenses and existing BI environments

Does InsightData work with Qlik?

Yes. InsightData uses Qlik as the underlying BI technology for the Apps. Qlik makes it possible to combine data from different systems, analyze it interactively and make dashboards available to different users. For the end user, the result matters most: clear dashboards, reliable insights and faster answers to business questions.

What if we already have our own Qlik environment?

If you already have a Qlik environment, InsightData Apps can integrate with it. Licenses, management, access rights, data models, and responsibilities must be clearly aligned. For companies already working with Qlik, this can be an interesting way to quickly derive additional business value from their existing environment.

Do we need separate Qlik licenses?

Qlik technology is included in the InsightData apps, so no separate licenses are required.

What is the difference between InsightData and Power BI, Tableau or Qlik?

Power BI, Tableau and Qlik are BI platforms. InsightData delivers business intelligence Apps on top of a BI technology. The difference is therefore not only about creating charts or dashboards. InsightData provides prebuilt data models, KPIs, dashboards, implementation knowledge and process insights. This means you do not have to build everything from scratch. Read more about the InsightData business intelligence concept.

Can the apps also be used without Qlik?

Qlik technology is integrated into InsigthData apps, and if you don't have your own Qlik licenses, it's always included in the price of the apps.

Security, privacy and reliability

How secure is our data with InsightData?

Data security is an important part of every BI project. InsightData works with controlled access, roles and permissions so users only see the information they are authorized to access. During implementation, agreements are made about users, access rights, data sources and responsibilities. This keeps it clear who has access to which data.

Where is our data stored?

InsightData works in a cloud-oriented way and uses Qlik Sense SaaS as the BI platform. The exact technical setup depends on the chosen solution, the data sources and the customer environment. What matters is that data is not simply managed locally on personal devices. Access, storage and processing are aligned within the agreed technical and contractual setup.

Who has access to our dashboards?

Access is configured based on roles and user rights. Not every user needs to see every dashboard or all data. Finance, sales, operations, HR and management can each receive different permissions. This is especially important when sensitive information such as salaries, margins, customer data or financial results is available in dashboards.

Is InsightData GDPR compliant?

InsightData works according to GDPR principles and aligns the processing of customer data with the customer both contractually and technically. This includes access, roles, security, processors, sub-processors and retention periods. The concrete agreements are documented in the collaboration and depend on the data, systems and chosen solution.

What happens if data is incorrect or incomplete?

A BI project makes data quality visible. If data is missing, coded incorrectly or used inconsistently, this often becomes clear quickly. That is usually not a disadvantage, but an advantage. The company gains insight into where processes, definitions or registrations need improvement. During implementation, these points are reviewed together and solved where possible. Also read Incomplete data? That's why you still need to do analyses!

Can users export data?

That depends on the configured permissions and the chosen setup. In some cases, export to Excel or PDF is useful, for example for reporting or further analysis. In other cases, exports are limited to maintain control over sensitive data. During implementation, we agree which users receive which capabilities.

Support, Training and Collaboration

What support do we get after implementation?

After implementation, InsightData remains available for support, follow-up and further optimization. Customers can ask questions about dashboards, data, definitions, technical operation or extensions. Depending on the collaboration, a fixed contact person who knows the customer and the solution can be assigned.

Do users receive training?

Yes. Users receive guidance on how to use dashboards, apply filters, interpret figures and perform analyses. The training is mainly focused on practical use. The goal is for users to quickly find answers independently to their daily business questions.

Can dashboards be adjusted later?

Yes. Companies change, and dashboards need to evolve with them. New KPIs, additional data sources, changed reporting structures, extra users or new filters can be added later. Larger extensions are reviewed separately so scope, timing and budget remain clear.

Can we create our own analyses?

Yes, depending on the chosen setup, users can filter, make selections, explore data and perform analyses within the available dashboards. The goal is that users do not have to request a new report for every additional question, but can find insights faster themselves.

What if we have new questions after go-live?

That is normal. New questions often arise precisely when dashboards are actively used. Better insights lead to new insights, additional analyses and sharper KPIs. That is why follow-up after go-live is important. It allows the solution to keep growing with the needs of the company.

Cost, ROI, and suitability

What does business intelligence cost at InsightData?

The cost depends on the number of Apps, data sources, users, connections, implementation complexity and desired support. InsightData works with a combination of implementation and subscription. During a proposal, it is made clear which scope is included, which data sources will be connected and which dashboards or Apps will be delivered.

Why does InsightData work with a subscription?

A BI solution is not a one-off document or static report. Data must keep refreshing, dashboards must remain available, users need support and companies evolve. The subscription ensures that the solution continues to run, is maintained and can keep growing with the organization.

When does a BI solution pay for itself?

Business intelligence pays for itself when decisions are made faster, better and more consistently. Think of less time lost in reporting, faster visibility into margin decline, better cash flow monitoring, fewer incorrect Excel reports, better inventory decisions or faster action on loss-making customers, products or projects. The ROI is often not only in time savings, but especially in better decisions.

Which companies is InsightData less suitable for?

InsightData is less suitable for companies without structured data, without a clear reporting need or without willingness to sharpen processes and definitions. If very little data is available or systems are not used as intended, the basics must be put in order first. BI can make a lot visible, but it cannot fully solve missing or incorrectly entered data.

How do we know whether our organization is ready for BI?

Your organization is ready for BI when sufficient usable data is available in systems such as ERP, CRM, accounting, WMS, TMS or other business software, and when management needs better insights than Excel or standard reports can provide. Typical signals include monthly reporting taking too long, discussions about figures, limited margin insights, a lot of manual work, unclear KPIs or teams each working with their own reports.

Do we first need to optimize all our processes before starting with BI?

No. BI can actually help discover where processes need improvement. You do not have to wait until everything is perfect. However, it is important that there is enough willingness to clarify definitions, data and reporting together. Without that willingness, BI remains too much of a technical exercise.

Is InsightData mainly suitable for large companies?

No. InsightData is specifically intended for SMEs and growing companies that need professional insights without building a large internal BI team. Larger companies often have their own data departments. Many SMEs have complex processes and a lot of data, but lack the time, people or technical knowledge to build dashboards and data models themselves.

Concrete situations and use cases

We have a lot of revenue, but do not know where our margin disappears. Can InsightData help?

Yes. This is a typical question for the Sales Intelligence App or Finance App. By looking at revenue and margin by customer, product, salesperson, region, channel or period, it becomes clearer where margin is under pressure. This allows you to act more specifically on pricing, discounts, product mix, customer agreements or commercial focus.

We lose a lot of time on monthly reporting. Can InsightData reduce this?

Yes. When reporting today is heavily dependent on Excel, exports and manual checks, InsightData can save a lot of time. Data is retrieved automatically and dashboards are made structurally available. This shifts the focus from creating reports to interpreting figures and making decisions.

We have multiple legal entities. Can InsightData help?

Yes. For groups with multiple legal entities, InsightData can help bring financial and operational data together. Think of consolidated reporting, comparisons between entities, intercompany insights and group dashboards. This is especially valuable when reporting is currently spread across different systems or Excel files.

We have many products and customers. Can InsightData help?

Yes. The more customers, products, price lists, regions or sales channels you have, the harder it becomes to maintain insight manually. InsightData helps make patterns visible. Which products are growing? Which customers are ordering less? Where is margin falling? Which product groups are profitable? Which customer and product combinations need extra attention?

We want to rely less on gut feeling. Is BI the right step?

Yes, provided that enough usable data is available and management is willing to base decisions more on figures. BI does not replace experience or entrepreneurship. It strengthens them. Good dashboards make discussions more concrete and ensure that decisions depend less on loose interpretations.

Get started with InsightData

How do we start with InsightData?

A collaboration usually starts with an exploratory conversation. In that conversation, we look at which insights you currently lack, which systems you use, which reporting takes a lot of time and where the biggest opportunities are. After that, we can determine which App or combination of Apps best fits your company.

What information do you need for an initial estimate?

For an initial estimate, it is especially useful to know which systems you use, which reports are important today, which KPIs you want to track and where you currently lose time or insight. It also helps to know how many entities, users, data sources and business processes are involved.

Can we start small?

Yes. It is often wise to start with one clear process or one App, for example Finance, Sales Intelligence or Operations. Afterwards, the solution can be expanded with additional data sources, dashboards or Apps. This keeps the first step manageable and creates value faster.

How do we know which first step makes the most sense?

The best first step is usually the domain where the combination of pain, data quality and business impact is greatest. If monthly reporting takes a lot of time, finance is often a logical starting point. If margin is under pressure, sales intelligence makes sense. If operational planning and execution are difficult to monitor, operations or supply chain may be the right start.

Can we see a demo first?

Yes. A demo helps you see concretely how InsightData works and which insights are possible. During a demo, it is best not only to look at screens, but especially at the questions your company wants to answer. A good BI demo therefore starts not from charts, but from decisions that need to be made better.

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