Everyone Sells: The Value of Business Intelligence in Retail

A recent study by accounting firm BDO Seidman surveyed the largest U.S. public retailers about their risk factors: 90 percent named consolidation and competition; 83 percent cited economic worries; and 79 percent said foreign suppliers. Although competitive and consolidation factors can be minimized through proper application of technology, it's in the third area - managing a supply chain contingent on foreign suppliers - where Business Intelligence (BI) and Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) can add the most immediate value.