A sample of Power BI reports and dashboards available standard within aec360
Increase Profits with Real-time Analytics for AEC Firms
Navigating Tomorrow: Unveiling Insights from Your Data
Every business generates a wealth of data daily, but the real value lies in how it is collected, managed, and utilized for meaningful management analytics. Effective analytics are not just about understanding what has happened in the past but gaining insights into what may unfold in the future. Historical trend analysis becomes a valuable tool when it can also serve as a predictor, offering a glimpse into future trajectories. This foresight is instrumental in identifying the adjustments needed—whether it is turning dials or pushing buttons—to enhance overall firm profitability.
A common sentiment echoes in our conversations with AEC firms — a sense of being adrift in the sea of management decisions due to a lack of important analytics. The challenge revolves around the absence of timely and integrated data that can be disseminated into valuable business information. In response, many firms are moving toward a solution: a strategic investment in business software platforms that can generate advanced business intelligence. These tools are envisioned not just as providers of timely data but as gateways to integrated analytics, resulting in increased profitability through informed and decisive management choices.
The benefits of investing in business intelligence solutions are shown in the following table from SPI's 2024 report. Organizations that have invested in BI solutions have higher revenue growth, more headcount growth, larger pipelines, and higher profits than their peers who do not invest in these technologies.
Source: SPI Research 2024
Business Intelligence Challenges in the AEC Industry
Without access to quality, real-time data, AEC firms face significant challenges. For example, the firm must gain insights through advanced and predictive analytics to maintain a robust project pipeline and boost win rates. Many AEC firms lack the sophisticated data management and analytical tools to identify opportunities with existing and potential clients. They're unable to analyze risks early in the pursuit process and don't have effective and informed go/no-go decisions.
Maximizing profitability with integrated reporting
The same firms frequently experience suboptimal profitability due to the prevalence of data silos and fragmented reporting. Integrated reporting hinges on gathering, organizing, and analyzing data from multiple sources in real time. With a better data management strategy, the firm can harmonize diverse datasets, enabling a cohesive narrative that reflects the organization's performance. It ensures data accuracy, consistency, and reliability, laying the foundation for meaningful insights and informed decision-making.
The table below shows the benefits of fully integrating a BI tool with all the firm's business applications. If firms can do this, they experience revenue and pipeline growth, improvements in revenue per employee, and greater profitability.
Source: SPI Research 2023
Optimizing financial insights with real-time information
Many firms' current ERP software systems fall short of meeting the intricate needs of the firm's financial managers. This is often due to non-integrated systems and processes and stale, impractical data.
Decision-makers rely on up-to-date information to respond promptly to market changes, customer behaviors, and other dynamic factors. If data is unavailable in real time, key business decisions will be delayed. The absence of real-time information limits the firm's ability to effectively deploy resources, manage time and expenses, bill clients, and manage cash.
Meeting the challenges with aec360: real-time data and analytics yielding measurable results
To tackle these challenges, let's understand how a Microsoft Cloud-based ERP system can help achieve better data integration and usage. Utilizing the powerful Microsoft data and analytics platform, aec360 delivers real-time insights across every aspect of an organization's operations, setting a new standard in responsiveness and adaptability. Using AI and Machine Learning to provide predictive analytics capabilities can streamline financial processes and catalyze more timely decision-making.
With the Microsoft data and analytics platform, aec360 empowers firms to unlock real-time insights across all business dimensions. This not only addresses current challenges but also positions AEC firms at the forefront of technological advancements within the industry, leading to increased profitability and growth.
The impact of real-time reporting on business operations cannot be overstated. As illustrated in SPI's 2024 survey results, the availability of immediate reporting enhances overall financial performance. The findings also reveal a marked increase in client satisfaction and project profit margins, higher revenue per employee, and the firm more reliably reaching its revenue targets.
Source: SPI Research 2024
At the heart of delivering integrated, real-time analytics is proper data management. By seamlessly integrating Microsoft's data and analytics platforms, aec360 ensures that data is not merely collected but utilized strategically. This becomes the cornerstone for fostering informed decision-making and propelling AEC firms toward long-term financial success.
What tools are available to gain the necessary insights?
From traditional reporting and analytics to AI-driven predictive intelligence, aec360 provides a complete set of solutions and services to help your firm unlock critical insights from your data, including:
AEC Focused BI Solution. Quickly deploy our analytics and reporting solutions, including our pre-built KPIs and Power BI content designed to help AEC firms accelerate time-to-value and put real-time insights in the hands of your stakeholders.
Data Lake Strategy and Fabric Architecture. Plan and deploy a best-in-class cloud data management strategy utilizing Microsoft's Azure Data Services, Fabric, and Lakehouse technology. Our experts can help you design and deploy a scalable, high-performing data architecture that puts you back in control of your data.
BI Data Model Development. Building a BI data model with important metrics and slicers is the key to a successful business intelligence strategy. Our aec360 BI developers have built a powerful data model focused on AEC firms. Still, if your firm requires unique data and analytics needs, the Microsoft platform supports data models to produce the information you seek.
BI and Dashboard Development. Put real-time insights in the hands of your key decision-makers by leveraging Power BI's best-in-class dashboard, analytics, and data exploration tools. Our aec360 team has created role-based Power BI content to provide your employees with the information they need to make informed business decisions.
AEC firms depend on data to make important business decisions. You can depend on aec360 to help you manage your data and use it to produce real-time analytics and reporting. Our team will guide you on leveraging the latest data capabilities and help you adopt emerging technologies to turn your data into actionable insights and drive business growth.
Put aec360's advanced data management and analytics to work for your firm. Contact us today for a demonstration.
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