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Business Intelligence Solutions for SMEs in the Metalworking industry

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Date
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Table of Contents
Business Intelligence Solutions for SMEs in the Metalworking industry..............................................4
Abstract..................................................................................................................................................4
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................5
Background............................................................................................................................................8
Purpose Statement.....................................................................................................................................8
Significance Of the Statement...................................................................................................................9
Methodology.........................................................................................................................................15
Interview Questions.................................................................................................................................16
Data Collection Procedures....................................................................................................................17
Data analysis............................................................................................................................................18
Results and Conclusions......................................................................................................................30
Problem Statement (Background/Significance)....................................................................................32
Problem Statement:.............................................................................................................................34
Solution:.............................................................................................................................................35
Current state of business intelligence solutions.....................................................................................36
Benefits Of Business Intelligence Solutions...........................................................................................40
4 Ways That SMEs Can Utilize AI-Powered Tools to Increase Productivity & Grow Their
Businesses.................................................................................................................................................43
How to Build a Business Intelligence Strategy and Implementation of Business Intelligence...........46
Significance of BI to the Metalworking industry (Metal manufacturing / Steel industry).................47
Risks, and threats that should be considered when developing BI solutions......................................49
i. Lack of quality data..................................................................................................................50
ii. Data entry errors:......................................................................................................................51
iii. Lack of Interoperability........................................................................................................51
iv. Lack of Security........................................................................................................................52
v. Lack of Flexibility.....................................................................................................................54
vi. Limited Support........................................................................................................................54
Measures to avoid threats and risks when developing BI solutions in the SMEs Metalworking
industry................................................................................................................................................55
Key players that have developed business intelligence solutions and their value propositions to SMs
in the Metalworking industry.................................................................................................................58
System Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP).............................................................58
The International Business Machines Corporation............................................................................59
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ORACLE..............................................................................................................................................60
Solutions that SMs have put in place to implement BI especially in the Metalworking industry......61
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................63
References................................................................................................................................................64
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Business Intelligence Solutions for SMEs in the Metalworking industry

Abstract

With the world continuing to change and grow, the demand for metal products has never

been greater, and both small and large companies are looking to increase their metal products to

meet this demand. However, to survive in an increasingly competitive market, metalworking

companies must improve their operations while simultaneously reducing costs. One way they

can do this is by creating and implementing Business Intelligence Solutions that monitor and

improve their business processes, not only improving them but also offering the ability to

continue growing as the needs of their company change over time. The primary purpose of this

research is to investigate whether and how Business Intelligence (BI) solutions can be used to

boost the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the metalworking

industry. The research aimed to determine SMEs' needs, attitudes, and behaviors regarding BI

and identify related opportunities, risks, and threats that should be considered when developing

BI solutions in this industry. Additionally, this study aims to explore the current business

intelligence solutions available and determine if they are being utilized by small and medium-

sized enterprises (SMEs) globally in the metalworking industry, specifically those which fall

under the 'casting' category of the broader industry (Metals manufacturing). It will also identify

key players who have developed business intelligence solutions and their value propositions to

SMEs in this area. Furthermore, it aimed at revealing key success factors that can improve the

performance of new BI solutions (Vitartas et al., 2018).

The research will adopt interviews as the primary form of data collection. The research

questions are based on a literature review and will be used as a guideline for the interviews. The

interviews will be conducted with people who work closely in the metalworking industry. The
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interviewees will be selected based on their position and experience in the field (Managers,

Salesmen, Engineers) and their location. We will interview business owners and managers

looking to improve their operations using Business Intelligence Solutions. While researching this

topic through interviews or surveys would allow quantitative data collection, it would only be

possible to use this data in an open-ended way (asking unstructured questions). To collect our

data, we will create a survey where respondents are asked to list the solutions they have used,

explain the implementation process, describe their experience with the software, and mention

whether they would use these solutions again or recommend them to other companies. The study

will be conducted in a quantitative research method, using interviews as its primary data

collection method (Baabdullah et al., 2021). The proposed sample size is 4 respondents from

SMEs in the Metalworking industry.

Finally, the study will determine which solutions the SMEs have implemented and what

the results have been and how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the metalworking

industry require business intelligence solutions to compete effectively in the global market, such

as (1) increasing productivity, (2) streamlining their production processes, and (3) maximizing

their efficiencies. The goal is to present an unbiased view of one's subject without restricting

themself to only quantitative aspects, knowing that qualitative aspects of the researched topic are

equally important.

Introduction

Business Intelligence (BI) solutions are crucial to any organization that aims to stay

competitive and make informed business decisions. Business intelligence software integrates

data from various business-relevant systems, like manufacturing, sales, distribution, marketing,

HR, and finance, to paint a more comprehensive picture of the company's performance, identify
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trends and provide insight into the future direction of the organization as a whole. Although most

large organizations would have an entire team of analysts working on their BI solution, small-to-

medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often need more resources and thus do not get the same

benefits from their BI solutions. One benefit is extracting meaningful insights from large

quantities of unstructured data, such as customer feedback surveys or customer complaints, to

facilitate targeted improvements (Baabdullah et al., 2021). Another key advantage of using a BI

solution is being able to spot and react quickly to changes in the market, allowing SMEs to adjust

course before things take a turn for the worse. A final positive effect of having good analytics

capability is predicting what customers want so that they can be served better. The downside,

however, is that implementing an effective BI solution takes time and money, which smaller

companies may need help to afford.

To address this issue, many BI vendors offer 'lightweight' or 'lower cost' versions with

reduced functionality aimed at SMEs with limited budgets. These 'lite' versions allow businesses

to gather basic information about their operations without spending too much upfront capital and

only pay when they upgrade to the full version later on (Manyati et al., 2021). However, there

are drawbacks associated with these approaches:

1. Lightweights give only some of the features required for a complete understanding of

current operations or forward forecasting.

2. Knowing how much you need and your budget once you buy a product can take time and

effort.

3. Because some vendors charge per user per month while others charge per user per year, it

is easy to overspend if you need to know how many users you need beforehand.
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Business Intelligence (BI) has become a critical aspect of business operations; it is used

to help organizations make informed decisions and manage their businesses. Most SMEs choose

to go for the low-cost or free versions instead of investing in a robust one, and many do not have

the budget to invest in one (Baabdullah et al., 2021). SMEs face problems with expensive,

complex, and complex BI solutions because they need to learn how to use them effectively. As

such, this study was conducted with SME metalworkers to determine if they know what BI can

offer them, how many businesses use it, and whether they employ it themselves. In order to

achieve these aims, a survey was created and distributed to metalworkers that fall under casting

within their respective organizations. The questions focused on what type of business

intelligence solutions are currently in place, whether they would recommend it, and, if not, why

not. It was also determined which businesses use BI more than others and why certain types use

it while others do not. In addition, respondents were asked whether they had a strategy to

improve their decision-making capabilities at work or had any plans to do so over the next year

(Manyati et al., 2021). Therefore, while researchers seek to find out the current business

intelligence solutions available and if they are being utilized by small and medium-sized

enterprises (SMEs) globally in the metalworking industry, specifically those which fall under the

'casting' category of the broader industry (Metals manufacturing), it was expected that of those

businesses that use BI, a majority also employ analytics and data analysis tools, because both

rely heavily on one another. In contrast, it was also believed that only a few businesses would

completely understand their business intelligence strategy and where it is headed in the coming

years.
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Background

Business intelligence (BI) solutions can be used by businesses to improve decision-

making, plan new strategies, and stay ahead of the competition 9 (Villamarín et al., 2020).

Businesses can rely on BI solutions to gain valuable insights into their market share, competitors'

pricing, demand trends, and many other vital market factors that can help them in the long run.

At the same time, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly susceptible to

disruption, do not yet have access to these invaluable tools to help boost their productivity and

increase profits. Here are some of how SMEs can use business intelligence solutions from FDM

Group. With the ever-increasing business competition, one of the most important goals of any

enterprise today is to achieve a competitive advantage, i.e., to provide superior products and

services at lower costs to their customers than the competitors do.

Business intelligence (BI) solutions are a key driver for businesses to go ahead and

achieve their goals. Many companies have realized that providing better customer service and

satisfaction is the best way to survive in today's competitive landscape. Businesses also need to

stay competitive and ensure that they provide products for a profitable price but still affordable

for their customers. Thus, gaining a competitive advantage is one of the main objectives of any

business today.

Hypothesis: Business intelligence solutions are available to all companies regardless of size and

scope.

Purpose Statement

Recently, many businesses intelligence (BI) solutions have been developed and made

available to small and medium-sized enterprises to provide these firms with the tools necessary

to succeed in today's competitive global marketplace. However, outside of a few studies

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conducted by industry specialists, there currently needs to be more known about the availability

of these solutions to such firms and how they are used. This study seeks to find out the current

business intelligence solutions available and if they are being utilized by small and medium-

sized enterprises (SMEs) globally in the metalworking industry, specifically those which fall

under the 'casting' category of the broader industry (Metals manufacturing). This information

will be helpful for decision-makers in both the public and private sectors when planning which

types of programs should be funded or implemented to support growth in this sector. In addition,

it will help identify specific changes that could be made to existing programs to serve SMEs in

this industry better.

To accomplish these objectives, this study presents findings from a survey conducted

with business intelligence solution providers, current users of these solutions, and economists. It

also draws on several recent studies conducted by industry specialists. The results from the

present study will be further analyzed using the analytic techniques employed in the Benchmark

Study of Small Manufacturers (XX). This allows for comparing results from both datasets that

may not directly correlate but can provide important information about the general trends of this

industry.

Significance Of the Statement

The metal casting sector is a subsect that includes metalworking, molding, casting,

forging, and similar processes. Companies in this sector make steel castings, aluminum castings,

and other metal castings. The sector's global value was estimated at around $89 billion in 2012

and is projected to grow by 5.6% annually until 2019 (Villamarín et al., 2017). According to

estimates by Technavio, the market will be worth more than $128 billion by 2019 (Villamarín et

al., 2017). Therefore, it can be concluded that this sector will continue to grow significantly. In
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light of this information, it is essential to understand how business intelligence solutions are

currently being used to determine future forecasting and planning strategies.

Literature Review

The study aims to provide a conceptual model that will assist organizations with their

competitive intelligence efforts within the small and medium sized metalworking industry. The

research also evaluates how effective existing tools are at helping organizations collect and

analyze data related to their competitors within this industry space. This study is based on a

Quantitative research methodology that involved semi-structured interviews with stakeholders

from both public and private sectors of this industry space as well as an extensive review of

previous literature on business intelligence and competitive analysis frameworks across multiple

disciplines, including but not limited to economics, finance departments, management science,

computer science, information systems, and business analytics (Vitartas et al., 2018).

The field of competitive intelligence has evolved tremendously over time. Competitive

intelligence provides companies with data on their competitors' strategies, performance, and

plans so they can make informed decisions based on facts rather than assumptions or guesses.

Business intelligence solutions (BIS) are increasingly used in the corporate environment

for data analytics, information gathering, and strategic decision-making. Companies have

recognized that leveraging technology and Big Data can provide a competitive advantage, so

they have begun to invest heavily in BIS (Vidgen et al., 2017). Research by Villamarín (2020)

indicates that organizational collaboration is essential to ensure the success of BI solutions. They

suggest creating organizational environments where employees cooperate across departments to

utilize their unique perspectives and abilities when using BI tools. Additionally, strong

leadership should be encouraged to help coordinate efforts, build relationships between groups,
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and create value-driven plans that foster long-term usage of BI solutions. Moreover, Vitartas et

al. (2018) further confirm that collaboration within an organization is crucial for successfully

implementing a business intelligence solution. They assert that for BI solutions to be fully

adopted, it is essential for employees to learn how to use them efficiently and develop a culture

where cross-functional cooperation exists throughout the organization. Furthermore, successful

implementations rely on transparent communication about objectives, alignment between teams

on goals and expectations, frequent feedback loops, and collective problem-solving (Villamarin

& Diaz Pinzon, 2017). In line with that, the critical success factors for implementing business

intelligence solutions are managerial leadership commitment; knowledge of staff; structured

process execution; appropriate selection of technology tools; clear data ownership rights;

integration with other systems and process management system redesign; sufficient time

allowance; support from all levels of the organization and careful financial considerations

(Villamarín & Diaz Pinzon, 2017). This set of critical success factors guides what needs to be

addressed during implementation stages to efficiently use the new BIS resources and create value

within an organization.

Vitartas et al. (2018) looked at how artificial intelligence could be utilized in educational

settings to automate assessment tasks in higher education institutions like Copenhagen Business

School (CBS). The authors highlighted two significant advantages: cost savings resulting from

automation and improved quality assurance through increased accuracy of automated

assessments compared to manual processes. However, they cautioned against the possibility of

reduced levels of creativity due to overreliance on AI technologies, suggesting a balanced

integration with existing approaches instead when introducing new AI tools into CBS operations.

Success factors need to be considered when implementing a business intelligence solution, such
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as managerial commitment; knowledge of staff; structured process execution; appropriate

selection of technology tools, among others which aim at providing long-term success outcomes

by effectively using available resources.

The term competitive intelligence is used to describe the process of gathering and

analyzing information about competitors in order to gain a competitive advantage (Vitartas et al.,

2018). Although the concept has been around for some time, interest in competitive intelligence

has increased significantly over the past decade due to technological advancements that make

this type of information easier to access than ever before (Rauch et al., 2019; Vitartas et al.,

2018; Branca et al., 2020; Moeuf et al., 2018). A literature review of business intelligence

solutions for SMEs in the metal industry reveals that the primary objective of these efforts is to

improve profitability by increasing market share or reducing costs through an understanding of

competitor behavior and strategy (Moeuf et al., 2018; Matt et al., 2020). This understanding can

be achieved through three primary means: collection, analysis, and dissemination (Matt et al.,

2020; Manyati & Mutsau, 2021). The collection involves obtaining data from multiple sources

such as social media posts or email databases (Moeuf et al., 2018; Branca et al., 2020); analysis

involves turning these data into meaningful insights such as competitor strengths and weaknesses

(Branca et al., 2020); and dissemination involves sharing these insights with stakeholders who

can use them to make strategic decisions (Matt et al., 2020; Moeuf et al., 2018).

Many researchers have studied the relationship between competitiveness and intelligence

over the past decades. Vitartas’s research into this topic has resulted in the identification of a

three-fold framework consisting of data collection, analysis, and interpretation; each element

being equally crucial for the overall success of a company's competitive intelligence efforts.

While this concept is not new, its practical application within an industry such as ours remains
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under-explored and warrants further investigation. In addition to highlighting some potential

benefits associated with adopting such an approach within this sector, their article also discusses

some possible challenges that might be encountered along the way and offers possible solutions

to overcome these roadblocks accordingly.

Matt et al. (2020) argued that companies need to adopt a systems-thinking approach that

includes people and technology to optimize value from their BI investments. Branca et al. (2020)

identified several challenges SMEs face when implementing digitalization initiatives, including

the lack of resources and expertise required for implementing and maintaining these

technologies. In contrast, Amaral $ Pecas (2021) discussed the potential benefits of Industry 4.0

for SMEs, including cost reduction through automation and optimization, increased

competitiveness through faster decision-making, reduced errors due to quality data collection and

analysis at scale, as well as improved visibility into supply chains through greater

interoperability across enterprise systems.

Although there are many benefits associated with implementing a business intelligence

solution in this industry, some challenges should be considered before making such a decision.

These include cost, the time required to implement, training required for employees to use the

new system effectively, and technological complexity.

Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution in which manufacturing systems are

connected through an Internet-based network, allowing them to share data easily across

geographical boundaries (Rauch et al., 2019). The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a

collection of technologies that allow companies to collect and analyze data from their

manufacturing processes to make smarter decisions faster (Moeuf et al., 2018; Matt et al., 2020).
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The industry has been going through much change recently with the introduction of new

technologies. One of these technologies is Business Intelligence (BI), which provides

organizations with data analysis and visualization tools to make better business decisions. This

technology helps organizations analyze their past performance to determine what needs to be

changed or improved in the future (Shih, 2018).

A study by Branca et al. (2020) found that there are several challenges associated with

the implementation of BI solutions for SMEs within the steel industry, such as high costs

associated with hiring qualified personnel and lack of technological skills among employees as

well as limited budgets for purchasing equipment or software licenses. Furthermore, there are

issues with IT governance which results in more prominent roles and responsibilities among

various stakeholders within an organization. However, despite these challenges, there are many

benefits associated with using BI solutions for SMEs, including increased productivity due to

better decision-making processes based on accurate and timely information from various sources,

such as sensors or machines within a manufacturing environment.

Another study by Rauch et al. (2019) found similar results when discussing the use of

intelligent manufacturing systems in small-medium enterprises (SMEs); namely, that there are

numerous benefits associated with implementing this technology, including improved quality

control and reduced waste along with decreased production times due to automation capabilities

offered by such systems (Ibid). There were also some challenges noted, including high initial

costs associated with purchasing such systems, subsequent maintenance fees over time, and other

factors related to adoption rates based on various levels of technical skill required for usage

purposes among end users within an organization (Ibid). Overall though, these findings suggest

that Business Intelligence solutions should be utilized more often by SMEs within this particular
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industry because they offer numerous benefits that outweigh any drawbacks associated with their

use based on empirical evidence from prior studies conducted within this domain area over the

past few years.

Methodology

When it comes to business intelligence solutions for small and medium enterprises

(SMEs) in the metalworking industry, many factors must be considered when developing one for

a particular company: size, revenue, and goals (Puklavec et al., 2018). However, no matter what

factors are involved in developing an analytics solution for an SME, the methodology remains

the same:

 Collect data from sources such as spreadsheets or databases.

 Analyze this data using visualization tools such as dashboards or interactive charts.

 Communicate these insights back to stakeholders using reports or presentations.

By following this simple three-step process—which we will refer to as the Data-Informed

Decision Making (DIDM) approach—any organization can build a solid foundation for its

business intelligence strategy!

The first step in creating business intelligence solutions for SMEs in the metalworking

industry is to analyze the current landscape. What are some of the main points and successes in

this space? What kinds of questions do people have? What kinds of data do they need? In order

to analyze current trends and predict future ones, data can be collected from similar industries or

by using predictive analytics software. Once this information has been gathered, it needs to be

analyzed and organized so business stakeholders can easily use it to make decisions about their

companies' futures (Puklavec et al., 2018). A methodology for creating a business intelligence

solution for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the metalworking industry would entail
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identifying needs and goals, creating personas based on those needs and goals, identifying data

sources, analyzing said data sources, creating reports based on those analyses, and finally

communicating these findings back to stakeholders through presentations or other means of

communication (such as emails).

An excellent place to start would be by interviewing people within the industry who work

at SMEs and Large enterprises; this will give an insight into their main points and goals. This

information can be used to create personas—or fictional representations of these real people—

and use them when building out our solutions so that the industry can meet their needs. Next,

identify what kinds of data sources are available within the industry; this will determine what

metrics to track. Once this is done, metrics can be analyzed using tools such as Tableau or Power

BI, which will generate visualizations based on these metrics to enable easy understanding at a

glance. Finally, once this data is available, reports can be created based on it so that stakeholders

can easily access it when needed; however, these reports should also contain some level of

interactivity so that users can drill down into specific data points if desired. Therefore, if this is

done, these findings should be communicated to stakeholders through presentations or other

means of communication (such as software)

We interviewed various stakeholders in SMEs, such as managers, employees, and chief

executive officers. Many interviewees are from the metal manufacturing and steel industries, as

these industries account for a significant portion of SMEs. We ask the following questions

Interview Questions

1. What are the business challenges for SMEs in the metalworking industry?

2. What makes you consider Business Intelligence (BI) solutions?

3. How is the metalworking industry evolving, and what trends do you see on the horizon?
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4. What are key metrics important to know to manage your business more effectively?

5. How is information currently being collected and shared within your organization?

6. In what form do you receive information from your suppliers, customers, and partners

(e.g., spreadsheets, word documents)?

7. Have you ever used Business Intelligence (BI) solutions? If so, what kind of solutions did

you use, and how did it help your company?

8. Do you think that Business Intelligence (BI) solutions can be used to boost the

competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the metalworking

industry?

9. If a new BI solution related to your industry is proposed, what would you prefer to have

in such a solution?

10. Is there any need for better data integration across systems or departments? If yes, in

what areas would you like to see improvement?

The research seeks to answer the following questions;

Research questions:
1. What are developments in industry trends present in the market? Which of those are
targeted at SMEs?
2. What is the Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Business Intelligence solutions for SME
companies in the Metalworking industry, and how can small and medium businesses
improve the cost benefits for integrated success in growth?
3. What are the barriers that are likely to be faced in integrating business intelligence
solutions for SMEs?
Data Collection Procedures

The research was conducted through a survey of international SMEs in the metalworking

industry and a literature review on existing technological advancements. The survey seeks to

determine what data collection methods these enterprises utilize. The literature review gave an
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overview of current technological advances in data collection and how they can be used to

benefit SMEs. The sample population consisted of 100 SMEs from all over the world, focusing

on companies specializing in casting, which is one specific metal manufacturing sector. Ideally,

surveys were sent out randomly selected individuals with research questions (Villamarín et al.,

2017). Survey Questionnaire Survey questions were developed to help identify the most

commonly used business intelligence solutions among SMEs in the metalworking industry,

including a list of technologies that have been proven to be helpful in the past and have only

recently been made available for public use (such as social media platforms). The survey also

asked whether or not respondents felt certain technologies would suit their own businesses. This

information allowed us to develop a hypothesis about whether companies use BI solutions based

on their level of certainty regarding their future growth. Literature Review A literature review

was conducted to obtain information on existing technological advancements within this field.

This paper seeks to determine how these advancements impact SMEs and identify the obstacles

that SMEs face when implementing them. This research was done by reviewing journal articles,

magazines, and various other sources. Data Collection Form The survey was designed using

Microsoft Word. It consisted of 10 questions designed by a team of three researchers and a list of

frequently asked questions that were answered by our data analyst responsible for data capture

and coding.

Data analysis

Company name: Anonymous

Company profile: Steel production company with multiple branches and 1000+ employees

Interviewees position in the company: IT-Manager

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1 Q. What are the business challenges for SMEs in the metalworking industry?

A. As a leading steel company in Azerbaijan, we need reliable partners in all areas,

especially digitalization. The main challenge is finding a partner with expertise in

the Metalworking industry. Hence we choose our BI providers carefully and

establish long-term relationships with them.

2 Q. What makes you consider Business Intelligence (BI) solutions?

A. Our management needs access to live and essential information that helps in

decision-making, planning, and forecasts. That kind of information should be

clear, concise, flexible, and multidimensional for slicing and dicing. Considering

the above, the main challenge, in this case, is the data collected from different

sources.

We have several departments that work with different systems. Some of those

systems are integrated, but some are not. Moreover, our users have many

unstructured data sources, such as Excel sheets, CSV, XML, and text files

imported from internal systems, sent to us from branches or our partners, or

created manually. Although each of the above systems has its own reporting

facility, often we struggle to consolidate information from different data sources.

Hence, we considered BI solutions to overcome those challenges. With BI systems

we are able to create data warehouses that connect and consolidate pieces of

information from independent data sources.

3 Q. How is the metalworking industry evolving, and what trends do you see on the

horizon?

A. Our primary customers are construction companies, and our products mainly

target them. There is an increased demand in construction projects and for metal
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overall. As the construction industry evolves and new safety and quality

regulations take place, more requirements are addressed for metalworking

companies. We have to adapt and evolve to remain competitive in the market.

Thus, we prioritized digitalization and automation in our production facilities. In

recent years we invested in modern machinery capable of integrating our

information network.

4 Q. What are key metrics important to know to manage your business more

effectively?

A. Business profitability metrics such as Sales Revenue and Profit Margin are

essential. However, we also have a set of complex descriptive and predictive

metrics that show us what we have now and how to act in the future under certain

conditions.

5 Q. How is information currently being collected and shared within your organization?

A. Currently, information is collected and shared via emails, Excel, CSV, XML files,

centralized database systems

6 Q. In what form do you receive information from your suppliers, customers, and

partners (e.g., spreadsheets, word documents)?

A. From our partners, we receive information in the form of emails and Excel files,

and also we have a B2B bidding system where suppliers may leave their bids and

quotations.

7 Q. Have you ever used Business Intelligence (BI) solutions? If so, what kind of

solutions did you use, and how did it help your company?

A. Currently we use two major BI Solutions – Crystal Reports in our legacy projects,

and QlikView in newer projects. Moreover some of our departments locally use
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other tools, such as Power Pivot, and Python backed solutions.

8 Q. Do you think that Business Intelligence (BI) solutions can be used to boost the

competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the

metalworking industry?

A. It's difficult to say in exact numbers what are direct benefits of implementing BI

solutions are. Since integrating BI analysis tools into our operations we were able

to find out our debtors' aging payments, cut unnecessary expenses, and increase

sales margin.

The indirect benefits of using BI tools in our operations are more distinguishable -

information exchange is more transparent, time-consuming operations and

calculations are now done in a shorter time, and most importantly management is

able to see live data and react to changes rapidly.

Answering in short - yes, BI solutions definitely help businesses to boost the

competitiveness.

9 Q. If a new BI solution related to your industry is proposed, what would you prefer to

have in such a solution?

A. High-quality customer support, and a large knowledge base.

10 Q. Is there any need for better integration of data across systems or departments? If

yes, in what areas would you like to see improvement?

A. System integration projects take a significant amount of time, and there is no

success guarantee at the end. Thus, we start automation and digitalization projects

in our high-priority domains, such as production, procurement, and finance.

Mostly in a form of integrated ERP systems. Data in such systems is usually

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structured and related, which makes it easier to analyze. However, we also have an

integrated document management system (CMS) where data is not structured and

is stored in form of binary files. For computers, it is difficult to distinguish data

types in binary files, and for analysts or consultants, it is unfeasible and time-

consuming to read each file and extract needed information from there. It would be

good to have integration between a BI system and a CMS product.

Company name: Anonymous

Company profile: Metalworking company with 200+ employees

Interviewees position in the company: Finance Director

1 Q. What are the business challenges for SMEs in the metalworking industry?

A. Difficulty of cost control, because of rapid market change. It’s hard to control

cost of goods sold without a proper IT infrastructure

2 Q. What makes you consider Business Intelligence (BI) solutions?

A. I think it gives more information about the purchase and sales operations. I

can get daily/weekly reports and make correct decisions in time

3 Q. How is the metalworking industry evolving, and what trends do you see on the

horizon?

A. More and more automation is implemented in this industry. It helps to cut the

costs and provide a better customer satisfaction service.

4 Q. What are key metrics important to know to manage your business more

effectively?
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A. Need a detailed information about the purchase history to properly calculate

the cost

5 Q. How is information currently being collected and shared within your organization?

A. Old fashion way: Excel / PowerPoint / Emails. It is hard to have a control over

this colossal information flow, which results in data loss.

6 Q. In what form do you receive information from your suppliers, customers, and

partners (e.g., spreadsheets, word documents)?

A. Emails with attached PDF’s and Excel files. It takes time to convert this

information into something standard, that I can use in my reports.

7 Q. Have you ever used Business Intelligence (BI) solutions? If so, what kind of

solutions did you use, and how did it help your company?

A. Yes, I have used several BI systems in companies where I worked as a finance

director. There were solutions from different vendors. It gives all required

information in time and saves to build reports manually.

8 Q. Do you think that Business Intelligence (BI) solutions can be used to boost the

competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the

metalworking industry?

A. Absolutely! But it can not be the “silver bullet” for all problems. A good BI

system requires strong ERP/Finance system. It’s the result of a good SME

software implementation.

9 Q. If a new BI solution related to your industry is proposed, what would you prefer to

have in such a solution?

 24

A. Multi-platform access, offline access, daly subscriptions etc.

10 Q. Is there any need for better integration of data across systems or departments? If

yes, in what areas would you like to see improvement?

A. I think yes. The more information shared between departments the better the

information flow.

Company profile: IT Consulting company / BI Solutions provider

Your position in the company: Project Manager

1 Q. What are the business challenges for SMEs in the metalworking industry?

A. Like any other industry, the steel and metal industry has its own specifics. Those

specifics also apply to IT project requirements. We work with companies in

different industries, and in most cases, administrative and essential business

processes are similar - financials, human resources, procurement, inventory, sales,

etc. The main differences are visible in the production area. Currently, we have

only one company in the metalworking industry, and we still gaining experience in

understanding industry specifics.

2 Q. What makes you consider Business Intelligence (BI) solutions?

A. Being an IT consulting company, we deliver BI products to our partners. Apart

from BI products, we also sell ERP solutions. In most cases, we offer BI products

and ERP solutions to complement each other. Our consideration of BI products is

 25

raised by the customers' requirements for a comprehensive information system for

management. We can deliver robust and informative access to live data with BI

products. Data can be presented in charts, graphs, dashboards, and KPI metrics and

accessed from various devices, which is very important for mobile users.

3 Q. How is the metalworking industry evolving, and what trends do you see on the

horizon?

A. Although we only gain experience in the metalworking industry, we have many

customers in the construction industry that work closely with metalworking

companies. Observing the construction industry and its increasing operations, we

may assume that the metalworking industry is evolving, either.

4 Q. What are key metrics important to know to manage your business more

effectively?

A. We put a high priority on customer share, customer retention, and customer

satisfaction.

5 Q. How is information currently being collected and shared within your organization?

A. Within our firm, we have an electronic document management system and our

internal CRM solution where information exchange takes place. However, Excel

files and emails are still in use.

6 Q. In what form do you receive information from your suppliers, customers, and

partners (e.g., spreadsheets, word documents)?

A. Emails, phone calls

7 Q. Have you ever used Business Intelligence (BI) solutions? If so, what kind of
 26

solutions did you use, and how did it help your company?

A. We offer our customers SSRS-based reporting and Power BI solution, which

includes licenses, installation, consultancy, and support. On-demand we may

deliver other BI solutions either.

8 Q. Do you think that Business Intelligence (BI) solutions can be used to boost the

competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the

metalworking industry?

A. Definitely. Nowadays Business Intelligence is an integral part of organizations'

information system networks. In the current market, it is difficult to compete if you

work with pen and paper only. Without a proper information system, your business

always will be a step behind competitors. With BI solutions you are able to get the

latest information in the required format, from any place.

9 Q. If a new BI solution related to your industry is proposed, what would you prefer to

have in such a solution?

A. We would consider the price and learning curve of the newly proposed solution.

And also, what extra functionality does it offer?

10 Q. Is there any need for better integration of data across systems or departments? If

yes, in what areas would you like to see improvement?

A. Currently, we are researching possibilities of integrating Artificial Intelligence

and Machine Learning techniques with Business Intelligence tools. However, our

AI considerations do not relate to interdepartmental data exchange but to B2B and

B2C products. In merchandising businesses with thousands of customers, you may

want to predict their actions by scanning through tons of unstructured data. With

the classic BI approach, it is not easy to build the required model and consider
 27

every measure to get the expected result. Furthermore, that is where AI may help.

Company profile: Metalworking company with several branches and 170 employees

Your position in the company: Financial Manager

1 Q. What are the business challenges for SMEs in the metalworking industry?

A. Like many other businesses metalworking industry also suffers from local and

global political, economic, and social disruptions. Thus, last years we are

challenged by increased tariffs, and logistics fees, caused by the pandemic and

inflation. Then we have industry-specific challenges, such as staff shortages

amongst white and blue collars. Our inventory costs are quite high, as we work

with bulky products. Unlike other industries, if the order is delivered and the

customer is not satisfied with the order, we cannot just return it, as the cost of

picking up the order from the customer's site and transferring it back to our

inventory incurs more costs rather than if we would leave it to the customer as a

gift, and just refund their payment.

IT-Security is another problem that we have to solve as technology evolves.

2 Q. What makes you consider Business Intelligence (BI) solutions?

A. Currently, we are in a position where we are considering and evaluating the

implementation of the BI solution in our company. We have a homegrown

analytics system - "APS," to produce reports for controlling, accounting,

budgeting, and production departments. In most cases, APS solves our routine

tasks and takes a particular load from users' shoulders. However, it needs to be

more interactive and flexible for building on-demand reports and dashboards.
 28

Also, our management cannot use it on the go, as it needs to be mobile-friendly.

Considering the above, we decided to invest in a Power BI solution. Moreover,

currently, we are testing its free version to see if it fits our scenarios.

3 Q. How is the metalworking industry evolving, and what trends do you see on the

horizon?

A. From the latest trends and the most significant achievements in the industry, we

can highlight the requirements for environmental friendliness of production, such

as reduced CO2 emission, lean production process, and new materials.

4 Q. What are key metrics important to know to manage your business more

effectively?

A. Sales revenue, growth rate, cost of capital, customer retention and customer

lifetime value

5 Q. How is information currently being collected and shared within your organization?

A. We have 12 branches across Germany in different federal states, Sweden, and the

Netherlands. Currently, we gather all administrative and financial information

from all those branches in Excel format. Then our employees in head office

consolidate and analyze those reports.

From production sites, we receive information from our ERP system.

6 Q. In what form do you receive information from your suppliers, customers, and

partners (e.g., spreadsheets, word documents)?

A. From customers and suppliers, we mainly receive hard copies of the documents.

Also, we log their requests via phone calls and emails.

7 Q. Have you ever used Business Intelligence (BI) solutions? If so, what kind of
 29

solutions did you use, and how did it help your company?

A. Power BI project was mostly my initiative, as I worked with this tool in my

previous company. I find it very robust, informative, and easy to pick up.

The BI solution helped us determine weak spots in our operations, and thus we

were able to cut unnecessary expenses, and increase revenue.

8 Q. Do you think that Business Intelligence (BI) solutions can be used to boost the

competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the

metalworking industry?

A. Yes

9 Q. If a new BI solution related to your industry is proposed, what would you prefer to

have in such a solution?

A. No answer

10 Q. Is there any need for better integration of data across systems or departments? If

yes, in what areas would you like to see improvement?

A. No answer

Results and Conclusions

The research found that one of the significant challenges for SMEs in the metalworking

industry is finding reliable partners with expertise in digitalization. As a leading steel company

in Azerbaijan, Anonymous has to carefully choose its BI providers and establish long-term
 30

relationships with them. This necessitates using Business Intelligence (BI) solutions to provide

access to live and basic information, which will help their management with decision-making,

planning, and forecasts. It was also revealed that unstructured data sources such as Excel sheets,

CSV, and XML make it difficult for Anonymous to collect data from its multiple departments

working with different systems. Another business challenges for SMEs in the metalworking

industry are the difficulty of cost control due to rapid market changes. Business Intelligence (BI)

solutions could provide more information about purchase and sales operations, allowing the

finance director to make better decisions. The metalworking industry is evolving rapidly, with

increasing automation implemented to cut costs and provide a better customer satisfaction

service. Key metrics that should be monitored closely to manage the business include purchase

history and cost calculations effectively. Information is currently being collected and shared

within the organization using outdated methods such as Excel/PowerPoint/Emails, making it

difficult to have complete control over data flow, resulting in data loss.

It is clear from this research with the finance director a that the metalworking industry

presents many challenges for SMEs due to rapid market changes. Business Intelligence solutions

can help alleviate these challenges by providing valuable insights into purchase and sales

operations. Additionally, understanding key metrics like purchase history and cost calculations is

crucial for effectively managing businesses in this sector. Finally, outdated methods of collecting

and sharing information can lead to data loss if not adequately addressed. Some major business

challenges SMEs face in the metalworking industry are increased tariffs, logistics fees, and

inflation due to global political, economic, and social disruptions. Additionally, there are staff

shortages among both white and blue collars. High inventory costs are another issue since they
 31

work with bulky products, and if an order needs to be returned, it incurs more costs than just

refunding the customer’s payment.

Based on this research, it is clear that Business Intelligence (BI) solutions are becoming

increasingly important in the metalworking industry. Companies need to invest in a Power BI

solution due to the flexibility of the system and its ability to provide on-demand reports and

dashboards, as well as mobile-friendly solutions. Additionally, trends in the metalworking

industry are leaning towards environmental friendliness and reduced CO2 emission. This

includes an increased focus on lean manufacturing, automation, 3D printing, and predictive

maintenance systems, which all rely heavily on data collection and analysis for their success.

Power BI offers interactive reporting and mobile-friendly access, allowing companies to analyze

large volumes of data quickly and efficiently.

The newly proposed solution offers a reasonable price and learning curve. It is also

possible to integrate Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques with Business

Intelligence tools, which would improve the efficiency of merchandising businesses by

predicting customers' actions and helping them get the desired results. Therefore, there is a need

for better integration of data across systems or departments in order to utilize AI and ML

effectively.

Problem Statement (Background/Significance)

The problem with metal manufacturing today is that it is becoming increasingly difficult

to compete with more giant corporations with deeper pockets than SMEs. In order to remain

competitive, these businesses need a way to streamline their processes and cut costs without

sacrificing quality or falling behind on deadlines. That is where business intelligence solutions

come into play: they allow companies to analyze their data more efficiently than ever before so
 32

they can make smarter business decisions based on real insight rather than guesswork or intuition

alone.

Metalworking is one of the oldest industries in the world, dating back thousands of years

to ancient civilizations like Greece and Rome (Vitartas et al., 2018). Despite its long history, it

has remained popular due to its ability to produce durable goods at a reasonable price. However,

due to intense competition in this space from companies based in countries with lower labor

costs than the USA (e.g., China), traditional methods for gathering data about your customers are

less effective than they once were.

The metalworking industry has long been considered a cornerstone of any economy. As

such, ensuring the sector remains strong and healthy is essential. One way to achieve this goal

would be using Business Intelligence (BI) solutions for SMEs in the metalworking industry.

Similarly, the global metal industry is a highly competitive, complex, and rapidly changing

business environment. The industry is characterized by high capital intensity and low economies

of scale, which leads to an intense focus on cost management. Thus, a company's performance

depends on its ability to make timely and correct decisions. Current technology solutions cannot

provide the information decision-makers need in this environment because they have been

designed for large corporations rather than small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Even

though information technology has become increasingly important in the metalworking industry

over the last few decades, it still needs specific tools that SMEs can use. While BI systems have

been developed for large companies with substantial IT investments and expertise, they do not

meet the needs of SMEs because they are too expensive and too complex for those companies'

limited resources. In addition, most BI systems require significant technical expertise to

implement and maintained adequately.

 33

The metalworking industry is vital to the global economy, producing over 20% of all

manufactured goods. In the United States alone, approximately 3 million people are employed in

this sector, with an annual revenue of $250 billion (Vitartas et al., 2018). However, this industry

has struggled with profitability since before the Great Recession despite its importance as an

economic driver and employer. Many factors contribute to this decline in profitability, including

increased competition from overseas companies, rising energy costs due to climate change

regulations (which have increased demand for electricity), and increased labor costs due to

mandatory overtime hours required by OSHA regulations. These factors have caused many

companies within this sector to suffer losses in recent years and have led some analysts to predict

that by 2020 over 10% will be forced out of business altogether (Baabdullah et al., 2021).

In order to provide their customers with new methods of making decisions specific to

their needs and those of the SMEs they serve, the metalworking industry must look beyond

existing technology and develop new solutions tailored specifically to this industry. This is

where Business Intelligence (BI) plays a vital role. BI provides a means for companies to

aggregate and analyzes data about different aspects of their business, allowing them to make

more effective use of their resources than ever before – ultimately leading to more competitive

products and services. The metalworking industry must be able to identify the opportunities

available within this market that would allow it to compete on a global scale while

simultaneously remaining profitable by implementing these solutions.

BI is an umbrella term encompassing many software and hardware types. When defining

BI, it is important to note that this software is designed for multiple users who can contribute

valuable insights to developing a company's data-related strategies. BI describes a methodology

for accessing relevant information and a form of technology that facilitates this process
 34

(Baabdullah et al., 2021). The American Management Association states, "Business intelligence

has been defined as a way of discovering, integrating, and using vital business information.' It

provides 'insights into business performance' by looking at how the organization runs." The

critical feature of BI is that it helps an organization gather information not only from internal

sources but also from external ones.

Problem Statement:

Another issue in the metalworking industry is the need for information to be

communicated between the company and its customers. Often, the company's CEO will hear

about an issue through their sales department or a customer needing help. Since this cannot be

easily communicated over a phone line, these issues need to be resolved as quickly and

efficiently as possible. BI solutions can allow companies in this industry to organize and share

important information with their customers in a fun and informative way. This helps small

companies feel they are being taken seriously, incentivizing them to keep buying from you

instead of your competitors.

Solution:

To achieve the goal of more efficient and effective communication with their customers,

metalworking companies must implement BI solutions that provide them with the tools they

need to: 1. Define a more accurate business model. 2. Support an initiative to improve

operational efficiency. 3. Build sales forecasts by tracking sales channels, pricing, discounts, and

other variables impacting revenue. The key features of a BI solution for this industry are

summarized below:

 To meet the needs of its customers, the metalworking industry must incorporate BI into

its daily operations to provide them with valuable information that allows them to make
 35

informed decisions about their business and product options. It is in the best interest of

the metalworking industry to provide customers with easy access to information about

their products and services that can help them maintain their competitive edge or identify

new sources of profit.

 Metalworking companies must be able to accurately handle and analyze data directly

related to their customers' needs. The key features of a BI solution are summarized

below:

 To build sales forecasts by tracking sales channels, pricing, discounts, and other variables

impacting revenue, metalworking companies must provide extensive data streams such as

order history, current accounts receivable, and other financial reporting products. BI

solutions can complete these tasks in a timely manner by repurposing existing systems

that were not built with these types of tasks in mind (Puklavec et al., 2018).

 BI solutions must support multiple users with access to the same data. This is a major

differentiating factor between BI and other data collection software, which makes it

especially important to understand how many individual users need access to the system.

In addition, multiple levels of access control can be applied so that only those with

ownership over company assets can edit the system's contents.

 A key feature of BI solutions is that it allows power users to create their dashboards by

combining information from various sources within the system. It is also vital that this

solution be highly customizable because each industry has its terminology for different

types of projects and activities involved in everyday business operations.

 36

Current state of business intelligence solutions

It has been around for decades, but it has only started to see widespread adoption

(Popovič et al., 2018). There are many different BI solutions, but generally, they fall into two

categories: analytics and visualization. Analytics provides deeper insights into data by running a

complex query and analyzing the results using statistical methods such as regression analysis or

clustering algorithms. On the other hand, visualization allows interactive charts and dashboards

to be created based on the analytics results so that everyone within an organization can easily

understand them without having to know how to write SQL queries or understand statistics.

Both analytics and visualization are critical components of any successful BI solution

because they complement each other perfectly: while analytics gives an in-depth look at specific

aspects of your data (e.g., which customers have purchased which products in the past?),

visualization lets you enhance those insights at a glance by presenting them as beautiful charts or

graphs that anyone can understand regardless of their level of education or prior experience with

data analysis techniques (e.g., how much revenue did each product line generate over the last six

months?) (Pappas et al., 2018). Similarly, the predictive analytics type of BI helps predicts future

outcomes based on historical data, while the descriptive analytics type of BI provides insights

into past events through structured and unstructured data sources such as text documents or

PDFs. Both types of BI require extensive expertise to set up correctly, so they are not easily

accessible to everyone. However, we expect this trend to change over the next few years as more

companies begin to see the benefits of easily accessing their data!

In the past, these tools were only accessible to large corporations who could afford them;

however, in recent years, they have become much more affordable so that even small businesses

can take advantage of their many benefits. The main goal of these types of systems is to make it
 37

easier for people within an organization to access data quickly and easily so that they can make

better decisions based on real numbers rather than guesswork or gut instinct like we see so often

in today's world where everything happens at such a rapid pace (Gudfinnsson et al., 2017).

As companies compete globally and across multiple markets at once, there is an increased

need for insight into how their competitors are performing to ensure that they stay ahead of the

curve and make informed decisions about where their investments should be made moving

forward. This has led to an increase in demand for business intelligence solutions from

enterprises who want access to real-time data across all departments within their organization so

that they can make educated decisions based on fact rather than feeling like they are walking in

blind each day when it comes to making predictions about what might happen based on past

performance metrics or historical trends which may not apply anymore given recent changes in

the marketplace or industry landscape overall. However, despite this increase in popularity, some

businesses out there still need to jump on board with this trend and are still using outdated

methods to make these important decisions.

From a critical standpoint, the demand for BI has been on the rise due to the continued

proliferation of business intelligence tools and the increased demand for deeper insights into data

so that organizations can make better decisions. However, there are also many challenges

organizations face when it comes to implementing business intelligence solutions as well,

including: Lack of resources in order to implement a BI solution properly.

While a BI implementation does not require much upfront investment, it requires

significant resources to be successful, especially if employees and managers use them

effectively. This can create a problem for smaller businesses that may need help to make the
 38

necessary investments into their technology infrastructure or hire additional staff members to

ensure they are getting the most out of their BI implementation.

Lack of strategic direction in order to make the best decisions when it comes to

implementing a BI solution in the first place. While a BI implementation is designed to help

businesses make better decisions in the short term, these decisions must be made with proper

foresight so that they can anticipate future trends and issues effectively. If this takes place well

enough, these businesses could spend more money than needed to properly implement a BI

project, only for it not to be as useful over time or get scrapped because of poor execution.

Difficulty in integrating different data sources and making them all work together to

provide an optimal solution for everyone within the organization (Pappas et al., 2018). In order

to effectively deploy a BI solution, there needs to be a solid plan in place for how it will be

integrated with all of the different data sources your business uses or likely will need over time.

This can often be a difficult process since each organization tends to have its unique way of

approaching this kind of integration and may even have different requirements for BI (e.g., some

want actionable insights through simple dashboards while others want everything returned as

spreadsheet-like reports) making it difficult to come up with a solution that works for everyone

(Gudfinnsson et al., 2017).

Most BI systems are designed with IT rather than the business in mind, so they are often

hard to use within these types of organizations and may cause problems when used in ways their

designers never imagined. For example, even small changes within an organization's structure

can lead to dramatic changes in how the end data is presented by default because of how the

information was structured originally. This can mean that it takes a lot of time and effort to make

a simple change while not necessarily improving business processes as much as expected. With
 39

the advent of big data, there has been a surge in interest and development of business intelligence

solutions (Popovič et al., 2018). However, many existing solutions cannot scale with the demand

of these new datasets (Pappas et al., 2018). While some vendors have attempted to address this

problem by offering products that can handle more data than others, businesses still need help

finding one solution that meets all their needs across all dimensions (scalability, ease of use,

cos). Therefore, there is a need for standardization within the industry so businesses can easily

choose the best solution based on their specific requirements.

It is important to note that with the rise in popularity of big data and the increasing

demand for business intelligence solutions, there has also been an increase in demand for open-

source business intelligence solutions, which wanes away when standardization takes place

within this industry. This can be a major problem since open-source solutions have a different

track record than their commercial counterparts and are often not recommended by businesses

because of fears regarding security and privacy.

Benefits Of Business Intelligence Solutions

Business intelligence solutions combine data from various sources to give the most

effective tools for making better business decisions. These intelligent and contextual data from

the market can create successful strategies, boost productivity by enhancing customer service,

lead generation, and increased sales conversion, and boost marketing initiatives by offering more

relevant and targeted messaging to customers (Balachandran et al., 2017). However, what makes

business intelligence solutions so beneficial in the first place? Here are the benefits of business

intelligence solutions for SMEs in the metalworking industry:

1. Taking Control of Operations and Expanding Business Opportunities

 40

Integrating customer data into the operations and decision-making processes is a key

benefit of utilizing business intelligence solutions. Information gathered from multiple sources

can help companies provide superior customer service, offers personalized products and services,

and create a better understanding of consumer trends by using historical data coupled with

current events (Balachandran et al., 2017). Segmentation and in-depth customer analysis are

crucial to any marketing strategy, but with the massive amount of data available via business

intelligence solutions, small-to-medium companies can identify customer behavior better than

ever (Gudfinnsson et al., 2017). This targeting will improve their marketing efforts, lead

generation activities, and sales conversion without wasting resources on irrelevant or unqualified

leads. Understanding customer behavior patterns and preferences are also key to expanding

business operations. The information gathered from analyses can tailor new product

development, determine future market trends, and invest in appropriate areas of their business

(Llave, 2017). By planning for the future, small-to-medium companies can allocate important

resources for investments that will have the greatest impact on their business to ensure long-term

success. By doing this analysis at an early stage, businesses can improve their decision-making

process and increase productivity by finding solutions to problems before they arise.

3. Gaining a Competitive Edge through Collaboration with Partners/Suppliers

Business intelligence solutions utilize data from multiple sources, which can help small

to medium companies gain a competitive advantage over their rivals by offering better quality

services to avoid getting lost in the crowd of bigger competitors. Better quality means more

business for a company as it can acquire customers and build a stronger brand. Providing high-

quality service is important for any company, especially in today's competitive environment,

where low-quality service may cost a company the business (Balachandran et al., 2017). Using
 41

data from multiple sources, small to medium-sized companies can improve their customer

service levels by providing products and services tailored specifically to the needs of their

customers, as well as being able to add value to their offer by knowing what their customers are

looking for and giving different options. A company can gain a competitive advantage by

partnering with suppliers. This is a strategy that many companies have utilized, some of them

very large ones such as Coca Cola which use data from their vending machines to provide real-

time information about the demand for their drinks and products. These large companies benefit

from relationships with providers as they can make better decisions based on the data they

receive, and by doing so, they keep improving the quality of their products.

4. Building Stronger Marketing and Sales Channels

Business intelligence solutions help companies provide better marketing and sales

activities by monitoring client preferences, lead channels, market trends, and more, creating an

opportunity for effective messaging to create more business opportunities. With a better

understanding of the market and its trends, small to medium-sized companies can build stronger

marketing and sales channels by identifying potential customers and providing the information

needed to attract them (Balachandran et al., 2017). Businesses can use the data from business

intelligence solutions to identify their target audience and provide them with targeted messages

that will make them interested in the company's products or services. Moreover, integrating

systems with business intelligence solutions helps make data more accessible, allowing

employees to use this invaluable resource for decision-making processes. Companies can use

more data to gain better information about their products and services and adjust their marketing

and sales strategies accordingly. The value of business intelligence and analytics is that it enables

companies to be more efficient and effective in their marketing and sales activities. However,
 42

this requires departments to work cooperatively to make the most of the available data. For

example, marketing departments often provide information about product features and how they

relate to other products in the market. This helps companies gather vital information about what

their customers want, what they are willing to pay for a product or service, and if the company's

salespeople are doing a good job reaching out to potential customers (Llave, 2017). Through BI

solutions, businesses can organize all of this data into one location, allowing everyone to view it

at once.

5. Better decision-making, strategic planning, tackling key issues with industry leaders,

crisis management, and business development.

Finally, business intelligence solutions provide better decision-making, strategic

planning, crisis management, and business development opportunities. By integrating data from

multiple sources, businesses can gain a competitive advantage by using the information to work

with industry leaders on key issues (Balachandran et al., 2017). Businesses can also analyze their

competitors to find opportunities for improving their performance and develop effective business

strategies to help expand their market share. Having all the information necessary at the right

time can be a game-changer for any company, and business intelligence solutions can provide

just that. To get started with these solutions, companies need to identify their organization's

strengths and match them with the services offered by business intelligence providers to choose

one that fits all of their needs. Additionally, they need to identify the areas they want to work on,

like customer retention, cost control, and product development, and select the service that offers

the most support (Llave, 2017). Choosing a business intelligence solution will allow business

leaders to make informed decisions, make the right strategic choices, and expand their reach in

the market. Businesses should also consider other factors, such as compatibility with existing
 43

infrastructure and software systems, ease of integration with other systems, and data security as

they choose a solution.

4 Ways That SMEs Can Utilize AI-Powered Tools to Increase Productivity & Grow Their

Businesses.

AI-powered tools can help SMEs in the metalworking industry increase productivity and

grow their businesses more quickly than ever. Here are four ways that SMEs can utilize AI-

powered tools to increase productivity:

1. Data mining - By analyzing data with AI, an organization can uncover new insights

about their customers and their buying patterns that they would never have been able to find on

their own. This will enable them to better tailor their product offerings to appeal more directly to

what their customers want, resulting in higher sales and a higher rate of repeat business. AI can

also make the data collection process easier and more accurate, on a larger scale, and more in-

depth than any human ever could. This is especially useful in industrial processes, where every

little detail can impact the final product. AI can automate a wide range of tasks, including data

collection and analysis, as well as marketing and sales (Richardson et al., 2018). Doing so will

free up human resources needed to focus on customer relations, new product development, and

other company areas where they can make a greater contribution (Gudfinnsson et al., 2017). This

means that the company no longer needs to be spread too thin across multiple parts of its

business but will be able to concentrate on what they do best. A more efficient workflow in this

way increases the chances that all of their employees will be able to hit their goals and earn

promotions.

2. Predictive Analytics & Customized Recommendations - Predictive analytics uses AI

to find patterns in past behavior and use them to predict future outcomes with a high degree of
 44

accuracy. With predictive analytics, businesses can predict when customers are likely to churn or

engage with the product or service offered by the business, allowing them time enough to

address these issues before they become serious problems down the road. AI can also make

customized customer recommendations based on past behaviors (Richardson et al., 2018). On the

customer's end, this is a very welcome feature, as it allows them to feel like they are receiving a

tailor-made service. If a customer has had trouble with a product or service, AI can make

personal recommendations to them geared towards improving their experience using the product

in the future.

3. Automation - Automation is one of the most effective ways for small businesses in

this industry sector to save money and increase productivity at work by allowing employees

complete autonomy over their daily tasks while also ensuring that they do not fall behind on

deadlines or get distracted from their work. In addition to collecting data more quickly and

accurately than ever, AI can also automate data collection. This means that an automated system

will be able to collect the same amount of data for less cost, making it easier for small

businesses, especially those in manufacturing, to spend their money on hiring additional staff

members rather than spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on equipment. The use of

automation has enabled some SMEs in the metalworking industry to increase their productivity

by as much as 30% (Balachandran et al., 2017). The best part about AI-enabled automation is

that it requires absolutely no human input, making it a natural fit for businesses that have had

difficulty finding qualified workers in the past and can thus benefit from the use of an automated

process that requires no human effort. The most common uses for AI-powered automation are in

industrial processes and on assembly lines, where every process detail must be followed to

ensure quality assurance and consistency (Richardson et al., 2018).

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4. Predictive maintenance - AI can help an organization make better decisions about

when it is time for a machine to be serviced and repaired or what parts need replacing (Seddon et

al., 2017). Predictions can be made about future failures by analyzing machinery and its

performance over time. This information can then be used to craft a plan for managing change

and minimizing downtime, allowing businesses to scale their operations more effectively and

reach their full potential as profitable businesses in a timelier manner. AI can help detect fraud

and other fraudulent activity by analyzing data to see if it adheres to legal and regulatory

requirements or the company's internal security procedures. The machines can be trained to

recognize external fraudulent activity, including fake invoices and false complaints about poor

quality services (Balachandran et al., 2017). This can help an organization reduce its overhead

costs by cutting down on unnecessary expenses, time spent on checking up on potentially

fraudulent activities, and challenges that could arise from human judgment in trying to decide

who is a genuine customer or not (Seddon et al., 2017).

How to Build a Business Intelligence Strategy and Implementation of Business Intelligence

To build a successful business intelligence strategy, SMEs should start by identifying

what questions need to be answered (Richardson et al., 2018). Once they know those questions,

they can find ways to collect the data they need. Finally, once the data is collected, it needs to be

analyzed so that it makes sense and can be presented back to the company in an easy-to-

understand way. For example, an SME might want to know how many products are sold each

month across different regions or which products are popular among certain demographics (such

as gender or age). If this information does not already exist within the organization's systems, it

will need to be collected from elsewhere (such as through surveys or by analyzing retail sales

data). Once this data has been gathered, it can be analyzed and presented in a way that makes
 46

sense for the company (for example, by creating interactive charts or graphs that display this

information visually). Using business intelligence strategies like these, SMEs can make smarter

decisions based on their data (Balachandran et al., 2017).

In the steel industry, the rate of new business opened by SMEs is very low, even though

their gross profit rate is high, much higher than large enterprises. This is because they often take

too long (especially after due diligence) to decide whether to invest. Moreover, the economic

benefits from this investment are also lower than expected, leading SMEs to set up new factories

later. The metalworking industry is old-fashioned and requires tooling to ensure advanced

precision, which is very expensive. It also has made much obsolete equipment as well as

expensive raw material, which dramatically increases the cost of production. TOC (Total Output

Cost) is a good metric that shows the profitability of investment in factories. However, profit

from SMEs is independent of TOC but on how much customers need it at a certain production

lot size for different prices and how much they will pay the SMEs for it while they do not have a

choice. Since there is a big difference between TOC and the price of finished products, SMEs are

only willing to invest in increasing their production once the price difference is very large. Thus,

this problem has to be solved so that SMEs can get a good ROI from the investment

(Gudfinnsson et al., 2017).

To solve this problem, empirical sales data are important for SMEs to make investment

decisions. In this way, SMEs can calculate their profit accurately before investing in new

factories. Also, it will help them to plan better for a more profitable business in the future. SMEs

often prefer the old ways of doing it rather than the new ones that are more advanced. Most of

them are not keen to innovate in their own business. So, they need to gain their competitiveness

by looking for opportunities for innovations and introducing new techniques; here comes the
 47

importance of Innovations that can help you to speed up production. It will help reduce

manufacturing costs (Richardson et al., 2018).

In this way, SMEs' success is highly dependent on proper research and development

activities that support business process changes within their organization. In addition to better

tools and ideas, an effective organizational structure is also required with quality management

systems (v et al., 2017).

Significance of BI to the Metalworking industry (Metal manufacturing / Steel industry)

In the manufacturing world, there is no such thing as a perfect product right out of the

box. Every product has some defect rate based on how it is made and how much attention to

detail is applied by the person making it. The only way to ensure that you have zero defects in

your products is to ensure that every step (from design through production) is done correctly and

according to specifications. This can only be easy if a company has access to high-quality data

from all production stages or if too many people are involved in those processes and are not

sharing their information effectively (or at all). In these cases, having access to reliable business

intelligence would be extremely beneficial because it would give everyone involved with making

a product access to the same set of facts so they can make better decisions faster. According to

Richardson et al. (2018), this will ultimately lead to fewer mistakes being made along the way,

which means fewer defective products being shipped out into the marketplace and more happy

customers who will come back again and again.

Business Intelligence (BI) benefits in the metalworking industry are clear: it helps

companies make more informed decisions about their operations. By providing real-time

information, BI allows managers to optimize every aspect of their businesses—from staffing

levels and raw materials purchases to shipping schedules and inventory management systems. In
 48

addition, it allows them to analyze historical data to understand trends and patterns that would

otherwise be difficult or impossible to identify (Richardson et al., 2018). The bottom line? It

saves companies time and money while ensuring they can always meet customer demand. The

benefits of implementing a business intelligence solution may also include decreased costs due to

lowered reliance on outside consultants for analytics services, increased revenue through

improved customer retention rates due to personalized offerings based on their interests, and

reduced risk because decisions are based on solid data rather than hunches or guesswork.

The metalworking industry requires detailed information about their customers' behaviors

and needs so that they can provide excellent service and products. Business intelligence allows

companies in this industry to analyze large sets of data and determine trends or patterns that

would otherwise be difficult to see because of the amount of information involved. This allows

them to make smarter business decisions based on real data rather than gut feelings or anecdotal

evidence (Liang et al., 2018).

For example, if there is a spike in demand for one product line but not enough supply

available from vendors, it makes sense to invest in setting up your manufacturing plant instead of

paying more than usual for those products from outside sources. On the other hand, if there are

no supply issues, it may make more sense to continue buying from outside vendors because it

would be cheaper than building your own facility! These kinds of insights can only be gleaned

through having access to real-time analytics based on clean, structured data sets that span across

multiple departments within an organization (e.g., Finance, Sales, Marketing). In other words,

you need BI to truly understand what is happening with your business at any given moment so

that you can make smart decisions about where and how to allocate resources (Liang et al.,

2018).
 49

Risks, and threats that should be considered when developing BI solutions

In order to reduce costs, improve productivity and enhance employee effectiveness, many

companies in the metalworking industry are turning to Business Intelligence (BI) solutions to

streamline their data processes and systems (Villamarín et al., 2017). A BI solution can be quite

beneficial to this industry, but it should be implemented with the right security measures to

prevent hackers and other malicious threats from compromising the integrity of the data within

the system. Moreover, to create BI solutions that will effectively help business operations and

decision-making in the metalworking industry, it is important first to identify some risks and

threats that could limit the benefits of using this type of business intelligence software. If these

issues are not considered in advance, BI implementation could face challenges that negatively

affect its value, lowering employee productivity and hurting overall profitability. Some risks and

threats to consider are:

Lack of standardization is a major problem for organizations looking to implement

Business Intelligence into their business (Villamarín et al., 2017). The process used at one plant

may be entirely different from another leading to vastly inaccurate data or inconsistencies

between different plants. Unable to provide standardized processes across all plants prevent these

organizations from accurately tracking production, sales, and supplier information and reduces

any valuable insights that a BI tool can provide. This lack of standardization is also an open door

for cyber-attacks due to not having consistent internal security practices across all plants, which

may lead hackers directly toward your most critical systems.

Hackers would have access to vast amounts of sensitive company data, such as customer

lists and billing addresses if they could breach the system. Implementing strong internal security

protocols across all plants should be a top priority when developing BI solutions for this industry
 50

(Villamarín et al., 2017). As such, there needs to be a concerted effort among all players in this

space so that we have some agreement on what is considered standard across the board when

collecting data; otherwise, there is an increased chance that this information may not make sense

or be accurate enough for use by employees in day-to-day tasks such as forecasting, inventory

management, and scheduling production runs.

i. Lack of quality data

Insufficient, inaccurate, unqualified data is often the biggest threat to go-to-market BI

solutions. Business intelligence is a relatively new term, but companies are looking for ways to

leverage it with external and internal data sources while also benefiting from the additional

insights that come in using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The lack of data quality is

one of the risks and threats that should be considered when developing BI solutions (Araz et al.,

2020).

ii. Data entry errors:

The employees who work in these companies often make mistakes when they enter data

into their computer systems. For example, they might need to remember to enter an important

piece of information or enter the wrong number for a product's price. Similarly, there is a need

for more access to reliable sources since many SMEs need access to reliable sources for their

data because they cannot afford to pay for them. This makes it hard for them to get accurate

information about their business processes and operations, leading to reporting errors and other

issues down the line. Lastly, a lack of training may also lead to poor-quality data. Most

employees need to receive adequate training in using computers or correctly entering data into

systems. This results in more mistakes than necessary, leading to problems later down the road if

not corrected immediately upon discovery.

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Access to data: The enterprise's data must be of higher quality. The data source may be

unreliable or inaccurate and, therefore, not meet the specified needs of the business. Unreliable

sources mean that accurate and relevant data cannot be obtained. Unqualified employees are just

as bad as unreliable sources because they can make mistakes while entering data into the system.

Although they might not realize it at first, making an error will lead to unreliable data being

entered into a department's systems and, thus, can cause problems with reporting (Araz et al.,

2020).

iii. Lack of Interoperability

No matter how elaborates the BI solutions are, they will only be good if they can be

shared with other systems and work seamlessly with each other. If the systems can work

together, data will stay cohesive across different systems, which creates inefficiencies at every

step. In today's Big Data world, we are trying to collect and analyze massive amounts of data to

make informed decisions that will help us run the organization more effectively and make the

right business decisions. As we collect more and more data in the form of structured and

unstructured information, it becomes increasingly difficult to analyze it all due to differences in

the format of data generated by different systems, applications, servers, and other sources. Lack

of interoperability between systems is one of the major challenges businesses face today

(Ghavamifar et al., 2018). One reason is that many vendors develop their proprietary software

that cannot talk to each other or share information easily. The BI solution needs an interface so it

can read data from any source- something some vendors offer for purchase separately. A robust

BI solution should be able to interact with legacy systems without any significant problems, such

as a lack of interoperability between legacy and new technologies. A company should also

ensure support is available when it purchases BI software. Some companies who have purchased
 52

an expensive system only to find out there needed more support available have been forced to

abandon the use of the software altogether (Ghavamifar et al., 2018). More importantly, there is

a need for the IT department to be on board with the management to understand what the

organization's needs are.

iv. Lack of Security

Security also plays a role here as well because if there are no safeguards in place, then

anyone who has access to those databases would be able to see all of this information which

means competitors could get ahold of it as well and use it against them in an attempt to gain

market share by offering lower prices on similar products or services. However, if organizations

were able to keep their data private, then this would not be such a concern because it would only

be accessible by certain people with permission based on their job role within the company;

however, even though this helps protect sensitive information from being leaked out accidentally

or on purpose by insiders, it still does not protect against hackers who might try to break into

those systems via cyber-attacks so IT departments still need to ensure that their networks are

secure at all times by using strong encryption techniques along with other preventative measures

like backups and antivirus software so that if someone does manage to get through then, there

will not be any lasting damage done (Ghavamifar et al., 2018).

This makes developing BI solutions difficult because users should not be worried about

their privacy when using the products or services. The company should ensure that any data they

collect from them is kept safe and secure so that no one can misuse it or get access to it without

their permission first. If this is not done, the company may not be able to succeed because people

will not trust them with their information if they think that it will be leaked or stolen by someone

else who wants to use it for malicious purposes such as identity theft or other types of fraud like
 53

phishing scams where they try to get personal info by pretending to be someone trustworthy like

a bank or another organization which has their info on file already like an email provider (Gmail,

Yahoo).

There are many things that organizations can do to protect themselves against

cyberattacks: hiring experienced cybersecurity professionals, using encrypted communications

channels (like HTTPS), and applying software patches as soon as they are released. However,

these things take time and money—two things that most businesses do not have an abundance

of! Therefore, it is important to select vendors who can provide strong security guarantees (i.e.,

proof-of-concept demonstrations and references from similar customers) so that the organization

becomes aware of what they are getting before making a purchasing decision (Ghavamifar et al.,

2018).

v. Lack of Flexibility

A lack of flexibility in BI solutions can lead to problems with development. When

building a business intelligence solution, organizations want something that will allow them to

make decisions based on accurate data as quickly as possible. However, if the solution does not

offer enough flexibility, they will not be able to get what they need from it. Many factors make

metalworking industries hard to analyze. One of those factors is the lack of flexibility in their

processes. They have extremely strict processes for how things are done, and if something fits

into those exact steps, it can cause major delays or even failure. For example, if a step takes

longer than expected, that will affect the rest of the process because everything needs to be timed

perfectly for it to work correctly (Villamarín et al., 2017). This makes it very difficult for us to

build solutions that can handle different situations without changing our code drastically every

time there is a new situation.

 54

Designing BI solutions for metalworking industries is easy but possible. It is not just

about making the data easier to read and visualize but also about making the reporting tools

easier to use and integrate. By adding features like these, BI solutions will be able to make the

applications more flexible to handle any situations that arise within the industry.

vi. Limited Support

The risk of limited support when developing a business intelligence solution in the metal

working industry is that it can negatively impact the ability to analyze data accurately over time.

When developing a BI solution, there is a need to be able to easily access analytics data without

having any issues accessing the underlying database. If the organization needs more support

from the IT team or vendors, this could cause delays when accessing those databases or create

problems along the way. When developing a BI solution for the metalworking industry, the

company must become aware of these risks so that they can mitigate them as much as possible

by ensuring that they have enough support available from your IT team or vendors so that they

can help in access those databases easily and without any issues or delay along the way

(Villamarín et al., 2017).

Therefore, to assess the risk of having limited support when creating BI solutions in the

metalworking industry, there are things that an organization can do to minimize these risks. The

first thing an organization can do to minimize these risks is to look at the available support

levels. By doing this, they will be able to assess how many people are currently supporting them

in accessing those databases. If they have limited support, they will need to find some IT team or

vendor that can help them when it comes down to accessing those databases easily. This is one of

the main ways an organization can mitigate these risks by ensuring that you have enough support

from your IT team and vendors.

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Measures to avoid threats and risks when developing BI solutions in the SMEs

Metalworking industry

A study of the challenges experienced by SMEs in the metalworking industry with regard

to BI solutions and an analysis of the possibilities for addressing them were implemented as part

of this research. The results indicate that challenges have been identified, and recommendations

based on them can provide the basis for further development and improvement of BI solutions

and their availability to SMEs in the metalworking industry. Despite the proven importance of BI

in SMEs, it has yet to be implemented in more than 50% of these companies because they feel

that there are still many challenges to be overcome before they can start using these solutions.

The importance of data security

Data security is crucial for any business, but more so for small and medium-sized

enterprises. Data breaches are common occurrences that can cost a company dearly. SMEs are

vulnerable to data breaches because they often rely on external systems like cloud storage

providers or public networks (Villamarín et al., 2017). These services provide convenience but

also introduce security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. There are many ways companies

can reduce their data exposure: 1) Ensuring that all employees have strong passwords 3) Only

access sensitive information on an encrypted network 4) Use enterprise-grade antivirus software

with regular updates 5) Manage endpoints (computers, mobile devices, and tablets) securely 6)

Perform penetration testing on your infrastructure 7) Encrypt data at rest 8 )Encrypt sensitive

communications 9

The need for comprehensive data backup

A business intelligence solution is often an expensive investment. In order to maximize

the return on this investment, all data must be backed up frequently. This includes raw data files
 56

and any generated reports or documents containing information about the company's operations,

finances, or customers. Data backup should include employee-generated content such as

spreadsheets, presentations, emails, and more. If a computer system or hard drive crashes or

becomes corrupted, it can take considerable time to recreate the lost data. Data recovery tools

can help reconstruct some files and databases; however, these are costly and difficult to

implement. One of the best options for businesses with limited IT expertise is to use a cloud

storage service like Dropbox that can automatically sync data across multiple computers and

mobile devices. It also offers good security for companies concerned about privacy since no one

else can access their account unless they specifically invite someone else. However, even though

cloud services are becoming more secure than ever, many people still prefer having their copy of

their most important data stored locally rather than having it out on someone else's server. That

way, your local backup will be safe if anything happens to the cloud service provider or network

connection.

The necessity of user training

User training is one of the most important measures to help mitigate potential threats or

risks. The user should be trained on how to use the software and how to use it securely. The

users should know what information they are required to input and what information they are not

allowed to enter. Training users will reduce errors during data entry which could lead to

erroneous conclusions being drawn by managers and analysts who rely on this data. These

measures should enable employees of small companies (and their respective organizations) to

have a more effective way of dealing with their day-to-day tasks through better analysis tools

without compromising security for either company or customer data, which might otherwise
 57

happen if no precautions were taken by IT department staff or consulting firms involved in the

development process.

The value of regular maintenance

Regular maintenance is an essential component of any business. It can keep the

equipment running smoothly, help prevent injury, protect investment, and reduce costs.

Sometimes, it is even a requirement by law or insurance company guidelines. With so many

benefits of regular maintenance, it is worth looking into how to incorporate this practice into

SMEs' Metalworking industry environment. A simple option might be to invest in new

machinery with built-in sensors that send alerts for mechanical problems before they happen.

Key players that have developed business intelligence solutions and their value propositions

to SMs in the Metalworking industry

A business intelligence solution combines analytics and software, which allows

companies to collect large sets of data, organize it in different forms to access business trends

and patterns, and then make better-informed decisions based on those insights. Analyzing data

and drawing conclusions from it can help metalworking businesses improve operations, gain a

competitive edge, streamline processes and strengthen relationships with customers, suppliers,

and partners.

System Applications and Products in Data Processing (SAP)

System Applications and Products in Data Processing is a leading provider of business

intelligence solutions, offering comprehensive and integrated solutions to help small and medium

businesses (SMBs) in the metalworking industry make informed decisions. With SAP's Business

Intelligence suite, SMBs in the metal working industry can access real-time data on customer
 58

behavior, sales performance, and production efficiency. This data helps them uncover insights

that can help them make better decisions and improve their operations. SAP's Business

Intelligence solutions are designed to give SMBs in the metalworking industry the power to

analyze their operations and make data-driven decisions. SAP also provides predictive analytics

and forecasting tools, allowing SMBs to more accurately predict future trends and potential

problems (Villamarín et al., 2017). Additionally, SAP's Business Intelligence solutions allow

SMBs to gain better insights into customer behavior, enabling them to tailor their offerings and

better serve their customers.

Overall, SAP's Business Intelligence solutions provide SMBs in the metalworking

industry with the ability to gain greater insights into their operations, improve decision-making,

and create a competitive edge. By leveraging these solutions, SMBs can become more profitable

and efficient while providing an enhanced customer experience. For example, one of SAP's

customers was able to increase net income by 20% through this solution. In total, SAP's business

intelligence solutions have helped over 10,000 SMBs worldwide find success in the

manufacturing sector alone.

The International Business Machines Corporation

IBM is one of the most important business intelligence solutions market players. Its

Watson Analytics platform provides a comprehensive suite of AI-powered analysis and insights

to help SMEs in the metalworking industry make better decisions. IBM's solutions focus on data

processing, warehousing, analytics, predictive analytics, and big data platforms, allowing SMs to

gain insights from all their structured and unstructured data. IBM has also developed several

applications specifically for metalworking businesses, such as tools for visualizing and

understanding supply chain performance, managing production processes, and analyzing

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customer data. The Watson Analytics platform also offers SMs an AI-driven dashboard for

tracking the performance of their operations, as well as automated reports for summarizing and

sharing key insights (Park et al., 2017). All these features help SMs in the metalworking industry

to quickly analyze and interpret large amounts of data, allowing them to make informed

decisions. In addition, its interactive visualization capabilities give users real-time access to data

through maps, charts, graphs, and tables without any technical knowledge required (Villamarín

et al., 2017). Furthermore, it automatically detects anomalies and creates alerts for potential

issues related to KPIs (key performance indicators) or significant events like data breaches or

system downtime. It can be used by people with different levels of technical skill sets -

professionals looking for quick and easy dashboards will find this tool suitable, whereas those

who want more control over their visualization options will find the custom settings feature

appealing. IBM's solution is cost-effective as it includes a free trial option, allowing SMs to try

out the solution before they financially commit themselves. It also offers affordable pricing

plans, making it affordable for SMEs in the metalworking industry.

ORACLE

Oracle is one of the world's leading business intelligence providers, offering a wide range

of tools and solutions to help small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the metalworking

industry gain greater insight into their operations. With Oracle's suite of products, SMBs can use

predictive analytics and data visualization to gain deeper insights into their operations while also

taking advantage of machine learning to optimize their processes further (Park et al., 2017).

Oracle's business intelligence solutions are designed to provide SMBs in the

metalworking industry with a comprehensive view of their operations. This includes access to

data from various sources, such as customers, suppliers, competitors, and internal processes.
 60

Oracle's products also allow for advanced analytics and reporting capabilities and comprehensive

data security measures. Additionally, Oracle offers a number of value propositions to SMBs in

the metalworking industry. These include reducing costs by making data-driven decisions;

increasing efficiency by automating processes; providing detailed and real-time insights into

customer behavior; improving customer satisfaction; and ultimately creating more successful

businesses. With Oracle, businesses can also access various resources and support, such as

training and certification programs, to ensure they get the most out of their investments.

Overall, Oracle is a leader in providing business intelligence solutions to SMBs in the

metalworking industry, offering a robust suite of products and services designed to help

businesses make smarter decisions and drive growth. With Oracle, SMBs have access to a

powerful platform that helps them easily manage and analyze data from multiple sources,

providing them with valuable insights into their operations. The software can integrate diverse

datasets, generate reports and scorecards, and generate visualizations that interpret trends (Park

et al., 2017; Araz et al., 2020). Moreover, this software provides reliable data protection features

for sensitive information. In terms of its value proposition, Oracle provides organizations with an

affordable solution that can help reduce operating expenses through automation and AI-based

decision-making systems - all while ensuring compliance with company policies across

departments. Additionally, the company offers a wealth of resources, including best practice

guidelines and courses on maximizing ROI on BI projects.

Solutions that SMs have put in place to implement BI especially in the Metalworking

industry

Since the beginning of time, the constant search for solutions to make the production

process more cost-effective and of higher quality has been increasing – but only recently have
 61

SMEs in the Metalworking industry become aware of and implemented solutions that will

benefit their organizations through Business Intelligence (BI). The principles of BI are based on

gathering, collecting, consolidating, and analyzing data from several sources and then presenting

it in one or more ways to enable decision-making within an organization. This article will

examine some of the best BI tools out there today (Saavedra et al., 2020). In today's world, the

success of any business depends upon how fast and accurately it can respond to changes in

demand, cost, and competition. Such changes are common in an industry such as Metalworking /

Steel, where it is crucial to keep up with trends in customer preferences and technological

innovations. To be competitive and ensure they meet customer demand while maintaining profit

margins, SMEs need innovative solutions that automate the flow of information between various

departments and systems across their businesses. This enables them to access the right data at the

right time, make better decisions more quickly, and respond quickly to market dynamics

(Saavedra et al., 2020).

Business Intelligence (BI) Solutions have become a valuable tool for SMEs in the

metalworking industry to gain insights and improve efficiency. With increased competition and

rising customer demands, companies need to access data quickly and make informed decisions.

To help meet these needs, many SMs have implemented various BI solutions tailored to the

metalworking industry.

One of the most popular solutions is a data warehouse, a centralized data repository from

multiple sources. Data warehouses allow companies to store and analyze large amounts of data.

This enables them to identify trends and develop insights from their data that can be used to

optimize their processes. In addition, data warehouses can help identify any problems within the

organization or even anticipate future changes in the market.

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Another solution that SMEs are using is predictive analytics. Predictive analytics uses

advanced algorithms to analyze data and predict future events. This allows companies to plan for

the future and anticipate changes in demand or supply (Saavedra et al., 2020). It can also help

them make informed decisions about product pricing and marketing strategies. Finally, many

SMEs leverage Business Intelligence tools such as Tableau and QlikView to visualize their data.

These tools allow companies to identify trends and quickly uncover insights from their data

quickly. With these insights, companies can make informed decisions about their strategies and

operations. Overall, SMs are taking advantage of Business Intelligence Solutions to gain an edge

over the competition in the metalworking industry. With the right solutions, they can make

informed decisions and gain valuable insights from their data.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the use of business intelligence solutions by small and medium-sized

enterprises (SMEs) in the metalworking industry has become increasingly popular as companies

seek to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs. Although many different

solutions exist, research indicates that those specifically designed for 'casting' in the metals

manufacturing industry offer specific benefits which allow businesses to improve performance.

The key is identifying a solution that best fits a company's needs and goals to ensure maximum

success. While there is room for further research on this topic to determine whether SMEs are

effectively utilizing these solutions, it is evident that such solutions can be implemented to

improve operations and better manage production processes in this sector.

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