Decision-making in business – how to use up-to-date data?

Making good decisions in business is like navigating unfamiliar terrain – without reliable data, it’s easy to get lost. Companies that rely on hunches or incomplete information act like people navigating in the dark. Access to data alone, however, is not enough – analyzing it and being able to draw the right conclusions is crucial. But the starting point for effective management is quick access to up-to-date, reliable information.

So it’s alarming to see data that only 44% of companies believe they have enough data to make decisions, and 35% of executives lack confidence in the information available. Moreover, Gartner predicts that by 2025, 95% of data-driven decisions will be at least partially automated. Organizations with a mature Data Governance model are 68% more effective in making business decisions. They are also 23 times more likely to win customers. So as you can see, effective data governance is one of the pillars of maintaining a high position in a competitive market.

Key decision-making barrier: lack of current access to data

Managers, like salespeople, often make decisions under conditions of incomplete information. Lack of access to current data is due to several factors:

• Data dispersion – information is stored in different systems, making it difficult to find it quickly.
• Lack of tool integration – companies use many unrelated applications, which increases analysis time.
• Limited reporting automation – many organizations still rely on manual report preparation, leading to errors and delays.

The data shows that as many as 68% of companies find it difficult to quickly access the information they need to make decisions, which significantly affects their competitiveness.

Technological support in decision-making

Experts agree that the key to solving this problem is digitization and automation of analytical processes. Modern technologies allow quick access to up-to-date information and its immediate analysis. In this context, several key solutions are worth noting:

1. Management dashboards and data analytics
   Tools such as Microsoft Power BI or Fabric allow the integration of data from different sources, presenting it in a clear, interactive form. Managers can monitor key metrics (KPIs) in one place and react to changes in real time.
2. AI bots to support data analysis
   Modern bots can not only present data, but also analyze trends and identify key insights. For example, in the digital workplace, bots can answer managers’ questions about sales performance, project profitability or changes in customer behavior.
3. Automated alerts and notifications
   Analytics systems can generate automatic alerts when certain indicators reach undesirable levels. This allows managers to respond immediately to threats and take advantage of opportunities.
4. Artificial intelligence in predictive analytics
   AI not only analyzes historical data, but also predicts future trends and scenarios. In B2B sales, this means being able to identify potential problems and business opportunities in advance.

Digital workplace and Microsoft 365 environment as the foundation for data analytics

Microsoft 365 offers comprehensive solutions for working effectively with and integrating data in real time. In the context of decision-making, these are crucial:

1. Microsoft Teams as a hub for communication and data access
   Microsoft Teams is no longer just a video conferencing tool, but a full-fledged work environment that can integrate data from CRM, ERP or Power BI systems. Salespeople and managers can access reports, dashboards and predictive analysis in one place for instant decision-making.
2. Power Automate – automating data flow
   With Power Automate, it is possible to automate reporting processes and information flow. The system can automatically send alerts about changes in sales data, generate reports based on predetermined rules, and deliver personalized summaries to the appropriate people in the organization.
3. OneDrive and SharePoint – centralize access to documents
   Microsoft 365 allows you to store all relevant documents in one place, eliminating the problem of searching for files in different systems. SharePoint allows you to access the latest versions of documents, and OneDrive integrates with analytics applications, allowing you to edit reports in real time.
4. Copilot and AI in Microsoft 365
   Microsoft Copilot, supported by artificial intelligence, can generate meeting summaries, analyze data from various sources and recommend next actions. This is a huge convenience for managers, who can instantly access key information instead of wasting time searching for it.

Practical example: a digital workplace supporting data analysis

What a digital workplace optimized for data analysis looks like. Here’s a good example: a sales person starting his workday has access to a full set of information on customers, sales performance, current market trends and KPIs. Thanks to the integrated tools of Microsoft 365:

• he doesn’t have to manually search the systems,
• receives automatic summaries of the most important indicators,
• can ask questions to AI bots, which instantly provide the information he needs,
• has access to documentation, analysis and reports in real time, without having to use many different systems.

Such solutions eliminate the need for hours of analyzing reports and allow decisions to be made in minutes rather than days.

Summary

In the age of digitization, quick access to reliable data is becoming a key factor for success in B2B sales. Companies that effectively integrate their systems, implement analytical tools and use AI to process information will gain a real competitive advantage.

Microsoft 365 provides a complete environment for working with data, enabling not only analysis, but also automation of reporting processes and real-time access to critical information. By implementing these solutions, organizations can significantly increase their operational efficiency and make better business decisions.