Although big data and modern reporting analytics are still relatively novel concepts for most organizations, the solutions have already made their way into a wealth of businesses regardless of industry or size. Driven by a greater level of accessibility, both with respect to cost and necessary skill level, analytics and content management automation are helping more companies capture the power of digital intelligence, which can be a boon for any type of firm. 

One of the more common themes in each of the past several major trends in corporate computing has been the quick change to consumerization, with self-service options for analytics, mobility management, cloud services and others becoming somewhat popular of late. In the case of reporting analytics, some experts argue that companies should start preparing to create self-service capabilities for their employees, as this may have a significantly positive impact on productivity and efficiency. 

User-friendliest
GigaOM recently released a new report regarding the rise of self-service analytics, in which it affirmed that applications that offer this edge to corporate adopters are now becoming more viable. According to the authors of the study, companies will have to lay down a strong foundation by way of management and oversight to ensure that these types of applications are used properly, productively and safely. 

They argued that democratized access might be the only way to make this happen without placing too much strain on the IT department, but that attempts at making information more accessible to a wider variety of parties must be highly structured and controlled to ensure information remains secure and trackable. This ties into content management automation as well, as tools can be used to make data available in a safe and controlled manner. 

Furthermore, GigaOM noted that the reporting components of these apps will need to be highly user-friendly to be effective, from the aesthetics to the functionality.

Making it happen
Going from no automated business process management to a high level such as this that involves self-service capabilities might not be the best move. Rather, taking it slow and ensuring no stone is left unturned while building up to a more advanced reporting analytics and workflow automation strategy will help to reduce the risk of misuse and disruptions, which inherently acts as a further safeguard for returns on investment.