"KPI's? Throw that management porn into the Meuse!"

"KPI's? Throw that management porn into the Meuse!"

Anyone who says 'to measure is to know' can count on a consensual nod. Except for the carpenter. In all likelihood, he or she parries with 'to measure is to measure'. We recommend a visit to the carpenter before deploying Power BI. Measuring is easy, but knowing does not automatically result from that.

Innovative advanced navel-gazing

An important contribution to 'measuring for measuring' is made by Microsoft Power BI. This allows you to analyse data from a graphical environment. We wouldn't want to do any harm about this groundbreaking product. Except that it might be a little too easy to use. People start measuring without thinking about why. The result: innovative navel-gazing for advanced users. A customer expressed his dissatisfaction with this phenomenon more strongly:

"KPI's? Throw that management porn into the Meuse!"*

(*: A river floating into the sea near Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

Automation does not solve everything
Power BI positief inzetten

Can you use Power BI in a positive way?

It will come as no surprise to anyone that we, as a supplier of Microsoft Office 365, answer 'yes' to that. Power BI is standard in Microsoft Office 365. Anyone who works with Word and Excel (and who doesn't?) has access to Power BI. But in order to take advantage of it, you have to use it correctly. Power BI is great for mapping processes. It is less useful to measure the progression to goals. Measuring and knowing, as stated, do not necessarily have anything to do with each other.

Can you use Power BI in a positive way?

It will come as no surprise to anyone that we, as a supplier of Microsoft Office 365, answer 'yes' to that. Power BI is standard in Microsoft Office 365. Anyone who works with Word and Excel (and who doesn't?) has access to Power BI. But in order to take advantage of it, you have to use it correctly. Power BI is great for mapping processes. It is less useful to measure the progression to goals. Measuring and knowing, as stated, do not necessarily have anything to do with each other.
Can you use Power BI in a positive way?

Once you have obtained one, the next area of attention will arise. In short: those who work with KPI's never have to be bored.

Posting Errors

Take an example. Every warehouse suffers from booking errors to a greater or lesser extent. Power BI can be used to find out how many packages are incorrectly booked. Based on this, you can take 'wrongly booked' as a KPI and demand that this be reduced by half. Build a campaign around it and pay more attention. Before you know it, you will have reached your goal. A great achievement. Or not?

Fouten detecteren
What does it yield?

What does it yield?

Where do the wrong bookings come from? Is there anything to say about the type of package that is incorrectly booked? When are the most mistakes made? How much time is allocated to booking packages? How much time do employees have to deal with deviations from the norm? What has the company gained from reducing incorrect bookings?

What does it yield?

Where do the wrong bookings come from? Is there anything to say about the type of package that is incorrectly booked? When are the most mistakes made? How much time is allocated to booking packages? How much time do employees have to deal with deviations from the norm? What has the company gained from reducing incorrect bookings?

What does it yield?

Work from insight, with measurable results and in a way that motivates employees. Then Power BI will contribute to your result.

An important KPI

Especially in a warehouse, the time that employees need to carry out tasks is closely monitored. That is an important KPI. It will come as no surprise to anyone that people become creative when there are problems that cause delays. Why solve a problem if you can get rid of it by booking incorrectly? The KPI 'time' is more important than the process.

focus op de belangrijke KPI's
Denk in oplossingen en heb succes

Succes?

If you solve this with a KPI that keeps wrong bookings, then you shift the problem. On your Power BI dashboard you will see results. But after this 'success' a new KPI will be needed. For example, 'missing packages'. It will have to be lowered again. Once the missing packages have been solved, it is time to bring the bookings back to the attention of the public. Perhaps with a stopover to reduce the number of parcels that remain on the expedition. In short: if you work with KPI's, you never have to get bored.

Succes?

If you solve this with a KPI that keeps wrong bookings, then you shift the problem. On your Power BI dashboard you will see results. But after this 'success' a new KPI will be needed. For example, 'missing packages'. It will have to be lowered again. Once the missing packages have been solved, it is time to bring the bookings back to the attention of the public. Perhaps with a stopover to reduce the number of parcels that remain on the expedition. In short: if you work with KPI's, you never have to get bored.

Brainstorming, thinking out of the box and translation to reallife practice

Mapping the process

A different approach delivers lasting results. Power BI can map out the process. You can see how long it takes on average to receive a package. By zooming in on anomalies you will discover for which types of packages the process falls short. Do specific employees take longer to perform the same action? Then you know who needs extra training. Does everyone have problems with a certain delivery? Then a structural adjustment is needed.

processen in kaart brengen
Wat levert de maatregel op

What is the benefit of the measure?

Because Power BI easily compares different data sources, you can see the effect of measures. Anyone who loses the fixation with KPI's, will see that a decrease in wrong bookings is of little use. The total picture will once again take centre stage.

What is the benefit of the measure?

Because Power BI easily compares different data sources, you can see the effect of measures. Anyone who loses the fixation with KPI's, will see that a decrease in wrong bookings is of little use. The total picture will once again take centre stage.

Brainstorming, thinking out of the box and translation to reallife practice

Using technology correctly

Microsoft Power BI is a powerful tool. Every company that works with Office 365 can benefit from it. But all technology has limits and pitfalls. With Power BI you can focus on your KPI's. You reduce a complex organization to a few values that don't necessarily say what's really going on.

de juiste technologie inzetten
oplossingen spiegelen

It can also be done differently

You can also use Power BI well. Use it to map out the processes. Then use that knowledge to find areas for improvement. Don't forget the human being. Always mirror solutions to the employees who have to work with them. Then you work on the basis of insight, with measurable results in a way that motivates employees.

It can also be done differently

You can also use Power BI well. Use it to map out the processes. Then use that knowledge to find areas for improvement. Don't forget the human being. Always mirror solutions to the employees who have to work with them. Then you work on the basis of insight, with measurable results in a way that motivates employees.

It can also be done differently
 

Result books or navel-gazing?

Office 365 facilitates both. But we prefer to help you achieve results. Wondering how? Take contact and ask about our second Industry 4.0 meeting at Microsoft. 

Power BI in Office 365? Check out the possibilities here!