Episode 6 of 6 in our Data Architecture Series In this episode, we conclude our discussion on data warehouses. As technology costs continue to drop, small and mid-sized businesses are now in an excellent position to invest in these solutions. We explore key considerations, including costs, potential risks, and strategies to avoid common pitfalls. Tune in to discover what to keep in mind when making data solution decisions—and how these choices can shape the future succes...

Episode 5 of 6 series in our Data Architecture series. With this episode, we near the end of our 6-part series on data architectures and dive into our first discussion on data warehouses. As the most popular method for storing data for reporting and analytics, data warehouses play a crucial role for growing businesses. However, there’s ongoing debate about what exactly defines a data warehouse. In this episode, we break down what a data warehouse is, explore how it differs from other ...

Episode 4 of 6 in our Data Architecture series. Welcome to the 4th episode in our 6-part series, where we dive deep into the world of data architecture, breaking down why it matters and how it impacts your business. This week, we’re shining a spotlight on Operational Data Stores, or ODSs—an often-overlooked architecture that can provide real-time insights for faster, more effective decision-making. But here’s the catch: "Operational Data Store" means different things to differen...

Episode 3 of 6 in our Data Architecture series. Ready to level up your data game? If your transactional system isn’t providing all the insights you need, it might be time to explore more powerful ways to extract information from your data. In today’s episode, we discuss the simplest way to store data in a database and introduce two essential concepts in data architecture: the persistent staging area (PSA) and staging. We’ll dive into why these methods matter. Inter...

Episode 2 of 6 in our Data Architecture series. Like many things, data architectures can range from simple to highly complex. In this episode, Paul and Alex explain what "simple" means when building a reporting and analytics solution for your business. The advancement of business intelligence (BI) tools make system of record (SOR) reporting much more feasible than in the past. You can connect multiple systems to a front-end presentation layer tool. But at some point in your gro...

Episode 1 of 6 in our Data Architecture series. Paul and Alex start a series of conversations about the importance of data architecture. While business leaders at growing companies may have limited time to focus on technical issues, Paul and Alex demonstrate the significant value in understanding how different system designs affect outcomes. They discuss what to consider when building a data solution, showing how a basic understanding can help business leaders gain an advantage...

Business is all about staying ahead of the competition. Can data give you a competitive edge? People and the decisions they make determine a company’s success. In today’s world of information overload, a data-driven culture is essential to successfully compete. How does data inform your team members’ decisions? If you are thinking about how to leverage data to outsmart the competition and foster long-term success, tune in to this episode! Interested in being a guest or have a suggested top...

Your data, your choice—where you store it is up to you. While cloud vendors often make compelling pitches, their services come at a cost, and the truth is, it can add up quickly. For mid-market businesses, every dollar counts, and decisions about using the cloud for data storage, infrastructure, computing, integration, and analytics can have a major impact. There is a lot to consider, including cybersecurity. In this episode, join Paul and Alex as they delve into the key...

Think data solutions are only for big enterprises? Think again. This episode explores how small and mid-sized businesses can build effective data systems without breaking the bank. While technology prices are dropping, overall spending continues to rise—especially in the world of data. Increased data volumes play a role, but there’s more to the story. Join us to discover why you might be overpaying to store and process your data, and how cloud technology, while convenien...

How do you measure the value of a data solution? How much is a dashboard really worth to your business? ROI, or return on investment, is the go-to metric for evaluating the viability of capital projects. But how does it apply to data projects? While data pipelines and dashboards may not directly generate revenue, they’re crucial for organizing your team to drive growth and improve performance. Does the organization have the metrics or KPIs to make good decisions? I...

What are the roles in a successful data team? In this episode, Paul meets with Alex again to discuss data teams. If all decision-making depends on good information, what's the best way to organize people to manage it? We also reflect on the evolving role of technology. The abundance of technology at our disposal today is not making the role of people less important. Interested in being a guest or have a suggested topic? Email me at Paul@leapfrogbi.com Connect with Paul (Founder and M...

Welcome to More Than Reports, a podcast for business leaders looking for that edge that will allow their vision to turn into reality. This podcast is a continuation of an audio podcast series I started years ago, Love Your Reports. I have graduated to video now and decided on a name change. On More Than Reports, I will be sharing insights on how data solutions can help businesses grow. Topics like Big Data, AI, and data warehousing will be demystified. I will focus on real-world applications ...

All businesses depend on information systems to function. Are transactional systems sufficient? What about spreadsheets? Are they enough when it comes to producing reports? With so many systems around, should growing companies invest on reporting systems? How far can you get without one? In this episode Paul Felix (founder of LeapFrogBI) explores the whys and why-nots of using specialized reporting solutions. With Alex Almeida he describes some of the hard questions managers...

Join Paul B. Felix on "More Than Reports," where we offer practical solutions and data-driven results for business leaders. Listen as we: Tackle real-world data challengesAnswer questions about data technologyShare best practices for managing complex data environments We go beyond the buzz to help you make the most of your data. It's not just about data; it's what you do with the data that makes the difference. Interested in being a guest or have a suggested topic? Email me at ...

A trend that we should all consider is the growing number of nomads. People are increasingly choosing to live a non-traditional mobile lifestyle. What is driving this change? How does this impact our business intelligence solutions? I'll address these questions and more in today's episode. Interested in being a guest or have a suggested topic? Email me at Paul@leapfrogbi.com Connect with Paul (Founder and Managing Partner, LeapFrogBI): LinkedIn Watch on YouTube: Leap...

It is helpful to segment reports into categories. Doing so helps in describing the value each report delivers. In today's episode I'll describe the 4 categories of reports and provide examples of each. Interested in being a guest or have a suggested topic? Email me at Paul@leapfrogbi.com Connect with Paul (Founder and Managing Partner, LeapFrogBI): LinkedIn Watch on YouTube: LeapFrogBI - YouTube Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon

Business Intelligence is often thought to be limited to only large organizations that can afford a team of experts to build elaborate technical solutions. In fact, nearly every company already uses business intelligence no matter how small. There are vast differences in architecture and level of automation, but BI is not optional. Business builders and operators will do what needs to be done to capture value opportunities even if this requires 100% manual data wrangling. Int...

How long will it take to build a specific feature into your reporting solution? This is a common question that unfortunately does not have a simple answer. Today we will dive into estimates. The goal is to provide an understanding of the type of work required to complete certain types of requests. This should also explain why certain requests are estimated to consume much more time than others. Interested in being a guest or have a suggested topic? Email me at Paul@lea...

The term "business intelligence" (BI) has been around for quite a while. Unfortunately, there is often confusion as to what exactly BI means. Today I'm going explore some top vendor definitions of BI and provide my own perspective. Interested in being a guest or have a suggested topic? Email me at Paul@leapfrogbi.com Connect with Paul (Founder and Managing Partner, LeapFrogBI): LinkedIn Watch on YouTube: LeapFrogBI - YouTube Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon

This week I'm revisiting a prior topic; Trust. Everything we are doing to build reportopia hinges on business users trusting the reports being provided. In this episode I'll break down one critical component of building trust; testing. With a focus on business users' role, I'll cover the testing process and discuss some of the challenges we must overcome. Interested in being a guest or have a suggested topic? Email me at Paul@leapfrogbi.com Connect with Paul (Founder and Ma...