BI
Also: Business Intelligence, Business-Intelligence, BI-System, BI-Tool, BI-Lösung, BI-Plattform
AI-generated
Business Intelligence (BI) refers to the systematic collection, preparation, and analysis of company data to support informed decision-making in logistics and supply chain management.
Key facts
- BI connects data from WMS, ERP, and TMS into a unified analytics layer, making logistics KPIs operationally actionable.
- The data quality of the source systems largely determines how reliable BI analyses are in practice.
- BI solutions can be operated either as integrated suite modules or as specialized best-of-breed platforms – both approaches are widely used.
- Latency, role concept, and integrability are the three most important selection criteria for a BI system in intralogistics.
What is Business Intelligence?
Business Intelligence (BI) encompasses methods, processes, and software tools that consolidate, cleanse, and prepare raw data from various source systems – such as WMS, ERP, or TMS – so that decision-makers can instantly assess where their operation stands. The result is dashboards, standardized reports, and ad-hoc analyses that surface key metrics such as picking performance, inventory turnover, or error rates. BI is therefore not a single product, but an interplay of data pipelines, a central data store (often a data warehouse or data lake), and a visualization layer.
How does BI work in logistics practice?
A typical BI setup in intralogistics consists of three layers. First, data integration: movement data, order volumes, and inventory figures flow via interfaces (often API or ETL processes) from the operational system into a central repository. Second, data storage: data is historized, enabling trend analyses and comparisons. Third, visualization: BI front ends present the prepared figures in real time or near real time as interactive charts, tables, and traffic-light indicators.
In practice, logistics teams use BI primarily for three purposes:
- Performance controlling: Up-to-date daily KPIs such as throughput, error rate, or utilization level show whether targets are being met.
- Root cause analysis: Drill-down functions help break down deviations by warehouse area, shift, or product group.
- Capacity planning: Historical order data makes it possible to identify seasonal patterns and manage resources proactively.
What matters when selecting a solution?
The quality of a BI system stands or falls with the data quality of the source systems. Inconsistent master data or missing movement data will inevitably lead to distorted analyses. It is therefore worth verifying that master data is cleansed and interfaces are stable before introducing a BI tool.
The following points also play a role in system selection:
- Latency: Do you need real-time dashboards, or are daily batches sufficient?
- Role concept: Who is permitted to see which data – shift supervisors, warehouse planning, or management?
- Integration: Can the BI tool be connected to the existing WMS and ERP via standard connectors?
- Scalability: Does the solution grow with increasing data volumes, for example during seasonal peaks?
Whether BI is operated as a standalone platform (best-of-breed) or as an integrated module within a suite depends on the vendor and on the existing IT landscape. Both approaches have their merits – what is decisive is that the data foundation is reliable and that users can understand and act on the reports.
Related terms
- ABC-Analyse
ABC analysis is a method for classifying items, vendors, or processes into three priority classes (A, B, C) based on their economic significance. It forms the basis for differentiated decision-making in warehousing, inventory management, and procurement.
- AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to systems that learn from data, recognize patterns, and on this basis support or automate decisions.
- API
An API (Application Programming Interface) is a defined interface through which two software systems can exchange data in an automated and standardized way. In intralogistics, it connects systems such as WMS, ERP, or TMS with one another and with external services.
- Absatzplanung
Sales planning refers to the systematic forecasting of future sales volumes for defined products, regions, or channels. It forms the foundation for all downstream planning processes in production, procurement, and logistics.
- Absatzprognose
The sales forecast estimates future demand for products or items over a defined period. It forms the basis for inventory, capacity, and procurement planning in logistics and purchasing.
- Balanced Scorecard
The Balanced Scorecard is a performance measurement system for holistic business management that links financial and non-financial objectives across four perspectives.
- Best-of-Breed
Best-of-Breed refers to an IT strategy in which the highest-performing specialist solution is selected for each function within the organization — rather than deploying a single suite from one vendor.
- Best-of-Breed vs Best-of-Suite
Best-of-Breed refers to an IT strategy in which the most specialized individual system is selected for each logistics process – as opposed to Best-of-Suite, where an integrated platform from a single vendor covers multiple processes.
- Bestandscontrolling
Inventory controlling refers to the systematic monitoring, analysis, and management of stock levels using defined key performance indicators. It connects logistics and procurement to reduce tied-up capital and ensure delivery capability.
- Bestandsmanagement
Inventory management refers to the systematic planning, control, and monitoring of stock levels across the entire supply chain. The goal is to ensure delivery capability while keeping capital commitment and warehousing costs within economically viable limits.
- Bewegungsdaten
Movement data captures all transactions and physical goods movements in the logistics process – from goods receipt and stock transfers to dispatch. It contains timestamps, quantities, locations and the units involved, and forms the basis for transparency, control and analysis in warehouse and…