Launching Global Business Intelligence Service- Providing full support from conceptualization to post-release business transformation based on global track record -

NTT DATA CORPORATION today began offering a Global Business Intelligence Service (hereinafter Global BI Service). The objectives of the service are to enable effective utilization of business intelligence (BI) systems after implementation, which has been an ongoing area of concern, and to resolve business issues, which is after all the original purpose of business intelligence. The service encompasses all aspects from consulting for initial conceptualization to post-implementation business transformation.
The Global BI Service is grounded in the strong track record of the NTT DATA Group in the development of BI systems on a global basis including The Revere Group, an NTT DATA Group company in the United States, Cirquent and itelligence, NTT DATA Group companies in Europe, and others in the implementation of such systems overseas, as well as that of NTT DATA in Japan. The service comprehensively provides BI implementation and support for ongoing operations on a global basis by integrating and realigning BI systems (a means of enhancing visibility) from the establishment of a vision of what the system is to accomplish and consulting for BI implementation to business transformation to obtain maximum benefit after implementation.

Background

As sales and production become international in scope, the global companies in industries such as manufacturing, distribution and retail that constitute our customer base are increasingly establishing overseas subsidiaries, while the number of businesses added to their consolidated balance sheets grows through mergers and acquisitions. Thus there is an expanding need for global strategic planning and integration of operations starting with sales, production and inventory management region-by region, with the ultimate aim of emerging victorious in worldwide competition.
In this environment, it is becoming more difficult to devise global business strategies through decision-making based on real-world information and to take speedy action, while resolving the various operation-level challenges that exist. Those challenges include the difficulty of comprehending plans for and the actual state of sales, production and inventories in different parts of the world; the large amount of time required by manual data collection and processing; and the unreliability of data going into the reports that are prepared.
On the other hand, business intelligence, which is adopted with the idea of rendering business operations more visible, has often not been made good use of in actual business operations. The reasons for that are many, including vagueness of concept and objectives, and the absence of a well-defined roadmap for innovation at the outset. Another factor is lack of consensus regarding the operational requirements because of insufficient participation by management and the workplace staff, who are the ones affected.
The NTT DATA Group will offer a full range of services based on a value provision model-the 3D (Driving, Designing, Developing) Value Cycle for innovation from conception to realization. Based on that ideal, the NTT DATA Group will formulate a vision, or target, for business innovation and prepare roadmaps in the pre-adoption phase, implement global BI systems, and follow through to ensure stable operation and effective utilization.

Overview and Features of the Service (see Attachment 1)

The NTT Data Group will provide a consistent menu of services centering on the fields of supply chain management (SCM) and customer relationship management (CRM), grounded in the know-how gained through numerous projects conducted in Japan and abroad. The services will be targeted to match the actual circumstances and requirements of the customer-from consulting services for conceptualization and implementation with the end results clearly in mind, to support for the transformation of business operations utilizing BI.

Global BI Service Menu (see Attachment 2)

1. BI Strategy and Planning Consulting
   • Establish targets for innovation (the vision) based on current business issues, and devise action plans for achieving that vision.
   • Prepare projects and define the business requirements for the realization of global BI as a means of achieving the vision.
   • Identify and standardize information for greater global transparency.
   • Utilize products selected by the NTT DATA BI/DWH Lab ^{(see Note 1)} and create demos utilizing actual customer data ("owner demos") for the precise selection of BI tools matching the requirements of the business.
2. BI System Implementation
   • In addition to its individual domestic achievements, the NTT DATA Group has a BI development team which, in conjunction with its global group companies, serves as a global deliverer of services.
   • Our BI delivery methodology provides integrated templates for major BI tools which are mainly targeting retail and manufacturing industry based on our BI experiences in NTT DATA Group.
3. Business Transformation
   • Provide transition planning, education and training support, master data maintenance, change management and other services in parallel to enable a smooth transition by all concerned parties in the face of change.
   • Standardize and establish sustainable business operations so that BI systems, once in place, gain acceptance with users, and to ensure the proper functioning of the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act) feedback loop.
   • Support periodic monitoring of key performance indicators utilizing BI systems that are embedded in real-world operations, and assist in the ongoing reengineering of those operations.

Going Forward

The NTT DATA Group has built an organization of approximately 400 Group members for provision of this service. Looking ahead, we will focus on the achievement of our customer's targets for innovation (upstream), transformation (effective utilization), and upgrading of our global BI services.

Note 1: For information on the BI/DWH Laboratory, see a press release issued by NTT DATA in November 25, 2008 at http://www.nttdata.com/media/2008/112500.html.
* Other names of products, companies, and organizations herein are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

• Attachment 1: Overview of Services
• Attachment 2: Flow of Services