Hints at the Power of Machine Learning
After working for well over a decade in Business Intelligence primarily focusing on Oracle Business Intelligence (OBIEE) , Oracle Analytics Cloud (OAC) offers many new ways to interact and learn from an organization's data. Data Visualization is an application that provides a new level of interactivity and simplicity to building ad hoc reports that are easy to understand and navigate, but that at least is a natural evolution of the concepts I had been honing for years and years. There are other features within OAC that feel like completely uncharted territory for me, even after all those years. Specifically, DV contains a Machine Learning module that blows the doors off of what's possible with the BI suite of tools.
What is Machine Learning?
To over simplify, Machine Learning is the process of using Artificial Intelligence to interpret sets of data with minimal human interaction. Even the best, most coherent dashboards and reports still require at least one person to be familiar with the data, what it represents, and the questions and answers it serves. Machine Learning looks to automate pieces of that process to provide insights and answers from your data, both to your questions and to questions you may not have even considered.
Oracle Analytics Cloud includes a Machine Learning module within Data Visualization and this post will be the first in a series exploring the concepts and applications of Machine Learning within OAC.
For now, let's look at one of the ways Machine Learning is already integrating with normal functionality of OAC.
Explaining Data
When I first heard OAC had an "explain" function built in, my first instinct was to think of the command to display a SQL database's execution plan, but OAC has a built in feature that actually leverages some ML scripts to profile selected data elements to illustrate insights about them.
Within DV, you can right click on a data element and select "Explain [Field Name]" to utilize these built in scripts that require no configuration on your end.
The result is a profile of the data element you've selected with both visualizations and narrative text to explain the insights for the element that is being analyzed. Note in the screenshot above, you get both the donut chart showing the distribution of the data element within the data set as well as a short text description.
You can even select the visualization, then click "add selected" and immediately begin to use Data Visualizations project editor to customize to drill further. For example, I took the donut chart shown above and added Termination Reason to analyze the various Termination Types further.
The Explain feature is maybe the best way to demonstrate the possibilities of Machine Learning at a very basic level. By creating these insights from just looking at the content of your data, you're starting to get answers to question you haven't really asked yet. In addition, you're also starting to see how the AI can begin to pull the data apart and provide narrative context for the information, which traditionally has always leaned heavily on human interaction to achieve.
Over the next few blog posts on Machine Learning, we will start to look at utilizing scripts for ML and how flexible OAC truly is in depth statistical analysis and creating more complex actionable insights for a specific purpose.
Partner SpotLight
Oracle
Oracle has the most comprehensive suite of integrated, global business applications that enable organizations to make better decisions, reduce cost..
Our Company
MindStream Analytics' senior staff was there at the birth of Business Intelligence. We have been part of building Business Intelligence nationally from its humble niche product status to the ubiquitous analytic tool that it is today. MindStream consultants are well versed in reporting and information management and are ready to help you leverage the power of multiple tier-1vendors. From Oracle Hyperion to IBM Cognos, we can help you select and integrate the right tools for you to better understand your information. MindStream Analytics has experience across a wide variety of industries: Business Services, Consumer Products, Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Transportation , and Telecommunication. We have the depth and breadth of experience to help you deliver actionable information to users.
Whether you need an enterprise wide Oracle BI Enterprise Edition (OBIEE) rollout, an Oracle BI Apps rollout, or an IBM Cognos ReportNet rollout, MindStream Analytics is here to help you succeed.
Case Studies
Accumen
Thanks to the intervention of MindStream Analytics, Accumen's Finance department can now model their business with a new, more organized structure that isn't conventionally available in NetSuite.
Acme Brick
Acme Brick turned to MindStream Analytics for help implementing OneStream to replace their outdated TM1 solution.
Alterra
Alterra sought the expertise of MindStream to address the challenges they faced in their Capital Planning process.
ATCO Group
Energy conglomerate ATCO operates worldwide in utilities, power generation, and related services.
Avalon
Working with MindStream Analytics, Avalon Healthcare Solutions adopts NetSuite Planning and Budgeting to accelerate budgeting and forecasting processes.
Bayer Health Care
Bayer Healthcare implemented Hyperion Planning and Workforce Planning in 10 weeks to dramatically streamline their Income Statement budget and Workforce Planning process..
BluEarth
MindStream Analytics' partnership with BluEarth Renewables epitomizes the power of technology and collaboration.
Celgene
An Oracle Hyperion Planning Upgrade provides multi-national organization Hyperion Application optimization and stabilization.
Cleaver Brooks
OneStream XF was chosen as the platform that would transform Cleaver-Brooks' Finance processes.
CoorsTek
The collaboration between CoorsTek and MindStream resulted in significant improvements in CoorsTek's financial consolidation and reporting processes.
Elite Body Sculpture
MindStream Analytics' collaboration with Elite Body Sculpture encapsulates the transformative potential of targeted tech solutions in streamlining administrative processes.
Enlyte
Enlyte, a merger of Mitchell, Genex, and Coventry, faced challenges with disparate financial solutions and the need for combined reporting.
Flanders
MindStream Analytics collaborated with Flanders to implement OneStream Consolidation and Reporting solution.
Foley Products
Foley Products was facing a significant challenge with its Excel-based actual management reporting system.
Harte Hanks
The collaboration between MindStream Analytics and Harte Hanks culminated in a highly customized, user-friendly NetSuite implementation.
Interface
Interface used a complex, manual, excel-based FP&A process for monthly review, and the summary data was loaded in OneStream.
Kymera International
Thanks to Mindstream Analytics' assistance, Kymera was able to load all of their data into OneStream and validate it successfully.
MacLean Fogg
MacLean-Fogg partnered with MindStream, a leading implementor specializing in modernizing and optimizing enterprise systems.
MEPPI
MindStream's expertise and experience were sought to conduct a vendor selection initiative focusing on MEPPI's F2023 planning process.
OUAI
MindStream Analytics and OUAI's collaboration showcases the transformative power of strategic technological intervention.
Plaskolite
By migrating to OneStream, Plaskolite has achieved a material reduction in consolidation time and overall Financial Close cycle, eliminated the hours spent compiling and verifying data in Excel, streamlined its Planning, Budgeting and Forecasting model and delivered flexible and timely reporting that enables more strategic analysis of their financial data.
Redwire
Understanding the nuances of Redwire's challenges, MindStream Analytics devised a holistic approach to overcome them. The implementation of NetSuite was just the beginning.
Simon
Simon's existing corporate Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) production application was consolidating at a rate of seven hours, a performance issue causing great headache to corporate Accounting.
Source Code
The successful transition to OneStream revolutionized Source Code's financial reporting.
Subway
Subway collaborated with MindStream Analytics for the NetSuite Analytics Warehouse implementation.
UPenn
MindStream Consulting and AppCare team members are proud be working side by side with UPenn university in accomplishing this implementation and along with continuing our AppCare services after go-live.
USG
USG was an Oracle Hyperion customer realizing that it needed more specialized support for its various Oracle Hyperion applications.
Vantiv
Dividing a hyperion planning application, expanding the hyperion footprint to forecast on the business? Customer categories.
Versant Health
Versant Health engaged MindStream to help resolve the challenges they were experiencing with their consolidation, close, and financial reporting processes.
Virginia Spaceport Authority
The MindStream team implemented the Standard + Workforce NetSuite Planning & Budgeting.
WeWork
MindStream Analytics determined that the best solution was to implement Oracle Essbase Cloud as part of the Oracle Analytics Cloud (OAC) platform-as-a-service
WindStream
Innovative use of essbase to streamline and connect hyperion financial management for enhanced financial analysis.
XY Planning
MindStream Analytics, well-versed in addressing such challenges, presented a comprehensive Netsuite solution for XY Planning.