1.  Delivery vehicle – decide based on what your business is using – if they are using Excel use excel and don’t go with complex tools.

2. Try to make it as much real time as possible. BI systems are usually separate from transactional systems – try to keep them as close as possible.

3. Where is the vehicle located – Business users want the information when they need it. They should be able to get that from Internet – laptop, palm top, iPhone etc.

4. Security – needless to say that there are paid hackers in the world who are waiting and trying to hack into your BI system. Yes, your competition. Design security.

5. Use targeted reports.  Business are going global but their needs are still local in some cases. Don’t design analytical reports for Australia which will be used as is in US. Completely different markets.

6. Use the push pull model. Push the information when available so that business users can pull it when required from their iPhone.

7. Beautify your vehicle – Dashboard charts are a really good way to show. Incorporate as much as you can.

All common sense. But we tend to forget these on a regular basis. I am really not a smart intelligent person – like to keep things very very simple.