Many organisations in the Nordics have invested heavily in reporting and dashboards over the past decade. KPIs, BI tools, and operational reports are now standard in most larger companies. Yet even with more data available, decision-making often remains slow, reactive, and based on historical insight rather than what is happening right now.
“Companies are moving from generic reports toward analytics that actively support decisions in real time. This trend is particularly evident across customer projects in the Nordics” explains Juris Bogdanovs, Head of Analytics and SAP Analytics Principal Consultant at Pearl, and Bernhard Olsen, Managing Director at PearlCare AMS and Business Development.
From dashboards to practical decision support
When companies approach Pearl, they rarely ask for more reports. Instead, they want help answering practical questions: Why are margins changing? Where are bottlenecks forming? Which deviations require immediate attention?
Many Nordic organisations already have extensive reporting in place. What they often lack is analytics that fits naturally into day-to-day decision-making.
“The challenge isn’t access to data,” says Bogdanovs. “It’s turning that data into something useful when decisions actually need to be made.”
Another common issue is fragmented data. Finance, supply chain, operations, and sales often work with separate datasets and definitions. Departments may have strong insight into their own areas, but decisions usually require a broader perspective. Without a clear, unified view of the data, discussions often focus on which numbers are correct rather than what action to take.
Juris Bogdanovs, Head of Analytics & Bernhard Olsen, Managing Director at PearlCare & Business Development
Growing demand for real-time insights
One of the biggest changes Pearl sees is the growing demand for real-time information. Decision-makers want to see what is happening now, not wait for reports that refresh at month-end.
This is especially important in supply chain, inventory, finance, and operations, where timing directly affects outcomes. Access to current data allows teams to respond sooner and prevent small issues from escalating.
Olsen explains: “The value of timely insight is being able to intervene earlier. When you see what’s happening as it unfolds, you can influence the outcome instead of reacting after the fact.”
Modern SAP systems, including SAP Business Data Cloud, link analytics directly to operational data. Insights are generated closer to where transactions occur, shortening the gap between business activity and decision-making.
Automation helps to act on the data
Bernhard and Juris highlighted how companies are beginning to use automation to take decisions one step further. Rather than simply presenting numbers, some solutions can now act on the data. For example:
- If stock levels fall below minimum thresholds, system can trigger actions directly in the ERP system, such as creating purchase orders or notifying suppliers.
- Reports are updated continuously, and users are asked to take action only if any of the important KPIs move outside the defined thresholds.
- Users move from spending time manually searching for data to observing dashboards with the most relevant KPIs and making well-informed decisions.
“Many manual tasks are being automated,” says Bernard Olsen. “End users don’t need to go looking for data - it’s presented and updated in real time, allowing decisions to match what’s happening on the ground.”
Customer examples: real-time data changing decisions
Tibnor, a leading Nordic steel distributor, improved access to operational data by implementing SAP Business Data Cloud. Within a month, more than 100 data flows were activated, integrating SAP data and other sources. This gave Tibnor a unified view of supply chain and inventory, improving planning, efficiency, and readiness for future growth.
Tibnor was also the first company globally to sign SAP Business Data Cloud, with Pearl as implementation partner. While still early in the journey, it illustrates how some organisations are already preparing their data landscape for more advanced analytics and future AI-driven use cases.
Another Nordic logistics company focused on sustainability. By linking operational data with analytics, the company could assess transport routes in real time, considering emissions, cost, and delivery time. Insights that previously required manual analysis became part of daily operations, supporting more sustainable decisions.
In both cases, the value came from clearer signals, faster feedback, and actionable insight, rather than more reports.
Illustration: © SAP. Originally published on the company’s website.
Making analytics truly useful
A recurring theme in Pearl’s work is that analytics success depends more on adoption than technology. Even the most advanced tools fail if they are not connected to real decisions and roles.
Dashboards often go unused because they are too generic or disconnected from specific tasks. Successful initiatives start by understanding: who needs to decide what, and when? Analytics embedded in everyday workflows is far more likely to be used than standalone reporting tools.
Juris Bogdanovs emphasizes the importance of starting with where the data comes from, not the software. “Companies often pick a platform first and then struggle to integrate existing data. It’s much more effective to start with the data sources, decide what decisions need support, and then choose a platform that fits.”
The Nordic advantage
Pearl notes that Scandinavian companies are well-positioned for this shift. Flat structures, high trust, and a pragmatic approach make it easier to adopt new methods when the benefits are clear.
At the same time, adoption can be challenging. Some managers are cautious about automation or AI and may distrust the technology. Success comes from taking a measured approach: focus on concrete challenges, demonstrate value quickly, and build confidence over time.
Moving from reporting to action
The move from reporting to action is already underway. Analytics is being embedded closer to operations, decisions are becoming data-informed, and insights are increasingly tied to execution.
For Nordic companies, the opportunity lies in:
- Strengthening the data foundation
- Focusing on practical business decisions
- Using analytics to create tangible impact
Companies that treat data as an active part of decision-making will be better positioned to adapt, grow, and respond in real time.
