Roadmap to Self-

Service Analytics
and BI Adoption
Organizations launching self-service analytics and BI
(A&BI) struggle to find the right balance between agility
and control. To combat this, data and analytics technical
professionals should build a governed self-service analytics
capability that enables and supports end users.

A lack of guardrails around Inefficient use of resources

self-service A&BI can lead
to chaos and a whole host Siloed data and analytics
of quality, security and Inconsistent findings
performance problems like: across reports

In fact, 70% of organizations say they

regularly argue about whose data is correct.

Step 1:
Prework
Start

Strategy

Identify analytics use cases and establish a strategy

and roadmap based on project value and feasibility.
Tip! Discourage
Select an A&BI platform to support self-service.
widespread self-
service data
Roles and Skills preparation from
the outset. Instead,
Assess the organization’s readiness for self-service. provide curated
Assign and train the A&BI platform administrator. data through the
data delivery layer.
Data

Understand and evaluate the current data state.

Design a data delivery layer for self-service.

Process and Governance

Determine where to trade off between agility and control —

fewer processes means more flexibility but greater risks.

Step 2:
Pilot

Strategy

Identify a pilot use case and the business users

who will participate in it. Choose something
feasible that will deliver real value.

Roles and Skills

Tip! Use the pilot Design and deliver a training program to the pilot group.
to improve the data Create a repository of resources, documentation
layer and training and best practices.
program and to
identify the strengths
Data
and weaknesses of
the A&BI tool.
Build the data layer Options include: a self-service data
mart, materialized views in a database, a
for self-service and semantic layer or data virtualization tool,
catalog assets. or datasets within the A&BI platform.

Process and Governance

Manage A&BI platform tenant-level settings.

Implement security controls within the data layer
and document access and sharing policies.

Step 3:
Launch

Strategy

Leverage business analysts in lines of business (LOBs) to

champion self-service analytics for their teams/departments.

Roles and Skills

Build a portfolio of templates and prototype

reports and dashboards.
Incorporate education around governance policies Tip! Create a
and best practices into end-user training. feedback loop with
the business to
Data diagnose and follow
up on issues, and
Grow the data layer to include more use cases. make improvements
as necessary.
Focus on data quality, understandability
and security protocols.

Process and Governance

Develop a usage and activities monitoring

solution that includes user behaviors and
platform health metrics.

Step 4:
Scale

Strategy

Encourage adoption of self-service by promoting

and recognizing valuable analytical content created
by the business.

Roles and Skills

Tip! Use GenAI-enabled Diversify training delivery modes and support

natural language through a COE or communities of practice.
querying to further
democratize data across Encourage self-service champions
business consumers of to train others in their LOB.
varying skills.
Data

Enable more skilled users to do self-service data

preparation by providing additional training and supports.

Process and Governance

Use an analytics catalog to make content easy to find and consume.

Implement processes to manage the development
lifecycle of key content.

Data and analytics technical

professionals should collaborate with the
business throughout the design, launch
and expansion of self-service analytics.
This ensures that business needs are met
and an appropriate level of governance is
applied as adoption increases.
Source: Gartner
© 2024 Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. 806456_C