Business Intelligence can improve profitability

At least a 1% business improvement is possible simply by applying Business Intelligence (BI), according to Mike Gilliland of AutoHouse Technologies.
“Business Intelligence helps decision makers make more informed decisions and supplies users with critical business information on their customers or partners, including information on behaviours and trends”, according to a Canadian Collision Industry Forum (CCIF) Saskatoon meeting report.
Gilliland encouraged delegates to take control of their IT and use BI to produce data they need to facilitate decision making, reduce costs and improve profitability, according to the report.
Certain BI applications allow the review of severity by model year, manufacturer, percentage of drivable versus requiring a tow, etc.
Furthermore, the application allows the comparison and review of past performances, in addition to looking forward with different
“what if” models where the user can manipulate the data.
A user can review historical trends, identifying and analyzing accounts for data on volume, profitability, vehicle mix, parts mix or compare key performance indicators across timelines. 
A clear understanding of business is crucial, according to the CCIF report.
There is a need for an instant view of current sales against budget or break-even, and a view of administrative tasks that are negatively affecting cash flow, including improper tracking of shop-pay items, parts returns for no-show repairs and timely closing of repair orders after delivery.