Key Performance Indicators

Artificial intelligence, also known as AI. The focus is on machine learning and the automation of processes. Intelligent systems should control processes by themselves. They learn from themselves.

BCD-Suite is the advanced software suite of BusinessCode. It is used to create web applications that work with complex data and is used daily by thousands of users in large enterprises. The BCD suite consists of three modules: BCD-UI, BCD-BM, BCD-JC.

The term "block chain" refers to a decentralized database. It contains a constantly growing list of transaction records. The database is extended chronologically linearly, therefore the comparison with a chain, to which new elements are constantly added at the lower end. As soon as one block is completed, the next one is created. It is the basis for online currencies.

Business Analytics describes data analysis processes on the basis of which entrepreneurial decisions for the future are made. The results flow into analysis models and simulations to better understand the current situation and make reliable predictions for the future. In addition to data mining, business analytics also includes predictive analytics. This approach provides answers to future-oriented questions.

Business Intelligence is a process for the systematic analysis of companies. A BI system collects data from different sources, evaluates it and finally visualizes it. The basic goal is to create a reliable basis for entrepreneurial decisions. Classic BI solutions provide past based evaluations.

This refers to the monitoring of business processes. Business Process Monitoring (BPM) enables rapid problem identification in business processes and clarifies the effects of possible problems and how they can be solved.

Founded in 1999 by Hanno Gehron in Bonn, Germany, BusinessCode stands for reliable software solutions at the highest level in complex environments. Long-standing employees are an integral part of the international team that serves customers worldwide from Bonn.

This is an innovative technology to improve the performance of companies. A cloud is a digital infrastructure that includes storage space and applications. It is usually provided by appropriate providers and is located outside the operating rooms. Access can take place from different locations.

This is active support in the form of advising a customer. Advice is always provided on a customer-specific basis. This is an individual service that can rarely be transferred to other customers / projects to the same extent. The scope of a consultation is negotiated between customer and consultant and usually depends on the requirements of the customer. The quality of the consultation depends on different factors. Among other things the experience of the consultant and his technical authority play an important role here.

On the dashboard, prepared data is visualized, mostly with the help of graphics (see KPI). This allows you to see which values are in the normal or critical range. A dashboard often offers the possibility of a drill-down function that provides in-depth insights into the data.

Data is collected, processed and visualized. The analysis can be used independently of certain specialist areas; the requirements determine the respective analysis. It forms the basis for subsequent strategic decisions.

The conversion of analog processes, projects, events and values into digital formats is called digitization. The data obtained in this way can be further processed using IT. Digitization plays a role in business, society, work and private life and in some cases brings about serious changes.

Usually refers to the dispatch of goods. In today's society, it is difficult to separate returns, i.e. goods returned by the customer.

Electronic Commerce refers to trading on the Internet. The focus in e-commerce is mainly on B2B and B2C businesses. In recent years, electronic commerce has become increasingly important on the market and in some cases has pushed back stationary trade. If both sales channels are used side by side, this is referred to as multi-channel marketing.

A connection between two precisely defined end devices is set up here. Remote access is only permitted between these two devices. If there are other devices in the network, these are excluded from the connection. Example: Maintenance work on a server.

End-to-Site connects individual devices to a network. Example: Employees from the home office or while travelling can connect to the company network from there.

A federation is a union of several units, persons, associations, enterprises, organizations etc.. It is a group that acts (partly) closed to the outside world. As a rule, those who join together have similar interests.

Hardware is the physical part of a data processing system. Hardware is the counterpart to software. All components of a technical device that react to mechanical or electronic signals are referred to as hardware.

Also known as the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0 describes the direct networking between humans, products and machines in the manufacturing sector. Here the "Internet of Things" plays the central role as a basic technology. Intelligent networking enables, among other things, higher productivity, optimized logistics and more intensive cooperation with customers. Customer wishes can be realized better and more individually. Lot sizes of 1 can be realized in the future without higher costs.

This includes all processes related to the flow of goods and materials within the company itself. This includes many processes such as organization, control, execution and optimization, but also packaging and shipping of the goods. Internal logistics offers numerous approaches to optimization in order to increase the flexibility of the company and to optimize transport routes and lot sizes, among other things.

Short: IoT; term for the networking of physical and virtual objects. A physically tangible object has a virtual counterpart. This communicates with other virtual objects. Thus it exchanges information about the state of the physical object. The information is linked together and made available.

e.g. online shopping or online banking, see E-Commerce.

Internet of Things is the networking of physical and virtual objects.  See Internet of Things.

Abbreviation for information technology. Generic term for information and data processing as well as the collection, storage and administration of digital information. Application based on technical services and functions provided for this purpose. See also IT consulting, IT service providers or IT support.

Consulting and support on a wide range of topics from SLA management to project management. Complex data analyses are digitized in the environment of complex workflows and integrated into a workflow by IT consultants. The quality of the consulting service depends on various factors (e.g. professional competence and experience).

Information technology services; see also IT Support and IT Consulting.

The support is then called upon if there are difficulties in dealing with software and hardware. The support assists with their elimination or takes care of them independently. IT support is offered at different service levels. In addition to the scope of the service, the time window can also vary, with IT support being available as needed. The selected scope of the service package influences the service costs.

Indicators that show the progress in relation to a previously defined goal and its success factors. See Key Performance Indicators or KPIs.

Measure by which the progress of important objectives or the fulfilment of those objectives can be measured. See also KPI.

The Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a measure of progress against a pre-defined target and its success factors, and serves as a benchmark for evaluating performance. Among other things, key figures can provide information on product quality or the utilization of machines and systems.

Program library; in programming, a collection of subroutines and routines that offer solutions for thematically related problems is referred to as a library. No independently executable units. Program libraries comprise all types of libraries containing program code.

General planning, control, optimization and implementation of flows of goods, information and people. For companies in the logistics sector, the handling of consignments, recalls or repairs are part of everyday life. IT service providers can help out with a suitable plan, know-how and systems (see BCD Suite).

The entire logistical and production processes of the individual value-added stages. The processes include suppliers, logistics companies and customers. See also Supply Chain.

One speaks of a large company when the company makes a turnover of more than 50 million euros a year. The number of employees also plays a role in the classification. For large companies, standard IT solutions are not sufficient and must be adapted accordingly. Digitisation and automation are widespread in all areas.

A network is a combination of two or more computers. The exchange of data between these computers serves to obtain information. A network can also consist of several people who exchange information and maintain contact.

Networking refers to the connection of a system or the establishment of relationships between individual elements of a system. A popular example is networking in social networks. In general, networking on the Internet stands for the global exchange of information.

Software on Demand, also known as SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solution, is particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises. Unlike an in-house solution, on-demand software runs on the server of the software provider. The user only acquires the right of use and no ownership of the solution itself.

Among other things, online shopping or online banking, see e-commerce and Internet trading.

The performance of processors (e.g. graphics processors) or computers. The performance of software and hardware. Also data processing power or performance, colloquially often "speed".

A platform is a uniform basis to which components can be connected or on which offers can be made. Programs, for example, can be run on one platform, so that the best solution can be selected for the respective field of application. A distinction can be made between hardware (processor, computer) and software (operating system, applications) platforms as well as online platforms on which online trading is conducted on the Internet.

Predictive analytics uses historical data to predict future events. The data is collected to build a mathematical model based on it that captures key trends. This predictive model is applied to current data to predict what events are expected to occur next or to suggest activities to achieve optimal results.

These include the initiation, planning, control, monitoring and completion of projects. IT service providers can be both supporting partial and overall project managers from development to completion and implementation in the area of successful and reliable software projects.

Prefabricated software products according to modern industry standards that can be used immediately without having to be adapted. In this context one can also speak of so-called "Plug & Play solutions".

Remote, also known as remote-access, describes in IT an access to computers, servers, networks or devices remotely. Usually implemented by a VPN client (Virtual Private Network). A VPN provides an encrypted and secure connection even over insecure networks. The three systems site-to-site, end-to-site and end-to-end form the basis for remote access.

A service describes the provision of a service against payment. Services are intangible goods; they are usually provided by people who are thus responsible for a large part of the service. They are called service providers.

In this case, two networks, including the respective devices, are connected to each other. This allows all installed devices of both networks to communicate with each other according to defined access rules. Example: the network of a subsidiary company can be merged with that of the head office.

Small and medium-sized enterprises belong to the middle class. It is particularly important for them to keep pace with digitisation. They need appropriate support during implementation. According to the definition of IfM Bonn, small and medium-sized enterprises, family businesses and owner-operated businesses are to be understood as synonyms.

This is a generic term for executable programs and their components. Software is the counterpart to hardware and is therefore the intangible part. It is information in the form of data and programs. Operating systems and installed programs belong to software.

Creation of software; software development often takes place in teams. Several software developers work together on the development of a solution and complement each other in the work and development process.

Collection of subroutines and routines that offer solutions for thematically related problems, see Library.

This is software with a clearly defined area of application that handles tasks in the same or a similar way everywhere. It can be purchased as a finished product and, unlike individual software, is not adapted to specific industry or customer requirements (see also Standard Solution).

An IT solution "off the shelf". Often more cost-effective and risk-free than individual solutions. As a rule, they are used by numerous customers/companies and have therefore been tried and tested in practice. It usually works without major problems. Special requirements of individual customers/companies are usually not covered.

Value and supply chain; in IT, supply chain management means the planning, control and monitoring of the entire supply chain, from raw material extraction through individual stages of product processing to the customer. The prerequisite for optimizing the supply chain is far-reaching integration of data processing among the individual participants.

Includes all processing steps that serve the simultaneous tracking of objects, such as packages.

Tracking and tracing: Mostly it is a software or a tool with which the route of a shipment can be tracked very precisely from the start to the delivery. Tracking & Tracing tools are used above all for the tracking of postal items and in shipping. Errors and problems in the supply chain can thus be processed and tracked. The tools provide information about each station of a good at a specific time. In this way, not only supply chains but entire production chains can be monitored.

This refers to the transfer of various goods (or persons) by land, air or water to another location. The so-called "Daily Transport Monitoring" offers the possibility of transport data evaluation and thus the improvement of the transport system.

A network of organisations involved in the multi-stage chain from value creation to the end product, usually in the form of products and services. See also Supply Chain.