How to optimise your company's data management and understand your key business information

Proper management of numbers is critical to the success of any business, regardless of size or industry. Financial information is a key tool for informed decision-making, strategic planning and monitoring business performance. However, for many business owners and managers, managing the numbers can be overwhelming and confusing.

In this article, we'll give you some practical tips on how to organise and understand the numbers in your business, so you can make more informed decisions and increase your profitability.

    Establish a solid accounting system: The first thing you should do is establish a solid accounting system that allows you to properly record and classify all of your business's financial transactions. This includes income, expenses, assets, liabilities and equity. A sound accounting system will allow you to have a clear and up-to-date view of your company's financial status at all times.

    Analyse your financial statements: Once you have established a sound accounting system, it is important to analyse your financial statements to understand your current situation and make informed decisions. The key financial statements are the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement. By analysing these financial statements, you can determine areas of strength and weakness, identify opportunities for growth, and set long-term financial goals.

    Establish key performance indicators (KPIs): Key performance indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable measures that allow you to evaluate your company's performance in key areas, such as sales, profitability, productivity, and customer satisfaction. Establishing appropriate KPIs will allow you to monitor your business performance effectively and make informed decisions to improve performance in specific areas.

    Use data analysis tools: There are data analysis tools that can help you better organise and understand your business numbers. Power BI is a popular tool that allows you to visualise your data clearly and easily, making it easy to identify key trends and patterns. Other data analysis tools include Tableau, QlikView and Google Data Studio.

    Seek help from professionals: If you are still feeling overwhelmed or confused by managing your business numbers, seek help from finance or accounting professionals. An accountant or financial advisor can help you set up a solid accounting system, analyse your financial statements, establish appropriate KPIs and make informed decisions based on data.

In short, organising and understanding the numbers in your business is critical to informed decision-making and business success. Establishing a sound accounting system, analysing your financial statements, setting appropriate KPIs, using data analysis tools and seeking professional help are key steps to optimise the management of the numbers in your business.