The emphasis on protecting data is important, but what one does with that data remains to be seen. According to a Business Objects report, raw data is not fundamentally useful. What key stakeholders-including sales, sales management, marketing, finance, and executives-increasingly demand is information, delivered in precise, accurate, and understandable terms. With their CRM solution installed, the crucial next step is to put in place the ability to obtain truly actionable, timely information.

Business Objects has prepared a white paper describing how to bring on-demand reporting to on-demand CRM functions such as Salesforce.com. Download the paper at the Ziff Davis web site.