"First, they ignore you. Then, they laugh at you. Then, they fight you. Then, you win." - Mahatma Gandhi
Has BDB reached this stage? It doesn't seem so. However, there are promising signs, and I'm hopeful that the "ignore" phase will pass with the upcoming BDB 8.5 version. Let's delve into the story of this quarter.
The year 2023 has proven to be quite challenging for startups, especially those without significant funding. Several of our clients have changed their course, and some are postponing contract signings indefinitely, hoping for a game-changing shift with GenAI.
Believe it or not, I heard of one Managing Director who contemplated eliminating his entire design staff, convinced that GenAI could handle all the drawings for him!
Allow me to reintroduce BDB to you, both from my perspective and from the perspective of our esteemed customers and partners.
A few years back, during our presence at the Gartner Data & Analytics event in Mumbai, a curious gentleman approached me:
Other: "So, what sets BDB apart? Why should I consider it?" (A hurried Chief Information Officer from a large conglomerate in India)
Me: "First, you should familiarize yourself with what BDB offers, and then we can discuss its unique advantages. The most crucial factor is its applicability to your specific data and analytics needs."
Other: "I don't have much time. Can you give me a 2-minute demo and explain how this can benefit me?"
Me: I looked him straight in the eyes and said, "I can't explain it to you in 2 minutes, as it requires a deep understanding of the data analytics platform business. You may present yourself as an expert in data and analytics, giving demos and lectures, but I doubt your ability to implement it successfully in a company."
(I had observed this leader for many years and noticed that none of his previous companies had successfully implemented data and analytics, and he left without achieving it in any of them.)
Sadly, I've encountered many like him, not only in India but globally—individuals who come with preconceived notions, lack successful implementation experience, frequently change jobs, attend conferences, and build networks but cannot point to a single large-scale, cost-efficient deployment exceeding multiple petabytes.
Why even consider BDB when all you think about is the brand, and your focus is on rapidly building your resume without contributing substantially to your employing company? It may sound harsh, but in my experience, this holds true for about 80% of Chief Information Officers, and I predict that 80% of such CIOs will be out of the picture within the next four years.
If you're faced with a choice between Microsoft and AWS, start evaluating from day one. There's no need to waste a year deciding between these platforms. Implementing BDB, on the other hand, may require some time, courage, a clear understanding of data and analytics, and the ability to see things as they are. Large language models (LLMs) have further confused this group of CIOs, and instead of taking a year, they may now take 1.5 years to decide. I've witnessed many smart CIOs who have successfully implemented their solutions over 4-5 years, using AWS, Google, or Azure, with open-source tools and UI tools like PowerBI or Tableau. They take immense pride in their achievements, but when we examine further:
- – The implementation takes twice as long.
- – The cost of implementation is 1.5 times higher compared to a BDB-like platform.
- – Maintenance and enhancement costs are three times higher than what they would be with BDB support.
Now, let's not discuss the not-so-successful cases. The concept and utilization of data and analytics for achieving insights are evolving. With our average implementation team, we can deliver results much faster. It makes me wonder why brands are not adopting real analytics more quickly.
Returning to the story of this quarter, we managed to secure some interesting contracts. Some of them came about due to our track record of successful implementations, while most resulted from proof-of-concept (POC) or minimum viable product (MVP) phases that required BDB's investment.
BDB doesn't mind investing in a POC to showcase the platform's capabilities, especially when customers are apprehensive about choosing a lesser-known name in the market. However, BDB has extensive experience in business intelligence (BI), with a core team from prestigious institutions like IITs. We are a group of extraordinary professionals capable of bringing about significant changes in any organization serious about implementing analytics.
We are selective about whom we engage with. Even though my team faces challenges, it takes me just 30 minutes to gauge one's understanding of data and analytics platforms.
If I were to display a graph of the 20 contracts we've signed in the last three months, it becomes evident that:
- - People are looking beyond generative AI; they understand that merely talking about it on LinkedIn won't feed their teams or markets. Influencers may create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out), but no company is going to shut down because LLMs are not deployed in production. In fact, overreliance on GenAI carries risks. Integrating LLMs is not a complex task, and BDB offers three options for this. Stay tuned for my report on LLMs when we launch 8.5.
- - Be patient and offer free POCs; customers want to see their data and analytics in action rather than relying on Gartner or Forrester reports.
- - Planning and coaching internal teams can turn the challenges of 2023 into significant opportunities.
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- Be prepared to part ways with underperformers, even some top performers if they lack patience.
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- BDB can compete for contracts against any type of competitor, in any geography, and across any vertical.
| Geography |
Vertical |
Competition |
| Europe |
Telecom |
BusinessObjects |
| Africa |
Telecom |
Tableau |
| Africa |
Telecom |
Qlikview |
| UK |
Telecom |
SISense |
| Middle East |
Insurance |
AWS |
| USA |
Retail |
Microsoft |
| Turkey |
Energy |
Tableau |
| Singapore |
Finance |
PowerBI |
| Middle East |
University |
PowerBI |
| USA |
Education |
PowerBI |
| USA |
Advertising |
AWS |
| India |
Workforce Analytics |
Microsoft |
| India |
Analytics Partner |
All BI Products |
| USA |
Group of Hospitals |
Google |
| Africa |
Telecom |
Qlikview |
| Africa |
Telecom |
SISense |
| Africa |
Telecom |
SISense |
| India |
Retail |
SAS |
| UK |
Finance |
ThoughtSpot |
| Mexico |
Telecom |
SISense |
| India |
Oil & Gas |
All BI Products |
| India |
Analytics Partner |
All BI Products |
Different Contracts with Geography, Vertical and Competition
If you doubt my claims, sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with BDB, and I can show you these contracts (unless, of course, you're a competitor; in that case, I have no interest in speaking with you). We've used versions 8.0, 8.2, and 8.3 in most of the POCs, and we've dedicated the entire year to securing these contracts.
With 8.5 launching in early October, I anticipate this version will greatly benefit existing customers and partners on their analytics
journey. It features Generative AI integration (completely secure with controlled costs) and intriguing search operations.
8.5 also introduces the self-service BI flow, a concept we've been refining for five years. While I can't say it's the absolute best yet, those who try it will understand its value for normal users seeking to make the most of their data. BDB will soon be launching its official cloud licenses.
These contracts have prompted significant changes in our financial portfolio:
- We've shifted from a 20:80 ratio of license revenue versus services to a 60:40 ratio.
- Our largest customer now accounts for less than 10% of our total revenue.
- License revenue will cover 80% of the company's current costs.
- Current contracts will result in a 30% to 100% increase in annual recurring revenue (ARR) over the next two years.
We've also made strides in training 10 partner and customer teams in building analytics on the BDB platform. They will start using BDB to create more content in the market. Adoption is on the rise, and the resistance among developers to learning a BDB-like platform is diminishing. In time, it will disappear completely within three years.
All of this has been achieved without external investments or loans. In fact, the fintech industry and banks in India consider us one of the riskiest organizations, but we've thrived solely on investment from the BDB team and their families.
If you're looking to create a robust data analytics story, please consider blocking a three-hour workshop session with the BDB team or reaching out to me. In these three hours, we can provide a comprehensive overview. There's no point in wasting each other's time if you fall into any of these categories:
- - You're merely experimenting, unable to define the problem and its metadata within five minutes.
- - You're content with your existing data and analytics deployment.
- - You lack understanding of this domain.
- - You want a generative AI solution without a proper analytics foundation
- - You doubt whether an Indian company can be as competitive as top global firms.
- - If you are looking for Low Cost Solution to Show from Indian Company and build customer base
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to all the paying partners and customers who trust in the BDB platform. Please feel free to reach out to me for more details on 8.5. We've already developed comprehensive training materials that not only describe 8.5 features but also provide practical insights into data analytics, aspects that most training institutes cannot cover in a year.
