The report discusses the difference between analysis and analytics, stating that while analysis is a straightforward process that can be performed by either a human or a machine, analytics requires technology support. Analytics is the process of bringing data sets together into one larger set that is normalized and processed to discover meaning and function through trends and patterns. The report emphasizes the importance of knowing which questions to ask in order to drive value from analysis, and suggests that technology can help extract even more value in near real time with fewer limiting assumptions. In the world of procurement and supply operations, asking a question such as "Should I renegotiate this category of spend now?" presupposes a number of constraints or rules that may or may not be valid.
