Business Intelligence technology for over 20 years is the market leader in analytical processing of data. As numerous market researches demonstrate Business Intelligence has substantial affect on global competitiveness of enterprises and on the stability of their position in the market, which is particularly important in times of economic downturn. Although main users of this technology are large companies and corporations, software vendors are still looking for solutions that are also available for the SME (Small and Middle Enterprises) sector and non-profit enterprises. One option available recently is possibility to use Cloud Computing environment. The article considers the opportunities and risks posed by the organization of Cloud Business Intelligence system on the example of using it in SME sector.

Technology has become a crucial service medium also for higher education institutions (HEIs). Moreover, the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly underscored the relevance of studies on e-services. This article analyzes the technological maturity of HEIs in Poland with the obtained results analyzed against the backdrop of the current pandemic. The study considers the overall level of universities’ virtualization, condition of their ICT infrastructure, IT services offered by public universities, and their use of advanced technologies. The results are analyzed in terms of two aspects: (1) the current technological maturity of HEIs in Poland and their ability to offer virtualized public services during the pandemic and (2) the dimensions of technological maturity that universities ought to focus on with a view to preventing the deterioration of e-services and their quality. Based on the above, recommendations are formulated in terms of improving flexibility to cope with the challenges of this difficult period.

The objective of this publication is to provide a general overview of research related to Big Data that may, in the future, result in the formulation of the concept of Big Data paradigm. It was assumed that the key are two other paradigms: Knowledge-Based Economy and Sustainable Development. The scope of discussion relates primarily to the relations between potentiallypossible Big Data paradigm and Sustainable Development paradigm. Economic and social aspects were presented as a complement to the technological aspect, which is usually cited as the primary one in the context of Big Data.