#Bi tools for data analysis software

This includes mapping or creating relationships between data from multiple sources.Ĭreating metrics.

#Bi tools for data analysis software

The self-service software also must allow users to blend data from various source systems.

Self-service BI tools must enable users to select the data to be analyzed and present it in an interface like a pivot table, where dimension attributes are placed in rows and columns and filters are applied.ĭata blending. They provide more data management functionality for business users who are creating and running analytics applications instead of relying on prebuilt applications and integrated data sets. Several must-have features are specific to self-service BI use cases. Must-have features specific to self-service BI Natural language querying capabilities and AI-driven features to aid users with data discovery, data preparation and other BI tasks are also becoming core components. BI and business analytics systems are increasingly being deployed in the cloud, making cloud support - including multi-cloud capabilities - a common requirement in BI tools.Īugmented analytics technologies. BI data security also involves using a combination of security mechanisms from the OS, network, databases and source system. Business intelligence tools require both individual user access controls and role-based security to designate who can create, modify, publish, use and administer BI applications. In addition to visualizing data, the ability to design dashboards and create reports to share information with other users typically is a required element in BI software. BI tools must provide bar, line, pie, area and radar chart types for data visualization uses, as well as the ability to mix and match various combinations of charts.ĭashboard and report design functions. It should also enable the user to drill down from summarized information to more detailed data for further analysis.ĭata visualizations. A tool should enable you to filter the contents of a BI dashboard or report by data values, using features such as drop-down menus, search filters and slicers. In that case, don't waste time examining those aspects of the products during the evaluation process.ĭata filtering and drilldown capabilities. Many BI tools have a laundry list of features that a company may never use.

Although such features aren't required, they're often the differentiators when selecting a product. This classification should be unambiguous: If a product doesn't have a particular feature that's needed to meet your specific requirements, it should be eliminated from further consideration. To simplify that step, classify BI features and functions in these three groups:

Organizations should instead prioritize their requirements. They can be included as product criteria when it's time to create a request for proposal (RFP) to give to BI vendors.Īlthough product reviews by industry analysts and existing users can be a good source of introductory research, they're often oriented toward selecting the technology with the most features. Evaluation criteria for BI toolsīefore we outline some of the top products to consider, let's define the key features and functions you should look at to evaluate and select BI tools. Too many business intelligence software evaluations start without any scoping or financial boundaries, resulting in time wasted examining BI and analytics tools that don't fit a company's needs or budget. The anticipated budgets for the initial deployment and future work to sustain and expand the BI system are also key factors. There are a lot of BI tools to choose from, and making the wrong decision puts the success - and expected business benefits - of BI applications at risk.Įstablishing the scope of the BI project - how many people will use the software and what data they'll need to access - is the foundation of the selection process. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the business intelligence tools you purchase are suited to the BI and analytics use cases being implemented. The selection process involves gathering and prioritizing business requirements, documenting needed features and determining what style of BI software to buy, then evaluating the available products. Uses is critical to any BI project, at the enterprise level or in an individual business unit.