If you want to use data in a smarter way, integrating business intelligence software into your company is an excellent start.
Regardless of the size of your business (whether it’s a small startup or a global corporation), there’s something to gain from business intelligence tools. Not only will you be able to make more informed and tactical business decisions, but you will also be able to identify and resolve problems within your operations.
Indeed, with a BI tool, your team will be able to convert complex data into comprehensive and useful information, forecast and identify trends and enhance your company’s overall performance. This will undoubtedly also give you significant leverage over your competitors.
So, if you want to reap the benefits of BI but aren’t sure which is the best fit, this guide is here to help! Here are the best business intelligence tools around.
1. Tableau
Tableau is a top choice among our list of the best business intelligence tools. Indeed, its fast performance gives it considerable leverage over other BI platforms.
Its intuitive analytics platform enables companies to explore, visualise and analyse data, while users can easily create dashboards that can be shared with colleagues and customers alike.
Tableau, meanwhile, isn’t just for enterprises. It’s also available to the individual analyst and offers a dedicated certification programme, which can be particularly useful if you’re looking to boost your career prospects. You don’t have to go at it alone, either: Tableau provides extensive training, while there are plenty of online resources to help you prepare for your Tableau certification exam!
2. Sisense
Sisense is another popular choice, not least because of its collaborative tools which make it easy for employees to share insights and compile data among each other.
One of Sisense’s most noteworthy features is its in-chip analytics technology, which allows data to be analysed faster and from different sources, giving you and your company a lot of flexibility.
This data discovery and analysis tool is ideal for businesses of all sizes, and its user-friendly system is especially fitting for the not so tech-savvy.
3. Yellowfin BI
Yellowfin BI’s multifunctionality is its key selling point. Its accessibility is another important feature, as you can access the platform wherever you are on mobile, tablet or desktop.
A significant function embedded in this software is its data stories, which allow you to combine data with words and convey them in a compelling way. It’s also a great way to back up your data with context, making it more meaningful and accessible to everyone in your team.
4. Looker
Looker is another prominent data discovery app. It offers insightful intelligence to businesses of all sizes and allows you to create attractive visuals to convey data and easily share it across different devices.
One of its key components is its adaptability. It can produce data models based on the company’s structure and tailor information by referring to your company’s needs.
5. QlikView
If you want to take strategic business steps, QlikView is the BI software for you.
Its automatically generated reports will help you discover hidden trends and patterns while informing your business decisions and plans. It also sports a drag-and-drop function, which allows you to put together attractive visuals and create a customisable dashboard.
This BI application takes artificial intelligence a step further by integrating it with augmented intelligence. In other words, it allows users from all experience levels to utilise the platform with ease. Plus, its adaptable nature also allows developers to build the application to their preferences.
6. Dundas
Dundas is a browser-based data visualisation platform which puts a lot of emphasis on user experience, and its integrated user-adaptive function makes it a flexible tool that users can adapt based on their needs.
If you’re particularly interested in a BI tool that will give you more creative freedom with the way that you present data, Dundas is a fully customisable platform. Indeed, Dundas prides itself with its wide range of visuals and layout options which will let you illustrate relevant data in style.
7. SAP
SAP is an enterprise-level software that can be easily integrated into any system. Its data analysis is particularly interesting, as it also considers customer behaviour as a factor. Plus, you can source information from different platforms, including Java, and create a more comprehensive database.
Accessibility is essential, and SAP doesn’t disappoint here either, as it’s accessible from various platforms, including mobile and desktop. However, on a more critical note, SAP is reportedly more complicated compared to its counterparts.
8. Board
Board is better suited for mid-sized and enterprise-level companies.
Its management intelligence toolkit combines business intelligence with corporate performance management to analyse your firm’s overall performance. Also, its programming-free approach makes it the right choice for users without any technical knowledge.
If you’re looking for some flexibility with data presentation, Board’s customisable dashboard can be set up to the user’s needs, and you’ll have plenty of visualisation tools at your fingertips.
9. Oracle Business Intelligence
If you are looking for a BI application that can analyse a heavy load of data, look no further. Oracle Business Intelligence incorporates integrated query, reporting, analysis, mobile analytics, data integration and management, among other things.
Its visual analytics also means that employees can freely create their dashboards and reports to present and communicate information to their colleagues without fuss. Some of the options include charts, pivot tables and visually appealing dashboards, all of which are fully interactive.
10. Zoho Analytics
Here’s another robust BI tool for your consideration.
Zoho Analytics is a cloud-based application that offers data analysis, reporting, dashboards and data warehousing. You can monitor key business metrics across multiple departments and find hidden trends that will help you understand your business’s performance better.
Zoho is another self-service BI, which allows users to customise the way data is visualised. And to save the best for last, the BI tool has an embedded intelligent assistant whose aim is to come up with suitable answers in the form of reports and KPI widgets.
11. Domo
Domo is an entirely cloud-based business management application and can be used by businesses of all sizes and industries. A great benefit that comes with this business intelligence tool is its ability to integrate different data sources, such as Microsoft Excel and SQL, to produce informative results.
It has plenty of distinct features, but one that is certainly worth mentioning is its centralised dashboard which lets users access company-wide data without fuss.
12. SAS
SAS offers an advanced automated analysis that can provide you and your company with insightful results. This BI software offers interactive reporting and dashboards where users can report, analyse and share data across different platforms such as Microsoft Office applications.
Its integrated text analysis also sources useful information from social media and other text data. Meanwhile, its easy-to-use data analytics and reporting allow users to explore relevant data and gain valuable insights. As for visuals and data presentation, the application is completely user-friendly and enables users to import and edit their info with ease.
Data analysis is changing the way businesses are approaching their respective markets. It’s no surprise, then, that so many companies are now equipping themselves with business intelligence tools.
There are many options available to you and, while they all offer innovative and helpful services, it’s crucial to pick the one that is suited for your business’s functions. Whichever you go for, your business will reap the benefits!
Do you use any of these business intelligence tools, or would you like to recommend any not listed here? Let us know in the comments section below!