Business Intelligence Tools: What Are They, & How Do They Work?

Business intelligence tools are critical assets in the arsenal of modern businesses. They go beyond mere data processing; they are essential for converting vast amounts of data into actionable insights.

By aggregating data from various sources, both internal and external, these tools provide a thorough view of an organization’s operational landscape. This capability is key to guiding businesses toward informed decision-making and strategic planning, and ultimately improving their business intelligence.

Jump to:

• How do BI tools work?
• Types of BI tools
• Key features of BI tools
• Benefits of BI tools
• Challenges of BI tools
• What are some top BI software?

How do BI tools work?

BI tools operate through a multi-step process whose key steps are data collection, cleaning and integration, analysis and visualization (Figure A). BI tools gather data from a variety of sources, such as internal databases, cloud storage, customer relationship management systems and external datasets.

BI tools are then used to clean and integrate data to create a unified, coherent dataset. This will allow the BI tools to properly analyze the data using various analytical processes, such as data mining, predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms, to transform raw data into actionable insights based on patterns, trends and relationships within the data.

From there, data analysts can take advantage of various visualization features offered by BI tools to create interactive dashboards, charts and graphs to display data in a way that makes it easier to understand and derive meaningful conclusions.

Types of BI tools

There are several types of BI tools, each serving different analytical purposes. From reporting to extracting, transferring and loading, here are some of the types of tools:

• Data visualization tools: BI tools that specialize in turning complex datasets into graphical representations for easier comprehension by teams, which helps users make better decisions quicker.
• Data mining tools: Data mining tools utilize AI, machine learning, statistics and database systems to find patterns in large datasets. They are great for uncovering hidden insights for strategic decisions.
• Online analytical processing: These tools enable multi-dimensional analytical queries, which are useful for complex calculations, trend analysis and data modeling.
• Reporting and query software: These are BI tools with a focus on generating structured reports and queries to sort, filter and display data.
• ETL: These tools, which extract data from various sources, transform it and load it into a database or data warehouse, help to maintain data consistency and usability.
• Self-service BI tools: Self-service tools allow end users to conduct their own data queries and report generation, making data analysis accessible to a broader range of users within an organization.

Key features of BI tools

Data integration

Data integration is a feature that involves the merging of data from disparate sources into a single, cohesive dataset. This process ensures the analysis is comprehensive and accounts for all relevant data points, regardless of their origin. Effective data integration is key to providing a unified view of business information, which is essential for accurate analysis and decision-making.

Data quality management

Data quality management in BI tools focuses on ensuring the accuracy, consistency and reliability of the data being analyzed. It includes processes like cleaning data, removing duplicates and correcting errors. High-quality data is a must for organizations to generate reliable insights.

Interactive dashboards

Interactive dashboards are a standout feature of many BI tools, as they offer customizable and user-friendly interfaces that display real-time data and insights. These dashboards allow users to quickly access, analyze and understand key business metrics, helping them make decisions immediately based on the latest data.

Ad hoc reporting

Ad hoc reporting allows users to create specific, on-demand reports tailored to their requirements. This feature provides flexibility and empowers users to explore data in a way that’s aligned with their specific questions or concerns, without relying on predefined report formats.

Predictive analytics

Predictive analytics in BI tools use historical data to predict future trends and outcomes. This feature employs statistical algorithms and machine learning techniques to predict future events, helping businesses to anticipate market changes, customer behavior and potential risks.

Benefits of BI tools

Enhanced decision-making

One of the top benefits of BI tools is their ability to enhance strategic decision-making. Through data-driven insights, BI tools enable businesses to make more informed and accurate decisions. This yields better strategic planning, improved resource allocation and a better likelihood of achieving business goals.

Increased efficiency

BI tools significantly streamline business processes by automating many aspects of data analysis and reporting, which saves time and reduces the workload on staff. Increased efficiency can lead to cost savings and allows employees to focus on more strategic tasks.

Competitive advantage

With BI tools, businesses gain valuable insights into market and customer trends. With this information, businesses can stay ahead of competitors, identify new market opportunities and tailor products or services to better meet customer needs.

Risk management

Predictive analytics, a feature of many BI tools, helps in proactive risk management. By forecasting future trends and potential risks, businesses can take preemptive approaches to mitigate potential risks, ensuring more stable and secure operations.

PREMIUM: Check out this risk management policy.

Challenges of BI tools

High initial and maintenance costs

A great challenge facing the implementation of BI tools is the cost. The initial investment for purchasing and setting up these tools can be high and there are ongoing costs for maintenance, updates and training. For small businesses, this can be a substantial financial burden.

Complexity

BI tools often require specialized skills and training to use effectively, which can pose a challenge in terms of both the time and resources needed for training employees as well as finding personnel with the necessary skills.

Data security risks

Handling large volumes of sensitive data, as BI tools do, increases the risk of data breaches and security challenges. Ensuring the security and compliance of data within these tools is a significant concern for businesses, as these tools need robust security measures and constant vigilance.

Integration issues

Integrating BI tools with existing systems and workflows can be complex and time-consuming. Compatibility issues, data synchronization and maintaining data integrity during integration are common challenges businesses face when implementing BI tools.

What are some top BI software?

Business intelligence tools are crucial for modern businesses to analyze and interpret complex data. Some of the top BI tools in the market include:

• Zoho Analytics: Zoho Analytics is a self-service BI and data analytics tool that enables users to create visually appealing visualizations and insightful dashboards in minutes.
• Tableau: Renowned for its advanced data visualization capabilities, Tableau enables users to create interactive and shareable dashboards. It’s easy to use and able to handle large data sets.
• Microsoft Power BI: Known for its seamless integration with other Microsoft products, Power BI offers comprehensive data analysis and visualization capabilities. It’s got a user-friendly interface and offers diverse data connectivity.
• Qlik: Qlik’s range of BI tools includes QlikView for guided analytics and Qlik Sense for self-service data discovery. Their associative engine stands out for its ability to insightfully connect data from multiple sources.
• Sisense: Sisense is designed to simplify complex data for users at all levels, featuring a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface and the ability to handle large data sets from multiple sources.

Check out our guide to purchasing BI software for BI basics such as pros, use cases and best tools.