Business Intelligence and Business Analysis are some of the most vital performance parameters and tools for handling and running businesses efficiently. Business intelligence software tools help identify your business's weaknesses in real time. Data is a very powerful entity in today’s world, so how you handle your data can make or break your business.
Performance and Data reports help identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which involve the boosts and shortcomings in the performance of an organization and how to deal with them to increase the efficiency of the business. The SWOT analysis is another parameter to judge a company's performance, and business intelligence helps conduct a SWOT analysis as well. Business Intelligence Software tools are not just standalone software tools but are integrated with vital business software tools such as CRM, POS, etc, to widen the ecosystem of business management.
What is a Business Intelligence Software Tool?
A Business Intelligence Software Tool analyzes, aggregates, and consolidates complex data and statistics into much simpler and compact reports and visual charts to be made legible to even a layman. There are countless amount of data channels present in the world today, and when running a business, it is important to consolidate all those channels into one place. Still, such a huge amount of data becomes difficult to analyze in a short amount of time, which is why Business Intelligence becomes extremely vital for a business or an enterprise to keep their important data and statistics in check all the time.
Features of Business Intelligence Software
Online analytical processing (OLAP): OLAP enables business intelligence software tools to prepare and process data into outcome statistics and consolidated reports to keep all relevant data intact, which helps identify KPIs within a quarter or even annually for an organization. OLAP helps gather data in real time and categorize it within parameters set by the user. They can set geographical, time, and performance-related parameters to categorize and segregate data.
Reporting and Alerting: Business Intelligence Software tools shape a precise and convenient reporting and querying system that enables seamless problem-solving and data integration. Reports and alerts are mainly categorized into two segments: ad hoc and customized. Both enable lightning-quick data aggregation and circulation within the organization or even to the public. Querying systems of modern business intelligence tools enable customers or users to understand complex data and figures without any knowledge of things such as coding, etc.
Interactive and Visual Dashboards: This feature is extremely important when it comes to Business Intelligence Software tools. To make all the tasks simpler and convenient, dashboards and task managers need to be interactive and responsive as well. Modern business intelligence tools are quite interactive and adaptable even, making the user’s job easier than ever before. Charts, diagrams and visuals always make boring stats and data interesting and easy to study. The comparative analysis becomes simpler as well. There are more advanced options available now as well such as geo-statistics and real-time monitoring.
Integration: Data integration and multi-platform integration are vital when it comes to business analysis. Business intelligence software tools integrate the power of various software tools under one roof, such as CRM, sales, and POS software tools. All the data clusters and complex statistics are made simpler and legible to be integrated into one place to make it more convenient. All multiple platforms are supported together so that it makes software usage mobile and adaptable.
The Top 8 Free and Open Source Business Intelligence Software Solutions are:
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Zoho Analytics
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BIRT
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KNIME
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Jaspersoft
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Knowage
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Report Server
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Microsoft Power BI
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Seal Report
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS CHART
Let us discuss the listed software tools in further detail.
Zoho Analytics
[Source: Zoho]
Features
- Huge database network
- Multi-Application connectivity
- Data Blending
- Interactive dashboard
- Geo Visualization
- Forecasting and Data Alerting
- Publishing and embedding
- Customizable design elements
- Mobile integration
Zoho Analytics is one of the premier business intelligence software tools available on the internet. Zoho Analytics has a range of features and functions available that can help analyze and process a huge amount of data in one go. It has a huge database that can identify various kinds of data and stats at once. The dashboard is very interactive and compact, keeping complex data simple and legible to even common people. Zoho Analytics can be integrated across multiple platforms and applications for better use and convenience for users. It is mobile-friendly as well, which is very important in this handheld era. With a great forecasting and predictive model available, users can plan for the upcoming weeks and months of business as well.
BIRT
[Source: BIRT]
Features
- Huge Database
- Data Customization
- Project Management
- Internationalization
- Project Organization
- Java Event Coding
- Data Accessibility
BIRT is a simple yet powerful business intelligence software tool that functions seamlessly to provide less complicated data clusters by making them more visual and making data customization and consolidation simpler. BIRT consists of a huge database to support and process complex data clusters. BIRT is great at managing projects and forming reports and queries related to projects and their results. Project management and organization are the most effective features of BIRT. If aggregating data and forming quick reports is extremely important to you, BIRT is the go-to software to achieve this in an extremely short amount of time. BIRT also offers coding events and code customization, which makes data processing simpler.
KNIME
[Source: KNIME]
Features
- Extensive Data Network
- Create visual workflows
- Aggregate, join, and filter data
- Clean data through normalization
- Build machine learning models
- Display summary statistics
- Build and scale workflow
KNIME is a very simple and convenient business and data analysis software that helps in analyzing and processing data clusters in one go to simplify and make businesses more efficient. KNIME works seamlessly due to its extensive data network and ability to process and filter data in a matter of seconds. It also has the ability to create visual workflows and statistics with the help of its interactive dashboards and data processing model. You can even build machine learning models with the help of KNIME, which is a great add-on to have. KNIME is efficient and powerful and fulfills all needs as a great business intelligence software tool.
Jaspersoft
[Source: Jaspersoft]
Features
- Huge Data Network
- Interactive Reports
- Data Virtualization and Integration
- Mobile Integration
- Multi-tenant BI
- Big Data Connectivity
- Embedded Dashboards
Jaspersoft is a powerful and efficient business intelligence software tool that packs a huge range of features. The interactive UI and dashboards enable the processing and analysis of data and categorizing data clusters into charts and info-graphics for simplification and legibility for even the simplest of users. Multi platform integration and segregation of data clusters is a great feature as well. Mobile integration is another boost for users which enables you to monitor your business on the go. Another great feature is Big Data connectivity which is a rare feature when it comes to business intelligence software tools.
Knowage
[Source: Knowage]
Features
- Database Network
- Multi-dimensional Analysis
- Interactive cockpits and dashboard
- Ad-hoc reporting
- Location Intelligence
- Data Mining
- Office Automation
- Master data management
Knowage is a new-age modern business intelligence software tool that has great performance and efficient features. It consists of interactive and fluid dashboards and cockpits, which makes functioning seamless and effortless. Its huge database network enables data analysis and processing through huge data clusters, simplifying complex statistics and data in a jiffy. Ad-hoc reporting is another great feature of Knowage which is quite convenient for intra-organizational communication. Location Intelligence and Data Mining are quite modern features for business intelligence software tools, making Knowage a power-packed software tool. Your workplace and office spaces can be automated as well with the help of Knowage.
Report Server
[Source: Report Server]
Features
- Interactive Dashboards
- Flexible Parameters
- Multi-dimensional reporting
- Pixel-perfect reporting
- Ad-hoc reporting
- Aggregation and Dynamic Listing
- Excel and Word Reporting
Report Server is one of the most productive Business Intelligence software tools on the internet. It has an interactive and fluid dashboard and UI which helps in making very interactive reports. Along with being interactive, it’s very flexible, enabling the user to set parameters according to their needs. The reporting system is one of the best in the market, providing various add-on features such as ad-hoc reporting to enhance the user experience. Report Server can conveniently sync to Microsoft Office which makes its integration over multiple platforms. Report Server is simple yet very powerful, fulfilling almost every need when it comes to a business intelligence software tool.
Microsoft Power BI
[Source: Microsoft Power BI]
Features
- Extensive Data networking
- Multi-dimensional reporting
- Real-time reporting
- Chart and report customization
- Interactive Dashboard
- Mobile friendly
- Data Customization
Microsoft is a pioneer when it comes to enhancing user experience in the software ecosystem. It maintains its excellence with Power BI in the business intelligence category as well. Power BI has an extensive database that helps process and simplify huge data clusters in a jiffy. Its reporting system is one of the best in the business, providing multi-dimensional reporting as well as reportage in real time to keep parameters and data in check every single second. The dashboard and cockpits are as interactive as they get and make it a seamless user experience. Customization is a very important feature of Power BI, which helps simplify complex data, and also reports and charts can be customized to make them more legible and simple. Power BI is an excellent option in its category and very popular among all users alike.
Seal Report
[Source: Seal Report]
Features
- Data Customization
- Interactive Dashboards
- Multi-dimensional reporting
- Ad-hoc reporting
- Data Aggregation
- Task Scheduler
- Native Pivot Tables
Seal Report is a power-packed business intelligence software tool. It provides an array of features to tackle all data processing and reporting issues. It has a very interactive dashboard that lets users keep a check on data and resulting reports all the time. The reporting system is real-time and multi-dimensional, which helps form excellent reports and charts. Ad-hoc reporting is a huge add-on feature, helping in intra-organization communication. Tasks can be easily scheduled using Seal Report, which is a huge boost when it comes to campaign management. Seal report has its own set of native tables, which work effectively at all times. Seal Report is an all-rounder when it comes to performance which makes it one of the most efficient business intelligence software tools in the market.
We have taken one popular Business Intelligence Software for discussion.
Sisense
Features
- Blends massive data instantly
- Get quick insights by analyzing data
- Interactive reports and dashboard
- Control access to your data
- Recovery and audit trails enabled
- Multiple options for the deployment
- Create interactive data visualizations
Sisense is a business analytics application that improves productivity by delivering valuable insights for your business. The data insights help companies make informed decisions. With Sisense, businesses can automate workflows and create a data-driven culture. It is a popular application that empowers developers, business analysts, and data engineers. It is an API-cloud-based technology.
Conclusion
Business Intelligence Tools are one of the most vital tools in today’s data today’s world. Businesses and Organizations that handle data more efficiently go on to be more successful and achieve their targets more effectively. The role of a Business Intelligence Software tool is to analyze and process performance data available, which is generally in complex data clusters, illegible by common people. These data clusters are simplified and formed into visuals such as charts and infographics, so it becomes easier for even a layman to analyze the performance data of the organization. Report creation and campaign management are some of the most important features when it comes to business analytics.
The business intelligence software tools mentioned in this blog fulfill almost all needs when it comes to handling businesses efficiently. Their free and open-source business intelligence software status makes them more desirable and popular among common users worldwide. There are a range of premium and paid options available in the market as well, which might provide an even wider range of features, but for all basic functions and some advanced functions as well, the mentions of free and open source options should be more than enough for users on the internet.
For more information on business intelligence software tools, including premium options, you can click here.
