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With up to 67% of professionals claiming that they have access to more than one BI solution in the organization and 55% claiming all of their BI solutions pull data from the same source, it goes on to substantiate the requirement of an organization to incorporate the business intelligence platform duly.
A business intelligence (BI) platform is a high-quality software solution that assists businesses in gathering, understanding, and presenting data. It forms the core of a company's business intelligence strategy, delineating how the organization intends to leverage data for enhanced decision-making.
The same study has revealed that the BI adoption rate increases with the company's size. Companies with over 5,000 employees are more likely to have an 80% adoption rate.
On the other hand, 22% of smaller companies with a workforce size of 250 or more have an adoption rate of 20%.
The primary aim of BI platforms is to empower businesses to thrive in the current data-abundant landscape by transforming their data into a strategic asset. A report by Accenture claims that 21% of the global workforce feels highly confident in their ability to utilize BI tools to leverage the curated data in an impactful way.
Importance of business intelligence platforms for an organization
Business intelligence empowers organizations to enhance decision-making through the presentation of both current and past data. A report by New Vantage Partners claims that 19.4% of Fortune 1000 executives have established a data-rich culture.
26.5% of C-level executives believe that they have created a data-driven organization. While 39.7% said their organizations manage data as their business asset. Analysts employ BI to provide performance insights and competitive benchmarks, facilitating the efficient and seamless functioning of the business.
Top 2 reasons why business intelligence platforms are important for organizations
1. Decision making
BI assists in formulating advantageous business objectives for the company. Leveraging BI tools in diverse ways, including the examination and evaluation of raw data with comprehensive visualizations, enables the facilitation of swift and improved decision-making.
2. Improved business operations
Conventional reports tend to be fixed and rapidly lose relevance. Nevertheless, businesses depend on monthly and yearly reports for crucial decision-making. The same study by New Vantage Partners has revealed that 56.5% are using data to drive business innovation.
In contrast, BI reporting empowers individuals to access data, conduct analyses, and generate tailored reports. Moreover, the dynamic nature of BI reporting allows users to select specific statistics and delve into the data for examination.
20 Best business intelligence platform
Here are the 20 best business intelligence platforms:
- Google Marketing Platform
- Microsoft Power BI
- Tableau
- Oracle analytics cloud
- IBM Cognos Analytics
- Sisence
- Looker
- Quik Sense
- TIBCO Spotfire
- Datapine
- Dundas BI
- Zoho analytics
- Yellowfin
- Domo
- Gooddata
- Metabase
- Logi symphony
- Pentaho
- Klipfolio.
- Microstrategy
1. Google Marketing Platform
Best for - create, manage, and grow effective digital marketing campaigns
The Google Marketing Platform, a comprehensive collection of analytics and optimization tools, was developed by Google to enhance your website's performance and optimize your Google Ads campaign.
This encompassing suite features Google Analytics, Data Studio, and a range of other tools, several of which offer fully functional free editions.
However, the complete array of marketing tools that provide a holistic understanding of your online presence is exclusively available in the paid version of the Google Marketing Platform.
Enhanced analysis, round-the-clock emergency support, and implementation assistance are among the capabilities of Google's Business Intelligence systems.
Features
1. Campaign management
2. Batch uploading
3. Creative optimization
4. Workflow capability
5. Access management
6. Performance and reliability
G2 Rating - 4 /5 stars
2. Microsoft Power BI
Best for - reporting and data visualization
In contrast to the Google Marketing Platform's focus on website and marketing performance, Microsoft Power BI adopts a broader perspective on company performance, tailored to the specific needs of your organization.
The service is offered as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution operating within the Azure cloud.
Alternatively, it can be utilized on-premise through the Power BI report server or the Power BI desktop, catering to power users who create dashboards with on-premise data sources.
Features
- Range of quality visualizations.
- Datasets filtration.
- Customizable dashboards.
- Informative reports.
G2 Rating - 4.5/5
3. Tableau
Best for - data visualization
Tableau was among the pioneers in offering a self-service solution for business data and analytics. Renowned and comprehensive, this platform boasts a notable presence within the industry, albeit demanding a substantial learning curve to fully harness its capabilities.
Encompassing essential functionalities like collaboration, VIzQL, and analytics, Tableau's open source BI platform, Tableau Public, empowers users to publish and explore data visualizations in a publicly accessible online environment.
Features
- Collaboration and sharing.
- Robust security.
- Data sources.
- In-memory data.
- Tableau dashboard
G2 Rating - 4.5/5
4. Oracle analytics cloud
Best for - Addressing analytics process including modeling and data ingestion
Among the formidable AI-powered platforms, Oracle Analytics Cloud stands out prominently.
Leveraging the prowess of "augmented analytics" from the company, users can effortlessly pose inquiries in everyday language, receive informed responses, and simultaneously employ meticulous data preparation.
The paramount strengths of Oracle Analytics Cloud encompass natural language processing, data discovery, and augmented analytics.
Features
- Data preparation.
- Data flow.
- Data visualization.
- Data collaboration.
G2 Rating - 4/5
5. IBM Cognos Analytics
Best for - Providing qualitative insights, helping in understanding data and its relationships.
Beyond advanced cloud functionalities, a web-based interface, cognitive support, and data visualization capabilities, IBM Cognos Analytics represents the evolution from Cognos Business Intelligence.
Exemplifying a cutting-edge solution from a true frontrunner in data intelligence, Cognos Analytics operates on the foundation of AI.
It accommodates the integration of data from diverse origins, including third-party analytical tools like Google Analytics and CRM platforms such as ActiveCampaign, in addition to external data culled from sources like market reports and government statistics.
Essential components encompass personalized dashboards, dynamic narrative storytelling, and interactive conversational interfaces.
Features
- Search mechanism - It helps in discovering and accessing recently used content, enabling better filteraction of results.
- A single data module - Various data sources are connected to a single data module.
- Interactive data visualization - Interactive visualizations are integrated with embedded geospatial mapping and advanced analytics capabilities. Creating dynamic dashboards is made effortless through a simple drag-and-drop interface.
- AI assistance - Empowers users to engage in natural language communication: by posing questions, the assistant suggests the most appropriate visualizations with ease.
G2 Rating - 4/5
6. Sisense
Best for - Collecting information and unifying them into a single repository
Crafting your analytics applications is achievable through the cloud-based Sisense platform, previously recognized as Periscope Data.
In contrast to a pre-packaged analytics solution, Sisense offers a versatile toolkit for constructing customized analytics software tailored to your business needs, client requirements, or even for commercial purposes.
Key functionalities encompass embedding, mashup capabilities, and in-depth analysis.
Features
- Collaboration and social BI.
- Interactive visual exploration
- Mobile exploration and authoring.
- Analytics dashboard.
G2 Rating - 4.3/5
7. Looker
Best for - Empowering teams with real-time data
Looker stands out as a fully web-based data discovery platform that seamlessly interfaces with various SQL databases and data warehouses.
Notably, Looker's installation process is notably swifter in comparison to on-premises BI platforms that hinge on desktop applications and potentially local servers.
Moreover, Looker boasts the distinctive LookML data modeling language, significantly simplifying the experience for users with limited familiarity in navigating SQL databases.
Its noteworthy attributes encompass integrated insights, data-guided workflows, and personalized functionalities.
Features
- Boosts revenue growth.
- Provides improved optimized costs.
- Perform data analysis
G2 Rating - 4.3/5
8. Qlilk sense
Best for - data analysis
Qlik, a good data intelligence software, offers a diverse array of data analysis solutions.
The company's primary offerings consist of QlikSense, an integrated platform for analytics and business intelligence, and QlikView, a standalone analytics tool.
Features
- Associative exploration
- Insight advisor chat
- Self-service data visualization.
G2 Rating - 4.5 / 5
9. TIBCO Spotfire
Best for - Improved speed in analyzing and visualizing huge volumes of data quickly
TIBCO Spotfire, a search-centric analytics platform, enables you to access data and reports. This platform incorporates an AI engine that can forecast performance, conduct predictive analytics, and offer recommendations.
TIBCO Spitfire is mentioned here for its extensive capabilities, yet it stands out for its remarkable drag-and-drop builder and user-friendly UI design, which sets it apart from many complex enterprise-level analytics and BI systems.
Features
- Data discovery and visualization.
- Dashboard and analytics applications.
- Predictive analytics.
- Advanced collaboration tools.
G2 Rating - 4.3 / 5
10. Datapine
Best for - Helps managers in exploring, visualizing and reporting data in a single central analytics platform
Datapine is a robust BI software that facilitates seamless data integration from diverse sources, coupled with advanced functionalities like artificial intelligence and predictive analytics for thorough analysis.
With access to all your data, you can craft effective business dashboards, generate both pre-configured and customized reports, and incorporate intelligent alerts to flag objectives and anomalies.
The software's capabilities cater to both experienced users like data analysts and everyday business users.
Nevertheless, the user-friendly drag-and-drop interface presents a visually intuitive method for inputting data and constructing powerful charts and dashboards, utilizing the effectiveness of visual analytics.
For analysts seeking more control, the SQL mode empowers them to fashion their own queries.
Features
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface.
- Interactive dashboard feature.
- Multiple reporting options.
- Easy-to-use predictive analytics.
G2 Rating - 4.6 / 5
11. Dundas BI
Best for - performing data exploration, creating dashboards, and running adhoc queries.
Dundas BI streamlines the process of acquiring real-time data-driven insights with its exceptional end-to-end business intelligence capabilities for data analysis and visualization.
By converting raw and uninformative data into meaningful, actionable insights via tools like reports, dashboards, and visual analytics, it serves as a valuable asset for both software vendors and enterprises.
Dundas BI stands out for its comprehensive nature, offering essential flexibility and speed while eliminating the constraints often associated with other one-dimensional and restrictive BI platforms.
Features
- Personalized embedded analytics.
- Seamless integration.
- Tailored analytics.
- Customizable data views.
- Interactivity.
G2 Rating - N/A
12. Zoho Analytics
Best for - Discovering hidden insights and creating data visualizations.
Zoho Analytics empowers you to swiftly analyze data, create visually compelling representations, and uncover concealed insights within minutes.
It facilitates comprehensive analytics and reporting, irrespective of data source—whether from web files, flat files, databases, offline/online applications, or cloud services.
Through report sharing, Zoho Analytics fosters collaborative teamwork. Diverse permissions such as read-only, report authoring, read-write, export, and drill-down allow precise control over report access.
Annotations, contextual comments, and revision history enable you to enhance pictures and engage in insightful discussions at your convenience.
G2 Rating - 4 / 5
13. Yellowfin
Best for - Enterprise analytics and embedded analytics
Yellowfin is a remarkable analytics and business intelligence platform that seamlessly combines powerful features with an exceptional user experience.
Unlike many enterprise-level tools that lack in design, Yellowfin stands out as a platform that embodies the modern standards of 2020.
While engaging with Yellowfin, it becomes evident that the company's primary objective is to streamline the process of generating, delivering, and consuming BI content for a broad spectrum of users, emphasizing simplicity and accessibility.
Features
- Action-based dashboards.
- Data stories and reports.
- Automated business monitoring.
- Self-service BI.
- Data visualization.
G2 Rating - 4 / 5
14. Domo
Best for - Exploring, analyzing, and collaborating with data driven insights
Domo presents a comprehensive business intelligence platform encompassing various components, ranging from data connectivity to data expansion via pre-built and customized apps accessible through the Domo Appstore.
Complementing its functionality, Domo seamlessly integrates with R or Python scripts for data preparation, extending to predictive modeling, data lakes, warehouses, and ETL tools.
Similar to its counterparts, Domo serves as a conduit for establishing data connectivity across your organization, harnessing machine learning and artificial intelligence features, and empowering users to autonomously delve into data exploration.
Features
- Various pre-built cloud connectors
- Magic ETL feature
- Demo Appstore
G2 Rating - 4.4 / 5
15. Goodata
Best for - Create personalized data applications with self-service analytics
GoodData serves as a comprehensive business analytics platform, encompassing tools for data ingestion, storage, analytical queries, visualizations, and seamless application integration.
Impressively, their analytics integration doesn't demand an advanced degree – you can seamlessly incorporate it into your website, desktop application, or mobile app, and effortlessly create dashboards and reports to facilitate everyday tasks.
Introduced in 2007, GoodData is one of the newer software products on our list. Notably, it has consistently garnered high ratings of 4.3 out of 5 stars on Capterra and 4.1 out of 5 stars on G2Crowd, solidifying its position as one of the top-notch tools for effective business management.
Features
- Helps customers publish their reports.
- A modular data pipeline.
- Augmented analytics.
- A platform for developers.
G2 Rating - 4 / 5
16. Metabase
Best for - customization of dashboards
Setting up and integrating the open source BI server, Metabase, with various data sources like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB is a straightforward process.
This tool is designed to empower users to glean valuable insights from their data, offering a secure environment and an intuitive interface, all without the need for extensive technical expertise.
By sharing these insights through appealing graphs and dashboards, the organization's decision-making and data utilization processes can experience marked improvement.
Metabase is available in both a commercial edition and a free open source version, both of which have garnered favorable reviews on platforms like Capterra and G2Crowd, each awarding it an impressive 4.5-star rating.
Features
- Visual query building.
- Secure data access.
- Discoveries sharing.
- Bringing data to life.
G2 Rating - 4.4 / 5
17. Logi symphony
Best for - enabling software teams to build, design, and embed data visualizations and interactive dashboard.
Logi Symphony (formerly Logi Analytics) empowers businesses with interactive data analytics and visualizations. Operating within a minimal-code environment, it presents advanced reporting and visualization tools.
This platform facilitates self-service data exploration and analysis, streamlines data preparation through connections and operational intelligence, and empowers users to craft dashboards, reports, and diverse visualizations.
Features
- Aligns data with data performance, ETL, data structure, and data quality.
- Augment data with forecasting and outlier analysis.
- Empower end users with modern data discovery tools.
G2 Rating - 4.3 / 5
18. Pentaho
Best for - Delivering powerful data integration and analytics
Pentaho Business Analytics empowers users to efficiently handle their data and extract valuable insights.
This platform encompasses a spectrum of features including data visualization, dashboards, data modeling, reporting, role-based security, mobile accessibility, and an extensive array of analytics capabilities.
Designed to cater to clients across various sectors and of all sizes, Pentaho can be seamlessly integrated either as an embedded solution or within a cloud environment.
Its user-friendly nature accommodates individuals with varying levels of expertise. Built on open-source principles, it enables users to leverage current data to anticipate future trends.
Features
- Cloud data integration.
- Pentaho report designer.
- Data mining.
- Pentaho dashboard designer.
- Advanced analytics.
- Pentaho report designer.
G2 Rating - 4 / 5
19. Klipfolio
Best for - Turning key data visualization into regularly scheduled email reports.
Klipfolio, an analytics software application, empowers users to proficiently manage data by facilitating the creation of dashboards and reports for tracking KPIs and monitoring trends. It instills confidence and intelligence in data handling.
Through Klipfolio, interactive data visualizations can be effortlessly designed and shared, offering valuable insights derived from conveniently centralized enterprise data.
Features
- Data visualization.
- Data import and export.
- Visual analytics.
G2 Rating - 4.5 / 5
20. Microstrategy
Best for - Helps users conduct ad hoc analysis and deliver reports
MicroStrategy serves the enterprise BI market with versatile deployment options – cloud, on-premises, and hybrid – tailored for a diverse array of industries.
Its user-centric approach is exemplified by a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to craft distinctive data visualizations and real-time dashboards.
Features
- Data Wrangling.
- Data Mining and Predictive analysis.
- Extension visualization library.
- Real-time dashboards
- Embedded BI
- Mobile platform
G2 Rating - 4 / 5
Conclusion
We are surrounded by big data, which is progressively getting more every year. With the many capabilities that BI and business analytics solutions have to offer, you stand to gain a lot from using them.
Your data management will become more unified, stable, agile, and predictable as a result.
Our goal was to assist you in choosing from among the top tools available, and we believe that by thoroughly examining each software, you will be motivated to start looking into business intelligence tools and select one that is ideal for your organization or division.
FAQ
1. What are the features of Business Intelligence Platforms?
Some of the features of BI platforms include data visualizations, customisable dashboards, data quality management, natural language processing, and faster data-mining capabilities.
2. Can BI platforms handle structured data and unstructured data ?
Yes, Business Intelligence (BI) platforms are designed to handle both structured and unstructured data.
3. What type of businesses benefit from a business intelligence platform?
Financial services, e-commerce, supply chain, and pharmaceuticals benefit from a business intelligence platform.
4. What are the kinds of data sources which BI platforms can connect to?
BI platforms can connect to data warehouses, cloud storage, business applications, and external data providers.
