Business intelligence is taking over the business industry calling for all organizations to adopt the new normal across the industries. According to researchers, the business intelligence market is expected to grow to $33.3 billion by the end of the year 2025. Currently, every business owner strongly believes in the power of making informed and data-driven decisions. 

Following the advent of data science and technology, the business decision-making power has recorded a significant advancement that has changed the trajectory of things, triggering a continued growth of the business industry. Business intelligence tools have changed the reality of things, especially in making data-driven decisions. 

The business intelligence tools have been designed with the capabilities of digging deep across different data elements to generate insights that offer guidance during the process of decision making. 

What are Business Intelligence Tools?

Business intelligence tools are modern technology tools that have been designed to analyze and comprehend massive amounts of data that companies have accumulated. The tools enable organizations to process and analyze the data and generate valuable insights used in decision-making. 

The insights are later presented to the respective audience in the form of reports generated through data visualization. During the data visualization process, different visualization tools are used depending on the nature of the data. At the end of the process, business professionals can easily detect patterns and trends in their data values. 

Once the report has been generated, the business understands its customers better and identifies market opportunities that it can capitalize on to increase revenue. In the past, the business intelligence report was generated from either the monthly or annual reports. Currently, the report is considered a continuous cycle generated from time to time. 

As the business industry continues to record a tremendous growth, many people still fail to understand some of the business intelligence tools that they can use to visualize and analyze data. Below are some of the BI tools that you can use to analyze your data. 

1. Microsoft Power BI 

Microsoft Power BI is one of the most popular data visualization tools used by many people across the business industry. The tool mostly runs on Azure and can be connected to multiple data sources depending on your business preference. It works well in simplifying data preparation and driving ad-hoc analysis. 

Besides, it’s the most affordable business intelligence tool that covers all your data needs at a relatively low price. It comes with a free windows desktop data analysis tool and also free viewer apps that you can use to monitor your data operations. Also, the power BI pro version is relatively expensive since it comes with multiple features. 

According to the report collected from its users, the tool is straightforward and saves time. Most of its users prioritize using the power BI parameterized reports and dashboard because the reports are easy to read and interpret. 

2. SAS Visual Analytics 

SAS is a technology company popularly known for its exceptional works on matters to do with data science and generating statistical analysis products. The SAS visual analytics is a business intelligence tool that offers interactive reporting, self-service analytics, and visual discovery operations. 

The tool utilizes an in-built memory o cover different data aspects such as predictive analytics to analyze possible data outcomes and make data-driven decisions. SAS makes it easier for business analysts to perform their duties since everything is uncovered and brought to light. These visual analytics can be presented on-premises, public cloud, and in SAS data centers. 

This tool works well on interactive visual exploration and analytics dashboards. In addition, it supports different data visualization tools such as advanced charts and advanced types of data analytics. 

3. Tableau 

Tableau is an advanced data analytics platform with solid visual data discovery capability. You can run the tool using Windows or Linux as well as Tableau Online. The users of this platform are mainly explorers, creators, or viewers. Those who use the platform as creators have a license to the server or the tool’s online version. 

Also, you can opt for the Tableau desktop or the macOS version, depending on what you have at your disposal. The tool comes with a free desktop app version for Windows and macOS. Besides, the Tableau public and the Tableau reader work together to achieve a common goal during data analytics. 

The Tableau public has the capability to open and create analysis that mainly resides on the Tableau public profile. On the other hand, the Tableau reader can open and interact with your data visualization files primarily built on the Tableau desktop. 

4. Birst 

First considers itself as an enterprise with a pretty fast data discovery capability. The architecture takes over the responsibility of connecting the business with a stable network of interwoven virtualized BI networks responsible for all the data processes within the company. Birst has everything you need to handle all your data processes and make data-driven decisions. 

According to the analysis done from the Birst customers, the business intelligence tool offers exactly what you need to draw insight from your data. The tool guarantees exceptional results, especially when using it for parameterized dashboards and reports. All you need to do is ensure that every element has been connected to the system to enhance data collection. 

However, only a few people use the tool for more sophisticated data analytics operations, even though it has the power to support more complex data analysis operations. 

5. MicroStrategy 

This business intelligence tool combines both the power of self-service visual data discovery and analytics with enterprise analytics and data reporting. MicroStrategy works efficiently when dealing with large-scale data records systems that you intend to analyze and generate actionable results that you can use in decision-making. 

The tool offers a single integrated platform with different licenses and options for data consumers and the power user roles. Upon acquiring the MicroStrategy BI tool, you are entitled to a desktop and a mobile version, reporting servers, and in-memory analytics options. Also, it monitors transactions, collaboration, and distribution operations. 

Initially, the tool was mainly focused on only enterprise reporting. Currently, MicroStrategy offers self-service users and aiding in departmental deployment within a company setting. However, you can integrate the tool to make it serve all your customers’ needs and collect data from different corners within the business to a central point where analytics takes place. 

6. Sisense 

This is an advanced end-to-end business intelligence platform with an in-built memory and a columnar database. It aids in visual data exploration with a highly embedded analytics features and data dashboards. Sisense is a more advanced business intelligence tool used in hybrid clouds and the public. 

Sisense offers real-time data processing since the analysis takes the shortest time possible before generating the final results. The tool can be integrated and used by more than three hundred users simultaneously. This means that the tool can be easily installed and serve the entire organization without experiencing any challenges. 

7. Click Sense 

Click sense is among the business intelligence tools that have been categorized among the governed data discovery tools. The tool utilizes a scalable associative within the in-built memory engine, which can be used as a data mart. Also, you can use it for enterprise reporting since it has an optional Qlick Nprinting server. 

When using this tool in your data operations, you can easily bookmark the selection within the current page that you are working on. At the end of the process, you can combine all the bookmarks and generate a story which you will make a few edits, such as adding annotations and text to make the final output easy to read and understand. 

Suppose you want to utilize the story as a visual presentation. In that case, you can choose the best data visualization option that works well for your data story, which will enable you to generate an exciting data story that covers all the crucial data elements. Also, ensure that all the questions have been answered appropriately to make the data self-explanatory. 

8. ThoughtSpot 

ThoughtSpot is a business intelligence platform that operates using a search-based approach that mainly focuses on visual analytics. To tool has the capabilities of analyzing and processing massive amounts of data to generate a well-organized and easy-to-read report that entails all the necessary data points that you need to know. 

In addition, the tool can respond to multiple searches within seconds to save time and generate reliable results that you can use in decision-making. It uses an in-memory storage system with a massively parallel processing system that enhances the tool’s speed and accuracy in responding to searches. 

Users can also utilize the tool to conduct data analytics to detect anomalies, trends, and patterns within different data elements. You only need to ensure that you understand the working methodology of statistics and machine learning algorithms to generate in-depth insights that you can use. 

9. ChartExpo

Did you know it only takes 3 mouse-clicks to make a high-quality chart? If that sounds too good to be true, you haven’t experienced ChartExpo. ChartExpo is the easiest and most accessible data visualization tool available. Anyone can make beautiful, compelling, and insight-rich charts. You don’t need coding experience or a background in data science. There are no confusing settings or hoops to jump through.

If you often find yourself limited by the charting options available from tools like Excel or Google Sheets, ChartExpo is the solution. It includes all of the charts you need to match your visualization needs. It offers plug-ins for Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. You can make charts using the tools you already know and use.

With a rich library of charts to choose from, you’ll always have the perfect visual for depicting your data. These chart options include detailed visualizations for comparison, survey analysis Likert scale chart, digital marketing, process control (SPC), scientific research, and more. ChartExpo provides one visualization library to fulfill all of your charting needs!

Click the chart type you want to make, add your data, and press the “create” button. It’s that easy.

Bottom Line 

According to the study, 56% of business owners have revealed that business intelligence tools have enabled them to make more effective and accurate decisions that have yielded fruits. This has uncovered the real power of BI tools when processing massive amounts of data and picking up the data points that contribute to the decision-making process.