Business Intelligence (BI) solutions provide companies with the ability to analyze complex business data such as selling trends, buying patterns, service complaints, operational problems, and many more related issues. This information can all be explored and modeled in a way that allows obtaining useful market and customer intelligence that can be applied to improve business profitability.
At ITQlick.com we look to recommend the best BI solutions that can be used by small and medium businesses. The factors we have considered include cost effectiveness, depth of available functionality, software accessibility, as well as how well the software can adapt to changing business requirements to ensure the best ROI. We have reviewed numerous BI solutions and some of our best recommendations include the following:
1. Sisense
Sisense allows customers to consolidate data from multiple data sources and derive complex reports, visual information displays as well as dashboards for analysis. Its easy collaboration feature allows group joint analysis and decision-making.
Sisense is also mobile device ready, offers a free trial for customers, and has a proprietary in-chip technology that allows processing large volumes of data efficiently for quick query realization. This solution is scalable for any business size and can easily adapt to the requirements of small businesses while offering a clear path for growth as the business expands its operations.
Sisense is available as both on-premise and cloud-based solutions, both offered on a subscription basis so SMBs can choose the option best suited for their budget.
2. Pentaho Business Analytics
This product includes tools for visual analysis, reports, and dashboards, along with predictive analytics. Pentaho can be used by SMBs as a business enabler by allowing them to identify emerging trends and patterns which can be used to make proactive business decisions to address evolving market needs.
Additionally, Pentaho allows easy integration with multiple data sources which require no coding or technical knowledge, which is well suited for SMBs looking for a powerful non-technical solution. Pentaho comes with a free trial, is a mobile device ready for universal access, and can be scaled for just about any size of business.
Its functionality is primarily tailored for the Finance, Healthcare, Retail, and Government sectors and can be provided either as an on-premise or web-based solution.
3. Looker
Looker is a BI software that is available both as an on-premise or cloud-based solution. Its features include analytics, dashboards, and scorecards, but lack options such as predictive analysis or performance management. Looker is primarily focused on the small and medium business sector which includes mobile, gaming, and E-commerce marketplaces, as well as non-profits and educational institutions.
Although Looker is not offered as a free trial, an important factor for SMBs, it does provide a BI Analyst team to support companies in BI application and development in their business. This is an important feature for SMBs, especially in companies that are looking to implement BI in their business strategy, and require expert help in its application.
4. Panorama Necto
This BI Software is styled as the 3.0 version of Business Intelligence because it takes advantage of social collaboration tools to advance social decision-making based on BI analysis. In addition, Panorama Necto provides a high level of suggestive intelligence – the tool itself conducts its own analysis and suggests solutions or recommendations based on collaborative insights.
This kind of solution is considered to be a step higher than predictive intelligence. Additionally, Panorama Necto is scalable for any size of business and is applicable in a variety of industry settings. Although it does not provide a free trial, it does offer customers a free download of its desktop edition to use with its online server, to help SMBs to get familiar with the software before deciding on a purchase.
5. Board Management Intelligence
This solution integrates Business Intelligence with Performance Management in a software toolkit that allows businesses to customize the product to their needs without depending on any programming requirements. Board Management Intelligence features include BI Reporting & Analysis, Dashboards, and Scorecards, along with budgeting, planning, forecasting, and strategic analysis.
This is an important advantage for SMBs who are getting the functionality of two key business management areas in one software tool. This solution is scalable for any size of business as well, yet is only offered as a primarily on-premise solution.