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Introduction
Business
intelligence
(BI)
involves
using
technology
to
analyze
data
for
actionable
insights
and
improved
decision-making.
BI
solutions
collect
internal
and
external
data
from
a
variety
of
sources
and
provide
numerous
tools
for
interacting
with
that
data,
such
as
queries,
reports,
dashboards,
and
data
visualizations.
Choosing
a
business
intelligence
solution
is
no
easy
matter
thanks
to
dozens
of
potential
products
to
consider.
What's
more,
BI
solutions
can
vary
dramatically
in
terms
of
price,
features,
capabilities,
and
interfaces.
A
huge
price
tag
isn't
necessarily
a
signal
of
quality,
nor
should
you
be
swayed
by
fancy
bells
and
whistles.
Even
getting
recommendations
from
other
business
intelligence
professionals
can
be
problematic
as
what
makes
a
good
BI
solution
for
one
company
often
makes
a
terrible
one
for
another.
With
these
thoughts
in
mind,
we'll
explore
the
key
ingredients
--
such
as
the
developer's
commitment
to
constantly
improving
the
product
and
must-have
features
--
of
a
good
BI
solution.
An
open
architecture
and
wide
database
support
--
BI
solutions
built
on
proprietary
architectures
or
that
support
only
a
handful
of
databases
limit
your
options
whereas
those
built
with
an
open
architecture
and
with
wide
database
support
will
come
with
fewer
limits
and
be
more
likely
to
integrate
with
other
databases,
applications,
and
platforms.
The
ability
to
deliver
real-time
data
--
The
fresher
your
data,
the
better.
Real-time
data
helps
you
to
make
the
most
informed
decisions
possible.
Application
import
options
--
Data
often
resides
in
other
applications,
making
it
crucial
to
have
an
efficient
means
of
importing
data
and
charts.
Self-service
--
It's
not
uncommon
for
end-users
to
require
technical
assistance
when
using
business
applications.
The
complexities
of
business
intelligence
make
this
a
real
concern.
Self-service
tools,
such
as
dashboards,
mashups,
and
ad
hoc
reports,
reduce
the
burden
on
IT
personnel
while
simultaneously
empowering
users
to
help
themselves.
The
days
of
relying
on
IT
personnel
to
create
queries,
and
design
reports
are
over;
that
is,
if
you
choose
a
BI
solution
with
self-service
capabilities.
Visual
tools
like
dashboards,
data
visualizations,
and
visual
business
analytics
--
Visual
tools
and
personalized
dashboards
help
users
make
sense
of
data,
resulting
in
timely,
better
decisions.
Dashboards
measure
KPIs
and
display
those
metrics
graphically
such
as
in
thermometers,
gauges,
and
charts.
Robust,
enterprise
reporting
including
interactive
reports
and
"mashups"
--
Also
highly
visual,
multidimensional
charts,
interactive
reports,
and
geographic
mapping
along
with
drill-down
options
allow
for
deeper,
more
relevant
explorations
of
data.
Geographic
mapping
(or
location
intelligence)
allows
you
to
analyze
data
graphically
by
region.
"Mashups"
involve
dragging
and
dropping
data
from
diverse
sources
to
create
unique
data
visualizations.
Ad
hoc
reports
are
also
essential
as
are
ranking
reports,
business
analytics
reports,
scheduled
reports,
and
"what
if"
analysis.
The
ability
to
import
and
export
reports
is
also
highly
desirable.
Mobile
Support
--
Mobile
devices
are
here
to
stay,
with
each
device
and
platform
having
its
own
unique
requirements.
A
good
BI
solution
will
provide
a
native
experience
for
each
device
and
platform.
Security
Data
security
and
data
access
go
hand-in-hand
but
are
tricky
to
balance.
The
key
is
to
ensure
access
to
those
who
truly
need
it
while
preventing
access
by
those
who
don't.
At
the
same
time,
security
must
address
the
needs
of
authorized
users
without
unduly
burdening
them.
Single
Sign-On
/
Integration
When
a
security
schema
is
used
in
a
BI
application,
that
same
security
should
be
used
for
reporting.
This
is
accomplished
with
a
single
sign-on
which
allows
users
to
enter
their
credentials
in
one
place
and
eliminates
the
need
to
login
whenever
switching
between
related
applications.
User
Permissions
and
Privacy
-
At
All
Levels
(Application,
Data,
and
Report)
Users
have
different
needs
and
roles.
The
ability
to
customize
features,
access,
and
security
to
individual
users
and/or
their
user
roles
gives
you
greater
control
over
who
can
access
sensitive
data
and
what
they
can
do.
In
addition
to
defining
user
roles
and
their
permissions,
a
good
BI
solution
includes
application,
data,
and
report
security
controls.
With
application-level
security,
user
roles
determine
how
the
application
looks
and
acts.
For
example,
different
menu
options
may
be
displayed
based
on
the
user
role.
At
the
data
level,
data
returned
by
various
tables
can
be
restricted
based
on
the
user
role
or
permissions.
Similarly,
report
security
restricts
access
to
reports
and
reporting
functions
based
on
the
user's
role
and
permissions.
Taken
even
further,
multi-tenant
security
is
also
desirable.
This
allows
you
to
restrict
access
at
the
row
level.
For
example,
you
could
build
a
single
sales
report
for
the
entire
company
rather
than
individual
reports
for
each
salesperson.
Each
individual
would
see
their
own
sales
figures
thanks
to
multi-tenant
security.
Application
Activity
Auditing
The
ability
to
track
activities
within
an
application
is
crucial
should
a
security
breach
occur
or
an
investigation
is
warranted.
With
application
activity
auditing,
a
log
is
created
detailing
all
sign-on
and
sign-off
activities
as
well
as
time
and
dates
and
the
applications
and
reports
accessed.
In
addition
to
managing
security,
audit
logs
can
give
you
valuable
insights
as
to
which
applications
and
reports
are
most
commonly
used
(and
those
which
are
underutilized).
User-Friendliness
As important as features and security may be, a critical component of any BI solution is user-friendliness. If a business intelligence
tool is difficult to navigate, use, and understand, users simply won't use it. Those who do, won't use it to its fullest advantage. In either
case, an unfriendly business intelligence solution is no solution at all!
While
hands-on
experience
with
the
solution
is
the
surest
way
to
judge
its
user-friendliness,
focusing
on
BI
solutions
that
have
the
following
characteristics
is
a
good
starting
point:
Performance - Does the BI solution load and respond quickly or must you wait an excessive amount of time for query results?
Simplicity
-
How
well
organized
is
the
graphical
user
interface?
Is
it
intuitive?
What
about
the
data
--
is
it
displayed
visually
in
a
comprehensive
manner
or
are
you
presented
with
row
after
row
of
data?
How
technical
must
users
be?
For
example,
does
IT
need
to
get
involved
when
a
user
wants
to
examine
information
not
in
a
predefined
report
or
can
the
user
drag
and
drop
data
sources
and
build
a
report
on
the
fly?
Do
users
need
to
understand
SQL
and
connectivity
or
can
they
simply
interact
with
the
data?
Organization
-
How
are
the
dashboards
organized?
Ideally,
users
should
be
presented
with
a
simple,
visual
global
overview
along
with
the
ability
to
drill
down
to
additional,
customizable
levels
relevant
to
their
job
roles
and
interests.
A
well-organized
interface
puts
everything
a
user
needs
within
easy
reach.
Shallow
learning
curve
-
How
much
training
is
required
in
order
to
benefit
from
the
solution?
BI
solutions
exist
that
anyone
with
Microsoft
Excel-level
skills
can
easily
use
with
minimal,
if
any,
training
required.
Visual
context
-
It's
not
unusual
for
a
number
or
result
to
be
ambiguous
at
first
glance.
For
example,
is
$10
million
good
or
bad?
It
depends
on
the
context.
Visual
icons
such
as
thumbs
up
signs,
red
flags,
bullseyes,
and
check
marks
can
quickly
provide
users
with
visual
context.
Accessibility/ergonomics
-
In
the
age
of
massive
computer
screens,
it's
tempting
to
fill
the
space.
However,
visual
clutter
is
both
hard
on
the
eyes
and
difficult
for
users
to
digest.
With
business
intelligence,
you
want
to
present
easy-to-digest
insights,
not
overwhelm
the
senses
and
the
user.
Another
consideration
involves
font
legibility
and
size.
Mobile
(responsive)
design
-
Today's
web
applications
and
traditional
software
are
often
accessed
on
multiple
devices
including
desktop
computers,
tablets,
and
smartphones.
As
users
move
from
one
device
to
the
next,
they
expect
a
similar
experience
despite
device
differences.
They
may
also
require
different
features
due
to
the
nature
of
the
device
and
the
environment
in
which
it
is
used.
As
a
result,
a
user-friendly
BI
solution
must
provide
a
seamless,
intuitive
experience
regardless
of
which
device
is
used.
Keeping
business
intelligence
as
simple
as
possible
for
end-users
is
a
must
if
you
want
the
solution
to
be
used
to
its
fullest
potential.
Not
only
that,
a
user-friendly
solution
saves
time
and
increases
productivity.
Data
Integration
The
ability
to
exchange
data
from
diverse
sources
including
applications,
databases,
partners,
customers,
and
vendors
allows
for
a
more
efficient
and
effective
ecosystem.
A
good
business
intelligence
solution
allows
for
data
integration
at
various
levels
including:
Application-level
data
integration
-
Data
often
resides
in
other
applications
such
as
Excel
or
QuickBooks.
Users
need
a
fast,
easy,
and
reliable
means
of
interacting
with
that
data.
Database-level
data
integration
-
Likewise,
many
organizations
rely
on
multiple
data
sources
such
as
SQL
Server,
Oracle,
and
SAP.
Though
individual
data
sources
may
not
integrate
directly
with
one
another
natively,
a
good
business
intelligence
solution
has
the
capability
to
pull
information
from
diverse
data
sources.
An
even
better
one
is
simple
enough
for
end
users
to
do
without
IT
intervention.
Partner-level
data
integration
-
Partners
increasingly
expect
higher
levels
of
data
integration
so
that
they
can
adjust
production
capacity
or
inventory
levels
as
needed.
Likewise,
your
company
can
benefit
from
insights
gleaned
from
partner
and
vendor
data.
For
example,
finding
out
about
potential
parts
shortages
in
advance
may
give
you
enough
time
to
reengineer
a
product
to
use
an
alternative
part
or
find
a
secondary
supplier.
Advanced
Features
In
addition
to
key
features,
security,
user-friendliness,
and
data
integration,
a
good
BI
solution
will
include
advanced
features
such
as
those
listed
below:
Open
integration
-
Earlier
we
talked
about
data
integration
at
the
application,
database,
and
partner
levels.
These
are
a
must;
however,
what
about
the
rest
of
the
cyberworld?
Open
integration
ensures
that
data
can
be
collected
elsewhere
such
as
from
the
Internet,
social
media
sites,
email,
cloud
services,
or
even
factory
equipment.
Automated
alerts
-
What
happens
if
a
key
performance
indicator
falls
below
a
predetermined
level
or
a
supplier
is
running
dangerously
low
on
a
much-needed
part?
Automated
alerts
ensure
that
key
personnel
are
immediately
notified
via
email
or
SMS
message
--
in
real
time.
Automated
alerts
allow
your
team
to
proactively
respond
to
critical
events
as
they
happen,
potentially
preventing
a
crisis.
Collaboration
-
Business
collaboration
tools
are
changing
how
colleagues
exchange
knowledge
and
information.
However,
many
are
standalone
systems.
Built-in
collaboration
makes
sharing
dashboards,
data
visualizations,
and
reports
amongst
colleagues
even
easier
and
more
efficient.
Because
user
permissions
typically
vary
by
role,
keeping
collaboration
within
the
business
intelligence
solution
itself
also
ensures
that
all
appropriate
security
rules
are
enforced.
For
example,
if
a
regional
sales
manager
shares
a
sales
report
with
her
entire
team
via
an
external
collaboration
tool,
each
team
member
would
see
the
same
information
(including
potentially
sensitive
information
that
they're
not
authorized
to
see).
On
the
other
hand,
if
the
report
is
shared
within
the
BI
environment,
each
user
would
see
only
the
data
they
have
been
authorized
to
see.
Self-service
-
It's
not
uncommon
for
end
users
to
require
technical
assistance
when
using
business
applications.
The
complexities
of
business
intelligence
make
this
a
real
concern.
Self-service
tools,
such
as
dashboards,
mashups,
and
ad
hoc
reports,
reduce
the
burden
on
IT
personnel
while
simultaneously
empowering
users
to
help
themselves.
Rebranding
options
-
White
labeling/rebranding
options
allow
you
to
"brand"
the
solution
with
your
company
logo,
providing
users
with
a
consistent
interface.
Scalability
-
Let's
say
you've
found
the
perfect
business
intelligence
solution
that
has
everything
you
could
possibly
need.
Will
it
keep
up
with
your
company's
growth?
What
happens
if
you
need
additional
capacity?
The
best
BI
solutions
are
able
to
keep
up
with
businesses
as
they
change.
Cloud-based
BI
-
Cloud
computing
has
numerous
advantages
over
on-premises
software,
making
choosing
a
cloud-based
business
intelligence
solution
an
advantageous
choice.
For
example,
users
can
access
the
software
from
virtually
any
location
and
any
device.
Cloud-based
software
is
offered
on
an
ongoing
subscription-based
model
which
is
attractive
to
many
businesses,
and
there's
no
capital
investment
required.
Summary
Because
business
intelligence
solutions
are
both
plentiful
and
vastly
different
from
one
vendor
to
the
next,
finding
a
good
fit
for
your
company
can
quickly
become
a
confusing
and
overwhelming
challenge.
Fortunately,
by
focusing
on
the
key
characteristics
outlined
in
this
white
paper,
you
can
narrow
your
choices
into
a
more
manageable
list
and
ultimately
find
the
best
BI
solution
for
your
needs.
We recommend focusing on the following:
1. Key
features:
real-time
data,
import
options,
self-service,
visual
tools,
robust
reporting,
and
mobile
support
2. Security:
single
sign-on,
user
permissions
and
privacy,
and
application
activity
auditing
3. User-friendliness:
performance,
simplicity,
organization,
shallow
learning
curve,
visual
context,
accessibility
/
ergonomics,
and
responsive
design
4. Data
integration:
application-level,
database-level,
and
partner-level
integration
5.
Advanced
features:
open
integration,
automated
alerts,
collaboration,
rebranding
options,
scalability,
and
cloud-based
business
intelligence.
About
InetSoft
With
a
mission
of
providing
high
quality,
open
standards-based
business
intelligence
software
that
does
not
lock
clients
into
a
single
BI
solution,
staying
nimble
and
innovating,
and
designing
software
that
is
easy
to
use
and
deploy,
InetSoft
offers
scalable,
cloud-
based
business
intelligence
solutions
that
are
visually
compelling,
interactive,
user-friendly,
and
affordable.
Download a free trial or contact InetSoft to learn more:
Phone:
+1.888.216.2353
(USA)
Phone:
+1.732.424.0400
(International)
Fax:
+1.732.980.5949
Email:
info@inetsoft.com
Bibliography/Works Cited