Top 5 Business Intelligence Tools Your Company Should Use in 2021

With time, businesses are coping with a huge amount of data, and that is applicable for companies belonging to any sector. Analyzing the data is also necessary for understanding customer likings and market trends. That is why it is important to deploy specific software for sorting and analyzing data. That is where the business intelligence applications come into the picture. The BI tools make it easier to analyze huge amounts of data, and you can also visualize it in a unique way.

The top 5 BI tools for 2021

There are plenty of BI tools that you can pick from nowadays. However, it is necessary that you figure out which ones fit your business nee

ds better-

1. Domo-This is a cloud-based platform that is easy to use and features business-user-deployed dashboards. In Domo, you get business intelligence tools made for use in diverse sectors such as health care, education and financial services. The tool is especially suited for sales and marketing professionals, CEOs and BI professionals. The mobile UI is simply robust. With Domo, you can acquire data from many cloud sources, and it has solid integration with many online apps.
2. Microsoft Power BI- Any discussion on BI tools cannot be complete without mentioning Microsoft Power BI. In fact, power bi solutions are much sought after. Its Desktop app for Windows lets you visualize and analyze a huge amount of data with ease. You get augmented analytics, interactive dashboards, data preparation and visual-based discovery. It lets you deal with data obtained from diverse sources. The free version offers basic features, but the Pro version aimed at enterprise level users makes collaborative analysis simpler. For a monthly fee, you can get the advantages of integrating Microsoft Office365. The Premium version crams in more features. You may think of hiring a power bi designer if you use the premium version.
3. Dundas BI- Dundas Data Visualization offers this BI solution, and it is excellent for making dashboards and scorecards. However, you may also resort to this BI solution for ad-hoc reporting. The Analysis and visualization tasks are done through a neat web UI. The good thing about Dundas BI is that it is customizable. The latest version features natural language query capability. It supports Linux and has quick trend analysis. It is ideal for use in as many as 19 industries. The tool has an HTML5 interface.
4. MicroStrategy-If you want a capable solution for the enterprise BI market, this one is good. It comes in hybrid, on-premise and cloud forms to suit varying user needs. MicroStrategy scores owing to its ease of usage and a neat drag-and-drop UI. The users can develop personalized, real-time dashboards and data visualizations. Owing to its federated analytics, the users can leverage existing investments in the top and widely used data sources like Tableau and Power BI. The tool also comes with an enterprise semantics graph. You can try it free for a period of 30 days.
5. Oracle Analytics Cloud- The Oracle Analytics Cloud was unveiled back in 2014, and the company has spent time enhancing its functionality and feature set over the years. The Business Intelligence Enterprise Edition is the company's flagship offering, and the Analytics Cloud is like an outgrowth of sorts. The cloud offering is quite user-friendly and intuitive. It has robust machine learning and reporting features. The major features are data preparation, predictive analytics, and data connectors and embedded analytics support.

The other worthy BI contenders

You may also check out a few other BI solutions. These can be handy if hiring a Microsoft power bi developer is not what you want but seek a BI solution for your company.

• Qlik Sense- with Qlik Sense, the enterprises can give the users' data access- while adhering to the corporate data governance policies. Its Associative Engine is robust for dealing with the gargantuan amount of data, says the company. It is replete with machine learning capabilities and AI. Qlik Sense is a self-service tool that you can use for availing analytical capability.
• Sisense- Sisense's BI solution is powered by a robust In-Chip database engine. The newest edition comes with enhanced machine learning capabilities. You can opt for the cloud or on-premise edition of the software. It is useful for catering to sectors like HR and IT, finance, marketing and logistics. It is six better suited for SMEs.
• Tableau- Tableau is a flexible and customizable BI solution, and when you use it, you need not hire power bi developers. The software is available in the cloud and on-premise edition. It is ideal for use in industries like healthcare, banking, manufacturing, marketing and sales etc. It also has embedded AI and natural language processing capabilities. The solution is best suited for mid and large-sized enterprises.

How to pick the right BI tool

When picking a BI tool for your business, you have to assess a few aspects carefully. These are:

1. Ease of use- The BI tool should have an easy learning curve. Your employees should not find using it tedious. An intuitive UI is necessary.
2. Database and cloud service integration- A BI tool, after all, is meant for dealing with a mammoth amount of data. So, you have to find out how robust the database integration capability of the solution is. It is better if the tool has solid integration with online services and cloud apps.
3. Scalability- You have to think of the scalability of the BI solution. Your workforce is likely to grow over the years, and the same is true about the customer base. So, you have to invest in a BI solution that is capable of dealing with enhanced amounts of data.
4. Budget- The nice thing about Microsoft Power BI and competing BI tools is that most of them come in free versions. You can try the free edition at the beginning, and if that suits your needs- you may opt for licensing. Some tools also let you choose a trial option.
5. Support- You have to find what type of support is being offered by the company selling the BI solution.

Wrapping up

Business intelligence software solutions can be hugely beneficial for any company. It is useful for making better business decisions, analyzing customer preferences, boosting revenue and enhancing operational efficiency. Choose a BI tool after you analyze it on vital aspects, and do not forget to check online user reviews.