Business intelligence (BI) tools have become critical to the success of different business streams due to their ability to extract and organize the required data seamlessly. With the increase in the prevalence and importance of data, businesses, both small and big, are investing more in these tools. But with the sheer number of BI tools available, selecting one that works best for a specific industry can require some careful consideration.

Role of business intelligence tools
These tools are software programmed to collect, process, analyze, and present large amounts of data. The programs can equip businesses to make well-informed decisions by giving them insights into relevant data trends.

Industries can also use BI analytical tools to gather information that is available on different spreadsheets, databases, and online services. The tools are designed to analyze the data to find patterns, trends, and relationships. The analyzed data is then presented through reports, charts, dashboards, and graphs, making it easy to understand.

Top options
1. Tableau
This is a popular BI platform that helps users with data visualization. Tableau is especially great for non-technical users since the company is invested in ensuring the easy usability of its BI reporting software. But making charts look pretty and interesting is not all it can do.

The platform has pre-built data connectors that allow it to integrate various other applications. Tableau also offers visual analytics. It is an interface where users can simply choose the buttons to drag and drop to spot data trends. Some applications it supports include PDF files, Google Analytics, Microsoft Excel, and Box, and it can be used in combination with most database platforms. Tableau Public is a free version of the platform that is available to everyone. It also helps individuals learn about the program to enhance their BI and analytical skills. The paid version has three different levels, making it an affordable option for both big and small businesses.

2. Sisense
This is a fast, capable, and powerful BI tool for data analysis. Sisense’s unique data architecture offers a combination of data modeling, data preparation, and visualization on the same platform. While its advanced features and sophisticated layout may seem tailored for experienced users, Sisense has ensured that its platform is easy to use for everyone, even without coding skills. It uses a single-stack architecture for data preparation and analysis and provides a drag-and-drop option that helps build the dashboard, making it easily accessible to different individuals in the company. Businesses can choose from cloud-based and self-hosted plans the BI reporting software offers. Keeping up with technological improvements, the platform also offers AI integration to keep up with advanced analytical requirements.

3. Zoho Analytics
An affordable and user-friendly BI tool for beginners as well as small businesses, Zoho is another commonly preferred option. That said, do not confuse its low cost with a low-quality interface or functions. Zoho is not one of the top platforms only because it is cheaper than most other options. It has most of the same or similar data analysis, preparation, representation, and visualization features as other BI tools. Zoho Analytics users have to choose from available paid plans according to the volume of usage and the number of individuals using the platform. The platform can also offer businesses tailored options if they have high volumes of data to import to the platform. Its pre-built dashboards and widgets make getting through the data preparation, management, and representation process easier. Zoho can be integrated with various platforms and applications. In addition, it offers a language query feature that allows users to ask questions about their work and receive visualized responses.

4. Microsoft Power BI
This tool provides a free desktop application and a cloud-based platform. Microsoft Power BI makes it easier for businesses to share dashboards and reports. It is a feature-rich tool that offers data visualization with AI-based features and impressive predictive modeling. It is an ideal choice for businesses that are well-acquainted with the Microsoft platform, allowing them to handle and utilize BI tool reporting adeptly. Beginners can also explore Microsoft Power BI with a few available courses. The tool has a few subscription options that businesses can choose from according to their needs and usage.

5. Domo
This is a cloud-based BI tool that offers users easy-to-use data visualization options. It also assists users with reporting. Additionally, its intuitive, user-friendly interface makes it a preferred choice for beginners and experienced users. The platform also has several pre-built connectors to help the program integrate different data sources. People with various levels of technical knowledge can also breeze through data cleaning and transformation. It has a limited-time free version for businesses or individuals who want to try out the tool before committing to it. Following the free trial, users must choose from the different paid versions based on their usage. The pricing structure of this platform follows a credit system rather than an allotment of the number of users. The credits will need to be repurchased even if only a couple of users are working with the platform.