10 Best Business Intelligence Software Shortlist
With so many different business intelligence (BI) software available, figuring out which is right for you is tough. You know you want software to gather, process, and analyze your data to gain actionable insights and make better data-driven decisions, but you need to figure out which software is best. In this post, I'll help you make this choice easy by sharing my insights on the best business intelligence software for understanding trends, improving strategies, and boosting your organizational performance.
What is Business Intelligence Software?
Business intelligence software is a tool that collects and processes large amounts of structured and unstructured data, allowing you to analyze and visualize it. You can use it to keep track of key performance indicators (KPIs), create reports and dashboards, and uncover current or predictive (future) trends. You can also set up data integrations that cover all your key systems to ensure your business intelligence analytics are comprehensive and accurate.
Business intelligence software ultimately helps you make better-informed business decisions, improve your operational efficiency, and identify new business opportunities. You can leverage the data mining capabilities of BI tools to find patterns in your data and forecast future trends.
Overviews Of The 10 Best Business Intelligence Software Systems
Here’s a brief description of each business intelligence software system to showcase each tool’s best use case, plus some noteworthy features, and screenshots to give you a snapshot of the user interface.
Zoho Analytics
Augment your data and predict future trends
Zoho Analytics is a business intelligence (BI) tool that helps organizations collect and track data. The software pulls data from multiple sources and organizes it into clean dashboards, allowing you to slice and dice the information however you want.
With Zoho Analytics, you can track key business metrics to identify behavioral trends. The software’s AI-driven management module helps you augment your data so you can predict future trends and generate insights.
Zoho Analytics integrates with hundreds of popular apps, including Salesforce, Google Drive, QuickBooks, Zendesk, HubSpot, and Mailchimp.
Zoho Analytics costs from $24/month. The software also offers a 15-day free trial.
Klipfolio
Create dashboards and answer client questions on the same platform
Klipfolio is an analytics and BI platform that helps businesses take control of their data. The solution enables you to customize your dashboard to track KPIs with multiple charts and graphs at a time.
Klipfolio allows your team members to collaborate by leaving each other notes directly on the charts. Clients can ask questions on the charts they’re referencing, so you can provide detailed answers.
Klipfolio integrates with dozens of solutions, including Google Analytics, ActiveCampaign, Ahrefs, Adobe Analytics, Basecamp, Dropbox, Harvest, and HubSpot.
Klipfolio costs from $99/month. The software also offers a 14-day free trial.
Sisense
Create white-labeled analytics experiences
Sisense is a BI solution that helps product developers create bespoke solutions for their clients. The tool allows developers to create white-labeled analytics and integrate them into their products or services.
The highlight of this solution is that it enables you to deliver consistent brand experiences. Even though the analytics platform you embed into your client’s product relies on Sisense’s architecture and machine learning capabilities, you can customize its look and feel to your brand.
Sisense integrates with multiple solutions, including Google Ads, Facebook Insights, SAP Analytics Cloud, Dropbox, GitHub, Oracle BI, and Google Search Console.
Sisense offers custom pricing upon request, as well as a free trial.
Grow
Track the efficiency of your departments or team members
Grow is a modern BI tool that helps you make informed business decisions. The software is highly customizable and allows you to track and manipulate data in order to uncover valuable insights. The solution offers multiple pre-made templates that allow you to turn raw data into structured reports you can understand.
Grow’s Leaderboard dashboards allow you to track the efficiency of different teams or team members. These dashboards help you understand which departments or members of your organization lead in sales or other metrics based on custom criteria.
Grow integrates with dozens of popular solutions, including ActiveCampaign, Airtable, Asana, Box, FreshBooks, Google Ads, HubSpot, Salesforce, and Shopify.
Grow offers custom pricing upon request. The software also offers a free trial on demand.
Cluvio
Transform raw data into data-driven stories
Cluvio is a cloud-based BI and analytics solution that enables data-driven teams and businesses to find actionable insights from data using SQL and R. The solution helps you track KPIs in real time with interactive dashboards.
This software made the list thanks to the variety of charts and graphs it offers. With Cluvio, you can transform unstructured data into data-driven stories and help your clients understand what’s happening in their organizations. The tool enables you to share dashboards with collaborators via secure links, allowing them to view your dashboards and reports without altering them.
Cluvio integrates with dozens of tools, including Google Cloud, Google Big Query, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Amazon Redshift, and Amazon Web Services.
Cluvio costs from $249/month. The software also offers a 14-day free trial.
bipp Analytics
Give your web applications reporting features with an embedded BI solution
bipp is a BI and data analytics software that helps businesses break down complex datasets with automation and different visualization options. The app’s embedded analytics option allows you to create custom web applications with real-time reporting capabilities.
bipp allows you to connect with every data source in your ecosystem and schedule custom reports. The software automatically constructs reports based on preselected criteria and emails them to stakeholders or collaborators.
bipp integrates with dozens of solutions, including Google Sheets, Amazon Redshift, Snowflake, Apache Impala, Salesforce, and MongoDB.
bipp costs from $15/user/month. The software also offers a free-forever version for up to three users.
SAP BusinessObjects
Plan for the future with forecasting features
SAP BusinessObjects is a BI tool that enables you to manage your business and resources effectively with predictive analytics. The solution can perform heavy-duty tasks like breaking down large datasets, but it also helps business users who are not versed in SQL to create complex reports.
This software offers a lot of customization options and enables you to create personalized reports with a drag-and-drop editor. The software supports automated deliveries and notifies users when their reports are ready, so you can run it in the background. The tool’s forecasting features enable you to identify potential bottlenecks before they become problematic, so you can reallocate your resources and improve your efficiency.
SAP Business Intelligence integrates with multiple apps, including other business intelligence tools like SAP Roambi and Toucan, but also with solutions like Microsoft Excel, MS PowerPoint, Zoho Expense, MongoDB, DocuWare, and OneStream.
SAP BusinessObjects offers custom pricing upon request. The software also offers a free demo.
Phocas
Break down your financial data and create straightforward reports
Phocas is a BI and financial reporting tool that enables organizations to manage their finances and operations. The solution pulls data from spreadsheets and third-party systems and organizes it in customizable dashboards.
With Phocas, you can present your data in many ways. Once the platform collects the data, you can manipulate it into dashboards or interactive tables and run reports that go through large datasets in minutes. The software consolidates your financial statements, allowing you to create month-end reports with ease. You can share every report and actionable insight with your team via emails and you can schedule automated reporting sequences.
Phocas integrates with hundreds of apps, including Oracle Netsuite, QuickBooks, Sage, Salesforce, Xero, and HubSpot.
Phocas offers custom pricing upon request. The software also offers a 14-day free trial.
Metric Insights
Track your data with a mobile BI solution
Metric Insights is a BI tool that enables you to connect all your data sources in order to uncover trends and create reports. The software allows you to consolidate your data and filter it based on different criteria.
Metric Insights helps you leverage automation to save time. The solution enables you to set custom alerts and receive push notifications when something meaningful happens. This helps you oversee your data and take action when necessary. The software is compatible with mobile devices, so you can receive push notifications on any device.
Metric Insights integrates with multiple apps, including Tableau, IBM Cognos Analytics, Oracle Business Intelligence, Google Data Studio, Qlik Sense, and Jira.
Metric Insights offers custom pricing upon request. The software also offers a free trial upon request.
ClicData
Simplify recurring reporting tasks with automation
ClicData is a cloud-based BI solution that makes it easy to track your data and interpret it with the help of interactive dashboards. The tool allows you to collaborate with team members and create reports that offer insights into your activity.
One of the things I liked about ClicData is that you can schedule automatic reports and share them with your team and external collaborators via email. This helps you save time when preparing recurring reports. In addition, you can access ClicData directly in your browser, and the solution is compatible with mobile devices, so you can check your data while on the go.
ClicData integrates with dozens of solutions, including Google Analytics, Bing Ads, QuickBooks, SurveyMonkey, WooCommerce, and Basecamp.
ClicData costs from $75/month. The software also offers a 15-day free trial.
The 10 Best Business Intelligence Software Systems Summary
| Tool | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoho Analytics Augment your data and predict future trends | 15-day free trial + free demo | From $24/month | Website |
| 2 | Klipfolio Create dashboards and answer client questions on the same platform | 14-day free trial | From $99/month | Website |
| 3 | Sisense Create white-labeled analytics experiences | Free trial + free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
| 4 | Grow Track the efficiency of your departments or team members | Free trial available | Pricing Upon Request | Website |
| 5 | Cluvio Transform raw data into data-driven stories | 14-day free trial | From $249/month | Website |
| 6 | bipp Analytics Give your web applications reporting features with an embedded BI solution | Free-forever version for up to three users | From $15/user/month | Website |
| 7 | SAP BusinessObjects Plan for the future with forecasting features | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
| 8 | Phocas Break down your financial data and create straightforward reports | 14-day free trial + free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
| 9 | Metric Insights Track your data with a mobile BI solution | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website |
| 10 | ClicData Simplify recurring reporting tasks with automation | 15-day free trial | From $75/month | Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best business intelligence software list:
- NetSuite SuiteAnalytics
Save time with custom report templates
- Microsoft Power BI
Combine multiple visualizations to create comprehensive reports
- Tableau
BI software that helps you uncover insights with customizable dashboards and reports.
- Looker
Browser-based business intelligence tool that helps you compile large datasets.
- Funnel CRM
BI platform that helps you break down your marketing data.
- Domo
Low-code BI platform that enables you to share your reports securely with team members and external collaborators.
- Wyn Enterprise
Scalable BI solution that helps you create and share dashboards and reports.
- Pecan
Predictive analytics software that enables you to gain a better understanding of your operational needs.
- InetSof
BI software that helps business users create reports with distinct characteristics.
- Logi Analytics
BI solution that enables developers to build products with analytics features.
Comparison Criteria
Wondering how I selected the best business intelligence software for this list? Here’s a summary of my evaluation criteria:
- User Interface (UI): I look for solutions that have a clean interface and are easy to navigate. This helps you and your team members find the right functionalities without difficulty.
- Usability: I selected software that’s easy to use. Your team should be able to understand how to make the most out of the solution after a brief onboarding period.
- Integrations: I chose tools that integrate with popular apps, so you can easily include them in your software ecosystem. If you're looking to streamline not just your data analytics but also your human resources, consider coupling your BI tool with an HR software solution for a comprehensive approach.
- Value for $: I picked business intelligence solutions that help you achieve multiple goals so you’ll get a great return on your investment.
Business Intelligence Software: Key Features
- Data discovery: The solution should conduct automated or semi-automated data analysis to discover patterns and inconsistencies.
- Real-time analytics: The software should collect and organize data in real time, allowing you to identify trends and new business opportunities.
- Data visualization: The tool should enable you to organize your findings in visual formats, such as charts or graphs, so you can gain valuable insights and present your work to management or collaborators.
- Adaptable dashboards: The solution should enable you to configure your dashboards so you can keep track of KPIs and stay on top of important metrics.
- Notifications: The tool should send you and your team members notifications when something changes, so you won’t have to manually track your data day in and day out.
How Does Business Intelligence Software Help Companies?
Business intelligence software helps you make business decisions that rely on data rather than intuition. And this can have a huge impact on your task prioritization and business performance. That’s why 59% of enterprises use analytics to guide their decisions. As a senior risk manager for a commercial real estate management company said:
"Quantitative analysis enables us to anticipate the future rather than having to react after the event. And that can have a tremendous impact on our financial performance."
In an online world that revolves around data, business intelligence tools enable you to uncover insights and optimize your business to better serve your clients.
Take Your Organization to the Next Level with Business Intelligence Software
The best BI software can help you leverage data to improve your business processes. And the great thing is that you can use data to improve any business, no matter the field you operate in. For example, you can use HR analytics to improve your hiring and onboarding processes, or you can use workforce planning software to increase your team’s productivity.
For more on the benefits of business intelligence software, take a look at our article What Is Business Intelligence Software and How Can It Benefit Your Business.
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