Having the right analytics tool for your business can be the difference between success and failure. Keeping an eye on how things are going allows you to keep any issues to a minimum and stop things from escalating. Below you will find a range of the best business intelligence analytics tools available right now. To find the best tool for your business, be sure to check for must haves in the key features list.

The Top 6 Best BI Analytics Tools

  1. Oracle Business Analytics – Best for Experienced Businesses
  2. Domo – Best Cloud Based Tool
  3. Dundas BI – Best Browser Based Tool
  4. Sisense – Best for Customization
  5. Tableau – Best for Visual Aids
  6. Geckoboard – Best for Beginners

1. Oracle Business Analytics – Best for Experienced Businesses

PRICING: Cost is based on your specific needs

Oracle’s Business Analytics product is great if you know exactly what you want out of a tool. They allow you to only pay for what you want without all the extra fluff that you don’t need. They also allow you to add on features in the future making it a great option for those who are starting out and only need basic features. A feature to note is their AI assistance that helps to identify trends and provide data accordingly. This can provide great insight in anticipating your business needs. While they don’t have a base price listed, they do provide a cost estimator to help you figure out the price for your package.

KEY FEATURES:

  • A wide arrange of AI assistance tools
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Quick and easy reporting
  • Alarms and notifications
  • Forecasting and insight tools

REASONS TO BUY:

  • Pay for what you want
  • Easy to conduct queries
  • Workshops available

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Customer support is slow to respond
  • Known to be pricey

2. Domo- Best Cloud Based Tool

PRICING: Free to start. Subscription pricing is based on a customized quote

Domo is a strong product that has developer tools for anyone, even those who don’t know how to code. It’s known to be a bit pricey though, so make sure to get a good look around at any competitors before deciding if this is the one. Domo is great for its insight models that automatically provide data and graphs for your reference. There’s a lot that comes with Domo, so it is understandably difficult to master. This can be a downside if you need a tool that you can jump right into. But if you have the time to really dig into their training courses, this tool can be a real powerhouse. The great thing about Domo is that it has a significant trial period where you get full access to the tool and will even offer demonstrations so that you are absolutely certain this is the tool you want to work with.

KEY FEATURES:

  • API access
  • Data integration tools
  • Data flows
  • Data transformations
  • Cloud for easy scaling
  • Tons of interactive charts
  • Mobile app
  • Customizable profile tools
  • Collaboration tools
  • Alerts and notifications
  • Insight assistance
  • App designing tools

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 30 day free trial
  • Cloud based
  • Tons of training resources

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Slow with large data quantities
  • Difficult to learn

3. Dundas BI – Best Browser Based Tool

PRICING: Subscription pricing is based on a customized quote

Dundas BI is a tool that is great for companies of all sizes. Their pricing seems to be fair compared to their competitors, but for a price you will need to create an account for them to provide a price based on your needs. Dundas BI offers two different trial options depending on your needs. You can use the online trial for business and data analysts, but this version does not have all the capabilities of their other version which is the full product download. They state the full product trial is best for IT and data individuals.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Automatic data modeling
  • Calendar tools
  • Security tools
  • Data insight tools
  • Scheduled reporting
  • AI analysis assistance
  • Heat mapping tool
  • Integration capabilities

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 25 day free trial
  • Learning tools
  • Ability to show and hide content on the dashboard

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • The features can be buggy
  • No undo button
  • The training doesn’t cover everything

4. Sisense – Best for Customization

PRICING: Subscription pricing is based on a customized quote

Sisense has a focus on data. Their features have a focus on either discovering new or important trends and on analyzing the data that is found. Sisense has tools with charts and graphics that dictate the information in an easy to understand way. The goal is to have data that anyone can understand to allow for better communication throughout different departments. Like other tools, their pricing is based on your specific needs. They do offer different subscription tiers though, so you will have options to choose from based on what you need and how many people will need access to the tool.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Notifications and alerts
  • Accessible from any device
  • Notification and alert tools
  • Data insight tools
  • Web based
  • On premises, cloud based, or hybrid options
  • Lots of data charts and graphics options

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 14 day free trial
  • Non-tech user friendly
  • Allows you to only pay for what you use
  • Customization tools

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • Little training assistance
  • No scheduled reports
  • No insight assistance for planning

5. Tableau – Best for Visual Aids

PRICING: Starting at $75 a user per month

If there’s anything that Tableau is known for, it’s their wonderful dashboards. They are easy to use and provide data in a truly appealing way. While data can sometimes be difficult to work with, especially when trying to find out how to search for specific requests, Tableau makes it easy. They allow for users to search using simple terms, without the need for coding knowledge. This alone can save hours of time trying to gain access to the information needed. Tableau also offers suggestions for visuals that would work best with the data that you are currently using. It truly is a user friendly tool for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of tech expertise.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Report sharing
  • Interactive dashboards
  • Data examination from other tools
  • New features consistently
  • Mobile app available for android and ios
  • Alerts and notifications

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 14 day free trial
  • Easy to build reporting tool
  • AI recommendations
  • Easy to conduct queries

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • They only offer annual subscriptions
  • No scheduling ability
  • Some integrations require IT assistance

6. Geckoboard – Best for Beginners

PRICING: Free plan or $39 a month for one user and one dashboard

Geckoboard is great for those who are just starting out. They offer a free plan that allows you access to a spreadsheet powered dashboard. It’s not much, but it’s definitely great for just starting out. Their base subscription plan allows for one user and one dashboard and they have more tiers so that you can easily scale your business as it grows. Their 14 day free trial allows you full access to the tool. Allowing you to truly get a feel for if it is a good fit for your needs.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Sharing capabilities
  • No-coding tools
  • Scheduled reports
  • Slack integration
  • Accessible anywhere through browser
  • IP restriction capabilities

REASONS TO BUY:

  • 14 day free trial
  • Monthly and annual subscription options

REASONS TO AVOID:

  • No notification abilities
  • Not many learning resources

References and Links

  • https://www.selecthub.com/business-intelligence-tools/
  • https://technologyadvice.com/business-intelligence/
  • https://www.datapine.com/articles/best-bi-tools-software-review-list
  • https://www.oracle.com/business-analytics/
  • https://www.tableau.com/
  • https://dundas.com/
  • https://www.domo.com/start/free
  • https://www.geckoboard.com/