MODULE 5 IMPLEMENTING BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE
Business intelligence (BI) platforms enable enterprises to build BI applications by providing
capabilities in three categories: analysis, such as online analytical processing (OLAP); information
delivery, such as reports and dashboards; and platform integration, such as BI metadata
management and a development environment. In simple words, A business intelligence (BI) platform
is technology that helps businesses gather, understand, and visualize their data. It serves as the
backbone of a company’s business intelligence strategy, which is how a company uses information
to make better decisions.
The Business Intelligence (BI) Platform Capability Matrix sets the technical details of the BI Platform
Capabilities and also valuates the leading BI platform products based on the technical capabilities.
The matrix serves as a high-level guide to understand the technical capabilities of each vendor’s
shipping products. Beyond the vendor selection, the capability matrix is basically used as an
architectural guide to what should be included in a comprehensive and well- balanced BI platform.
Organizations should decide the capabilities that are required based on the requirements.
There are 12 capabilities in BI platform and can be divided into integration, information delivery
and analysis.
Presently, in BI platform more concentration is on information delivery but the analysis and
integration also play an important role in BI deployments. Organizations must boost their analysis
capabilities to discover new insights which will lead to competitive differentiation and performance
improvement. The BI platforms should improve their analysis capabilities to find out new insights
that can lead to competitive differentiation and performance improvement. It should also improve
its integration capabilities to put together the analytical insights back into the business at both the
strategic and process level. The Information delivery capabilities will always be required to inform
the stakeholders to allow them to constantly monitor the performance of the business and also take
corrective action when the actual values are different from the projected goals. Only the
combination of all the three capability categories (integration, information delivery and analysis) can
build a platform which can deliver BI pervasively to the business.
Information Delivery
There are four BI platform capabilities in the information delivery category which are reports,
dashboards, ad hoc query and Microsoft Office Integration. User organizations are investing heavily
in all of these four capabilities which are pulling many vendors including the nontraditional BI
vendors into the space.
a. Reports: This capability allows the creation of formatted and interactive reports with
extremely scalable distribution and scheduling capabilities. Finally, this capability should
help in easy to search and also navigate the information in the report, as well as the
repository of reports.
b. Dashboards: Dashboards gives a positive or negative trend indicator and a colour-coded
summary which shows the state of each metric compared to an established aim or
threshold. The end users should be able to create their own performance metrics. Real-time
update of the dashboards to reflect the events or the scheduled updates to the metrics is
vital for the BI applications to focus on the operational tasks. Finally, the dashboards should
allow the difficult alerts and notifications based not just on one metric but on groups of
related metrics.
c. Ad Hoc Query: This capability allows the end users to build their own reports by asking for
ad hoc queries. Conventionally, the ad hoc query capability has been limited to just the data
warehouse but, increasingly, ad hoc queries will be aimed at a broader set of sources.
Performance is a main issue for the users performing ad hoc queries. Hence, the BI platforms
that give this capability should fulfill many requirements to improve the query performance
which includes aggregate awareness, caching, multi-pass SQL, query governance,
performance auditing and native SQL commands.
d. Microsoft Office Integration: In many deployments, the BI platform is used at the middle
tier (application tier) to manage, secure and also execute the BI tasks. In Microsoft Office,
Excel acts as the BI client. Some of the BI platforms include other Office applications, such as
the Word and the PowerPoint. The advanced functionality includes the ability to prepare
new reports in Microsoft Office which can be saved back to the middle tier BI server, and the
ability to centrally control and secure the BI documents in Office. [Caching - storing data for
future use multi-pass SQL enables the users to create more complex reports, and have more
flexibility in answering business questions on the reports.]
Integration
There are four BI platform capabilities in the integration category. They are infrastructure, metadata,
development, and workflow and collaboration. Of all the BI platform capability categories, this is the
least mature. Most of the BI platform vendors do a reasonable job of giving an integrated
infrastructure, including the security, metadata and administration tools, but some vendors with an
aggressive acquisition strategy will find it difficult to maintain. Most of the BI metadata is used as a
semantic layer for self-service reporting. BI metadata must play a bigger role in standardizing the
dimensions, hierarchies, measures and performance metrics across the organization. However, the
BI metadata must talk to more applications than just that same vendor’s reporting tools. The
development environment must go beyond the programmatic Software Development Kits (SDKs) to
include more visual development functionality and more dependence on Web services. Finally, as
the BI becomes more process driven, the BI platforms will require better integration with workflow
and collaboration offerings.
[Semantic layer maps complex data into familiar business terms so that users across the enterprise
can access the same source of truth, with full confidence in its integrity]
a. Infrastructure: To assess this category, each BI platform has to be integrated, including
the common security, metadata, administration, portal integration, object model, query
engine and also shared look- and-feel. The real litmus test for the tightly integrated
infrastructure is the capability to deploy all the BI functionality with a single installation.
b. Metadata: Strong metadata is the vital capability of a BI platform. Not only should all the
tools leverage the same metadata, but the offering should also give a strong way to capture,
store, re use and publish the metadata objects. To assess a BI platform’s capability in this
area, analysts look for a single repository for different types of BI metadata, which includes
the dimensions, hierarchies, measures, performance metrics and report design objects.
c. Development: The BI platform should give a set of programmatic development tools,
along with a Software Developer’s Kit, to build the BI applications and also integrate them
into a business process and put them in another application. In addition, the BI platform
should allow the developers to build the BI applications without coding by using wizards and
drag-and-drop tools for a graphical assembly process. The development environment should
also support the Web services to do common tasks such as scheduling, delivery,
administration and management.
d. Workflow and Collaboration: This capability allow the BI users to both share and discuss
the information through the public folders or the discussion threads, and also integrate the
BI results within the context of a particular business process. With the help of this capability,
the BI application can assign and track events or tasks given to particular users. Often, this
capability is provided by integration with a separate portal or workflow tool. The analysts
evaluate each BI platform’s ability to activate a task-specific to the workflow based on the
outcome of the BI- generated data. The ease with which the users can build and edit the
business rules to automate the workflow was a major requirement.
Analysis:
There are four BI platform capabilities present in the analysis category. They are OLAP, predictive
modeling, scorecards and visualization. To date, the enormous majority of the organizations focus
on just the OLAP capability. But with the increasing interest in the process- and strategy-driven BI,
the need for predictive modeling and scorecards will also increase. Predictive modeling is required to
determine in before hand the outcome of different business events. This information when used
rightly can promote better planning and optimize the business processes.
a. OLAP: This capability allows the end users to analyze the data with extremely fast query
and calculation, performance, allowing a style of analysis known as "slice and dice." This
capability can span a range of storage architectures for example, relational,
multidimensional and in- memory. The analysts look for the capability of the users to easily
define the functions and add or edit the dimension members. The BI platforms also checked
the capability to execute sophisticated sorting or ranking, alternate hierarchies, inter-row
calculations, asymmetric hierarchies and drilling down on measures. Performance attributes,
such as the capability to perform Relational OLAP (ROLAP) calculations, where the in-
memory aggregations and trickle feed cube loading are also examined.
b. Visualization: This capability allows the different aspects of the data to be displayed more
efficiently by using interactive pictures and charts instead of the rows and columns. BI
platforms were assessed on the ability to project multidimensional data in a two-
dimensional screen with the help of the size, shape and colour of objects to show
dimensionality. The capability to project data onto any physical design surface such as a
physical store, airplane or stadium can also be examined. Finally, the analysts look for BI
platforms that give a wide range of chart types beyond the basic bar and pie charts, to
include the chart types such as the heat maps and the geographic maps. Credit can be given
to the BI platforms that allowed easy interactivity with the charts.
c. Predictive Modeling and Data Mining: This capability allows the organizations to separate
the categorical variables and also estimate the continuous variables using the advanced
mathematical techniques. Most of the BI platforms can give basic comparative statistics. The
analysts assessed the BI platforms on the capability to build predictive models based on the
more sophisticated algorithms performing the analysis such as:
o Forecasting
o Classification
o Attribute importance
o Clustering
o Affinity analysis
o Optimization
The BI platforms were assessed on the capability to handle a predictive modeling
Environment which includes:
o Experimental design
o Data transformations
o Model management
o Model assessment
o Real-time/batch scoring.
d. Scorecards: This capability takes the metrics displayed in the dashboard a step further by
applying them to the strategy map which aligns the key performance metrics with the
success of the strategic objectives. However, the scorecard involves the use of a
performance management methodology such as the "balanced scorecard" framework or the
Six Sigma. The analysts assessed the BI platforms on the capability to design the strategy
maps, support the common scorecard methods, apply the performance management
methodologies, encourage the association about the performance metrics, and summaries,
display, and group the performance metrics. Most of the vendors with a scorecard product
were able to meet all the demands requested. Some of the vendors without a formally
designated scorecard product were able to show some scorecard functionality with the
reporting and dashboard products.
BI Target database and Operational Database
Operational database is designed to prevent the storage of the same data attributes in multiple
places and thus avoid the update anomalies caused by redundancy. Designing normalized database
structures is key for developing relational databases. Normalization ensures that the data is created,
stored, and modified in a consistent, nonredundant way.
Operational Databases versus BI Target Databases
Operational Databases Geared toward eliminating redundancy, coordinating updates, and repeating
the same types of operations many times a day, every day (for example, airline reservations,
deposits and withdrawals from bank accounts, hotel room reservations ).
BI Target Databases Geared toward supporting a wide range of queries and reports. Queries and
reports may vary from one business analyst to another or from one department to another. All of
the queries and reports may not run on the same day and may not run every day (for example,
quarterly trend analysis reports on regional sales, monthly order fulfillment report).
Operational Databases Target Databases
Most of the transactional systems require Although response time is important,
subsecond response time. subseconds cannot be expected. Typical
response times are seconds, minutes, or hours
Highly normalized to support consistent updates Highly denormalized to provide quick retrieval of
and maintenance of referential integrity. a wide range and a large amount of data. Data
that belongs together from an analytical
reporting perspective is usually stored together
Store very little derived data. Data is usually Store large amounts of derived data. This saves
derived dynamically when needed. time for the queries and reports.
Do not store historical data. Historical records Store large amounts of historical data, often at
are archived. some level of summarization, but just as often at
a detailed level
Lightly summarized, mostly for reporting Many levels of precalculated, summarized data,
purposes. from lightly summarized to highly summarized
BI target databases are designed for simplified, high-performance data retrieval.
Basic assumptions for designing BI target databases are listed below.
Data is stored in such a manner that it is readily accessible in ways that are of interest to the
business people.
The design is driven by access and usage.
A normalized design is not necessarily intuitive for a business person and could therefore
become quite complex.
No BI data can be invented! All data in the BI target databases must exist in or be derivable
from current internal or external operational data sources.
Data mart
Data mart is a database which has the same characteristics as that of a data warehouse, and is
usually smaller and is focused on the data for one division or one workgroup within an enterprise.
There are three different views of the place of the data mart in the world of data warehousing.
1. Specialized data marts are created with a subset of the information in the data
warehouse. These are easier to use because they only have the specific information
that the specific user group will require. The use of many data marts allows the
querying load to be spread among the various computers. This can minimize the
network traffic.
2. Free-standing data marts are developed, independent from the data warehouse.
The information for the data mart might come from just one legacy system and is
faster and cheaper to develop a different data mart instead of building an
enterprise-wide data warehouse with the data marts got from it. The drawback of
the solution is that the company’s data will not be integrated and thus violates one
of the Bill Inmon’s original defining features of the data warehouse. If various
separate data marts are built using the strategy, then it will usually contain data that
is duplicated and inconsistent.
3. The data mart is the prototype or the first step in the data warehousing process. An
enterprise picks the division or the group that would benefit most from the data-
based knowledge. A data mart is built with the group’s data. The additional type of
information is added to the data mart as the time goes on until it is turned into the
data warehouse. Data mart possibly has a marketing advantage over data
warehouse. The entire data warehousing process is about creating data-based
knowledge and bring that knowledge to people. A warehouse is a place where things
are kept away. A mart is a suitable place to buy something. Most of the data
warehousing professionals include quick access to the information as a defining
feature of the term ‘data warehouse’.
BI Products and Vendors BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE (BI) tools are software that collects, transforms,
presents data to help decision-makers drive business growth. BI tools ingest large amounts of
structured and unstructured data from varied sources, transform it and help deduce actionable
business insights from the data. Top BI products with features are given below.
1) Zoho Analytics Zoho Analytics is a self-service business intelligence and analytics platform. It
allows users to create insightful dashboards and visually analyze any data in minutes. It features an
AI powered assistant that enables users to ask questions and get intelligent answers in the form of
meaningful reports. Key Features: • 100+ readymade connectors for popular business apps, cloud
drives and databases. • Wide variety of visualization options--charts, pivot tables, summary views,
KPI widgets and custom themed dashboards. • Unified business analytics for analyzing data from
across business apps. • Augmented analytics using AI, ML and NLP. • White label BI portals and
embedded analytics solutions
2) Yellowfin BI: Yellowfin is a business intelligence platform. It is a single integrated solution
developed for companies across varying industries. It also makes it easy to assess, monitor and
understand data. Features: • Access dashboards from anywhere: web page, company intranet, wiki,
or mobile device • Mapping mobile BI like features helps user to access and monitor business-
related data • It allows faster, smarter collective decision-making. • User's insights can be made
effective through data-rich presentations and interactive reports • This BI tool also supports
business decision-making process
3) Clear Analytics: Clear Analytics is an accurate, timely and clear business insights system. This
business intelligence tool helps to fulfill business needs. This BI tool provides easy extraction of large
data from reliable sources and presents it in the form of professional reports. Features: • It provides
software solutions that require less human resources • Dashboard creation • Graphical data
presentation • Key Performance Indicators • Easy Indication of issues • Helps to create strategic
planning • It offers predictive analysis
4) BiG EVAL BiG EVAL is a comprehensive suite of software tools aimed for leveraging the value of
enterprise data by continuously validating and monitoring quality. It automates testing tasks during
report and analysis development and provides quality metrics in production. Features: • Data
Quality Measuring and Assisted Problem Solving. • Autopilot testing for agile development of
analytical data models, datamarts and data warehouses. • High performance in-memory scripting
and rules engine. • Abstraction for any kind of data (RDBMS, APIs, Flatfiles, Business applications
cloud / on-premises). • Clear dashboards and alerting processes. • Embeddable into DevOps CI/CD
flows, ticket systems and more.
5) SAP BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE: SAP BI is an integrated business Intelligence software. It is an
enterprise level application for open client/server systems. It has set new standards for providing the
best business information management solutions. Features: • It provides highly flexible and most
transparent business solutions • The application developed using SAP can integrate with any system
• It follows modular concept for the easy setup and space utilization • Allows to create next-
generation database system that combines analytics and transactions • Provide support for On-
premise or cloud deployment • Simplified data warehouse architecture • Easy Integration with SAP
and non-SAP applications
6) MicroStrategy: MicroStrategy is an enterprise analytics software. It empowers people to make
better decisions and transform the way they do business. It offers most advanced and predictive
analytics. Features: • Advanced and predictive analytics • Business intelligence • Easy to use and
maintain • High-performance business intelligence • Self-service analytics • Big data solutions •
Software as a service (SaaS) • Real-time WYSIWYG report design • Scorecards and dashboards •
Enterprise reporting
. 7) BOARD: Board is a Management Intelligence Toolkit. It combines features of business
intelligence and corporate performance management. It is designed to deliver business intelligence
and business analytics in a single package. Features: • Analyse, simulate, plan and predict using a
single platform • To build customized analytical and planning applications • Board All-In-One
combines BI, Corporate Performance Management, and Business analytics • It empowers businesses
to develop and maintain sophisticated analytical and planning applications • Proprietary platform
helps to report by accessing multiple data sources
8) Pentaho: Pentaho is a Data Warehousing and Business Analytics Platform. The tool empowers
business users to access, discover and merge all types and sizes of data. Features: • Enterprise
platform to accelerate the data pipeline • Community Dashboard Editor allows fast and efficient
development and deployment • Big data integration without a need for coding • Simplified
embedded analytics • Visualize data with custom dashboards • Operational reporting for mongo dB
• Platform to accelerate the data pipeline
9) Jaspersoft: Jaspersoft is an open source BI tool. It empowers people around the world every day
to make better decisions. It provides flexible, cost-effective, and widely-deployed business
intelligence solutions. It enables better decision making through highly interactive Web-based
reports, dashboards, and analysis. Features: • It offers reporting, data visualization, and data
integration • It can be integrated into any mobile app so that users can access data from anywhere •
It provides support for decision-making process through key performance indicators and problem
Indicators • Available as SaaS, On-premise and cloud platform
10) QlikView: Qlik allows creating visualizations, dashboards, and apps. It also allows seeing the
entire story that lives within data. Features: • Simple drag-and-drop interfaces to create flexible,
interactive data visualizations • Use natural search to navigate complex information • Instantly
respond to interactions and changes • Supports multiple data sources and file types • It allows easy
security for data and content across all devices • It shares relevant analyses, including apps and
stories using centralized hub
