2020 Business Intelligence Buyer's Guide

2020 BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE BUYER’S GUIDE

1 BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE BUYER’S GUIDE

MARKET OVERVIEW

The process for evaluating and selecting business intelligence software can be complex. These complexities are growing even wider when organizations consider emerging analytic capabilities like AI and machine learning. Augmented analytics – which uses machine learning to change how analytic content is developed and used – is set to become the dominant driver of new BI buying by 2021, according to analyst house Gartner, Inc. If your use cases involve a large degree of manual data analysis, augmented analytics products may be an immediate consideration.

Automation is impacting virtually every industry and business process, and data analytics software is about to become the next frontier. The technology behind automating analytics is heavily reliant on AI and machine learning. While some organizations are using this functionality already to speed past manual data tasks, BI solution providers are increasingly tying automation to natural language processing. This will soon enable an entire swath of business users to run complex analysis just by asking a question.

Auditable (or explainable) AI is an emerging field in machine learning that addresses how black box decisions of AI systems are made. In data analytics, users want to be able to inspect and understand the steps and models involved in decision making. And given the pervasive nature of AI-powered business intelligence tools entering the marketplace, this technology is quickly becoming mainstream. AI will continue to be a game-changer for BI users, especially those without technical data science skills. However, the best AI- focused data analytics tools can explain the processes behind each prediction.

Business user ease of use and complexity of analysis are two top-of-mind considerations for buyers in the current space. Product support capabilities and services offered are also key attributes that require some thought. Common support packages include assistance for non-technical users who require self-service, but there’s also sometimes deployment assistance, dedicated use case representatives, and user training modules that can be a great help.

The BI and analytics marketplace is mature and crowded with excellent software tools for a variety of use cases, verticals, deployment methods, and budgets. There are very large providers we refer to as ‘mega- vendors’, like Microsoft, Tableau Software and Qlik. There are also lesser-known innovators with interesting products that play in niche areas, such as Looker, Pyramid Analytics and Yellowfin BI.

Cue the process of seeking out, evaluating, choosing, purchasing, and deploying a BI and data analytics solution. Solutions come in a variety of flavors—ranging from traditional enterprise reporting to data discovery and augmented analytic options. Each features a particular set of capabilities, strengths, and drawbacks. Choosing the right vendor and solution is a complicated process—one that requires in-depth research and often comes down to more than just the solution and its technical capabilities.

Solutions Review has developed this buyer’s guide to assist buyers in search of the best possible tool to fit the needs of their organization. This resource features 10 important questions to ask during the buying process, and full, one-page vendor profiles that provide a solution overview, three key features, contact information, and our own ‘Bottom Line’ analysis. Companion research, including our popular vendor comparison matrix, can be found at solutionsreview.com.

Timothy King, Senior Editor Map Key Solutions Review B This solution offers Embedded BI

5 Questions You Should Ask When Evaluating A Business Intelligence Solution

What is my budget? Your organization’s budget is going to play a major role in deciding the type of analytic tool you wind up selecting. Large solution providers with expansive product portfolios for enterprise use cases are unlikely to be budget-friendly. However, startups and emerging vendors trying to make a splash may offer more competitive pricing, especially in this marketplace where there are plenty of excellent solutions. Matching your budget with a provider’s technical capabilities can sometimes reveal a bargain.

What business problem(s) am I trying to solve? Purchasing a BI or analytics tool can be an overwhelming task. However, it is easier to narrow down the types of vendors and tools under consideration when you outline specific business problems you are trying to solve. If you’re in a vertical-specific industry that tracks against a distinct set of KPIs, that makes your search even easier. It’s best to align prospective solution providers with overarching business goals.

Who are my BI users? Are your users mainly going to be technical people like business analysts or data scientists, or line-of-business users? ‘Self-service’ has been one of the most popular buzzwords in the market for a several years now. Organizations are increasingly seeking software tools that provide users of various skill levels to analyze data. Is that a relevant consideration for your situation?

What are my must-have capabilities? Modern BI and analytic platforms offer a dizzying selection of features. Capabilities that were once considered advanced in nature are now mainstream. Likewise, predictive analytics and visual data discovery are the industry-norm. This makes it difficult to pick just one tool from the pack. Buyers are advised to jot down a shortlist of must-have features and then compare that against the various offerings to see which best matches up to your specific use case.

What are my expectations? It’s easy to get swept up in the hype that a flashy new BI platform will solve all of your company’s pain points overnight, but it’s best to temper expectations. Vendor marketing campaigns and industry pundits sometimes inflate the true value that BI tools can bring in the early stages. With nearly 3 in 4 BI initiatives set to fail within the first year, keeping a realistic outlook remains a key practice. Its fine to get excited about solving critical problems, but the road to insight generation is not a one-size-fits-all approach.

5 Questions You Should Ask Your Potential Business Intelligence Solution Provider

Can your BI tool scale with my business? Your current data sources, KPIs, business questions, and overall situation may very well change. It would be foolhardy to select a BI platform based only on how it can serve you at the current time. Very little remains static, so what may seem like the best possible solution now could be virtually useless in two, three or five years down the road. Weigh the vendor’s current capabilities with its ability to scale as your organization grows.

Can you provide customer recommendations? You’ll want to ask prospective vendors to provide references that can show how their software helped other customers achieve positive ROI. In-vertical references are best, so we recommend seeking first-hand accounts from similar size organizations that do business in related industries and analyze similar data sources. It’s not about securing the best overall tool; it’s about selecting the best solution for your specific set of circumstances.

Is there a support package included? What does it include? The rise in self-service has been a difference maker for many organizations. However, this requires solution providers to offer support services to keep non-technical users on their feet. You’ll want to find out what types of services are offered with the purchase of a license. Popular support add-ons range from deployment assistance and dedicated customer service representatives to user training, certification, and even community forums.

What is the total cost of ownership (TCO)? There are usually outside costs associated with the purchase of a new BI platform, but does that come with subscription pricing, third-party expenses, or hidden operation fees? There can be many surprises hidden below the surface. Stakeholders will want to find out whether there are expenditures for user training, upgrading, troubleshooting or consulting as a result of re-engineering processes that are being automated.

How long does deployment take? Once you decide on a BI and analytics product, it takes time to get up-and-running. Have a discussion with the vendor representative about what that looks like, and how it will impact existing business systems and protocols in the interim. Does the solution provider offer on-site or remote help with deployment? These are vital questions that have a direct impact on the cost of the tool and the impact on ROI.

Solution Provider Profiles

7 ...... Altair 8 ...... Alteryx 9 ...... AnswerRocket 10 ...... BOARD 11 ...... Chartio 12 ...... Domo 13 ...... Hitachi Vantara 14 ...... IBI 15 ...... IBM 16 ...... Infor Birst 17 ...... Looker 18 ...... Microsoft 19 ...... MicroStrategy 20 ...... Oracle 21 ...... Pyramid Analytics 22 ...... Qlik 23 ...... Salesforce 24 ...... SAP

Solution Provider Profiles

25 ...... SAS 26 ...... Sigma Computing 27 ...... Sisense 28 ...... Tableau 29 ...... TARGIT 30 ...... Tellius 31 ...... ThoughtSpot 32 ...... TIBCO 33 ...... Yellowfin 34 ...... Zoho

Altair Altair offers an open, scalable, unified, and extensible data analytics platform with www.altair.com integrated data transformation and predictive analytics tools. Desktop-based data preparation is available via Altair Monarch, while Knowledge Hub features team-driven data prep and a centralized data marketplace to speed collaboration and governance. Machine learning and predictive analytics are made available inside Knowledge Studio. Altair Panopticon houses the company’s streaming processing and real-time visualization capabilities.

Key Features

Data Preparation Altair allows users to prepare data via desktop, server and web browser. Monarch lets you connect to data sources and transform it while Monarch Server features self-service data prep across the enterprise. Altair Knowledge Hub adds machine learning and collaboration to the mix for browser and cloud-based data preparation.

Machine Learning Altair’s machine learning and predictive analytics visualizes data and generates explainable results without requiring code. Knowledge Studio includes pre-build data preparation and data science functions and integrates with common programming languages as well.

Data Visualization Altair’s real-time data visualization enables users to program sophisticated business logic and data functions using a completely visual user interface. The platform is designed with business users in mind, and includes a stream processing engine called Panopticon Streams.

Bottom Line

Altair updated its entire line of data analytics software in June 2020, calling it “the most significant software update release in company history.” As part of the release collection, the vendor added automated machine learning (AutoML) to its Knowledge Studio predictive analytics solution. This update helps to optimize the modeling process while also giving users insights and understanding into how results are achieved. The company’s April 2020 Panopticon release saw the company add speed and flexibility enhancements. Altair serves customers in a number of verticals and is best used by technical data analysts and scientists.

Alteryx Alteryx is a self-service data analytics software company that specializes in 3345 Michelson Dr data preparation and data blending. Alteryx Analytics allows users to organize, Irvine, CA clean, and analyze data in a repeatable workflow. Business analysts find this tool particularly useful for connecting to and cleansing data from data warehouses, United States cloud applications, spreadsheets and other sources. The platform features tools +1 (888) 836 4274 to run a variety of analytic jobs (predictive, statistical, spatial) inside a single www.alteryx.com interface. Alteryx went public in 2017.

Key Features

Data Preparation and Blending Alteryx Designer provides access to all relevant data by connecting to and cleansing data from data warehouses, cloud applications, spreadsheets and more. Users can create datasets for analysis or visualization using data quality, integration, and transformation tools.

Scalable Sharing and Collaboration Alteryx Server provides a flexible server architecture that can be deployed on-prem or in the cloud. It allows users to schedule and automate workflow execution for data delivery, and offload data preparation, blending, and analytics into a production-ready environment. Analysts can store, share and publish analytic workflows and applications cross-organization while extending Alteryx processes with APIs and macros into internal apps.

Data Discovery Alteryx Connect contains a variety of data discovery tools. It allows users to work with metadata to better understand where data comes from and how it is being used. Included search capabilities provide analysts with the ability to find and reuse information contained in analytic apps, workflows, macros, visualizations, dashboards, and data science models.

Bottom Line

Alteryx offers an expansive platform with many noteworthy analytic features, and its foray into data science tools figures to be a boon to citizen data scientists. In addition, the company acquired Menlo Park-based ClearStory Data in April 2019. Most known for its smart data discovery and automated data preparation features, the merger will enable Alteryx to create a natural extension of its own technology that will enable it to grow its data science capabilities. Alteryx also launched a new version of its Analytic Process Automation platform in May.

AnswerRocket AnswerRocket offers a search-powered data analytics platform designed for 5775 Glenridge Dr business users. The product enables you to ask business questions in natural Atlanta, GA language, and no technical skills are needed to run reports or generate analysis. AnswerRocket features a combination of AI and machine learning, as well as United States advanced analytic functionality. The platform can also automate manual tasks +1 (678) 608-0053 and answer ad hoc questions quickly. AnswerRocket is mobile-friendly and www.answerrocket.com includes native voice recognition. The company was founded in 2013 and is based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Key Features

Mobile-Responsive and Cloud-Based AnswerRocket is a cloud-based platform that works across any operating system and device type on-demand. The companion mobile application is available in the Apple App Store. Voice recognition enables you to ask questions in natural language, and the built-in notification system alerts users when there are key updates or changes to relevant data and performance in real-time.

IQ Boosters AnswerRocket’s augmented analytics can answer the same simple questions as traditional business intelligence tools plus more complex “why” and “how” queries. IQ Boosters explore the relationships between your data and can evaluate hundreds of thousands of metric combinations within seconds to pinpoint business-critical insight. Users receive a full diagnosis of variables impacting each answer.

Flexible Dashboards Dashboards are customizable and self-service, and asking questions automatically builds a dashboard so users can see an overview of answers, follow-ups, and drill-downs. Users can convert dashboards into presentations without leaving the platform, as well as publish and share progress and projects across teams via the collaboration suite.

Bottom Line

AnswerRocket features a breadth of augmented data discovery capabilities and was created for non-technical users. IQ Boosters sift through thousands of variables to pinpoint the most important data points to explore. Analytics can be accessed via desktop or mobile, and users can ask questions by typing or speaking. Dashboard building can be automated on the fly from natural language questions as well. AnswerRocket can be run on-prem or in the cloud via the major public cloud providers. The product is best suited for organizations in consumer goods, e-commerce, and the financial services.

Board BOARD combines business intelligence, performance management, and Piazza Bernasconi 5 predictive analytics into one platform. As a result, any change to data, data 6830 Chiasso models, security profiles or business rules is immediately propagated to every application. The solution provides all the tools required to create and update Switzerland databases, data presentations, analyses, and process models. The company +41 91 697 54 10 also offers BOARD Cloud, a SaaS version of the platform, backed by Microsoft www.board.com Azure.

Key Features

Data Discovery Interactive search-based data discovery works across screens, data, metadata, and applications. BOARD allows any search result to be used immediately as a driver for further analyses or as an element for creating new reports using the tool’s drag-and-drop self-service analysis UI.

Simulation Users can translate business processes into sophisticated analytical models that enable users to assess the impact of decisions on their organization’s performance. BOARD offers the capability to manage real-time changes to models, data allocation across dimension and hierarchies, and data calculation and aggregation. The Reverse Algorithm extends these features also to calculated fields.

Scorecarding BOARD offers all the functionalities needed to translate company strategy into scorecards and strategy maps so organizations can communicate and roll out key objectives. The unified BI and Performance Management environment allows users to analyze any trend highlighted by the scorecard and explore events affecting KPIs the lowest level of detail.

Bottom Line

BOARD is offered on-prem or in the cloud, and the platform unifies any data source into a single logical view. BOARD is based on a proprietary data management technology called HBMP that was designed to enhance the performance of in-memory computing. The company’s flagship solution offers two authentication layers and advanced security management so users can delegate security administration to other key users. BOARD was founded in 1994 and has customers in a wide array of verticals. The provider was acquired by US-based private equity investor Nordic Capital in early 2019.

Chartio Chartio is a cloud-based data discovery platform that lets you create intuitive 222 Kearny St charts and interactive dashboards. The product features a proprietary, visual San Francisco, CA version of SQL that enables any user to explore, transform and visualize data via a flexible drag-and-drop interface. There is no need to build data models in United States advance. Chartio includes a set of pre-built connections to data sources like [email protected] Amazon Redshift, Google BigQuery and Snowflake, while also enabling direct www.chartio.com access to CSVs and Google Sheets. There are also cloud application integrations via Automated Cloud Data Stack Partners. Chartio was founded in 2010 and is based in San Francisco.

B Key Features

Visual SQL Chartio’s unique interface to SQL enables a variety of user types to analyze data through one interface. The interface provides flexibility for users to define data requests with sequential steps. An Interactive Mode lets you drag-and-drop to create, edit, filter and share dashboards while the SQL Mode allows for direct database communication through an SQL editor.

Security Chartio is compliant with SOC2 Type II, an independent audit designed to ensure good policy and compliance in five key areas of security. The vendor also uses a read-only connection to ensure that data remains unmodified by your Chartio users. Chartio offers SSH tunnelled connections for databases behind firewalls as well.

Data Advisors Data Advisors assist customers in implementing best practices for each data analytics and BI use case. Premium customers gain an assigned specialist to advise and assist with account and support questions, as well as data- related issues users may be having.

Bottom Line

Chartio is best suited for organizations with a wide range of technical and business users, as the platform features two distinct modes for doing analysis. The platform includes data integration, exploration and transformation capabilities as well. Users can easily share dashboards via scheduled emails or reports without having to install software. Chartio also allows you to schedule alerts to track important metrics or view historical data with a unique Snapshot feature. Reference customers enjoy the solution’s ease of deployment, use, and visualization functionality.

Domo Domo offers a cloud-based analytics and business intelligence platform for 772 E. Utah Valley Dr decentralized use cases. The provider added new R and Python integration American Fork, UT capabilities, as well as support for embedded BI in recent months. Domo Everywhere enables users to embed interactive Domo cards in portals, on United States web properties and inside applications. The company’s platform is highly +1 (800) 899-1000 customizable, and the Analyzer feature can be tailored to filter out unnecessary www.domo.com data. Domo went public in June 2018.

Key Features

Domo Publish Domo Publish allows organizations to share data and insights with customers, partners and vendors, enabling customers to build their own content based on shared data. The tool also provides users the ability to replicate and publish Domo pages and cards securely leveraging personalized data permissions (PDP).

Domo Embed Domo Embed enables viewers to explore data by drilling, filtering or choosing a different chart type. Users can limit access to the intended audience with SSO authentication and user-level card sharing controls, as well as personalize the data shown to individual users who are viewing the same card. Domo card embedding uses iframes or JavaScript embed codes to ensure widespread compatibility.

ETL Magic Domo Integration Cloud enables users to prepare data with visual integration flows and access and control it through the tool’s governance framework. Integration Cloud also includes a new data pipeline tool called Integration Studio, as well as its Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Driver. The product is rounded out by an API manager and third-party developer kit so users can build custom data connectors.

Bottom Line

Domo is a cloud-based executive management platform that enables organizations to see key data in real-time from across the enterprise in one place and on any device. The company offers prepackaged dashboard content and functionality for filtering and sorting data visually in Domo Analyzer. Within the last calendar year, Domo has released an integrated suite of data science capabilities, a new Integration Cloud iPaas solution, and a certificate program designed to help data and analytics leaders demonstrate proficiency with the platform. The vendor also launched a new series of augmented analytic functionality in March.

Hitachi Vantara Hitachi Vantara’s Pentaho Business Analytics platform allows organizations 2845 Lafayette St to access and blend all types and sizes of data. The product offers a range of Santa Clara, CA capabilities for big data integration and data preparation. The Pentaho platform is purpose-built for embedding into and integrating with applications, portals, United States and processes. Organizations can embed a range of analytics, including +1 (866) 660-7555 visualizations, reports, ad hoc analysis, and tailored dashboards. It also extends www.hitachivantara.com to third-party charts, graphs and visualizations via an open API for a wider selection of embeddable analytics. Pentaho is offered in on-prem and cloud versions.

B Key Features

Data Integration Data integration allows users to blend, orchestrate and analyze data from virtually any source. Pentaho can be deployed on a variety of public or private cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Users can also integrate and analyze Amazon Redshift, Hadoop and other big data sources in the cloud.

Graphical Dashboards Graphical dashboards are web-based and feature a drag-and-drop design that includes rich navigation, drilling and a library of filter controls. Users can custom-build dashboards that are uniquely tailored to their organization, and portal and mash-up integration connects business analytics with other applications.

Security Administrative capabilities include analytics security, content permissions, versioning, locking and expiration for streamlined management. Backup, recovery and business continuity are also key tenets of the Pentaho Business Analytics product.

Bottom Line

Pentaho was acquired by Hitachi Data Systems (HDS) in 2015. Post-merger, Pentaho had been offered as a standalone software platform until recently when Hitachi combined the Pentaho, HDS and Hitachi Insight Groups into a new unit called Hitachi Vantara. The Pentaho data platform is unique because it encompasses data integration and BI and analytic capabilities. Hitachi announced new machine learning orchestration features in March 2019, and a model management plug-in is available via the Pentaho Marketplace. For companies that want to implement only a single product such as data prep, storage, or security, this product is an excellent choice.

IBI Formerly known as Information Builders, ibi is a New York-based solution Two Penn Plz provider that offers a wide range of BI and data management software tools. New York, NY The company’s WebFOCUS platform features self-service analytics and data discovery, a visual discovery insight mode, predictive capabilities, and more. United States WebFOCUS can deploy secure applications to millions of users, and governance +1 (212) 736-4433 functionality enables metadata-driven delivery across an organization. The www.ibi.com platform also extends beyond dashboards for executives and analysts by operationalizing data and analytics for line-of-business users.

Key Features

Automated Insights Insights can take the form of correlations for detecting where multiple measures show a similar trend, outliers that identify unusual patterns in data, and time-based use cases for analyzing business data over time. Insights are all available through the platform’s Designer by clicking the new “Insights” button. Users can also add Insights to existing portals and dashboards to share them with others.

InfoApps InfoApps are business-driven analytical apps for non-technical users. They typically focus on a specific business context, and are often embedded within another application’s screen or portal. This feature allows user access to actionable information without having to understand the underlying data and analytics.

Data Discovery The visual data discovery tool allows non-technical business users to conduct data preparation, visually analyze complex data, generate sophisticated data visualizations, and share content with others. “Insight” mode enables instant visual discovery from a standard chart.

Bottom Line

ibi offers a complete portfolio of big data tools, from integration all the way to advanced analytics and data management. The vendor recently re-branded and unveiled a major update to its flagship BI and analytics platform that brings Automated Insights and new ways to connect to data sourced and third-party data visualization tools. There are also new and enhanced customer service and support packages. ibi offers a cloud-optimized version of WebFOCUS as well, which includes different deployment, data connectivity, data preparation, and data visualization options.

IBM IBM offers an expansive range of BI and analytic capabilities under two distinct 1 New Orchard Rd product lines. The Cognos Analytics platform is an integrated self-service Armonk, NY solution that allows users to access data to create dashboards and reports. IBM Watson Analytics offers a machine learning-enabled user experience that United States includes automated pattern detection, support for natural language query and +1 (800) 426-4968 generation, and embedded advanced analytics capabilities. Cognos is IBM’s www.ibm.com ‘flagship’ BI and analytics tool, where Watson is the vendor’s entry intothe emerging AI-powered tools arena.

Key Features

Reporting and Visualization IBM’s intuitive interface enables any user to author content on the fly, and dashboards can be created using drag- and-drop on desktop or mobile. The visual data explorer automatically recommends the best visualizations for particular data templates. Users can take advantage of on-demand menus for access to full capabilities within one interface in order to create ad hoc reports without IT oversight.

Data Modeling Users can do data modeling via a completely web-based experience that features direct reporting from data sources and automatic data model generation based on keywords.

Data Governance Data is protected with layers of permissions, authentication, and history. Data protection controls are including whether a user is creating one report for many or many are creating one report. Additional capabilities include scheduling and alerts.

Bottom Line

IBM has made real strides to modernize its analytic offerings, and with great success. Cognos remains one of the most widely adopted BI platforms in the enterprise, and Watson Analytics is on the cutting edge of AI-influenced tools. IBM’s BI software can be deployed both on-prem or as a hosted solution via the IBM Cloud. The company’s complete analytics portfolio also includes its SPSS Predictive Analytics, IBM Data Science Experience, and IBM Planning Analytics tools.

Infor Birst Birst offers a cloud-based analytics solution that connects an organization using 153 Kearny St a network of interwoven virtualized BI instances. The provider’s flagship product San Francisco, CA is its Networked BI platform. The tool features an adaptive user experience, multi-tenant cloud architecture, user data tier, and a completely virtualized data United States ecosystem. These capabilities enable use of BI across multiple regions, product +1 (866) 940-1496 lines, departments, and customers. Birst was acquired by Infor April 2017. www.birst.com

Key Features

Adaptive User Experience: The platform combines dashboards and data discovery into an integrated HTML5 interface. The interface is the same weather it is viewed on the desktop or mobile version. Birst’s 2-tier analytics allow extension to other tools like Excel, R, and Tableau.

User Data Tier Birst automates data unification and refining from any enterprise source. The Infinite Connectivity Framework allows scalable access to the chosen source. It uses ‘smart’ technologies to create a Unified Business Model (or business-ready Data Tier) that all users can utilize.

Multi-Tenant Cloud Architecture Birst can be deployed in the public cloud, AWS or the private cloud (as a virtual appliance) with the same code base, upgrade path, and support level. It broadens query performance through intelligent caching, pre-aggregation, and optimized SQL generation.

Bottom Line

Birst is a data warehouse, reporting and visualization platform that operates independent of its parent company Infor. Customers most commonly use the product for BI provisioning, and because it is cloud-based, decentralized analytics as well. Reference customers speak highly of Birst’s service and support offerings, though some users note that interface integration needs some work. Birst introduces a new set of Smart Analytics solutions (powered by Infor’s Coleman AI) in January 2019. In May 2019, the company unveiled Birst 7 featuring a new user interface, enhanced data modeling features, and a new administration module with auditing capabilities.

Looker Looker offers a BI and data analytics platform that is built on LookML, the 101 Church St company’s proprietary modeling language. The company’s embedded analytics Santa Cruz, CA functionality in Powered by Looker utilizes modern database technologies and an agile modeling layer that allow users to define data and control who can United States access it. Analytics can be deployed as an embedded iFrame or using Javascript. +1 (888) 960-2331 Organizations can use Looker’s full RESTful API or the schedule feature to deliver www.looker.com reports by email or webhook. Looker is based in San Francisco and was founded in 2011.

B Key Features

Agile Modeling Layer The agile modeling layer allows users to define data and control who can access it. This assures that data means the same thing to everyone regardless of how it is accessed. Complex join logic that is specified in SQL can also be done in LookML, ensuring that all users are referencing the same centralized dimensions and metrics.

Data Modeling LookML lets users define specific data models and reference it in other locations. Any complex join logic that can be specified in SQL can be done in LookML once and be used by any user. The language also allows users to define their organization’s business logic so it can be used by the entire company.

Looker Blocks Looker Blocks are pre-built pieces of code that organizations can leverage to accelerate analytics projects. Users can reuse the work others have already done instead of starting from scratch then customize the blocks to exact specifications. Some examples include optimize SQL patterns, fully built-out data models, and weather and demographic data.

Bottom Line

Looker can be embedded in websites, portals and applications. The product’s application for web analytics touts filtering and drilling capabilities, enabling users to dig into row-level details at will. New sales analytics and developer tools added in April 2019 expand Looker’s suite of purpose-built applications which already includes Looker for Digital Marketing and Looker for Web Analytics applications. Looker 7 was released in early November. The launch was highlighted by the addition of customizable BI experiences to drive collaboration, enterprise security enhancements, and hosting and management capabilities. Looker was acquired by Google in June.

Microsoft Microsoft is one of a handful of major players in enterprise BI and analytics. One Microsoft Way The company’s flagship platform, Power BI, is cloud-based and delivered on the Redmond, WA Azure Cloud. On-prem capabilities also exist for individual users or when power users are authoring complex data mashups using in-house data sources. Power United States BI is unique because it enables users to do data preparation, data discovery, +1 (425) 882-8080 and dashboards with the same design tool. The platform integrates with Excel www.azure.microsoft.com and Office 365, and has a very active user community that extends the tool’s capabilities.

Key Features

Embedded Analytics Power BI offers embedded analytics in two different iterations, first for ISVs and developers, and another for enterprises. The platform’s Azure-based API set enables organizations to embed organizations even when they’ve already designed an app. No matter where the data lies, Power BI allows users to embed visuals into apps, portals, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams.

Self-Service BI and Enterprise Reporting Power BI Server provides organizations access to SQL Server Reporting Services in a single, on-prem solution. Users can author reports with Power BI Desktop, publish them with Power BI Report Server, and share reports for users to consume on the web and across a range of devices.

Community Support Microsoft has an expansive web of partners, resellers, and individual users. The company’s products, including the Power BI Suite, are extended as a result of this community framework. Prominent community resources include prebuilt apps, video tutorials, visualizations, and individual user forums.

Bottom Line

Microsoft offers perhaps the most robust BI and analytic product portfolio of any provider included in this buyer’s guide. The company’s Power BI platform is offered in ‘desktop’ and ‘premium’ versions, and connects to Excel spreadsheets, on-prem data sources, big data, streaming data, and cloud services. Microsoft enables organizations ease of use when running complex data analysis, and cost is a major benefit of the platform. However, its cloud- only approach and inability to handle very large data volumes is a caution buyers should be aware of.

MicroStrategy MicroStrategy provides out-of-the-box gateways and native drivers that connect 1850 Towers Crescent Plz to any enterprise resource, including databases, mobile device management Tysons Corner, VA (MDM) systems, enterprise directories, cloud applications and physical access control systems. Its embedded analytics tool allows MicroStrategy to be United States embedded in other web pages and applications such as portals, CRM tools, +1 (703) 848-8600 chatbots and even voice assistants like Alexa. The product enables users to www.microstrategy.com build custom visualizations, connectors and applications, and proprietary APIs allow organizations to create custom product offerings and branded mobile applications.

B Key Features

Advanced Analytics MicroStrategy provides an extensive library of native analytical functions and scoring algorithms, along with an SDK to integrate with 3rd-party and open source statistical and data mining products. Users can also utilize historical data, create real-time forecasts, and take advantage of more than 300 OLAP, mathematical, financial, and data mining functions.

Data Connectivity The platform can connect to any enterprise resource, including more than 100 enterprise database and other information assets. MicroStrategy enables users to analyze every kind of data.

Data Discovery Organizations can access, explore, and analyze data with self-service analytics. The platform employs a variety of native connectors that allow users to connect to any type of data from spreadsheets to Salesforce and Hadoop. In addition, data from multiple sources can be blended, and users can define relationships across tables or sources with drag-and-drop controls.

Bottom Line

MicroStrategy merges self-service data preparation and visual data discovery in an enterprise BI and analytics platform. MicroStrategy 2019 touts a ‘HyperIntelligence’ module that provides new ways for users to access data. The product also enables users to inject information directly into a web-based workflow via a new HyperCard feature. MicroStrategy 2019 Update 2 (July 2019) features add-ons designed to help augment user productivity on other popular BI tools like Tableau, Microsoft Power BI and Qlik.

Oracle Oracle offers a broad range of BI and analytics tools that can be deployed on- 500 Oracle Pkwy prem or in the Oracle Cloud. The company provides traditional BI capabilities Redwood Shores, CA inside its Business Intelligence 12c solution. Oracle Data Visualization provides more advanced features, and allows users to automatically visualize data as United States drag-and-drop attributes, charts, and graphs. The tool also enables users to save +1 (650) 506-7000 snapshots of an analytical moment-in-time via story points. Oracle has greatly www.oracle.com expanded their feature capabilities in recent months to include data discovery and data science tools as well.

Key Features

Advanced Analytics Oracle extends its database into an advanced analytics platform through two components: Oracle R Enterprise and Oracle Data Mining. These capabilities allow users to do real-time analytics that deliver insight into key areas such as churn prediction, product recommendations, and fraud alerting.

Data Visualization Oracle Data Visualization provides a simple point-and-click data upload function that allows users to see data visualized automatically. As a result, visuals are presented contextually. Users can add new data and see intelligent updates in real-time, and highlighting one visual automatically enables viewing related information.

Oracle Big Data Discovery Big Data Discovery allows organizations to find, explore, transform, and analyze big data. Users can browse an interactive big data catalog and use familiar keyword search and guided navigation. The tool provides access to personal and shared big data projects, and provisioning of personal data via self-service.

Bottom Line

Oracle offers traditional reporting and dashboards via the Business Intelligence 12c tool. Modern product capabilities are included in Oracle Data Visualization, which provides advanced data visualization, data preparation, self-service, and advanced analytics. The company’s Big Data Discovery feature set is a Hadoop-based data science platform that supports both on-prem and web-based authoring. Oracle’s software is largely available in both desktop and cloud versions. However, organizations that are not already “Oracle shops” may have trouble with deployment.

Pyramid Analytics Pyramid Analytics offers data and analytics tool through its flagship platform, Jollenmanhof 22 Pyramid v2020. The solution touts a server-based, multi-user analytics OS 1019GW Amsterdam environment that provides self-service capabilities. Pyramid v2020 features a platform-agnostic architecture that allows users to manage data across any Netherlands environment, regardless of technology. The tool enables those users to prepare, +1 (203) 202-3500 model, visualize, analyze, publish, and present data from web browsers and www.pyramidanalytics.com mobile devices. The company’s product portfolio remains highly integrated with Microsoft’s BI tools, offering an enterprise front-end to Microsoft SQL Server Analyses Services (SSAS). However, Pyramid has attempted to differentiate itself with its new product portfolio.

Key Features

Analytics OS Pyramid v2020 is an adaptive platform that provides different capabilities and experiences based on user needs and skills. It manages content as a shared resource, and is designed to support self-service analytics. The platform is agnostic and can be deployed in any environment on any device. It features six analytics modules: model, formulate, discover, illustrate, present, and publish.

Hybrid Deployment The platform can be deployed in any environment. It features an open, flexible, multi-tiered architecture that can be scaled out and up by tier. Analytics OS can run on any Java-based platform, and offers a scalable repository that uses optimized container images that can be deployed in any ANSI SQL-compliant setting.

Data Modeling Pyramid v2020 features modeling on any ANSI-SQL-compliant source, big data engine, Microsoft engine, or Pyramid’s internal in-memory engine. In-place modeling allows users to model data where it lives via shared queries to SQL, Apache/Hadoop engines, ANSI SQL, or to centralized locations like Pyramid’s in-memory (IMDB) or SQL Analysis Services.

Bottom Line

Pyramid v2020 includes SAP BW Integration, which enables users to directly connect to SAP BW and natively interact with cubes and queries without ingesting data. Users can mash their SAP data with other sources as well. An ETL 2.0 feature upgrades the Pyramid Analytics data modeling and wrangling capabilities. The new Augmented Machine Learning Server in v2020 lets administrators create standard environments for specific machine learning projects. Users can then standardize distinct Python environments to ensure machine learning execution. Looker’s simplified user experience and focus on ease of use has been well eceivedr by its customer base.

Qlik Qlik offers a broad spectrum of BI and analytics tools, which is headlined by the 150 N. Radnor Chester Rd company’s flagship offering, Qlik Sense. The solution enables organizations to Radnor, PA combine all their data sources into a single view. The Qlik Analytics Platform allows users to develop, extend and embed visual analytics in existing United States applications and portals. Embedded functionality is done within a common +1 (888) 828-9768 governance and security framework. Users can build and embed Qlik as simple www.qlik.com mashups or integrate within applications, information services or IoT platforms. Qlik has added a slew of augmented analytics features in the last calendar year.

B Key Features

Associative Engine The in-memory engine allows users to combine an organization’s entire library of data. Users can index every possible relationship with data to explore relationships in any direction. There are no pre-aggregated data and predefined queries, and users can create analytics without having to build new queries.

Data Discovery QlikView allows organizations to create business-driven data discoveries with guided analysis paths that are customizable and tightly governed. It features top-down control of analytics apps, permissions, and data management. In addition, granular control of dashboards, layouts, and design allows for centralization of applications. QlikView also offers data integration, advanced reporting and global search.

Security Qlik offers a single governance framework to allow for common security, manageability and re-usability. The platform can be deployed on one server and scale to address processing requirements whether on-prem or cloud. Included high performance in-memory analytics handle data while aligning to a specific security model.

Bottom Line

New capabilities included in Qlik Sense Enterprise are aimed at advancing the company’s foray into 3rd-generation BI, which include data democratization, augmented analytics, and embedded analytics. In addition to deploying Qlik Sense on Qlik Cloud Services, customers can use the platform on Kubernetes. Every Qlik deployment option now works as part of Qlik’s multi-cloud deployment framework that can be managed as one instance. Core capabilities of Qlik Sense Cloud Business includes self-service app creation, visual data preparation, smart search, automated AI-generated insights, and direct connectivity to more than 40 data sources.

Salesforce The Salesforce Einstein Analytics platform is available in a number of flavors Landmark at One Market based on role, industry and included features. The product’s automated data San Francisco, CA discovery capabilities enable users to answer questions based on transparent and understandable AI models. Users can also tailor analytics to their use case United States and enhance insights with precise recommendations and specific guidance. +1 (844) 848-1057 Einstein lets you create advanced experiences using customizable templates, www.salesforce.com third-party apps, or custom-build dashboards as well.

Key Features

Data Management Einstein includes built-in data management that enables users to connect and clean all kinds of data. Users can sync Salesforce and non-Salesforce data via pre-packaged connectors for enterprise applications, database services, data warehouse, and file-based data source and website analytics. There’s also self-contained ETL, visual data preparation, and a scalable data mart.

No-Code AI Einstein’s AI provides predictions and real-time recommendations, and requires no technical coding experience. The AI produces narrative explanations and natural language generation, as well as model transparency and predictive and prescriptive analytics. The tool also includes “one-click” storytelling and automated discovery.

Discovery and Analytics Studio Users can build AI-powered analytics apps from scratch or via a package of pre-built templates. Einstein Analytics Fast Start templates enable you to create an app to get best-practice datasets, dashboards, and KPIs that matter most. Creation is as simple as answering questions in the configuration wizard that generates a curated analytic experience.

Bottom Line

Salesforce offers a growing number of modern BI and analytics capabilities, as well as augmented data discovery and preparation. The platform can host both Salesforce and non-Salesforce data, though Einstein remains natively integrated with the Salesforce business application ecosystem. Salesforce touts perhaps the largest partner ecosystem of any provider listed in this buyer’s guide that makes use of the vendor’s embedded content features. Salesforce acquired in Tableau Software in June of 2019, a move that will enable it to merge the two offerings together to offer customers a more full-featured BI portfolio in the near future.

SAP SAP offers a broad range of BI and analytics tools in both enterprise and Dietmar-Hopp-Allee 16 business-user driven editions. The company’s flagship BI portfolio is delivered 69190 Walldorf via on-prem (BusinessObjects Enterprise), and cloud (BusinessObjects Cloud) deployments atop the SAP HANA Cloud. SAP also offers a suite of traditional BI Germany capabilities for dashboards and reporting. The vendor’s data discovery tools are +49 (0) 6227 / 7-47474 housed in the BusinessObjects solution, while additional functionality, including www.sap.com self-service visualization, are available through the SAP Lumira tool set. SAP is popularly chosen as a company-wide BI standard, especially if an organization also plans to use the company’s application offerings.

Key Features

Dashboards BusinessObjects dashboards allow users to personalize drag-and-drop functionality and interactive gauges, charts and widgets. In addition, dashboards provide IT and business users with direct connectivity to live data sources. Dashboards can also be embedded so users can view them wherever necessary.

Self-Service Data Visualization SAP Lumira allows organizations to create interactive maps, charts, and infographics. Users can import data from Excel and many other sources, perform visual BI analysis using intuitive dashboards, and securely share insights and data stories cross-enterprise.

Predictive Analytics SAP offers predictive analytics in both on-prem and cloud versions. The capability allows organizations to automate data preparation, predictive modeling, and deployment via in-database predictive scoring for a wide variety of target systems. Users can also leverage advanced visualization capabilities and integrate with R.

Bottom Line

SAP’s BI and analytics tools are available through a number of deployment channels. As a result, the company’s legacy BI functionality can be integrated into its newer offerings for modern use cases. SAP is available on-prem and in the cloud via its own HANA cloud platform. Organizations typically deploy SAP via a ‘vendor stack’, which, in this scenario where product offerings are so far advanced, is not a major issue. According to Gartner, product quality is a problem given the company’s attempt at developing two parallel product lines (BusinessObjects Enterprise, BusinessObjects Cloud). However, SAP remains a rock solid choice for enterprise organizations.

SAS SAS is the largest independent vendor in the BI marketplace. The company’s 100 SAS Campus Dr flagship platform, SAS Visual Analytics, is available on-prem or in the cloud. Cary, NC Visual Analytics allows users to visually explore data to automatically highlight key relationships, outliers, and clusters. Users can also take advantage of United States advanced visualizations and guided analysis through autocharting. SAS has +1 919-677-8000 made its name as a result of advanced analytics, as the tool can ingest data www.sas.com from diverse data sources and handle complex models. In addition to BI, SAS offers data management, IoT, personal data protection, and Hadoop tools.

Key Features

Advanced Analytics Dynamic charts and graphs enable fast data interaction via automated and interactive processes that work in both batch and real-time environments. Users can apply quality-tested algorithms that are constantly updated to reflect the latest statistical methodologies. SAS features a wide variety of analysis methods as well.

Visual Data Discovery SAS Visual Analytics provides visual data exploration that automatically highlights key relationships, outliers and clusters. Users can create interactive reports and dashboards that summarize key performance metrics, and share them via the web and on mobile.

Microservices Architecture SAS Viya is the company’s microservice architecture that allows users to easily navigate between on-prem cloud data stores and deployments. This update is a boon to existing customers, as one of the cautions with the SAS platform was poor interoperability between cloud and on-prem implementations.

Bottom Line

SAS is a major player in enterprise BI and analytics software. The company’s advanced and predictive analytic technologies, which include forecasting, text analytics, and decision trees, are excellent. Data scientists can extend these capabilities using the integrated Visual Statistics tool. SAS caters to a wide range of verticals, and users particularly enjoy ease of use in accessing Hadoop and NoSQL data. The company added new machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing capabilities to its flagship platform in May 2019. These developments are part of the company’s billion-dollar investment in AI.

Sigma Computing Sigma Computing offers a no-code business intelligence and analytics solution 90 New Montgomery St designed for use with cloud data warehouses. The product features an intuitive, San Francisco, CA spreadsheet-like user interface that provides users with the familiarity of Excel. Guided data warehouse access ensures that data remains secure, compliant, United States and in context. When users take action in Sigma, it automatically translates www.sigmacomputing.com them into SQL. All queries are run live against the cloud data warehouse, and the results are passed back to Sigma. Sigma Computing was founded in 2014.

B Key Features

Visual Data Modeling Sigma’s spreadsheet-like UI lets users collaborate using SQL and/or visual modeling to build contextual model. Models are live and adaptable, and you can also pre-model joins between data sources and models in a way that gives non-technical users a guided path for exploration.

Embedded Analytics Sigma enables the simple creation of interactive dashboards that can be embedded into internal or external applications. The product also lets users control who can see what in the embedded analytics, including the ability to securely view only their own data while not needing a login.

Security Sigma sits atop a cloud database and uses a secure connection to query your data warehouse directly. It writes a query to access the data needed to answer your question and returns the results in the browser. Other key security features include immutable hosts, container checking, and threat detection.

Bottom Line

Sigma Computing recently announced the release of a collection of major updates to its cloud BI and analytics platform which are highlighted by new, interactive dashboards that enable collaboration between technical and non-technical users. Sigma also unveiled a new Application Embedding capability that allows dashboards to be embedded into applications with inherited access roles and permissions. The new dashboards provide more choices for managing data updating in real-time as underlying data and analysis change. Sigma is a vendor to track closely in the months ahead.

Sisense Sisense is a global business analytics software company with offices in New 1359 Broadway York City, Phoenix, Tokyo, and Tel Aviv. The company’s BI software makes it easy New York, NY for organizations to reveal business insight from complex data in any size, and from any source. Sisense allows users to combine data and uncover insights United States in a single interface without scripting, coding or assistance from IT. Their BI +1 (646) 432-1507 and analytics platform is sold as a single-stack solution with a back end for www.sisense.com preparing and modeling data. It also features expansive analytical capabilities, and a front-end for dashboarding and visualization. Sisense acquired Periscope Data in May 2019.

B Key Features

Data Preperation Organizations can prepare, manage, and secure data without supplemental technology or IT involvement. Users can access information from any data source, drag-and-drop to combine, and clean up defects for error-free analysis and better insights.

Interactive Analytics Sisense turns any user into an analytics expert with advanced capabilities, instant response time, and smart shortcuts. Organizations can filter, explore, and mine data for answers to important business questions.

Data Engine Sisense hastens data connection so organizations can get up-and-running with ease. The solution is offered on a single-stack, browser basis. Users are enabled to take advantage of accessibility and mobility on data, and data and dashboards can be shared with everyone inside an organization.

Bottom Line

Sisense offers a single platform that runs on in-chip technology for visual data discovery on web-based dashboards. Due to unique technology and an emphasis on end-user experience, Sisense is most appropriate for organizations that want to analyze large amounts of data from multiple sources. The company’s OEM partner network is strong, and users report high praise for customer experience. The ability for organizations to white label Sisense and use APIs to extend analytic content are also major value-adds. Sisense’s updated core analytics solution is highlighted by new AI-driven augmented analytics, a cloud-native architecture, DevOps tools, and 40 certified connectors.

Tableau Tableau offers an expansive visual BI and analytics platform, and is widely 837 North 34th St regarded as the major player in the marketplace. The company’s analytic software Seattle, WA portfolio is available through three main channels: Tableau Desktop, Tableau Server, and Tableau Online. Tableau connects to hundreds of data sources and United States is available on-prem or in the cloud. The vendor also offers embedded analytics +1 (206) 633-3400 capabilities, and users can visualize and share data with Tableau Public. Tableau www.tableausoftware.com is publicly traded and headquartered in Seattle, Washington.

Key Features

Tableau Desktop Tableau Desktop provides visual data discovery, and connects to big data, an SQL database, or cloud apps like Google Analytics and Salesforce. Users can access and combine disparate data without writing code, and power users can pivot, split, and manage metadata to optimize data sources.

Tableau Server Tableau Server provides a governed approach to self-service analytics that allows central management of metadata and security rules. Tableau integrates with existing security protocols, and users can maintain database security with pass-through data connection permissions and row-level filtering. Flexible deployment is also a key tenet.

Tableau Online Tableau Online is fully hosted in the cloud, so organizations can avoid configuring servers, managing software upgrades, and scaling hardware capacity. Users can connect to cloud databases like Amazon Redshift and Google BigQuery, and live query on-prem databases or schedule extract refreshes.

Bottom Line

Tableau 2020 features a series of community-driven product enhancements like Dynamic Parameters, which eliminate the need to update workbooks when changes are made to the underlying data. There’s also new Viz Animations that give viewers the ability to understand transitions between data points. A new data model that simplifies advanced analytics highlights Tableau’s latest innovations (version 2020.2), as well as a new mobile- friendly way for users to monitor their key performance indicators called Metrics. Tableau was acquired by Salesforce for nearly $16 billion in June 2019.

Targit TARGIT’s flagship BI product is Decision Suite, an integrated platform that offers Aalborgvej 94 visual data discovery, self-service analytics, reporting, and dashboards. The 9800 Hjørring solution features a range of deployment options, and users can access the tool through Windows, web, or mobile clients. Organizations can also embed TARGIT Denmark into the applications they use most. TARGIT touts an in-memory database and +45 96 23 19 00 back-end tool set, which means the platform can be run as a complete end-to- www.targit.com end solution. TARGIT was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company was acquired by GRO Capital in February of 2017.

Key Features

Data Integration TARGIT offers four data integration delivery types: self-service, in-memory databases, multidimensional databases, and direct to data source. In addition to connecting to a range of data sources with TARGIT InMemory drag-and-dropETL, users can utilize complex ETL with the vendor’s proprietary scripting language (only SQL skills needed).

Embedded Analytics Decision Suite can be accessed on applications that organizations use most with embedded BI via TARGIT Anywhere. Users can embed the solution on company portals, business applications, or public-facing websites. The client is lightweight and provides the same dashboards, reports, and analyses that are present within the tool itself.

Data Discovery TARGIT includes out-of-the-box connectors to CSV, Excel, Google Docs, and more. Users can also add other popular providers for additional access to in-house data sources. The tool features both personal and enterprise modes of the module, and the user interface is built for business users with no SQL or programming skills required.

Bottom Line

TARGIT offers a modern BI and analytics platform that includes built-in data integration capabilities. The solution runs securely on-prem, in the cloud or in a hosted environment. TARGIT Decision Suite supports all major relational and multidimensional database technologies. The provider’s 2019 platform refresh includes an entirely new design experience, fully integrated reporting, super intelligent documents, and new mobile apps. TARGIT has also upgraded to the tool’s installer to improve the entire upgrade and installation process.

Tellius Tellius offers a search and AI-powered data analytics platform. The product 12700 Sunrise Valley Dr features a proprietary Genius AI Engine that is designed to allow business users Reston, VA ask questions about their data. Tellius has natural language processing that interacts with users in plain language and creates narratives alongside data United States visualizations as well. The tool can also provide personalized recommendations +1 (703) 673-0113 by anticipating needs and automatically offering related insights and suggestions. www.tellius.com Tellius is built on the Apache Spark distributed architecture. The company was founded in 2015 by Ajay Khanna.

Key Features

Self-Service Analytics Tellius search-driven analytics enable cross-organization self-service. Natural language query allows users to ask questions while the machine learning learns your business vocabulary. Conversational analytics help to facilitate a dialogue between user and data to produce context.

Genius Insights Tellius hastens data analysis with machine learning algorithms that automatically discover trends and relationships in your data. AI-powered insights are available to any user through natural language query, dashboards, and data story building. There is no need for manual pre-processing of data.

Automated Machine Learning Automated machine learning enables users to build and evaluate models automatically, create and tune custom models, and productionalize models and collaborate with others. Tellius also maintains a library of machine learning models for regression, classification, time series analysis, clustering, and recommendations.

Bottom Line

Tellius is a key player in the burgeoning augmented analytics space. Its platform supports complex analytical search and other ad hoc comparisons and calculations. Recommendations are based on user questions and user’s learned behavior. Explainable AI is a main feature of the product, and the Genius Insights Engine helps users understand why something has changed, as well as get answers to questions automatically by analyzing a combination of data points. The company released a new SaaS application called Tellius On-Demand in July 2020.

ThoughtSpot ThoughtSpot offers an artificial intelligence-driven analytics platform that 1 Palo Alto Square features what the company dubs ‘the world’s first relational search engine.’ The Palo Alto, CA tool combines relational search with a custom-built, in-memory relational data cache to speed up queries that are run over many lines of data. ThoughtSpot United States connects with any on-prem, cloud, big data, or desktop data source. ThoughtSpot +1 (800) 508-7008 6 (released in October) includes a new feature called Answer Explorer that helps www.thoughtspot.com users find the right questions to ask by serving up suggestions based on terms frequently used with similar data sets. This allows users to accept suggestions to filter, add or compare metrics, or break them down by dimensions. The company is located in Palo Alto, CA, and was founded in 2012.

Key Features

Relational Search Use search to build charts and dashboards for even the most complex queries. The tool always shares how a search is computed, so there is no end-user interpretation. An automatic search index, guided search suggestions, and search inspector are integral parts of the relational engine.

SpotIQ AI Engine SpotIQ uses built-in artificial intelligence to run advanced analytics algorithms on many data points and automatically reveal insights that are uniquely actionable. Users guide machine logic to ensure relevant machine- discovered conclusions.

BI & Visualization Server Intelligent query generation allows any user to search across complex schemas using natural language. Automatic visualizations provide every user the ability to create their own interactive visuals. Users can also create shared metadata models complete with business logic on combined datasets so answers remain consistent.

Bottom Line

ThoughtSpot’s analytics platform is heavily influenced by artificial intelligence and automation. While it may seem complex, ease of use is actually a strength of the product. It features a full-stack architecture and intuitive insight generation capabilities via the in-memory calculation engine. A distributed cluster manager provides customizable scaling options, and support for existing ETL solutions ensures proper connectivity to desired data sources. The ThoughtSpot Embrace service allows you to run search and AI analytics directly in existing databases, and adds support for Google Cloud Storage as well. ThoughtSpot raised $248 million in venture capital in 2019.

TIBCO TIBCO’s product capabilities are expansive, and range from data integration and 212 Elm St API management to visual analytics, reporting, and data science. The company’s Somerville, MA BI and analytics portfolio comes in two main iterations: TIBCO Spotfire and TIBCO Jaspersoft. TIBCO Spotfire is the company’s more modern platform. It United States features interactive visualization, data preparation, enterprise-class governance, +1 (617) 702-1600 and advanced analytic capabilities. TIBCO Jaspersoft supports traditional www.tibco.com reporting and embedded BI functionality. TIBCO is publicly traded and based in Palo Alto, California.

Key Features

AI-Driven Search and Data Discovery Spotfire Smart Data Catalog allows users to visually interact with data to automatically discover relationships, sentiments, and recommendations via built-in artificial intelligence. Any user can create best practice visualizations via the Recommendations Wizard so anyone can view a guided experience that helps communicate complex concepts.

Data Access Users can connect to and blend data from files, relational and NoSQL databases, OLAP, Hadoop, and web services. Cloud applications like Google Analytics and Salesforce are also supported. Streaming data sources like IoT, social, and messaging can be integrated with at-rest data for real-time contextual analysis.

Big Data Analytics TIBCO’s Insight Platform combines live streaming data with queries on large-at-rest volumes. Spotfire can identify historical patterns running directly against Hadoop and Spark. Patterns can also be applied to streaming data for predictive analysis. StreamBase and BusinessEvents support many approaches to insight execution including R code running from many modeling environments.

Bottom Line

TIBCO offers perhaps the most feature-rich BI and analytics portfolio of any provider listed in this resource. In addition the traditional BI functionality offered in Jaspersoft, Spotfire provides expert users with the features they need to run complex analysis. Spotfire users report satisfaction with the integration of TIBCO’s data science tools, and a growing user community helps to offset what some see as an increasingly complex product to use. However, license costs are a barrier to deployment. As a result, organizations commonly utilize other BI and analytics tools alongside TIBCO.

Yellowfin Yellowfin is an Australia-based BI and analytics company that specializes in 360 Elizabeth St dashboards and data visualization. Its platform features a machine learning Melbourne VIC 3000 algorithm called Assisted Insights that provides automatic answers in the form of easy-to-understand best practice visualizations and narratives. Yellowfin Australia comes pre-built with a variety of dashboards, and users can embed interactive +61 2-8404-4150 reports into third-party platforms, such as a web page, wiki, or company intranet. www.yellowfinbi.com The company also offers native apps for mobile devices.

Key Features

Assisted Insights Machine learning capabilities included inside Yellowfin provide immediate answers without the user having to dig through data. Users ask the question they’re trying to answer, and the tool finds the data to analyze, runs it through a series of steps to find the most statistically relevant results, and presents the answer.

Dashboards Yellowfin allows users to see all their different data sources in one dashboard with high-level summary reports and KPIs. The platform includes pre-built dashboards for web applications, and users can embed them into third- party platforms. Users can monitor important metrics on any device with native mobile applications.

Data Visualization Yellowfin includes more than 50 chart types, from trellis charts to GIS maps and infographics. The company’s Location Intelligence capabilities allow users to merge spatial and traditional business data, and GeoPacks are available to organizations that don’t have location information.

Bottom Line

Yellowfin has high customer ratings for ease of use and feature functionality. The company’s data platform is a viable option for organizations that wish to deploy BI and analytics in the cloud. The most prominent use case for Yellowfin is embedded BI, and the tool offers a completely web-based user interface. The Yellowfin 9.2 release (June 2020) includes a refreshed API library so developers can customize front-end Yellowfin content in new ways and integrate them anywhere. Developers can also use the same JavaScript API to develop and extend dashboard functionality within Dashboard Code Mode.

Zoho Zoho Analytics (previously Zoho Reports) is a self-service BI and data analytics 4141 Hacienda Dr tool that lets you incorporate data from a wide range of sources, blend it together, Pleasanton, CA and create cross-functional reports and dashboards. The product features a simple drag-and-drop designer, as well as different visualization tools to drill United States down to specifics. A “smart” assistant called Zia can answer user questions in the +1 (877) 834-4428 form of reports and KPI widgets via AI, machine learning and natural language www.zoho.com processing. Users can share and publish reports and smart data alerts ping you when outliers or anomalies happen. Zoho also includes a suite of integrations for popular business apps.

Key Features

Broad Data Source Connectivity Zoho data sync is automated and can be scheduled periodically. You can upload data from spreadsheets and flat files like Excel, CSV, HTML, JSON, XML, and text files. Users can also feed data from online storage services like Zoho Docs, Google Drive, Box, Dropbox, and Microsoft OneDrive. Data can be pulled from Web URL feeds as well.

Embedded BI Zoho’s embedded BI capabilities enable users to embed interactive reports and dashboards within your application. The product features a Single Sign-On API and SAML Authentication so customers can host a fully branded analytics portal customized for your use case. Users can also customize their portal with rich design elements like a login page, header, and business logo.

Zia Zia is Zoho’s AI and machine learning engine that utilizes natural language processing to understand data and automatically build reports and dashboards. Users can ask questions in natural language, and then Zia will interpret it and generate the most appropriate chart from the relevant table. Over time, Zia independently adapts to understand your unique data model.

Bottom Line

Zoho Analytics is a web-based BI tool best used for dashboard and report creation and features broad data integration and data source connectivity. The solution includes a variety of charts, widgets, pivot tables and tabular view components as well. Users can combine multiple reports into a single dashboard using the drag- and-drop designer. Zoho also allows you to insert images, formatted text, widgets and web components in a designer layout. Solutions Review recently named Zoho Analytics one of the 9 Best Embedded Analytics Tools to Consider in 2020.

ABOUT SOLUTIONS REVIEW

Solutions Review is a collection of technology news sites that aggregates, curates, and creates the best content within leading technology categories. Solutions Review’s mission is to connect buyers of enterprise technology with the best solution sellers.

Over the past four years, Solutions Review has launched ten technology buyer’s guide sites in categories ranging from cybersecurity to wireless 802.11, as well as mobility management, business intelligence and data analytics, data integration, and cloud platforms.

Information for this report was gathered via a meta-analysis of available online materials and reports, conversations with vendor representatives, and examinations of product demonstrations and free trials. Solutions Review does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this publication and does not advise technology users to base their vendor selection entirely on this research. Solutions Review disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, regarding this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.