When it comes to data and data visualization, user independence and agility play a rather underrated role. Why rely on the IT department or developers to present data for marketing and sales? The red tape or rather drawn-out procedures of obtaining data visualization is what has given rise to self-service BI tools.
Just like any other software, there are many providers that have developed good self-service business intelligence software which makes the process of selecting the right one difficult times ten. To help with finding the right self-service BI tool, we'll be listing down the top self-service business intelligence tools in this article.
What Can Self-Service BI Do?
Self-service BI tools provide users and marketers the autonomy they require when it comes to creating data visualizations. It allows users to build and modify reports and analytics from scratch without any major technical intervention. With the focus shifting more towards the business aspect rather than the IT aspect, self-service tools play a huge role in this shift.
This gives power and control to business departments while providing them with better knowledge about the reports and data that is crucial to any organization. Time is key when it comes to any business and that’s one of the main features of self-service BI software as it gives marketers and businesses the ability to create and react to data anytime and anywhere thus helping them stay ahead of the curve.
Self-service BI tools reduce the number of people involved in the data visualization process, fewer people equals a more efficient approach to data analytics and reporting. This agile business intelligence software gives more control to those using it while cutting down on costs often associated with other business intelligence tools, such as IT and data analysis.
Self-service BI software is a great way to reduce technical exchange between departments, which is more often than not a cause for conflict and potential delays. The reliability between teams can cause unnecessary friction in the decision-making process. This makes the whole process much faster and more efficient in the long run.
While freeing the IT department from report translation, self-service BI tools allow them to focus on other important tasks.
Challenges in Self-Service BI
As easy and straightforward self-service BI tools may seem, there are certain challenges that need to be conquered. Reports generated by self-service BI tools are only as good as the person who is responsible for creating them. To create accurate data visualization, the users need to be trained extensively, any lapse in the training procedure can result in inaccurate data reports and analysis. This often affects the core benefit of self-service BI tools, time.
Creating, analyzing and presenting inaccurate data and then redoing the whole process costs companies a lot of lost hours and puts them at the disadvantage of a slower process.
Data inconsistencies and inaccuracies can result in faulty decisions being made and there is often no way to track whether or not data is being analyzed correctly or incorrectly unless a conscious effort is being made.
Hence, a comprehensive list of various self-service BI tools can help with the decision-making process. We’ve compiled a list of the top self-service BI tools below which will help make the decision-making process easier.
The list also includes reviews by users who have used these tools before and have left honest and unbiased reviews and ratings to help you make the right decision.
Note: There are micro-niches within the category of data visualization that you can also check out. Please see our reviews of best cloud bi tools, best data visualization software, best SMB bi software, and best enterprise BI tools.
The 8 Best Self-Service Business Intelligence (BI) Tools 2023
1. Qlik Sense
Qlik Sense is a self-service BI tool that allows users to easily create and share interactive data visualizations, reports, and dashboards. Its intuitive drag-and-drop interface makes it easy for non-technical users to explore data and gain insights quickly. Qlik Sense is designed to be user-friendly and flexible, allowing users to work with various data sources.
Some important features of Qlik Sense are:
- A progressive creation feature that guides users as they create data visualizations,
- A unified hub that allows users to access and share their work with others easily,
- The ability to handle large data sets and data sources from multiple systems,
- Advanced data analysis features such as data blending and geo-analytics.
2. Tibco Spotfire
Tibco Spotfire is a self-service BI tool that provides a range of advanced analytics and data visualization capabilities. It is designed to be flexible and scalable, allowing users to work with various data sources and handle large data sets easily. Tibco Spotfire's user-friendly interface provides a range of tools for creating custom data visualizations and dashboards.
Some important features of Tibco Spotfire are:
- The ability to handle large data sets and data sources from multiple systems,
- Advanced analytics capabilities including predictive modeling and machine learning,
- Customizable data visualizations including interactive maps,
- Real-time data streaming and analysis.
3. Tableau
Tableau is a self-service BI tool that provides businesses with an easy-to-use interface to analyze and visualize data. It offers a range of data discovery and exploration capabilities that allow users to identify trends and insights quickly. Tableau's powerful analytics and data visualization features make it an ideal tool for non-technical users.
Some important features of Tableau are:
- An intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create custom data visualizations,
- The ability to handle large data sets and data sources from multiple systems,
- Advanced data analysis capabilities including data blending and predictive modeling,
- A range of interactive data visualizations including maps and charts.
4. Microsoft Power BI
Microsoft Power BI is a self-service BI tool that provides users with a range of data analysis and visualization capabilities. It is designed to be user-friendly and scalable, allowing users to work with a wide range of data sources. Microsoft Power BI's cloud-based platform enables users to access their data from anywhere and collaborate with others easily.
Some important features of Microsoft Power BI are:
- A user-friendly interface that allows users to create custom data visualizations quickly,
- The ability to handle a wide range of data sources and large data sets,
- Advanced analytics capabilities, including natural language querying and predictive modeling,
- A range of data visualization options including charts, maps, and graphs.
5. Domo
Domo is a self-service BI tool that provides businesses with a range of data analysis and visualization capabilities. It enables non-technical users to explore and analyze data quickly and easily. Domo's cloud-based platform allows users to access their data from anywhere and collaborate with others easily.
Some important features of Domo are:
- An intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create custom data visualizations,
- Advanced analytics capabilities including predictive modeling and machine learning,
- The ability to handle large data sets and data sources from multiple systems,
- A range of data visualization options including charts, maps, and graphs.
6. Klipfolio
Klipfolio is a self-service BI tool that allows businesses to create custom dashboards and reports using a range of data sources. It is designed to be user-friendly and scalable, making it an ideal tool for non-technical users. Klipfolio's cloud-based platform enables users to access their data from anywhere and collaborate with others easily.
Some important features of Klipfolio are:
- An intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create custom dashboards and reports,
- The ability to handle large data sets and data sources from multiple systems,
- A range of data visualization options including charts, maps, and graphs,
- The ability to automate data updates and alerts.
7. Metabase
Metabase is a self-service BI tool that provides businesses with a range of data analysis and visualization capabilities. It is designed to be user-friendly and scalable, allowing businesses to work with a wide variety of data sources easily. Metabase's cloud-based platform enables users to access their data from anywhere and collaborate with others easily.
Some important features of Metabase are:
- An intuitive drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to create custom data visualizations,
- The ability to handle large data sets and data sources from multiple systems,
- Advanced analytics capabilities including predictive modeling,
- A range of data visualization options including charts, maps, and graphs.
8. DashboardFox
DashboardFox is a self-service BI tool that provides businesses with a range of data analysis and visualization capabilities. It is designed to be user-friendly and scalable, making it an ideal tool for non-technical users. DashboardFox's web-based platform enables users to access their data from anywhere and collaborate with others easily.
Some important features of DashboardFox are:
- Self-hosted for environments looking for an on-premise solution,
- One-time pricing model, no subscriptions,
- Robust data security and role-based security,
- Full API for backend integrations and automations,
- No-code report and visualization builder,
- Sharing via embedded, email, direct link, TV display, and more.
More About DashboardFox as a Self-Service BI
All the tools on this list are great, and we recommend you evaluate at least 4 as part of your buying process.
As a BI vendor, we like that, because it helps you see what we think are some of the best things about DashboardFox, in no specific order:
- Powerful and easy-to-use feature
- Affordable non-subscription pricing
- Amazing customer support to help you succeed in your BI efforts (included at no additional cost)
Overall, DashboardFox is a powerful self-service BI tool that provides businesses with the tools they need to analyze and visualize data quickly and easily. Its advanced data analysis capabilities and flexible data visualization options make it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes.
What are you waiting for? Schedule a meeting with us and see how we can help you with DashboardFox, or better yet, try all its features in a free live demo session. We’ll wait for you!