Business intelligence tools have a considerable demand in organizations. These tools help gather, mine, and derive value from raw data. As a project manager, you will also be expected to work with several BI tools, so knowing about the leading tools is necessary. This will help you make better decisions by analyzing data in-depth.

Data experts say all leading BI reporting tools are up to 85% similar in functionalities and features. Let's face it, the path from raw data to insightful visual representations is monotonous, which is why these tools have so much in common. If you find yourself in a tight spot over the selection of BI tools, you need to consider why you need them for -Advanced Analytics, Self Service Reporting, or Enterprise-level reporting.

Team Academy is a versatile institute for Power BI training in Qatar. With over two decades of experience helping professionals upgrade their skills, we have launched several training courses. Our Power BI course is for project managers and data analysts who work with BI tools.

Here we do a comparative analysis of leading BI reporting tools.

 

Power BI 

Microsoft's Power BI remains the market leader as a BI reporting tool with numerous capabilities and features. Our Power BI course helps managers and analysts learn about this business intelligence tool in detail. If you plan to establish your career in the industry, Microsoft Power BI certification can put you on a path of fast growth.

Power BI lets you gather business insights from on-premise and cloud-stored data to create insightful, dynamic, interactive visualizations. Let's dive deeper into its features:

  • This business intelligence tool provides robust reporting and data visualization capabilities for organizations of any size.
  • As a Microsoft product, it integrates with other Microsoft products well. For example, Power BI's Excel integration is substantial.
  • You get a drag-and-drop interface and a variety of visualization options. 
  • It supports natural language queries, making mine data easier, and provides AI-powered insights.
  • You get cloud-based collaboration and sharing options with Power BI

 

Tableau

Tableau is another widely-used business intelligence tool for simplifying a business's vast raw data. This BI tool simplifies data analysis and allows data visualization through dashboards and worksheets. Here are some of its salient features: 

  • It is known for its intuitive visualizations and ease of use.
  • You can connect to various data sources using Tableau, which supports multiple data connectors. 
  • Tableau provides interactive dashboards and allows users to create visually appealing reports simplifying decision-making.
  • You get advanced analytics capabilities, including statistical analysis and predictive modeling.
  • Support is available through a strong Tableau online community and extensive documentation.

 

QlikView 

 QlikView is a self-service BI tool that operates its own "association technology" and in-memory technology. As this tool does not require cube construction, it is more suitable for ad hoc analysis for business intelligence. Its features include:  

  • It has an associative data model which allows users to explore data dynamically.
  • It offers interactive dashboards and visualizations with a focus on data discovery.
  • You get powerful data integration and transformation capabilities with QlikView. 
  • For advanced analytics, it supports custom calculations.
  • You get a stable and functional mobile app to access QlikView on the go. 

 

MicroStrategy

MicroStrategy is most suitable for enterprise analytics as it has a high cost of ownership. However, it's a platform that provides visualizations, dashboards, and mobile apps and supports custom solutions.  

  • It is an enterprise-grade BI platform for high-level business intelligence due to its scalability and security features.
  • It offers a wide range of data connectors and supports big and cloud data sources.
  • You get powerful data modeling capabilities for complex data structures.
  • MicroStrategy has interactive dashboards, scorecards, and data visualizations.
  • It offers complete advanced analytics, including data mining and predictive modeling.

 

Google Data Studio

A free data visualization tool from Google, GDS is a relatively new player in the market, launched in 2016. It uses Google Drive to store and share data. You can use it to connect all the market data and create informative and visually appealing reports to analyze the performance and make decisions. Let's take a look at its features:  

  • Google Data Studio is a free web-based BI tool that integrates well with other Google products.
  • You can create interactive dashboards and reports using its drag-and-drop interface.
  • It supports real-time data connections and collaboration.
  • You can also embed reports in websites using GDS.
  • It offers powerful sharing and collaboration features.

 

Conclusion 

When choosing any BI reporting tool, you must decide based on factors like ease of use, data connectivity, visualization capabilities, collaboration options, advanced analytics features, and scalability. There is no ultimate tool, and the choice depends on your specific business requirements, budget, and the level of technical expertise you possess. 

 If you choose Power BI, there are certification courses in Qatar that we offer to improve your expertise in the tool and get Microsoft certified.