Data empowerment is inseparable from embedded BI

In the evening rush hour, the navigation software can always find the route with the shortest distance and the least traffic jam; during exercise, the wearable device can record the person's heart rate, speed and other data, and then determine the most suitable exercise method for the user... These are inseparable from data analysis.

"Data is power." In today's highly developed informatization, the value of data has received unprecedented attention: not only the amount of data, but also the insights hidden under the data. This also gave birth to a new concept-business intelligence (BI).

In 1996, Gartner proposed the concept of business intelligence (BI), which uses modern data warehouse technology, online analytical processing (OLAP) technology, data mining and data presentation technology for data analysis to achieve commercial value. At present, business intelligence has been applied in many links such as procurement management, financial management, human resource management, distribution management, and sales management.

However, the traditional BI and the application software carrying the business process are two completely independent application software interfaces. Users have to switch back and forth between multiple systems to complete the data needs of a business activity, whether it is from work efficiency or data transmission. In many aspects, such as efficiency, it is not a wise move. How to combine BI and business applications more conveniently? Embedded BI came into being.

Embedded BI: Let data analysis be everywhere

Embedded BI is professional BI software that can be embedded in business application software to provide or enhance analysis functions for application software. Its goal is to help users work smarter by integrating and analyzing relevant data-users directly use these data analysis functions in the business systems they use daily to solve high-value business problems and improve work efficiency.

In short, the unique value of embedded BI is to make data analysis ubiquitous. By embedding the data analysis platform into the application software, users do not need to switch between different platforms, do not need to adapt to new application interfaces, and do not need to purchase and install additional tools. It can also save the time of generating and analyzing data in different systems.

Embedded BI has OEM white label capabilities, rich and powerful API interfaces and embedded integration capabilities, and supports embedding application software in a variety of ways; the convenient operation method of "drag and drop" makes it easy for ordinary business personnel to do data analysis , The product is easy to use; when users view the dashboard, they can perform operations such as cross-data source integration, data linkage, and drilling to obtain truly powerful OLAP online analysis capabilities; embedded BI provides rich visualization components to facilitate user analysis The relationship and law of business data.

In addition, embedding BI into core application software and business processes can also help speed up development, reduce initial costs, enhance competitive advantages, and optimize business processes.

Who needs embedded BI?

In the era of big data, more and more companies are aware of the power of data and the added value derived from it. Business intelligence BI software can help enterprise users quickly build a data visualization analysis platform, realize self-service data analysis, and quickly complete the modification or adjustment of analysis results, and easily convert data into value.

However, not every company has the ability to independently develop BI. One solution is to purchase embedded BI solutions and integrate them into their own business systems, which provides new opportunities for software vendors.

For software developers, embedded BI can enhance the data analysis and visualization capabilities of their own software products, integrate data analysis results and even designers, and open up new directions for software developers beyond the fiercely competitive software business functions; For system integrators, embedded BI can help achieve visual project system integration and rapid project delivery, which means greater development space, stronger delivery capabilities, and higher project profits.

Specifically, from the business perspective that application software provides embedded analysis capabilities, ISVs (Independent Software Developers) can obtain huge strategic and operational advantages.

• Increase revenue and create competitive differentiation
• Easier to attract new users
• Improve sales / pre-sales demonstration effect
• Improve operational efficiency

Statistics show that among application software and SaaS providers that embed analysis applications into the main program, 83% of software service providers say they can charge customers higher prices. The authoritative research organization Gartner predicts in the " 10 BI Analysis Trends Report in 2020" that by 2025, 75% of 160cad6e1b82a2 applications will have built-in BI analysis functions.

How to find a suitable embedded BI solution?

If a worker wants to do well, he must first sharpen his tools.

So, how to choose the most suitable embedded BI software from many BI software? SegmentFault interviewed technical experts from the world's leading software development technology and low-code platform provider Grape City, and combined with Gartner's recommendations on the evaluation of embedded BI functions, and summarized the following important evaluation criteria for the selection of embedded BI software:

• Embeddability: customization and integration. The main difference between an embedded BI project and an independent analysis project is that the former needs to be integrated with the application software environment. This means that embedded projects can maintain a consistent appearance and experience with the corporate brand style, and are scalable to meet changing business needs.
• Embedding depth: Application software not only needs to embed the dashboard/report design results into the basic scene of a certain menu through URL, but also needs to embed the designer and individual elements into the page of the application software as the original data analysis of the application software. ability. At the same time, it supports the deep embedding of a single element DIV, and maintains a high degree of interaction with the native page of the application software.
• Component-based two-way integration: In addition to using the dashboard as the entire screen of the business system, embedded BI products also need to support the integration of the dashboard as a part of the business system interface, while also being able to integrate the functions of the business system (such as cameras, 3D models, etc.) are integrated as part of the dashboard.
• Data environment: The embedded BI solution selected by the customer will connect to the current data environment and meet data security requirements. In addition, it should have a certain degree of flexibility to meet future needs as the data layer develops.
• Self-service functions: This is the core function provided by embedded BI products for users, including dashboards and reports, as well as executable interaction and analysis functions.
• Development and deployment: The realization of the value of data is critical to the success of the project. Therefore, having a development environment that can be created, styled, embedded, deployed, and iteratively embedded analysis will become a necessity for customers to complete business functions.
• Authorization, service and expertise: The right partner not only provides technology, but also needs to have the ability to provide professional knowledge level training, support and services, and agree on the terms to ensure business success.

At present, embedded BI software such as Wyn Enterprise and Sisense has gained high recognition in the industry. As the leader of domestically produced BI software, Wyn Enterprise not only realizes comprehensive support for domestically-produced operating systems and domestic databases, but also cooperates with well-known domestic management software vendors such as Pan Micro OA, UFIDA ERP, DingTalk, and DingTalk. Enterprise WeChat and others have jointly developed mature and usable integrated solutions, which have become embedded BI solutions for many software companies, and continue to lead data empowerment.

Concluding remarks

In an era where data is king, obtaining data is of course important, but it is more important to dig out value from it. Embedded BI provides a more inclusive solution: Data analysis will no longer be the patent of professional technicians or data analysts. Embedded BI can help application software to enhance data visualization and analysis capabilities, so that business users can really do business. Realize self-service data analysis in the system.

embedded BI makes data analysis ubiquitous.