BI

BI, short for Business Intelligence, is a discipline combining information technology (IT), data, processes and procedures to support rapid, fact based decision making. Many organizations collect large amounts of data as part of their day-to-day business, but this data is often difficult to access and to present in a way useful for decision making. BI makes it possible to utilize these data assets for optimal decision making through BI Reporting Tools.

Business Intelligence encompasses the collection of data from many different data sources (like ERP, financial and CRM systems) into a uniform database, usually called a DataWarehouse.

Some BI Reports will be created directly on the DataWarehouse, but most often a separate model called an OLAP cube will be created. This cube contains data and business logic, making it possible to quickly show high level aggregations, trends and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Specialized BI Tools access this model and make it possible to analyze data and create ad hoc reports without requiring any technical expertise.