Reporting in BI: Step by Step Guide

Although the fundamentals of BI reporting may be summed up as gathering and analysing big data sets to offer real-time insights into business operations, a business intelligence report involves much more than this. Data visualisation is one of the main ways that business intelligence reporting makes these insights possible. When one is looking at continuous streams of numbers, it might be challenging to make judgements. But it’s a lot simpler when the data is provided in a transparent manner.

Different types of BI reporting serve specific purposes and require particular data. Here are three main types used in the firms:

Performance Management BI Reporting

These reports provide insights into the performance of an organisation’s individuals, teams, or departments. They go beyond financial numbers and consider various key performance indicators. These reports help senior management make strategic decisions and identify areas of success or improvement.

Predictive Analytics BI Reporting

This type of reporting uses current and historical data to make reliable predictions. It helps businesses anticipate future outcomes or understand the causes behind past events. Predictive analytics tools remove uncertainty from decision-making and find patterns and relationships in data to identify threats and opportunities.

Augmented Analytics BI Reporting

Augmented analytics uses AI and ML to automate data discovery and preparation. It reduces human error and biases in data analysis and provides more accurate insights. While still in the early stages, augmented analytics has broad applications across industries.

Business organisations can improve their overall performance and receive useful information from these sorts of reporting.

In the past, sophisticated data modelling and a solid understanding of SQL were necessary for reporting with business intelligence (BI). Fortunately, BI reporting today is significantly less complicated. Reporting on business intelligence is the process of visualising data in reports and dashboards to aid in decision-making. Modern BI reporting requires one to go through eight steps if someone is starting things from scratch.

1. Evaluate Data Maturity

As the business expands, it goes through four stages of data maturity. Identifying the current stage will help determine the appropriate approach for addressing the specific requirements in BI reporting. The stages are as follows:

Stage 1

Data is scattered across different sources such as Google Analytics, Salesforce, and individual databases. BI reporting requires consolidating and managing these disparate data sources. The analysis is often conducted within separate systems, making it challenging to combine data effectively, except by exporting it to tools like Google Sheets.

Stage 2

Data can be combined from various sources into a centralised location—a data lake. However, the data may be unstructured. Preliminary transformations, like selecting relevant columns and anonymising personally identifiable information, must be performed to ensure compatibility.

Stage 3

In the data warehouse stage, the centralised data is structured to facilitate easy usage across the organisation. BI reporting becomes more seamless, with a suitable BI platform allowing efficient querying and visualisation.

Stage 4

The data mart stage involves granting specialised access to specific sections of the structured data for different teams. BI reporting becomes simpler, focusing on empowering non-technical users to create their own reports or dashboards.

Understanding the stage of a business’s data maturity helps select the appropriate BI reporting platform. Recognising one’s stage will guide informed choices for BI reporting needs.

2. Decide on a BI Platform

A BI platform is required to perform BI reporting. A competent BI platform should perform three functions necessary for progress through the four phases of cloud-based data maturity. While choosing a BI platform, consider the following aspects:

Compiles Data

The platform should be able to consume all required data, whether from a collection of sources, a lake, or a warehouse. Blending data on the BI platform creates a cohesive dataset.

Assists in Understanding Data

Support for SQL is essential for data queries. Easy-to-use visual query builders help non-technical users analyse data. Visual SQL features simplify querying for wider adoption.

Data Visualisation

Visualising data to aid decision-making is the core functionality of any BI platform and benefits businesses at every maturity stage.

3. Distinguish Between Reports and Dashboards

BI reporting has two distinct types of visualisations: reports and dashboards. Understanding their differences is crucial for effective reporting.

Reports

Static, historical analyses that provide comprehensive insights into past events. Reports require significant effort and are typically generated at regular intervals (weekly, monthly, quarterly).

Dashboards

Real-time and interactive, designed for on-the-spot decision-making. Dashboards provide a live snapshot of key metrics and require occasional adjustments after initial setup.

4. Connect Data Sources

After configuring the BI platform, integrate the data. Two primary methods exist:

Direct Connection

Use the platform’s built-in connectors. Provide login credentials or API keys for each data source. The breadth of connectors indicates platform quality.

SSH Tunnel

Developers can establish an SSH tunnel to securely connect private databases or on-premise warehouses through firewalls.

5. Determine Audience and Goals

Define whether you need an ad hoc visualisation or a comprehensive report. Understand the audience—executives needing summaries or teams requiring detailed insights. Align the visualisation format (report vs. dashboard) with the decision it supports.

6. Analyse the Data

Use SQL or the platform’s query tools to retrieve necessary data. Craft queries guided by purpose and audience. Non-technical users may leverage visual query builders provided by the BI platform.

7. Visualise the Data

After querying, review results in a table. Select charts in the preview pane and customise them like a spreadsheet. Save the finished visualisations to your dashboard—process details may vary by platform.

8. Share the Report or Dashboard

Choose an appropriate sharing method based on context:

• Keep the report/dashboard within the BI platform and grant access or share links.
• Display on TVs or monitors in common areas.
• Set up automated email reports or instant messaging alerts.
• Embed dashboards in web applications or internal portals.

As BI reporting is fully incorporated into an organisation’s information architecture, it adds programmable knowledge and utility. In business intelligence, many sorts of reports lessen the likelihood of biases that develop when senior executives become involved and absorbed in their data. Users of business intelligence reports can see the broader picture and make decisions that are better for the business overall rather than just a quick fix. Because of its impartiality and organisational security, BI reporting offers several benefits to businesses of all sizes.

Many organisations need clarification of BI reporting and how it may help them grow their business significantly. In today’s business environment, having a grasp of Power BI report best practices and how they benefit an organisation is essential. Therefore, you can learn about BI reporting in BI courses if you’re interested in business intelligence reporting employment with a curiosity to understand the process of producing and delivering reports from data.

The IIM Kozhikode course on unstructured data analysis makes it possible to learn about BI reporting while engaging in actual, practical participation. Enroll in this programme through Jaro Education to gain an unparalleled learning opportunity that will help you to overcome the challenges caused by advanced analytics. You will acquire a unique mix of academic understanding and practical training in different data processing techniques across the programme, preparing you for the future.