Data analytics is the process of analyzing data to draw conclusions from it. Typically, businesses gather data in an unstructured state, so they must employ data analytics to structure it and make it usable and understandable. The use of data analytics reveals patterns in business data that may be used by businesses to learn things like which of their items are the most popular when consumers make the biggest purchases, and which racial and ethnic groups make up the bulk of their clientele.

Software applications known as data analysis tools examine the data that a company gathers in order to understand more about its clients, goods, and sales. The data may also be gathered and stored by the program for analysis. The alternatives below provide a range of features and have positive user ratings, so businesses seeking data analytics software might want to take one of them into consideration.

SAS

SAS is a sophisticated analytics program that combines data mining, text and data analytics, and forecasting. It has strong security measures, making it ideal for companies in highly regulated sectors like banking and healthcare. With the use of the technology, programmers may build chatbots that converse in natural language and allow users to ask questions, receive text replies, or rapidly access graphs and charts. Additionally, AI and ML offer recommendations to consumers regarding the data and highlight areas of interest to help them make better decisions.

Qlik

Data gathering, storage, analysis, and visualization are all features of the cloud-based business intelligence platform Qlik. To hasten the decision-making process, firms may use embedded analytics to gather data from their website and other apps. To complement the analytics and offer ideas and insights for the business, Qlik also incorporates AI. Analysts can analyze any unusual changes or significant outliers after being informed by the AI. Analysts may even create automation to respond to these alarms automatically using low-code technologies.

Microsoft Power BI

Business intelligence software from Microsoft Power BI delivers AI-powered data analysis and visualization. Any team member may access the self-service portal to receive data-driven responses to their questions and share the visualizations with the rest of their team. Microsoft Teams and Excel are simple to connect with Power BI to enhance sharing and collaboration. Data security measures include sensitivity labeling and end-to-end encryption, and real-time access monitoring aids in IT’s investigation of abnormalities.

Advantages of Data Analytics Tools and How to Pick One

For organizations to be able to derive insights from the data they collect, data analytics tools are essential. AI assists them in sifting through the data to identify patterns and anomalies and also offers forecasts for potential changes in sales or expenses. They may be proactive in scheduling and inventory management as a result, which helps lower expenses.

Companies should consider if they want a single suite that combines data analysis, collecting, and visualization all in one location or if they would like single tools that specialize in each of these areas before choosing the appropriate data analytics solutions. To further reduce the list, they must decide which qualities are most crucial. A mobile app and predictive analytics may be necessary for businesses with a strong sales focus, whereas financial institutions could be more concerned with security procedures and compliance measures.

Once the business has a short list, it should study customer reviews and, if applicable, test out free trials. They should speak with the support staff to check how responsive they are before signing a contract if there isn’t a free trial option.