MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY),

MULLANA (AMBALA)

Programme: BCA
Course: BCA-603: Cloud Computing

Unit 3

What is cloud Business Intelligence (BI)?

Cloud Business Intelligence (BI) applications are hosted on a virtual network, such as the
internet. They are used to provide organizations access to BI-related data such as dashboards,
KPIs, and other business analytics.

Cloud-hosted BI (Business Intelligence) applications make business data more accessible than
ever before. Their ease of use, speed, scalability, and accessibility make them ideal for
organizations looking for faster and more efficient ways to analyze and visualize data.

Enterprises are increasingly turning to cloud-based tools, like Customer Relationship

Management (CRM) applications (Salesforce), online file collaboration and storage (Dropbox,
Box), and help desk software (UserVoice, Zendesk). This trend includes business intelligence
software embracing the agility and accessibility of the cloud.

Cloud BI vs. traditional BI

Business intelligence is about delivering the right information to the right people at the right
time, and cloud computing provides a lightweight, agile way to access BI applications.

Here are the differences between traditional business intelligence and cloud BI so that you can
choose the best solutions for your company’s needs:

Cost efficiency

Starting with cost, a cloud solution stands out for its affordability. Unlike traditional BI, which
often involves hefty initial investments in hardware, software, and infrastructure, cloud BI
operates on a subscription-based model.
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY),
MULLANA (AMBALA)

Programme: BCA
Course: BCA-603: Cloud Computing

With this, small businesses can enjoy lower upfront costs. Plus, it also reduces or even
removes expenses related to ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and IT staffing.
In the long run, opting for a cloud-based business intelligence tool can lead to significant cost
savings. It gives you a chance to allocate resources more effectively elsewhere in your business.
Ease of use

Because they’re older, traditional business intelligence tends to be complex and challenging to
navigate. In contrast, cloud BI software emerges with more sophisticated technology. This
enables developers to create software with a user-friendly experience with intuitive interfaces
and streamlined functionalities.

Business intelligence used to only be doable by writing complex queries and reports, but now,
with cloud BI software, even non-technical users can easily create visualizations and reports.

For instance, PowerMetrics lets you create beautiful data visualizations without having to
enter a single line of code. Through our business intelligence tool, anyone in your team can
easily share data and work toward solid strategies.

Deployment speed

Cloud applications are very simple to deploy since they require no additional hardware or
software installations. With these business intelligence apps, you get to bypass the lengthy
processes of acquiring and setting up physical servers and configuring software and networks.

You can have your BI system up and running in a fraction of the time it would take to deploy
a traditional BI system. Moreover, cloud solutions are agile in that they let you adjust your
business intelligence setup in a snap. This way, your organization can respond to market
changes or internal demands quickly.
Scalability and elasticity

As your business grows, your data analysis needs will change. Cloud BI solutions can easily
scale up or down based on your requirements. As a result, you get the flexibility that traditional
business intelligence systems, with their fixed capacity, cannot match.

With this level of scalability, you can make sure that your BI capacity aligns perfectly with
your business demands, offering a level of agility that traditional setups struggle to provide.

Accessibility

Cloud BI empowers your team with access to data and insights from anywhere, at any time.
Whether users are in the office, working from home, or on the move, they can access business
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY),
MULLANA (AMBALA)

Programme: BCA
Course: BCA-603: Cloud Computing

intelligence dashboards and generate reports when needed. This way, they can make timely and
informed decisions, which is crucial for making the most of the opportunities that come your
way.

Cloud BI integration capabilities

Another way that cloud BI tools stand out is through their robust integration capabilities. They
can connect with various data sources, which is crucial for businesses that have to handle
multiple datasets from different platforms.

Databases

Traditional relational business intelligence databases like MySQL, Oracle, or SQL Server are
staples in the data management world. They store structured data that’s essential for your day-
to-day operations and transactional processes. Databases provide the reliable, time-tested
structures that businesses have relied on for decades.

Meanwhile, modern NoSQL databases such as MongoDB or Cassandra offer flexibility in

handling large volumes of unstructured or semi-structured data. Businesses need an adaptable
business intelligence solution to deal with diverse data types and rapid scalability needs.

Integrating cloud BI with these databases allows you to tap into massive data storage for
complex analyses and reports that drive informed decisions.

Cloud storage

Knowledge has always been power. That’s why cloud storage platforms like Amazon S3,
Google Cloud Storage, or Microsoft Azure Blob Storage are invaluable for businesses.

They offer scalable, secure environments where businesses can store vast amounts of
unstructured data – from customer interactions to transaction logs. With cloud business
intelligence tools, you can access and analyze information anytime to transform raw data into
actionable strategies.

SaaS applications

Applications like Salesforce, HubSpot, and Slack are not just tools for managing your business
operations. They’re also rich data sources. Cloud BI’s ability to integrate with these
applications means you get to leverage operational and customer data.

Spreadsheets and files

 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY),
MULLANA (AMBALA)

Programme: BCA
Course: BCA-603: Cloud Computing

Many organizations still rely on good old spreadsheets and standard file formats like CSV and
Excel. It’s probably because these business intelligence repertoires are accessible, user-
friendly, and incredibly versatile.

Cloud BI solutions, like Klipfolio, can connect to these data sources to let anyone from your
team analyze data and contribute to your company’s data-driven culture.

APIs
APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are bridges that connect different software
platforms, allowing them to communicate and share data seamlessly. Cloud business
intelligence tools can pull in real-time data from external sources to give you a broader range
of information.

IoT Devices

The Internet of Things (IoT) has brought in a new era of data collection and business
intelligence. Now, countless devices are providing continuous streams of real-time data.

Data from these devices are crucial for industries that rely on timely information for predictive
maintenance and operational efficiency. For instance, manufacturing businesses benefit from
IoT data to optimize production processes and minimize interruptions.

How to find the right cloud BI solution

The right cloud vendor can empower your business with insightful data so that you can make
informed decisions quickly if needed. Here are the steps on how you can choose the best cloud
intelligence tools for your company:

Identify your business needs

Start by understanding your specific business needs. What kind of data do you need to analyze?
Are you looking for real-time analytics, or are historical data reports sufficient?

Consider the scale of your business intelligence data and the level of detail you require in your
insights. Knowing what you need will help you pinpoint which cloud BI solutions can cater to
your demands and business goals.
Evaluate integration capabilities

Your Cloud BI provider should offer solutions that integrate with your existing data systems
and software. Whether it’s databases, cloud storage, SaaS applications, or all of the above, the
business intelligence tool you choose should connect effortlessly. This way, you enjoy a smooth
flow of data across your platforms.
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY),
MULLANA (AMBALA)

Programme: BCA
Course: BCA-603: Cloud Computing

PowerMetrics has varied data source integrations, including databases such as Amazon
Redshift, MySQL, and Snowflake. It can also retrieve information from Google Sheets and
Microsoft Excel, as well as APIs from Ahrefs, GA4, QuickBooks, Shopify, and more.

Assess the scalability

Choose a cloud business intelligence provider that can scale with your business. As your
company grows, your data analytics needs will change.
Your chosen Cloud BI should be able to accommodate an increasing amount of data and more
complex analytics without compromising performance. Look for solutions that offer flexibility
and can scale up or down based on your changing requirements.

With Klipfolio, you won’t have to worry about scalability. It’s designed to grow your business
by allowing you to add more data sources, dashboards, and users as needed.

Check for customization and user-friendliness

The right Cloud BI tools should not only be powerful but also user-friendly. They should offer
customizable dashboards and reports, allowing you to tailor the analytics to your specific
business needs. The interface should be intuitive, enabling users across your company to make
the most of the BI tools, regardless of their technical expertise.

As mentioned, PowerMetrics’ no-code data visualization feature makes analysis and reporting
a breeze. This way, anyone can create visually appealing dashboards to share business
intelligence data seamlessly.
Consider security and compliance

Data security and compliance with relevant regulations are non-negotiable. Make sure that the
cloud BI provider you choose follows strict security standards to protect your data. They should
also comply with industry regulations, ensuring that your company’s data analytics practices
are above board.

Our partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) lets us leverage AWS’ secure and reliable
cloud computing environment. We also conduct regular code testing and network and
application vulnerability assessments to patch vulnerabilities proactively.

Request demonstrations and trials

Before making a final decision, ask for a demonstration or a trial period. This hands-on
experience will give you insight into how well the BI solutions align with your business needs,
how intuitive the software is, and whether it meets your expectations for data analytics and
reports.
 MAHARISHI MARKANDESHWAR (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY),
MULLANA (AMBALA)

Programme: BCA
Course: BCA-603: Cloud Computing

You can sign up with Klipfolio for free and experience firsthand how easy it is to generate
visually appealing dashboards without having to code manually.
Compare pricing models

Finally, the pricing models of different Cloud BI providers will be compared. Make sure that
the cost aligns with your budget and the value you expect to receive. Be mindful of any
potential additional costs, such as extra features, scalability, or support.
At $250 per month for 10 users, Klipfolio’s pricing provides value for small to medium-sized
businesses looking to invest in a reliable cloud BI solution.

Cloud BI: Is the sky the limit?

The potential of cloud business intelligence, like cloud computing, is staggering. Companies
are migrating to the cloud and are already enjoying the benefits, such as lowered cost, increased
deployment speed, and ease of use.

Cloud applications now boast equivalent computing power to on-premise applications. They
offer users feature-depth that was, until now, only available in locally installed software.

Cloud BI has the potential to become a lynchpin in the analytic and BI strategies of enterprises,
including self-service BI, by providing end-users with real-time access to business-critical data.