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Self-service BI and the future of data analysis I Series: Data heroes

Video contribution

April 4, 2024

In this episode of our "Data Heroes" interview series, everything revolves around the topic of self-service BI. Artur König, Managing Director of BI or DIE, has been a passionate business intelligence consultant for many years. His favorite tool: Power BI from Microsoft.

The interview starts with a look back at the history of self-service BI. Artur König and host Gero Presser shed light on how the development of tools has improved work with data in specialist departments, before taking a look at the status quo and current challenges. Finally, Artur shares his assessment of the impact AI will have on the future of business intelligence and self-service.

The evolution of BI tools: From Excel to modern solutions like Power BI

The development towards self-service BI began long before modern tools such as Tableau or Power BI were introduced. Artur remembers the days when programs such as Lotus 1-2-3 and later Excel freed the departments from comprehensive IT control and enabled them to work with data independently.

But even today, existing tools still have room for improvement and cannot yet be regarded as the final solution for complete self-service BI.

Accessibility of data and data literacy

However, a significant advance compared to the past is that data is now usually more accessible. Cloud-based systems and platforms such as SharePoint have helped to centralize data and increase availability. Nevertheless, the problem remains that many companies work with inconsistent versions of data, which impairs efficiency, according to Artur's observation.

In addition, the use of self-service BI can be a challenge due to a lack of data expertise. Although the tools are becoming ever more powerful and transparency is becoming increasingly important, many users still have difficulties in correctly evaluating statistics. This is where the work of BI or DIE comes in, for example, by aiming to improve data literacy and thus facilitate the use of BI tools.

The influence of corporate culture: why leadership commitment is crucial

In order to effectively implement self-service BI in companies, it is crucial that company management actively supports and exemplifies the use and added value of data-driven decisions. Only if top management is behind the implementation can the best analyses and findings actually be successfully implemented.

It is therefore essential that the management level shows a clear commitment to data-based decision-making processes and anchors them in the corporate culture. Artur is convinced that without the appropriate support from top management, the use of self-service BI will not bring the desired success and the potential of this technology will remain untapped.

The role of technology: why the right tool alone is not enough

Although choosing the right tool is important, Artur makes it clear that no single tool can be the answer to all questions. Rather, the combination of access to data, the appropriate analytical skills and the right corporate culture is crucial for the success of self-service BI.

Future outlook: How AI and self-service BI are changing the world of work

Finally, Gero Presser and Artur König take a look into the future and what significance artificial intelligence (AI) will have in the area of self-service BI. Artur predicts that AI will not only play a role in the evaluation of large amounts of data, but also in its presentation, whereby the interface to AI will continue to develop, possibly towards data glasses or voice-controlled gadgets.

In response to Gero's question about the effectiveness of visual representations compared to text in BI applications, Artur emphasizes that classic visualizations, such as bar charts, can provide answers to simple questions quickly and without complications. However, he sees the potential for AI-supported interfaces that could be used more intuitively and efficiently in different environments in the future, for example by displaying context-related information on data glasses in the user's direct field of vision.

With regard to future developments in self-service BI, Artur talks about self-service data management as a medium-term trend in which data management tools will also become available to specialist departments without in-depth IT expertise. He also mentions the importance of data catalogs and automation through AI. In the long term, he sees AI as an increasingly present form of assistance that plays a central role in data interaction over and above data drilling (in-depth data analysis).

Conclusion: The importance of a critical approach to data and technology

The interview with Artur König provides insights into the ongoing development of self-service BI and highlights the importance of data expertise, technological support and a data-savvy corporate culture. The future promises an even greater integration of data into our everyday working lives, in which AI will play a key role. However, despite all the technology, a critical approach to data and its interpretation remains essential.

For more insights and the full interview, visit our YouTube channel or watch the video directly here.