at Financial Technnology Year
Please contact them if you have any questions.
Features in Self-Service Analytics Tools
for Business Intelligence and Analytics
User-friendly applications that allow business users to create their own reports, conduct analyses, and explore data without relying on IT specialists.
We ask vendors to mark their product against our feature list. It is not available for all products and in some cases we have derived data from publicly available sources. The list of features follows. Vendors can add a further 10 key features of their own.
Advanced Analytics & AI
Capabilities for predictive modeling, machine learning, and advanced statistical analysis.
- Anomaly Detection
- Automated identification and flagging of unusual patterns or outliers.
- Custom Script Support
- Ability to add custom Python, R, or SQL code for advanced analytics.
- Integration with ML Frameworks
- Ability to import/export models or call out to platforms like Python/R/TensorFlow.
- Max Model Size
- Maximum size of a deployed machine learning model.
- Model Versioning
- Track and compare multiple iterations of predictive models.
- Natural Language Generation (NLG)
- Automatic narrative summaries of trends and key findings in simple language.
- Pre-built Statistical Functions
- Range of built-in statistical and mathematical functions (e.g., regression, clustering, forecasting).
- Predictive Analytics Workflows
- Tooling for business users to set up and run predictive models.
- Scenario Analysis
- Simulate and compare alternative business or risk scenarios.
Analytics & Reporting Capabilities
Core functions enabling users to analyze and visualize their data, and extract insights.
- Ad Hoc Query/Analysis
- Users can construct and modify queries on the fly without IT help.
- Automated Insights/Recommendations
- Tool proactively surfaces trends and anomalies.
- Comparative Analysis
- Easily compare multiple data sets, cohorts, or time periods.
- Drill-down/Drill-through
- Ability to navigate from summary-level data to granular transaction details.
- Export Formats Supported
- Variety of available formats for exporting reports, such as PDF, Excel, CSV.
- Geospatial/Map Analytics
- Support for spatial data and map-based visualization.
- Maximum Report Size
- The limit on the number of rows or fields that can be included in a report.
- Pivot Tables
- Dynamic summarization and reorganization of data in table form.
- Scheduled Reports
- Ability to automate report generation and distribution at set intervals.
- Time Series Analysis
- Specialized support for analyzing trends over time.
- Wide Range of Visualization Types
- Variety of chart types, maps, and custom visualization options.
Collaboration & Sharing
Features enabling teams to work together, share insights and reports, and manage workflows.
- Annotations & Comments
- Ability to add context and notes directly onto reports and visuals.
- Approval Workflows
- Built-in processes for reviewing and approving analytics outputs.
- Email Distribution
- Automated or ad hoc distribution of reports via email.
- Max Simultaneous Editors
- Maximum number of users who can actively work on the same dashboard or report.
- Publish to Web/Embed
- Reports or dashboards can be embedded in other web applications or portals.
- Real-time Collaboration
- Multiple users can edit, comment, or build dashboards simultaneously.
- Report & Dashboard Sharing
- Users can share their work directly with others inside or outside the organization.
- User Activity Logs
- Tracks viewing, editing, and sharing activity for collaboration oversight.
- Version Control
- Track changes and manage multiple versions of reports or dashboards.
Cost & Licensing
Structure, transparency, and flexibility of product pricing and contract terms.
- Flexible Licensing Options
- Multiple ways to purchase or license the product (e.g., subscription, per-user, enterprise).
- Free Trial Availability
- Users can evaluate the product without immediate payment.
- Minimum Contract Term
- Shortest contract commitment available.
- Pay-as-you-go Metering
- Usage-based billing options for flexible scaling.
- Tiered Feature Packages
- Product features bundled into different price points or packages.
- Transparent Pricing
- Clear and accessible information about all product costs.
Data Connectivity & Integration
How the tool connects to, ingests, and integrates data from internal and external sources.
- API Support
- Availability of APIs for advanced integrations and automation.
- Automated Data Mapping
- Assists in mapping imported fields to data model or report fields.
- Batch Data Import
- Support for scheduled or manual bulk data imports.
- Broad Data Source Connectivity
- Ability to connect with various databases, data warehouses, APIs, cloud storage, and CSV/Excel files.
- Data Blending
- Ability to combine data from multiple sources into a single view.
- Data Model Customization
- Ability for users to extend or adapt existing data models.
- Data Query Speed
- Average latency to retrieve and render data from sources.
- Maximum Simultaneous Data Connections
- The maximum number of concurrent data source connections supported.
- No/Low-Code Integration
- Data connectivity achievable without writing code or via visual interfaces.
- Real-time Data Updating
- Capability for real-time or near-real-time data refresh from source systems.
Data Preparation & Management
Tools and processes for cleansing, transforming, and managing data inside the analytics environment.
- Calculated Columns/Fields
- Allows users to create new fields based on formulas or logic.
- Data Lineage Tracking
- Tracks data flows and transformations from source to report.
- Data Quality Indicators
- Displays data validity, freshness, and completeness to the end-user.
- Data Retention Settings
- Ability to set policies for how long data is stored within the tool.
- Data Transformation Functions
- Pre-built operations for joining, pivoting, aggregating, and formatting data.
- In-app Data Cleansing
- Ability to detect and handle duplicates, missing values, and errors within the tool.
- Ingestion Throughput
- Maximum volume of data that can be ingested per hour.
- Metadata Management
- Tools for managing data dictionaries, tagging, and field descriptions.
- Self-service Data Modeling
- Enables users to define relationships and hierarchies without IT involvement.
- Undo/Redo Data Changes
- Support for rolling back or reapplying data preparation steps.
Deployment & Architecture
Options and technical architecture supporting various IT environments and integration needs.
- API-first Architecture
- Designed with robust, documented APIs for integration and extension.
- Containerization Support
- Supports deployment using containers such as Docker or Kubernetes.
- Disaster Recovery RTO
- Recovery time objective in minutes for disaster recovery scenarios.
- Hybrid Deployment
- Supports both on-premise and cloud deployment options in parallel.
- Multi-Tenant Support
- Ability to serve multiple clients or business units from a single instance.
- On-premise Deployment
- Ability to install and operate within customer-controlled infrastructure.
- SaaS/Cloud Deployment
- Available as a cloud-based application delivered over the internet.
- Single Instance Uptime
- Guaranteed level of uptime for the main analytics environment.
Scalability & Performance
Characteristics that determine how the tool handles increased users, data volume, and workload.
- Average Query Response Time
- The typical time from request to response for user queries.
- Concurrent User Support
- Maximum number of users who can use the product at once without performance degradation.
- Data Volume Handling
- Total volume of data that the tool can store or process efficiently.
- Disaster Recovery
- Capabilities for automated backups and restoring operations in event of failure.
- Elastic Cloud Resources
- Ability to scale compute and storage resources up or down automatically.
- High Availability
- Built-in redundancy and failover to ensure minimal downtime.
- Processing Throughput
- Maximum rate of data processed per minute.
Security & Compliance
Ensures user data is protected, access is managed, and regulatory requirements are met.
- Audit Trails
- Tracks all user activities for security and compliance reviews.
- Data Masking
- Ability to obscure sensitive data within the analytics environment.
- Encryption At-Rest
- Stored data is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.
- Encryption In-Transit
- Protects data transfers from source to tool via strong cryptography.
- GDPR/CCPA Support
- Features to help comply with data privacy regulations.
- Granular Permission Settings
- Allow custom, fine-grained control over user and group permissions.
- Password Policy Management
- Admin controls over password complexity and expiration across accounts.
- SOC 2/ISO 27001 Compliance
- Certification for industry security best practices.
- Single Sign-On (SSO) Integration
- Integration with enterprise SSO solutions for authentication.
Support & Community
Resources and channels available to assist users, including official help and peer support.
- 24/7 Customer Support
- Around-the-clock support via phone, chat, or email.
- Dedicated Account Manager
- Assigned contact-person for business partnership management.
- In-product Help
- Embedded context-sensitive help and documentation.
- Online Knowledge Base
- Public or private web resource for product documentation and best practices.
- Time to Initial Response
- Guaranteed maximum delay before first contact from support.
- Training & Certification
- Formal training tracks and product certification programs.
- User Community Forum
- An online community where users can ask questions and share tips.
User Experience & Accessibility
Features that enable a broad range of users to access, navigate, and utilize the analytics tool efficiently and comfortably.
- Accessibility Compliance
- Supports accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) for users with disabilities.
- Custom Themes & Branding
- Ability to tailor the interface’s look and feel to align with corporate branding.
- Customizable Dashboards
- Ability for users to create, save, and personalize dashboards according to their preferences.
- Drag-and-Drop Report Builder
- Feature for users to construct reports visually by dragging and dropping elements.
- Intuitive User Interface
- A visually clear and well-organized interface that allows users to find and use functionalities easily.
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Productivity-enhancing shortcut keys.
- Localization & Language Support
- Availability of the tool in multiple languages to support global teams.
- Mobile Access
- Support for mobile devices via responsive design or dedicated apps.
- Natural Language Query (NLQ)
- Users can type questions in plain language to query data or generate reports.
- Onboarding Tutorials
- In-app tutorials or walkthroughs to assist new users.
- Role-based Access Controls
- Tools to allocate permissions based on user roles to ensure data security and governance.