The world is in between huge technological transition. Every day there is more use of technology-intensive tools in place of traditional ones. Old tricks used to be tedious, costly, mostly false, and often harmful. As a result, business intelligence is not what it use to mean a decade ago.
Today, increased automation is making companies to go on the look-out for up-to-date business intelligence software to keep up with the new global technology order. We know that data is the main part that is driving this change. Take for example our growing need for datification to improve our minor as well as major affairs.
Companies around the world are using datification to turn our daily lives into a huge mass of data. This is why datification is the heart of data science. This unique field of science works closely with business intelligence (BI) and many other fields e.g., scientific computing, exploratory statistics, etc., to be able to infer active meaning via data handling.
What is business intelligence and BI Software?
To put it simply, BI is a technology-based process that puts raw data into a readable form. Business and data specialists figure out this raw data and turn it into easy visual facts to aid the decision-making process. Because people tend to make better decisions when they have better information.
BI uses many software with technical and nontechnical sides to turn data into useful facts. These facts greatly assist business organizations in making the right decisions as well as solve serious problems.
The usual BI process takes many complex tools, software applications, and special methods. BI helps businesses in setting up an extensive data collection mechanism through many different sources. The sources usually hold a huge amount of data. The data is then explored, modeled, and analyzed by using highly advanced tools to identify irregularities, patterns, concerns, and trends.
The purpose of extracting information through this process is to develop infographics, dashboards, analytical outcome reports, etc. All of this information communicates results with corporate executives or anyone with the power to make strategic business decisions.
Best Business Operating System
We could go about making a case of one OS against the other and confuse you to no limit. Or we could straight away get down to the best possible option and tell you why it is, in fact, the best for you. We choose to go with the latter. Because frankly, the whole point of this article is to make seemingly difficult choices easy for you.
The saturated spectrum of OS gives us the same names whenever we need a system in tune with our interests.
It usually renders people to believe that compatible or not, only these few names e.g., Windows, macOS, Unix, Android, etc., are their possible options. However, if you dig a little to look behind the obvious you will find the most well-matched solution seemingly hiding in the shadows.
Although the best OS option – Linux – for businesses that we intend to talk about today is not actually hiding in the crowd, it is still not much talked about especially given the unending list of values it is adding to businesses worldwide.
If you, like many others, have missed the appearance of Linux operating systems as a worthwhile alternative to nearly all the existing OS, now is the time to rectify that. it is being estimated that Linux is set to replace the OS arena as you know it today due to its dizzying range of futuristic features that are sweeping the technology bigwigs off their feet. take Huawei reliance on Linux Deepin for its MateBook laptop for example.
Why go with Linux for your business?
2020 is not just the year of further technical advancement if anything, 2020 seems to be more business-centric than anything else regardless of the subject area or nature. The technological progress of businesses can only be ensured if the in-house IT infrastructures are up to date. For cloud computing though, Linux is proving to be an unparalleled fit and rather an inexpensive fit for businesses.
You will also find that the integration of Linux systems is quite simple depending on the specific Linux distribution – distro – you select in coordination with your computing requirement. The best still is the fact that you don’t have to discard your standing infrastructure to appropriate the flexibility that open-source software and cost-effective functionality of Linux provides. It is literally a free replacement for other OSs, which businesses find more than a little hard to comprehend.
Linux does not require purchase prizes even for the applications unless you are a kind of business that needs expert help from paid tech support. Even that can be worked away, given the variety of Linux system administrator training programs available today which effectively ticks an overhead off the list of businesses’ overall cost.
Best Linux for Businesses in 2020
So how do you figure out which distro is the best fit for your business? Because Linux OS comes in a vast variety with several futuristic business-grade features. Well, we have put together a list of top of the range distribution based on a criterion that includes:
- Stability
- Practicality
- Support
Let’s have a look at some of the best Linux in 2020 with critical uptime, unwavering support, and practical capabilities.
CentOS
CentOS is one of the most popular Linux server distributions. Linux has developed CentOS on the foundation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) by the funding support of Red Hat in 2014. Assembled with pleasant Gnome – the default desktop for Red Hat & Fedora – familiarity along with widely supported Red Hat package manager (RPM) open-source, CentOS makes for a highly compatible enterprise-class Linux distro for workstations and servers.
Slackware
Slackware is the oldest Softlanding based Linux distro which is active to date. Patrick Volkerding created it in 1993. Slackware provided bases for many distributions like SUSE Linux distro. It provides end-users maximum control than any other Linux OS but this feature has both sides to consider. For instance, while it gives you huge command control, this lightweight distribution lacks the graphical configuration and software dependency resolution mechanism. If you are looking for a customized distro, Slackware is the one to suit your requirements,
ClearOS
This Linux distro specifically optimizes small and medium enterprises. It serves as a network gateway as well as a network server that you can administer completely from a web-based interface. ClearOS is an effective alternative to commercially supported software solutions with professional tech support availability. Like CentOS, this distribution also has a relatively simple configuration and maintenance due to innate RHEL foundation packages. But the similarities cease here because unlike CentOS, ClearOS is strictly a server platform. Its absolute web reliance proffers the use of varying consoles unnecessary after the distro installation.
Ubuntu
The ever increasing popularity of Ubuntu – Linux desktop distribution – make people think that it is most compatible with personal usage. Which is hardly true given its well-recognized community support system. Ubuntu provides its end-users absolute stability and flexibility along with the free version called Ubuntu Servers for the backend requirement.
Ubuntu is designed based on another Linux distro named Debian. It means Ubuntu can use Debian packages using advanced package tools (Apt) management system to add or remove software. If you choose to select Ubuntu as your Linux OS, you will have the finest support from its massive userbase. The latest releases are marketed as long term support (LTS) backed distros with 5 years maintenance option for professional tech support.
IPFire
IPFire distro is often regarded as a Linux watchdog due to its extraordinary security solutions. This is especially relevant to small businesses that are more susceptible to cyber threats to the security of their networks. Install this distribution and leave it to manage the IP addresses, firewall protection, and employee monitoring for safety or behavioral check. Although it is not difficult to maintain, IPFire will surely require expert-level knowledge to get it installed and running.
There are several reasons for its complex configuration. For example; distinct nature from any other Linux versions, Tor node, proxy protocols, etc. There are several Linux administrator training programs available that should solve these support issues in the installation process of IPFire.
OpenSUSE
OpenSUSE or more accurately SUSE Linux Professional is another Linux distribution community program. It is powered by SUSE Linux GmbH to be used as the basis for commercial SUSE Enterprise. Contrary to CentOS and ClearOS, OpenSUSE is designed with a strong desktop environment that has its window manager called K development environment (KDE). KDE comes with a graphical interface that makes it a heavyweight distro to be highly compatible with timeworn hardware systems. For instance, Raspberry Pi single-board computers. It is a stable and secure OS due to the latest release of rolling models that has consistent update availability.
Best Business Intelligence Software for 2020
Often the term business intelligence refers to a vast range of brilliant BI software. Software that quickly accesses and analyzes data sets to provide easily understandable and actionable information in the form of:
- Analytical reports
- Insightful summaries
- Dashboards and ad hoc queries
- Graphs, charts, and maps
Yet, the hunt for just perfect business intelligence software can be a somewhat daunting and costly process. Especially if we consider the fact this software often delivers more than what’s required by small or medium-sized organizations. The good news is that there are many free BI tools maintained by highly skilled developers motivated to break BI monopoly.
Seven of the most optimal free BI software for you to start taking advantage of data analytics — and these cost less.
ChartMogul BI Software
ChartMogul is one of the most popular BI software that manages an extensive user community rather smoothly. It is known to provide the best services to businesses that are working to build a subscription package. It is possible due to its churn rate measurement and customer value features.
QlikView
QlikView is an exceptional ETL data storage and multilayered analysis BI software. Presented by Qlik, this tool also offers an end-user dashboard that connects different data sources to develop data visualizations.
Cluvio
Cluvio is programming language compatible business intelligence software. It lets businesses to process data written in SQL, R, etc., against their databases to produce data visualization and dashboards. It also provides webinars and online training to help businesses get started.
ActivTrak Business Intelligence Software
ActivTrak – released by Birch Grove Software – is a behavior analytics software that can sustain the teams of 5 to 1,000. This BI tool is designed for business, IT, and HR executives, managers. It also assists team leaders to track the overall status and productivity. ActivTrak also comes with both the iOS and Android compatible apps.
Databox
Databox is known to be a powerhouse of the best business intelligence software. It has an impressive interface and simple functionality that allow businesses to keep tabs of key performance indicators (KPI). It presents dashboard reports and information that can be shared on multiple devices. Databox also comes with integrated systems like Adobe Analytics along with iOS and Android compatible mobile app.
Tableau
Tableau, true to its name, is an Excel-based BI software. It is perfect for those who enjoy data analysis within pivot tables. It has an advanced user interface that offers a drag-and-drop feature for data manipulation and visualizations.
Kyubit Business Intelligence Software
Kyubit BI – powered by Kyubit Solutions – is another programming language assimilated business intelligence software. It allows businesses to develop reports off their SQL, CSV, OLAP, etc., data. It is an ideal tool for those with a little bit of knowledge of data analytics or business intelligence mechanisms.
You can install these free BI software from the cloud, web portals, and SAAS and offer 24/7 live support availability.
Significance of Business Intelligence
Today, optimizing BI is no longer considered the province of only mega-corporations. Because affording data centers and computing powers that are required to analyze business data was not for average businesses. Courtesy to inexpensive data-analysis tools today and BI software even small and medium businesses are benefitting from the BI revolution.
An effective business intelligence program can improve business decision making at all levels which leads to improved organization’s tactical management processes. To improve every aspect of the company, businesses need to develop central association. It is only possible with establishing better access to the company’s data. Because after all data is the main factor that brings forth the maximum profitability.
BI and Data Science
Business Intelligence (BI) is a subdivision of data analytics that takes a predetermined set of processes, technologies, strategic architecture to transform the raw data into actionable business intelligence (information).
BI is designed to employs a reverse approach in which it analyzes past data to solve the current problems. Although, this approach provides tactical reports that contain factual statistics but they cannot predict future events. That is where the distinction between business intelligence and data science begins. You use data in an advancing approach to predict the future outcome in data science to make profitable business decisions.
Business Intelligence in data science works by combining business analytics, data mining, data visualization, input/output bounds tools, and data infrastructure, to augment businesses’ decision-making abilities. BI integrated into data-science methods is the faster way of reporting and communicating results through specialized business intelligence software tools.
Specialized business intelligence software tools include:
- SAP Business Intelligence
- Oracle BI
- Microsoft Power BI
- SAS Business Intelligence
At the end of the day, all the areas that we talked about above and more are businesses. You just cannot be a good data scientist for an organization if you do not have great business intelligence skills. BI as a system connects all the skills that a business has.
So, if you want to work in the field of business intelligence you must get the following few skills:
- Experience with data analysis tools and SQL Programming
- Data warehousing concepts
- Problem-solving techniques
- Domain knowledge
Conclusion
Today is the right time to take full advantage of the BI software system for your business. Invest in BI training programs, best OS, business intelligence software for good results. Keeping up with technology is no longer a matter of choice for organizations. Today it is a matter of survival for businesses around the world regardless of the size of the company.
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