Business Intelligence Basics
Master the core concepts behind BI — from KPIs to dashboards.
19 articles
What Is Business Intelligence?
Business Intelligence (BI) turns raw data into clear answers. Here's what it means for a small business owner.
What Is a KPI?
KPI stands for Key Performance Indicator. Learn what makes a metric a KPI — and which ones actually matter.
Metrics vs Data: What's the Difference?
Raw data and business metrics are not the same thing. Understanding the difference changes how you make decisions.
What Is a Business Dashboard?
A dashboard is a single view of your most important business metrics. Here's what makes a great one.
What Is a Business Pulse Score?
A Business Pulse is a single health score for your entire business. Learn how it's calculated and what it tells you.
Leading vs Lagging Indicators
Some metrics tell you what happened. Others tell you what's about to happen. Know the difference.
What Is Benchmarking in Business?
Benchmarking means comparing your performance against a standard. Here's why it matters and how to do it right.
What Is Data-Driven Decision Making?
Making decisions based on data rather than instinct. What it means in practice for a small business.
What Is an Anomaly in Business Data?
An anomaly is an unexpected spike or drop in your data. Learning to spot them early can save your business.
What Is a Daily Brief?
A Daily Brief is a morning summary of your business performance. Here's why every founder should start their day with one.
What Is a Scorecard?
A scorecard tracks performance against targets in one view. Learn how scorecards differ from dashboards and when to use each.
What Is a North Star Metric?
A north star metric is the single number that best captures the value your business delivers. Learn how to choose yours.
What Is a Data Source?
A data source is where your business data originates. Learn about the main types and why connecting them matters.
What Is a Trend in Business Data?
A trend is a consistent directional movement in your data over time. Learn how to spot real trends versus noise.
What Is a Business Forecast?
A forecast is a data-based prediction of future business performance. Learn the types of forecasts and how to make them useful.
Reports vs Analytics: What Is the Difference?
Reports describe what happened. Analytics explains why and what to do next. Learn when to use each.
What Is Data Visualisation?
Data visualisation turns numbers into charts and graphics that humans understand instantly. Learn which chart type to use when.
What Is a KPI Target and How Do You Set One?
A KPI target is the performance level you are aiming to hit. Learn how to set targets that are realistic, motivating, and useful.
What Is Cohort Reporting?
Cohort reporting groups customers by a shared start date to track how behaviour changes over time. Essential for retention analysis.