Can search-based data discovery tools improve analytics?

According to Gartner, business intelligence and analytics are currently at a tipping point as more enterprises move towards self-service. As a result, the research firm states that search-based data discovery tools are now a viable option for self-service analytics.

Adopting search-based data discovery tools

In order to quickly find answers online today, users simply input a query into a search box. The process is straightforward and effortless, meaning that researching information on the Internet is both user-friendly and effective.

As a report from AnswerRocket observes, the future of analytics could entail a user experience that is just as simple as an Internet search. In fact, AI Search-Powered Analytics™ endeavors to do just that.

Search-based data discovery tools provide answers in seconds rather than days or even weeks. In turn, this enables companies to ask “additional questions very easily, and on an iterative basis.”

With a greater volume of discovery, enterprises can thus benefit from a “much deeper understanding” of their business and customers. Indeed, business users can also develop “new theories about their business and verify these theories with their data inquiries instantly.”

Empowering a business with search-based data discovery

The simplest search-based tools “rely upon questions asked in natural language,” according to AnswerRocket. Each implementation of AnswerRocket therefore focuses on a particular company and its use cases, while learning everything about the data for chosen use cases.

MIT found that up to 85% of perception, learning, and cognition are visual, so AnswerRocket provides direct answers in the form of visualizations. Based on the data returned, the tool also automatically selects a specific form of visualization based on the use case.

It is evident that many search-based data discovery tools are unable to scale at an enterprise level. In order to create a hyper-scalable environment, AnswerRocket thus leverages the power of Amazon’s Redshift cloud database platform.

In effect, Search-Powered Analytics aims to transform the way that a business operates by empowering users with data. This subsequently allows technical analysts to focus on more complex challenges, while non-technical users can quickly derive insights from company data.