BI Built Your Way: From Drag-and-Drop to Deep Customization
With no code, low code, and full code capabilities
In our first article in this series, we discussed the value of BI coding and how it has evolved over the last couple of decades. In this second installment, we will dive deeper into how a modern BI solution should meet you exactly where you are – whether you write zero code or build complex data systems. That’s the promise of no code, low code, and full code: flexibility without compromise.
Enter the next generation of Business Intelligence
Using a model of “no code / low code / full code”, the fundamental idea is that a single BI solution should offer all three options to end users. This concept was as long-overdue as it was needed – due not only to the varying levels of technical expertise of different organizations, but also to the desire of many BI adopters to “self-serve” — manage and enhance their own BI deployments.
With a “no code / low code / full code” approach, a BI solution can adapt to the various – and changing — technical aptitudes of its user base. Each ‘level’ of coding delivers a balance between technical sophistication, customization, and cost (in both time and money). And now, with embedded AI-assist – non-technical users are better able to leverage coding features which would have once been out of their reach. It makes coding accessible for all.
What is “No Code” BI?
For organizations wishing to move towards a more data-driven culture but without many internal programming resources and/or data analysts, there is the “no-code” approach to business intelligence. Studies show that approximately 80% of all organizations looking to leverage business intelligence can do so using a no-code approach.
And, for many organizations just starting their BI journey, the no-code approach not only satisfies 100% of their immediate needs, but also their needs going forward.
But note — although the configuration of an ‘average’ BI system can be accomplished with the no-code approach, no-code doesn’t imply that it enables organizations to achieve a highly customized production-ready BI system with a complete absence of coding.
Regardless, this option allows non-technical users to quickly and easily implement a fully-functional BI solution using visual, drag-and-drop tools.
This methodology enables organizations to get a BI solution up-and-running quickly (under a day) and inexpensively. Nonetheless, adopters of a no-code BI technology need to accept that their ability to customize the BI functionality is limited.
Generally speaking, a BI solution that allows for no user-provided coding can prevent (or restrict) the creation or modification of advanced metrics, does not allow for system performance optimization, and is less able to be scaled in size to handle increased usage. For those options, organizations should consider a low-code BI solution.
The “Low Code” Middle Ground
“Low code,” represents a technical middle ground, where basic programming knowledge (such as the formation of SQL statements) enables organizations to more closely customize their BI solution to their specific needs.
Approximately 25% of organizations looking to implement a business intelligence solution are ideal candidates for the low-code approach. This is due to the need for more highly customized BI; however, it does not mean that these organizations will require expert programmers. AI-assisted BI – a relatively new component of low-code (and full-code) BI solutions – enable moderately-technical users to significantly customize their BI solution.
Low code programming typically involves the use of such tools as SQL, Python, JavaScript, and C# – in addition to an application’s native drag-and-drop customization interface. For BI purposes, these tools are most commonly used to enable application integration (i.e., analyze data across multiple data silos), support complex logic in the calculation of metrics, and manipulating SQL syntax.
Examples of these customizations include:
- Analyzing data jointly between ERP and CRM apps
- Calculating profit margins in manufacturing or construction
- Specifying the order of table joins to expedite processing
With the low code approach, consideration and planning need to go into custom development – with factors such as the testing and deploying custom code, the time and cost of such development, and the future availability of programming staff to understand, debug, and further develop any custom coding.
Full Code Access for Extensive Customization
Although the needs of 95% of all BI-interested clients can be met with either low-code or no-code options, there still remains a small group of organizations that require an extensively-customized BI solution, one often involving such factors as very large datasets, complex integrations, or custom workflow processing. For this group, the answer lies in a full-code BI solution.
That said, it’s important to understand what ‘full code’ means within today’s business intelligence technologies. “Full-code” does not mean a BI solution that you have to build from scratch, using a variety of coding languages.
Critically, because the current generation of full-code BI solutions incorporate both the no-code and low-code approaches, even organizations that need extensive, programming-based customizations can utilize the no-code and low-code approaches to get themselves most of the way to their desired BI solution.
Additionally, the AI-assist technology that’s so helpful in low-code installations is of huge benefit to full-code users. Even when users are expert programmers, AI-assist is both a significant time-saver as well as validator of their programming work.
This means that technical users can take a pre-configured BI technology and fully adapt it to their own site-specific (often sophisticated) needs – whether industry-specific, require complex KPIs, or need deep integration with other systems.
Full code BI solutions also imply access to (and modification of) the ‘plumbing’ that sits behind the standard BI functionality. This includes greater control over security, scalability, and long-term planning.
Full code BI tools typically include all the low code tools plus additional options such as SQL, Python, Java, and C#.
The Bottom Line: You Can Have it ALL
The future of Business Intelligence and Analytics isn’t about choosing between simplicity and power – it’s about having both. With access to a no code, low code, and full code approach, organizations can start fast, grow intelligently, and adapt without limits.
