How BI Evolved from No Code Promises to Full Spectrum AI-assisted Power
For too long, the use of the word “coding” in any software literature – from sales slicks to user guides – was avoided at all costs. Although its meaning (“programming”) was clear, its implications – “unfriendly”, “difficult”, and “hazardous” – ranked right up there with “Danger, danger, Will Robinson” and “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here”.
Yet, when applied to business intelligence, the concept of coding has more in common with ‘The Three Bears’ than with either TV’s ‘Lost in Space’ or Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’. And that’s because, after decades of being assaulted with the mantra of “user-friendly is good; coding is bad”, the latest generation of BI software has evolved into acknowledging – and supporting — the value of being able to choose – from no-coding to low coding, and full coding options.
The Value of Coding
Modern software developers have realized that when it comes to BI coding, one size doesn’t fit all. A BI solution that requires programming expertise is as distasteful to a non-technical user as a BI solution that offers no programming to a technical user.
And then there’s the issue of “self-service BI”. For too long, the implementation of a business intelligence solution was unavoidably linked with the need to rely on multiple experts, in multiple domains, and at multiple times. Whether to get a BI solution installed, operational, or – as time went on – customized, the need for expert BI services was a necessary evil.
But such services are expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable — due to their limited availability. And so, with more businesses adopting a data-driven culture, organizations began to realize the benefits of developing internal expertise in implementing and developing the BI solutions they had invested in.
The Evolution
With the growth of self-service BI, the technical requirements of business intelligence changed. Businesses began to desire a BI architecture that supported all of their varying degrees of technical aptitude – including an expected growth of their own technical expertise. Critically, the range of BI coding options needed to not be a rigid ‘either/or’ (as in “it either supports coding or it doesn’t”), but rather a sliding scale that equally-well supported “no coding”, “some coding”, and “full coding” options. The good news is these have now been enhanced by AI-assisted development and automation – making them easier than ever.
Today’s business intelligence isn’t about forcing users into a single way of working – it’s about meeting them where they are and helping them grow. You want a BI platform that bridges the gap between simplicity and sophistication, empowering everyone from non-technical users to experienced developers. The result is a more flexible, scalable approach to analytics – one that supports no code, low code, and full code within a single, unified solution.
The Result: Ultra-Flexible BI Coding Options
What makes the “no code/low code/ full code” approach such an important evolution from previous generations of business intelligence solutions is that it does away with the “all or nothing” option. Not only does this make a single BI solution usable by all employees within an organization (regardless of their technical expertise), but it also means that an organization can get a ton of BI benefits from the pre-configured and no-code customization framework. And they can continue to grow and expand their BI needs by leveraging AI-assisted low and full coding options if or when required.
This ability for a BI solution to evolve along with its users is critical for another reason; it empowers organizations that have embraced BI technologies to achieve a self-service environment. Instead of searching for external, high-priced BI consulting services, the adoption of “no code/low code/ full code” architecture of next-generation BI means that organizations can manage and customize their own BI solutions.
The time has come to re-assess the value of “BI coding”. Out of the darkness, coding has re-emerged to herald a new, ultra-flexible breed of business intelligence software.
