What is Embedded Analytics?
It’s a common misconception that Embedded Analytics is just for large enterprises. Learn how you can use it to your advantage.
Team Ablaze Collective
August 29, 2024 • 8 MIN READ
Embedded Analytics Explained
A common misconception is that Embedded Analytics is only for large enterprises, but this isn’t the case. Any business, regardless of size, can and should implement a data strategy to answer key business questions. Too often, companies fail to leverage the powerful insights that Embedded Analytics can provide.
Businesses are increasingly recognizing the importance of intelligent analytics for optimizing operations. Embedded analytics has proven to be a more efficient way to streamline business processes compared to standalone business intelligence systems.
Here at Ablaze Collective, we’re committed to providing comprehensive data strategies and data staging through our cutting-edge tools:
Ablaze BaaS: Our Back-End as a Service data pipeline solution
Ablaze Collective: Out-of-the-box embedded analytics solutions
What is Embedded Analytics?
Embedded analytics integrates analytic content and capabilities directly into business workflows. This includes collecting data, staging it visually, and providing tools for data analysis. Businesses gain access to relevant information about their products and services, enabling employees to perform their day-to-day tasks more efficiently and make better decisions.
Examples of Embedded Analytics
Many industries already use embedded analytics in various forms. A simple use case could be sales teams utilizing a dashboard that displays key performance indicators (KPIs) like quarterly sales figures and lead progress against quotas. More advanced systems may include product ratings, video reviews, and suggestions, all aimed at providing customers with a richer shopping experience.
By using embedded analytics smartly, businesses can enhance operational decision-making and improve customer satisfaction.
3 Approaches to Embedding Analytics
When integrating analytics into your applications, you have several options. Here are three common approaches to consider:
1. Launch a Standalone Application
A straightforward way to embed analytics is through a separate site dedicated to analytics, accessible via a specific tab or page. However, this method has drawbacks like slower processes due to separate sign-ons and security models.
2. iFrames
An inline frame (iFrame) is an HTML document embedded within another. iFrames allow users to view and interact with data directly within the host application’s web page. While easy to implement, performance may vary depending on the complexity of the data.
3. Coding Embedded Analytics
Integrating analytics at the code level with your host application is the most seamless method. This approach involves embedding analytics directly into the codebase, offering a more cohesive user experience.
Embedded Analytics vs Business Intelligence
Traditional business intelligence (BI) tools are standalone systems meant for data analysis. These tools often require specialized skills and are primarily useful for dedicated data analysts. Embedded analytics, on the other hand, democratizes access to data by integrating it into everyday workflows.
With embedded analytics, all users can access relevant, easy-to-understand information. This minimizes the need to switch between applications, resulting in a more efficient, streamlined data experience.
Benefits of Embedded Analytics
There are several reasons why businesses should choose embedded analytics over standalone BI tools:
1. Make Data-Driven Decisions
Embedded analytics provides real-time data, making it easier to make informed decisions quickly and eliminating guesswork.
2. Easier Adoption
Because embedded analytics tools are built into existing workflows, they are typically easier to adopt and use without requiring extensive training.
3. Increased ROI
Embedded analytics often has a higher adoption rate, which leads to better use over time and an improved return on investment (ROI).
4. Increased Productivity
By embedding analytics into daily tasks, employees can access the information they need more easily, leading to higher productivity and faster decision-making.
5. Gain a Competitive Edge
With embedded analytics, companies gain insights that can help them better understand their customers, positioning them ahead of competitors.
6. Increased Customer Satisfaction
The data provided by embedded analytics enables companies to better tailor their products and services, leading to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.
7. Increased Revenue
Ultimately, embedded analytics can drive higher revenue by providing businesses with insights that lead to better decisions and customer experiences.
8. Seamless User Experience
Embedded analytics offers a more seamless experience by integrating the data directly into the application users already work with, reducing friction between business processes and data insights.
9. Data Blending and Mashups
Users can easily combine data from multiple sources (like Excel and application data), making the decision-making process more efficient and accurate.
10. Process Optimization
Embedded analytics optimizes workflows by making it easier to read and analyze information without switching between platforms.
How to Use Embedded Analytics
Data is the driving force behind nearly every business decision. Embedded analytics can be used in a variety of ways, such as:
Public Web Pages
Internal Web Portals
Third-Party Applications
Customer Products
How Embedded Analytics Fosters Collaboration
One of the greatest strengths of embedded analytics is its ability to foster collaboration across departments and teams.
Encourages Contribution from Everyone
Embedded analytics makes it easy for both technical and non-technical users to engage with data. Tools like dashboards allow all team members to interact with data, ask questions, and share insights.
Encourage Frequent Data Usage
Because embedded analytics is integrated into everyday workflows, users are more likely to engage with the data frequently, leading to more informed decisions.
Improve Productivity with Better Insights
Embedding analytics directly into applications ensures that teams can quickly access relevant data, analyze it, and gain actionable insights.
Is Embedded Analytics Right for You?
As you can see, embedded analytics offers significant benefits for businesses of all sizes. By integrating data insights directly into your workflow, you can empower your team to make better decisions and drive better outcomes. Now that you know what embedded analytics can do, does it seem like the right fit for your company?
Reach out to Ablaze Collective to explore how our Ablaze BaaS and Ablaze Collective solutions can help you unlock the power of embedded analytics in your organization.