NLP eliminates the need for a “translator” between the human language and machine language. BI vendors in recent years have integrated NLP in their solutions.

In an NLP-powered BI system, users can query their BI platforms in plain English. NLP is designed to make BI systems more accessible to non-technical users. Natural language generation (NLG) provides the output in conversational language—thus enabling BI tools to answer questions or explain key findings in an understandable language.

TechTarget handbook explains how NLP has [1] evolved as a core communication tool in BI and analytics solutions since 2020.

Figure 1. NLP (Natural language processing) - powered BI

Figure 1 shows Business Intelligence (BI) involves the strategies and technologies used to analyze business information and make informed decision-making It helps create a better understanding of the global market as well as provide an insight into how your company operates. Data insights today have become a crucial factor for decision-making, driving organizations to go [2] beyond just their ‘instinct’ or ‘gut’.

Usage of NLP in various BI tools

Today, business intelligence (BI) vendors support NLP, opening up data analytics to every user, from beginners to advanced data scientists. Data analysts can now interact with their data naturally, asking questions as they think of them. Previously, data analysts had to build complex visuals to understand correlation and causation. [3] Natural language capabilities in BI tools now allow users to get insight by just talking normally. Let’s see how major BI vendors use NLP in their products:

• Tableau’s Ask Data.
• Power BI’s Q&A.

NLP Chatbots in Business Intelligence

The traditional way of accessing data through most BI systems is by logging into the application, generating the desired report and filtering the insights through multiple dashboards. Because of the long drawn out process of the traditional workflow and the fact that some amount of technical acumen is required, user adoption of BI decreases.

This is also the reason why companies often feel compelled to hire highly qualified data scientists and data analysts to glean insights from BI systems. [2] Now, imagine if there was a way in which the required insights can be ‘fetched’ just by asking natural language questions.

References:

1. https://www.dataversity.net/business-intelligence-and-analytics-trends-in-2022/#
2. https://acuvate.com/blog/how-is-nlp-transforming-business-intelligence/
3. https://acuvate.com/blog/how-is-nlp-transforming-business-intelligence/

Cite this article:

Thanusri swetha J (2022), NLP (Natural language processing) - powered BI, Anatechmaz, pp. 27