The history of business intelligence (BI) can be traced back to the 1960s, when computers began to be used for data processing and management. Initially, BI systems were primarily used for financial reporting and budgeting. However, over time, they evolved to become more sophisticated and capable of handling large volumes of data from different sources.

Figure 1. Business Intelligence

In the 1970s, the emergence of decision support systems (DSS) marked a major milestone in the development of BI. DSS were computer-based tools that enabled decision-makers to analyze and manipulate data to support decision-making.

During the 1980s, the focus of BI shifted towards data warehousing and online analytical processing (OLAP). Data warehousing involved the collection and integration of data from multiple sources into a central repository, while OLAP enabled users to analyze data in real-time using interactive reports and dashboards.

The 1990s saw the emergence of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, which integrated multiple business functions such as finance, accounting, and human resources into a single system. This made it easier for organizations to gather and analyze data from different departments.

The early 2000s saw the rise of the internet and the development of web-based BI tools. These tools made it possible to access and analyze data from anywhere, anytime, using a web browser.

In recent years, the development of big data technologies such as Hadoop and NoSQL databases has enabled organizations to process and analyze vast amounts of data from different sources. The rise of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) has also enabled BI systems to automate many tasks, such as data preparation, analysis, and visualization.

Today, BI is an essential part of many organizations' decision-making processes, enabling them to gain insights from data to optimize their operations, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction.

References:

1. https://www.cio.com/article/221963/history-of-business-intelligence.html

Cite this article:

Hana M (2023), History of Business Intelligence, AnaTechmaz, pp.50