Business Intelligence Software Industry Profile

Companies in this industry design, develop, publish, and support software used to collect, store, report, and analyze data from various operations of a business. Major companies include MicroStrategy, QlikTech, SAS, and Tableau (all based in the US), as well as divisions of IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP (Germany). Other providers based outside the US include Longview Solutions (Canada) and Statpro (UK).

Worldwide, business intelligence software companies generate more than $18 billion in annual revenue, according to Gartner. North America represents the largest BI software market; top growth markets include the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and the Asia/Pacific region.

The business intelligence software industry is a subset of the computer software industry, which is covered in a separate industry profile.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

Demand is driven by corporate spending. The profitability of individual companies depends on technical expertise and effective marketing. Large companies have economies of scale in development, marketing, and distribution. Smaller companies can compete effectively by targeting niche markets or developing new technology. The global business intelligence software industry is concentrated: the top 10 companies account for more than 50% of revenue, according to IDC.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products include business intelligence (BI) platforms and corporate performance management (CPM) suites, as well as analytic applications and advanced analytics tools.

BI refers to the tools and systems that play a key role in the strategic planning process of a company. BI software is used to ...