The key components of a business intelligence system typically include data sources, data integration processes, data storage, semantic or analytical models, governance, analytics tools, dashboards and visualization, and the people and processes that use the information.
Data may originate from CRM, ERP, finance, marketing, e-commerce, operations, customer support, spreadsheets, and external sources. Integration processes clean and combine it, while a warehouse, lake, or other architecture stores and organizes information for analysis.
Business definitions and governance ensure metrics such as revenue, customer, lead, or margin mean the same thing across teams. Visualization and BI applications then make the information accessible to decision-makers.
Technology alone does not create effective BI. Data quality, ownership, business questions, adoption, and decision processes are equally important components.
