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Graphical Information System vs Business Intelligence

October 19, 2022

Graphical Information System vs Business Intelligence

When it comes to data analytics, there are numerous tools available to help organizations turn vast amounts of raw data into useful insights. Two such tools are Graphical Information Systems (GIS) and Business Intelligence (BI) platforms. While both systems are designed to help organizations make informed decisions based on data, their approaches and uses differ slightly. In this blog post, we'll take an unbiased look at both systems and compare them based on their features, pros, and cons.

What is a Graphical Information System (GIS)?

A Graphical Information System (GIS) is a system that allows users to analyze data based on its location. It consists of a database of spatially referenced data (e.g., data that can be mapped) that can be queried and analyzed to extract relevant information. GIS tools are essential in fields such as urban planning, environmental planning, natural resource management, and emergency management.

Pros of GIS

  • GIS enables users to visualize data on a map, making it easier to identify patterns and relationships that might not be apparent otherwise.
  • GIS offers mapping and data analysis capabilities, which can help managers locate and understand patterns in vast amounts of data quickly.
  • GIS helps identify patterns across different geographies, which is useful when analyzing regional or international data.
  • GIS allows users to manipulate data sets easily, allowing them to filter and extract the data they need.

Cons of GIS

  • GIS is location-based, meaning that it is less effective when used to extract insights from non-spatial data.
  • While GIS is ideal for analyzing spatial data, it can be more challenging to use for non-spatial data analysis, somewhat limiting its versatility.
  • Harnessing GIS often requires a specialized skill set and can take longer to set up and run than other data analysis tools.

What is Business Intelligence (BI)?

Business Intelligence (BI) refers to the technologies, applications, and practices for collecting, integrating, analyzing, and presenting business data. BI tools enable organizations to turn raw data into useful insights that help with data-driven decision-making. BI is widely used in different industries, from healthcare and finance to marketing and sales.

Pros of BI

  • BI is designed to help businesses make data-driven decisions by providing real-time, accurate, and actionable insights.
  • BI tools are user-friendly and require little-to-no coding skills, making them accessible to most teams and departments.
  • BI platforms offer a wide range of data visualization options, from charts and graphs to dashboards, making it easier for users to identify trends and patterns.
  • BI tools offer the flexibility to extract and analyze data from different sources, including spreadsheets, databases, and cloud storage.

Cons of BI

  • BI tools can be expensive and may require users to purchase additional licenses to access certain features.
  • BI tools may require data cleansing or normalization before being analyzed, which can be time-consuming.
  • BI platforms are designed to analyze structured data, meaning that they're reliant on pre-defined data models that may not capture all relevant data.
  • BI may not be appropriate when analyzing large, unstructured data sets.

Which is Best for You?

The decision between GIS and BI ultimately depends on the needs of your organization. While GIS is perfect for location-based data analysis, it may not be as useful when analyzing non-spatial data. Conversely, while BI is ideal for traditional structured data, unstructured data may require a more flexible framework to analyze effectively.

Ultimately, the best decision between GIS and BI will depend on the data you need to analyze and the nature of your organization. You should consider your organizational needs, the data you want to examine, and assess each solution's suitability before making a choice.

Conclusion

Both GIS and BI are powerful tools for data analytics and can help organizations make informed decisions based on data. In many ways, GIS and BI are complementary, and certain situations may require the use of both to maximize the benefits of data analytics.

However, the features, pros, and cons of each tool need to be considered thoughtfully when making a choice. Whether you chose GIS or BI, with these powerful data analytics tools, you'll experience a smoother path to turn data into insights.

References

We've compiled references to support our claims and come up with a fair comparison between GIS and BI.

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