Zoho Analytics Launches with Self-Service BI and OpenAI Integration

Zoho has released an updated version of its self-service BI and analytics platform, Zoho Analytics, with over 100 enhancements focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). The platform gets a major upgrade with seamless OpenAI integration. This empowers businesses to unlock deeper insights and make data-driven decisions.

In a comprehensive discussion, Clarence Rozario, Director of Product Management, Zoho BI & Analytics Platform, walks us through the innovations and impacts of this latest release.

Generative AI Capabilities at the Core

One of the standout features of Zoho Analytics is its integration with Generative AI, designed to empower users to interact with data in a conversational and visual way. As Clarence mentions, "You can ask a question like you ask in ChatGPT, I'm saying order quality by shipboard and by order time. So when I asked this, it gives me a nice chart as an answer." This capability significantly lowers the entry barrier for users who are not well-versed in data science, allowing them to leverage advanced analytics seamlessly.

With multilingual support on the horizon, users can interact in languages like French or Spanish, enhancing accessibility. Additionally, the ability to install bots in Microsoft Teams allows users to interact with the BI system directly within their work environment. "We are pushing down intelligence to where people are working," Clarence points out, emphasizing how the platform is becoming more integrated and user-centric.

Empowering Non-Technical Users with AI-Driven Insights

Zoho Analytics introduces multiple new capabilities tailored to non-technical users. One of these is the integration of OpenAI, which offers an intelligent assistant to help build SQL queries, suggest formulas, and even find public datasets. Clarence elaborates, "You can use OpenAI, so you can ask a question and suggest me a formula to calculate the year-to-date average sales. It will interact with OpenAI at the backend and give you the formula as a suggestion." This makes advanced data manipulation accessible to a broader audience, bridging the gap between business users and data scientists.

Moreover, the integration uses Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) technology to enhance the accuracy of outputs from large language models like OpenAI, reducing hallucinations and ensuring more reliable insights. As Clarence explains, "We are using the RAG technology so that the outcomes from OpenAI integration are much more accurate with reduced hallucinations."

Advanced ML Modeling with AutoML and Pro Code

For data scientists and citizen data scientists, Zoho Analytics offers two distinct approaches to machine learning: AutoML for no-code model building and a pro-code interface for those who prefer writing Python code.

Clarence demonstrated a churn analysis, showcasing how users can select models, train them, and deploy them without any coding. “The whole idea is to really help people to build ML models without writing code, right in a very no-code way of training, testing, and deploying them,” he stated.

Streamlining BI Platform Management with BA Fabric and Connector Building

Zoho is also introducing features to simplify BI platform management for large enterprises that often use multiple BI tools. The new BI Fabric feature allows organizations to create a single analytics portal that integrates insights from platforms like Power BI and Tableau. Clarence describes it as “a single page where everything is interactive and immersive, enabling executives to get insights seamlessly.”

Additionally, Zoho Analytics introduces a no-code approach to building connectors for various applications. This feature is particularly valuable for businesses that work with diverse data sources, enabling them to build connectors without needing to write custom code.

Key Highlights

• Unified Metrics Layer: Streamlines data access and control for consistent analysis.
• Generative AI: Provides automated insights, natural language processing for data exploration, and report generation.
• Custom ML Model Studio: Enables building tailored models for specific business needs.
• OpenAI Integration: Delivers more relevant data queries and access to public datasets.
• Enhanced Extensibility: Allows for building custom connectors and integrating with other BI platforms.

Looking Ahead: Continuous Updates and Empowerment for Users

We plan to roll out over 100 updates as part of the new release, enhancing its visualization and dashboard-building capabilities. Clarence mentions that the platform will offer “quite a lot of new components” like racing charts, map layering, and drill-through functions, providing users with more ways to visualize and analyze data easily.

While transitioning to Zoho Analytics is seamless, users can take advantage of self-help tutorials and webinars to get familiar with the new features. Clarence reassures, "There’s no specific demand for people to get trained to start using the new capabilities."

Conclusion: A Future-Ready Platform for All

Zoho Analytics is more than just an update; it’s a leap toward democratizing data analysis by integrating AI and enhancing user experience. With features tailored for both non-technical users and data professionals, it bridges the gap between simplicity and sophistication. The introduction of OpenAI integration and RAG technology positions Zoho Analytics as a leading choice for organizations aiming to leverage AI-driven insights and elevate their decision-making capabilities.

By bringing intelligence to where people work and making advanced analytics accessible, Zoho Analytics is indeed paving the way for a new generation of BI tools—ones that are smarter, more connected, and more user-friendly.