AI In BI: What Is Really Changing Behind The Dashboards

AI in BI Turns Data into Action

We have all lived through painful spreadsheet days. Then came BI dashboards, a relief that gave us efficiency and accuracy. But now, when we look around us, especially after the release of different AI models which bring the capacity to digest massive data and give an actionable output to the user, we thought, ‘What if dashboards could do the same? What if instead of looking at charts and KPIs, you could just ask, “Which product is pulling down my margins this quarter?” and get a clear answer in seconds. That’s the vision behind our feature ‘AI in BI’.

After doing extensive R&D, we realized the same intelligence powering AI tools could be applied to BI solutions. You will just type your query and receive an actionable output directly.

This blog is for anyone who sits in a chair where data decisions matter- business owners, managers or analysts who want to know the story behind the dashboards. We will explore whether AI in BI will truly help you take actionable steps and make better decisions.

The BI Setup We All Know

Let us start with the typical enterprise BI solution setup we all know. Basically, data comes in from different and multiple sources like CRM, sheets, traditional databases (if you are using them), e-commerce platforms, ad platforms, etc. Some of it is cleaned, structured, prepared, and perhaps ends up in a warehouse, or it's connected directly to a BI tool. From there, the BI analyst creates dashboards, filters, charts, KPIs, visuals, you know the drill, right? Stakeholders then use those dashboards to monitor performance, and ideally spot trends, ask questions, and make decisions. The dashboard is the final product. It's the thing we point to and say, "Here's your data. Now you can act on it."

Dashboards and AI in BI

All of this shows how dashboards have become the go-to tool for visualizing and understanding business data. They consolidate multiple sources, present KPIs, and give decision-makers a clear view of what’s happening. But what if we could take this one step further beyond visuals and charts- toward a system that can actually interact with your data, answer questions, and guide your next moves? That’s where AI in BI comes in.

The power of dashboards is being further enhanced with the pairing of AI in BI. This combination takes clarity to a whole new level. How? Let’s find out.

Suppose you want to know about abnormal costs this week. You can ask this question directly to EVA, for example:

“EVA, highlight any abnormal cost increases this week.”

And It will give you the answer—straight, clear, and actionable.

And the magic does not stop there. EVA goes beyond answering your question. It nudges you toward deeper analysis by suggesting follow-up queries. Based on the question above, it might respond with: “Do you also want to see how this affected your profit margins?”

EVA is designed to be curious about your data. It suggests smarter, deeper questions so you do not miss out on valuable insights.

On top of this, EVA comes with powerful features like:

? Voice Commands – just ask and get your answers instantly.
? External File Handling – attach files like Excel or CSVs with your queries, and EVA will analyze them too.
? Audio Preview – listen to EVA’s output as a quick summary, perfect when you are on the go.

Conclusion

Dashboards have always given you a clear view of your business, and now, with AI in BI, that clarity goes a step further. AI doesn’t replace dashboards—it makes them smarter, interactive, and more insightful. With tools like EVA, you can ask questions, explore deeper insights, get predictions, and even listen to your data as audio summaries.

AI in BI is not just a trend; it’s the next layer in business intelligence that helps you act faster, make better decisions, and uncover opportunities you might have missed. Curious to see it in action? Schedule a free consultation with us. Just drop an email at marketing@essindia.com, and our experts will get back to you promptly.