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What is self-service BI and is it right for a small company?
Self-service BI lets non-technical staff explore data and build their own reports without waiting for an analyst. It suits small companies if the underlying data is clean, modelled and well documented. Without that, self-service tends to produce conflicting numbers and confusion. Governed definitions are the prerequisite.
Self-service works best when:
- A governed data model exists with agreed definitions
- Users get brief training
- Sensitive data is protected by permissions
- An analyst reviews widely used reports
A common middle path is curated dashboards for most users plus self-service exploration for a few trained power users. Without these safeguards, self-service often increases the number of conflicting reports. Start with a small pilot group and widen access as trust grows.
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