/ The future of embedded ad hoc reporting: what to expect in the coming years

The future of embedded ad hoc reporting: what to expect in the coming years

As technology rapidly advances, so does the way we collect and analyze data. In recent years, there has been a shift from traditional reporting methods to embedded ad hoc reporting.

This new method offers many benefits, such as increased efficiency, accessibility, and accuracy. However, as with all new technologies, there are some drawbacks that should be considered before making the switch.

In this article, we will explore both the pros and cons of embedded ad hoc reporting so you can make an informed decision about whether or not it is right for your business. Plus, we will take a look at what the future holds, and how you can expect this type of reporting to evolve in the coming years.

 
domo
 

What is embedded ad hoc reporting?

Embedded ad hoc reporting is a way of creating reports that allow the user to easily manipulate data without having to rely on IT or other departments.

This type of reporting is often done through a drag-and-drop interface, which makes it very user-friendly. Additionally, embedded ad hoc reporting gives users the ability to see results in real-time, so they can make changes on the fly if necessary.

Embedded reports are often placed within business applications, like company-facing websites or internal apps. This allows users to generate reports without having to leave the application they are working in.

 

How are embedded ad hoc reports created?

With ad hoc reporting, users have the ability to generate reports on demand.

This means they can choose what data to include and how it should be displayed. User-generated reports are often used for one-time analysis or for exploring specific data sets.

Whether the reports are created automatically based on certain criteria or they are user-generated, both types of reports can be easily customized to fit the needs of the business.

 

What are the benefits of using embedded ad hoc reporting?

There are many benefits that come with using embedded ad hoc reporting. Some of the most notable benefits include:

Increased efficiency for teams

One of the biggest advantages of using ad hoc reporting is that it can help teams work more efficiently.

In many cases, teams will have to wait for IT or another department to generate a report for them. This can often take days or even weeks. With embedded ad hoc reporting, teams can generate their own reports in real-time—and often without any help from IT.

Improved accuracy of data

Another big benefit is that embedded ad hoc reporting can help improve the accuracy of data.

With traditional reporting methods, there is often a risk of human error. For example, someone might accidentally delete or change some data when they are creating a report. Or in some cases the data itself might be inaccurate.

With embedded ad hoc reporting, there’s much more opportunity to manage and check the data coming in, so there is less room for error. Additionally, users have the ability to examine the data themselves at every step of the data process, so they can ensure that it is accurate before creating a report.

Greater flexibility and customization

Another advantage of using this type of reporting is that it offers greater flexibility and customization.
With traditional reporting methods, businesses often have to choose from a limited set of options when it comes to report design, layout, and functionality.

With embedded ad hoc reporting, businesses can create reports that are tailored to their specific needs and requirements. This allows for easier decision-making and a better overall understanding of the data.

 
domo
 

Are there any drawbacks to using embedded ad hoc reporting?

Overall, embedded ad hoc reporting is a very powerful tool that can offer many benefits to businesses. However, there are a few potential drawbacks that businesses should be aware of:

Requires some technical knowledge

One potential drawback is that this type of reporting requires at least some technical knowledge to build and deploy the initial reports.

If a business does not have any technical resources, it might need to outsource this work to a third party. Additionally, the business will need to make sure that they have someone on staff who is able to maintain and update the reports on an ongoing basis.

Fortunately, most modern BI tools make creating and deploying embedded ad hoc reports easy, even for users with limited technical knowledge. Additionally, once the system has been rolled out, it’s very easy to maintain and update.

Can be time-consuming

Another potential drawback is that creating embedded ad hoc reports can be time-consuming, especially if the data sets are large or complex.

Users will often need to spend some time manipulating the data before they can create a report. Additionally, they might need to run the report multiple times to get the desired results.

Requires up-to-date data

Finally, it’s important to note that this type of reporting requires up-to-date data.

If the data is outdated, it could lead to inaccurate reports. As such, businesses will need to have a process in place for ensuring that their data is always up-to-date. This can often be a challenge, especially for companies with large and complex data sets.

 

What’s the future of embedded ad hoc reporting?

As you can imagine, the advent of ad hoc reporting has revolutionized the way businesses operate. This type of reporting provides a number of advantages that simply weren’t possible with traditional methods.

Looking ahead, it is safe to say that embedded ad hoc reports will continue to play a major role in business intelligence and decision-making. We can expect to see more businesses using this type of reporting as they strive to gain a competitive edge.

Here are a few elements to watch for as the future of embedded ad hoc reporting unfolds:

More user-friendly tools

One trend that we can expect to see is the continued development of more user-friendly BI tools.

As mentioned earlier, one of the potential drawbacks of using embedded ad hoc reporting is that it can require some technical knowledge to create and deploy reports. However, as BI tools become more user-friendly, this will no longer be a major issue.

We can expect to see BI tools that are specifically designed for non-technical users. These tools will make it easy to create and deploy reports without the need for any technical expertise.

Increased accessibility

Another trend that we can expect to see is increased accessibility.

Currently, embedded ad hoc reporting is often used by businesses for internal purposes. However, we can expect to see more businesses make their reports accessible to customers and partners.

This will allow businesses to provide their stakeholders with the ability to generate their own reports. This, in turn, will lead to better decision-making and more informed decisions.

 
domo
 

Greater interactivity

Another trend that we can expect to see is greater interactivity.

Currently, most embedded ad hoc reports are static in nature. However, we can expect to see more interactive reports in the future. This will allow users to manipulate the data and see the results in new and engaging ways.

More collaboration

Imagine tools that offer the ability to collaborate on reports in real time. This is another trend that we can expect to see in the future of embedded ad hoc reporting.

This type of collaboration will allow businesses to get input from a variety of stakeholders before making decisions. This, in turn, will lead to better and more informed business decisions.

Increased flexibility

Flexibility is a major advantage of using embedded ad hoc reporting. And we can expect to see this trend continue in the future.

As businesses become more global, they will need to be able to generate reports that are tailored to specific markets and regions. Additionally, businesses will need to be able to generate reports for a variety of devices, including mobile devices.

 

Start today to enjoy BI’s advantages tomorrow

If your business doesn’t currently use embedded ad hoc reporting, now is the time to start reaping its many benefits. With the right BI tool in place, you’ll be able to enjoy all of the advantages that this type of reporting has to offer.

Don’t wait until your competition gets ahead. Start using embedded ad hoc reporting today and give your business the edge it needs to succeed.

If you are ready to experience how embedded ad hoc reporting can benefit your business, consider investing in a BI tool. ABI platofrm offers users the ability to create and deploy reports with ease. With a BI system, you’ll be able to take advantage of all the benefits that this type of reporting has to offer.

Check out some related resources:

Domo Named a Leader in Nucleus Research’s 2023 Analytics Technology Value Matrix

There’s an App for that—Tips for Crafting Apps, Dashboards, and other Engaging Data Experiences

POV: Next-Generation Banking

Try Domo for yourself. Completely free.

Domo transforms the way these companies manage business.