For the BI (Business Intelligence) technology system to work effectively, companies address the need to have a secure computer system which can specify different levels of user access to the data 'warehouse', depending on whether the user is a junior staffer, manager, or executive. As well, a BI system needs to have sufficient data capacity, a plan for how long data will be stored (data retention). Analysts also need to set benchmark and performance targets for the system.

Business intelligence analysts have developed software tools to gather and analyze large quantities of unstructured data, such as production metrics, sales statistics, attendance reports, and customer attrition figures. Each BI vendor typically develops Business intelligence systems differently, to suit the demands of different sectors (e.g., retail companies, financial services companies, etc.).

Business intelligence software and applications includes a range of tools. Some BI applications are used to analyze performance, projects, or internal operations, such as AQL - Associative Query Logic; Scorecarding; Business activity monitoring; Business Performance Management and Performance Measurement; Business Planning; Business Process Re-engineering; Competitive Analysis; User/End-user Query and Reporting; Enterprise Management systems; Executive Information Systems (EIS); Supply Chain Management/Demand Chain Management; and Finance and Budgeting tools.

Other BI applications are used to store and analyze data, such as Data mining (DM), Data Farming, and Data warehouses; Decision Support Systems (DSS) and Forecasting; Document warehouses and Document Management; Knowledge Management; Mapping, Information visualization, and Dashboarding; Management Information Systems (MIS); Geographic Information Systems (GIS); Trend Analysis; Software as a service (SaaS) Business Intelligence offerings (On Demand) — similar to traditional BI solutions but software is hosted for customers by a provider.^[1]; Online analytical processing (OLAP) and multidimensional analysis; sometimes called "Analytics" (based on the "hypercube" or "cube"); Real time business intelligence; Statistics and Technical Data Analysis; Web Mining, Text mining and Systems intelligence.

Other BI applications are used to analyze or manage the "human" side of businesses, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Marketing tools and Human Resources applications.Web Personalization For examples of implemented business intelligence systems, see the BI screenshot collection at The Dashboard Spy