Disorganized data, lack of system integration, and difficulty in extracting relevant business insights are common challenges for many companies. According to the Data and AI Executive Leadership Survey conducted by NewVantage Partners, 91.9% of companies are already investing in data and AI projects, but only 39.7% report having established a truly data-driven culture.
This shows that collecting data and building dashboards are just the first steps toward data-driven management — the real value lies in knowing how to use this information strategically. And that’s where BI consulting comes in.
A data-focused consulting service provides exactly this expertise: structuring data, creating customized KPIs, implementing intelligent dashboards, and supporting management with reliable information so leaders can make quick and confident decisions.
Have you ever wondered how this type of consulting works, what its practical benefits are, and why it might be worth investing in a consulting service to reach new levels of performance instead of hiring an in-house team? That’s exactly what we’re going to explore today!
What is BI consulting?
A BI (Business Intelligence) consulting is a specialized service that helps companies structure, organize, process, and analyze their data to transform it into strategic and actionable information. The goal is to support decision-making based on solid evidence,rather than relying solely on perceptions or intuition.
More than just creating reports or dashboards, BI consulting acts as a strategic partner, designing customized solutions for each business according to its reality, objectives, and challenges.
What’s included in BI consulting
- Diagnosis of the company's data maturity.
- Structuring and integrating data sources.
- Modeling key performance indicators (KPIs).
- Creating interactive dashboards and automated reports.
- Training the team to use BI tools.
- Strategic support for interpreting results.
Additionally, BI consulting plays a crucial role in building a data-driven culture, where data becomes an essential part of daily management and growth strategy development.
Why invest in BI consulting?
Investing in BI consulting is a strategic decision for companies aiming to grow with efficiency, security, and a forward-looking vision. In a scenario where the volume of available data is growing exponentially, the challenge is no longer collecting information, but transforming it into insights that truly make a difference in management.
A report by Seagate reveals that 68% of the data available to companies is not leveraged. BI consulting is the solution to this bottleneck, helping organizations:
- Organize the chaos of scattered data.
- Build reliable and relevant indicators.
- Automate processes and reports.
- Gain agility and confidence in decision-making.
How does BI consulting work?
BI consulting is not a one-size-fits-all service. Each project is tailor-made, according to the company’s reality, challenges, and strategic goals. The process follows well-defined steps that ensure solution quality and real value delivery.
1. Diagnosis and needs assessment
The first step is to understand the company’s current scenario:
- What data sources are available?
- What problems need to be solved?
- Which strategic indicators are not yet being monitored?
At this stage, the consulting team also evaluates the company’s data maturity and the quality of the existing information. It is important to assess the company’s processesas well — businesses with well-structured processes tend to have higher quality data. Sometimes, it’s necessary to introduce new processes to generate and capture the data that needs to be analyzed.
A concrete example of this is the case of the Santa Apolônia retail chain: with the support of Equal, several internal processes were reviewed and some new data collection forms were introduced into the employees' daily routines. These forms started to feed the company’s database, from which the information is extracted to build dashboards in Power BI, now used by managers to make data-driven decisions.
2. Data structuring and processing
After the diagnosis, the Data engineeringphase begins — this is when the consulting team organizes, integrates, and processes the data:
- Correcting inconsistencies and duplicates.
- Integrating different systems (ERP, CRM, spreadsheets, etc.).
- Building efficient data models.
This step is essential to ensure that future analyses are based on accurate and up-to-date information.
3. Dashboard and report development
With the data properly structured, the consulting team develops:
- Interactive and customized dashboards.
- Automated and easy-to-interpret reports.
- Visualizations that support both strategic and operational decisions.
4. Team Training and Ongoing Support
In addition to implementing the solution, the consulting team trains the company’s professionals to use BI tools in their daily routines. To ensure long-term sustainability of the project, it’s common for the consulting firm to provide ongoing support, continuously adjusting dashboards and KPIs as the business evolves.
Benefits of BI consulting for companies
Hiring a BI consulting service brings significant advantages to companies looking to make smarter decisions, improve performance, and gain a competitive edge. The benefits go far beyond technology — they involve cultural change, productivity gains, and accelerated results.
1. Faster and Safer Decision-Making
One of the main advantages of BI consulting is giving leaders access to reliable, daily-updated information, reducing the risk of decisions based on assumptions or outdated data.
📊 McKinsey data shows that companies using advanced analytics make decisions up to five times faster than those that don’t.
2. Process optimization and cost reduction
BI consulting eliminates rework and manual tasks by automating data collection and consolidation. This frees up teams to focus on more strategic activities and generates operational savings.
3. Integrated business view
With connected data and well-structured dashboards, managers can gain a comprehensive view of the company, combining information from different areas (sales, finance, marketing, etc.).
4. Efficient KPI monitoring
The consulting team helps define the KPIs that truly matter, avoiding metric overload and focusing on indicators that drive real impact. This sharpens team focus and makes performance analysis easier.
5. Greater agility in identifying problems and opportunities
With accessible data and smart visualizations, operational issues and market opportunities are quickly detected, allowing for fast corrective and preventive actions.
6. Personalized support and continuous updates
Ongoing consulting support ensures that the BI solution evolves alongside the business, with constant updates, new integrations, and dashboard adjustments whenever necessary.
BI Consulting versus In-House Implementation: which is the best option?
When deciding to structure a Business Intelligence project, many companies face the question: is it better to hire a BI consulting firm or develop an in-house team? The answer depends on the company's current stage, the complexity of the data, and the organization's maturity in using analytical tools.
Advantages of BI Consulting
- Fast implementation: Consulting firms already have validated methodologies and practical experience, which speeds up the process.
- Specialized team: Immediate access to professionals with expertise in BI, data, technology, and strategic analysis.
- External and unbiased perspective: Helps challenge internal assumptions and propose innovative solutions.
- Cost-effective in the short term: Avoids the need to build a large in-house team right from the start.
Advantages of In-House Implementation
- Full project control: The internal team knows the processes, culture, and specificities of the business.
- Less reliance on third parties: Knowledge stays within the company.
- Flexibility for ongoing adaptations.
When is BI consulting the best choice?
- Companies that are just starting their data-driven journey and don’t yet have sufficient expertise.
- Organizations that need a fast and reliable solution.
- Projects with high system integration complexity.
- Companies that are unsure which professionals to hire or how to structure a data team.
When is it worth building an In-House team?
- Large companies with a robust budget and high digital maturity.
- Organizations that want to internalize knowledge in the long term.
- Businesses with complex and ongoing data analysis projects.
Many companies start their BI projects with external consulting and, over time, migrate to hybrid models, maintaining consulting support while building in-house teams for maintenance and expansion. This model is often the most efficient, combining speed with the development of internal capabilities.
How to choose the best BI consulting firm
Hiring the right BI consulting firm is a strategic step that can determine the success of your project. A well-made choice ensures not only the implementation of dashboards or reports but the development of a solid, sustainable structure that truly transforms data into results. Here’s what you should evaluate before hiring a BI consulting partner:
Proven Market Experience
Check the consulting firm’s portfolio. Look for success stories, especially within your industry. Companies with solid experience tend to deliver faster and more effective solutions.
Implementation Methodology
Understand how the consulting firm conducts the project: diagnosis, structuring, development, and follow-up. Choose firms with clear and well-defined processes.
Customization Capability
BI solutions must be tailored to your company’s reality. Be cautious of consulting firms that offer pre-packaged solutions without in-depth diagnosis.
Ongoing Support and Continuous Evolution
Post-delivery support is essential for adjustments, improvements, and dashboard updates. Evaluate whether the consulting firm can grow alongside your company, offering regular improvements and strategic suggestions.
Relationship and Strategic Partnership
More than just a service provider, your BI consulting firm should act as a strategic partner. A strong relationship fosters alignment, speeds up results, and contributes to a more data-driven culture.
Why choose equal for BI consulting?
Equal is more than a BI consulting firm — we are strategic partners in your company’s digital and data-driven transformation journey. We provide end-to-end support: we structure data, develop intelligent dashboards, and deliver actionable insights that drive results.
What sets us apart:
- Proven experience: We have supported companies across multiple industries, including franchise networks, retail, and services.
- Customized solutions: We build tailor-made projects that fit your company’s reality and data maturity level.
- Strategic business vision: We combine technical expertise with deep knowledge of management and growth challenges.
- Close and ongoing support: We closely monitor the project’s evolution, adjusting and expanding solutions as your company grows.
- NPS 9.8: Our customer satisfaction score reflects the quality and impact of our work.
- Over 500,000 hours saved: Our projects have already automated thousands of manual processes, freeing up valuable time for strategic decision-making.
If your company wants to grow with intelligence, performance, and safer decision-making, count on Equal. We are ready to build your BI journey with speed, quality, and a focus on what truly matters: concrete results.
👉 Get in touch and let’s talk about how we can turn your data into decisions.
