InetSoft's StyleBI vs. iDashboards

Differentiating Features

Enterprise Data Mashup - InetSoft is built upon a patented enterprise data mashup platform. Enterprise data mashup refers to the ability to pull practically any type of data from any location and mash it up on the fly to create a virtual data model that consists of reusable data blocks that can be queried in real-time from dashboards, reports and 3rd-party applications. iDashboards can only query data from heterogeneous data sources.

Self-Service - InetSoft's data mashup functionality is available to both business and IT users over the web, which helps to maximize self-service. Through a drag-and-drop design interface, business users can create interactive visual analyses, dashboards, and reports to answer unanticipated questions without IT's help. In contrast, any unanticipated data manipulation or dashboard changes in iDashboards requires IT staff to make modifications.

Data Connectivity - iDashboards has out-of-the-box connection capabilities for relational databases through JDBC or ODBC, and supports spreadsheets only on a windows server. InetSoft is able to connect to the aforementioned data sources and also supports POJO, text, Web Services (SOAP), Java APIs, SAP, and others. Additionally, InetSoft’s data modeling features provide a toolkit for visually building data models and data queries to extract information from diverse data sources.

Data Caching - InetSoft's data caching architecture delivers massive query performance boosts by caching data viewed by end users. iDashboards also provides a caching feature. InetSoft utilizes columnar database, Hadoop and Map Reduce technologies to store and query the cache in parallel across one or more servers. iDashboards utilizes only columnar database technology to store and query the cache on a single iDashboards server.

Full Spectrum Analytics & Reporting - Like iDashboards, InetSoft features visualization technologies as the foundation for interactive exploration and discovery. But unlike iDashboards, InetSoft doesn’t stop at interactive visualization but includes very sophisticated reporting capabilities. Information publishing and dissemination often require reports with codified, sophisticated business logic and/or pixel perfect formatting. Advanced features include scheduling, archiving, versioning and auditing. InetSoft integrates visualization into all modes of information delivery which unifies analysis, reporting and dashboards into one seamless environment.

#1 Ranking: Read how InetSoft was rated #1 for user adoption in G2's user survey-based index

Scheduling & Alerting - InetSoft features a state-of-the-art scheduling and alerting framework that goes beyond traditional business intelligence in order to provide common scheduled actions and alerting to end users via dashboards, text, e-mail or any other alerting mechanism when configured thresholds are breached. iDashboards has no in-built scheduling or alerting features.

Database Writeback - InetSoft supports data input and database write-back capabilities - also known as full-lifecycle BI – enabling end-users to interact with dashboards/reports - by entering quotes, approving requests, adjusting forecasts, adding comments, uploading photos, scanning products, and more. iDashboards has no data input and database write-back capabilities.

Mapping Capabilities – InetSoft has advanced mapping capabilities that allow interactive dashboards to display continuous measures such as population or sales volume by using color ranges across any geographically defined boundary on the local, state and national levels, and even custom-defined areas such as sales regions or political districts. iDashboards has no built-in mapping capabilities.

Semantic Layer - iDashboards offers limited metadata management. The absence of this layer requires organizations to invest additional resources into metadata management to create definitions, calculations, and dimensions for cross-functional analysis. InetSoft provides out-of-the-box data modeling capabilities that allow you to expose business data to report designers and end users in a way that facilitates access to data and is easy for them to understand and use.

“Flexible product with great training and support. The product has been very useful for quickly creating dashboards and data views. Support and training has always been available to us and quick to respond.

- George R, Information Technology Specialist at Sonepar USA

What Are Reasons to Migrate from iDashboards to InetSoft's Style BI?

Reasons to Migrate from iDashboards to InetSoft's StyleBI

More Modern Architecture

Microservices-based platform for modular scalability and maintainability
Cloud-native deployment for flexibility across environments
Low maintenance overhead with minimal IT resource requirements

Advanced Analytics Capabilities

Data mashup engine for real-time blending of multiple sources
Self-service analytics with drag-and-drop visual exploration
Predictive analytics integration with Python and R
Streaming data support for real-time dashboard updates

Flexible and Customizable Visualizations

Highly configurable dashboards beyond standard chart types
Pixel-perfect design control over layout and interactivity
Mobile-responsive design for consistent experience across devices

Enterprise-Grade Security and Governance

Granular user permissions with role- and data-level control
LDAP and SSO integration for secure authentication
Audit logging and governance tools for oversight and compliance

Superior Data Connectivity and Integration

Wide range of connectors for SQL, NoSQL, REST, cloud, and more
On-demand data refresh for efficient querying
Reusable data modeling layer for standardized KPIs

White Labeling and Embeddability

OEM-friendly architecture for embedded analytics
Custom branding options to match your platform
Comprehensive REST and JavaScript APIs for integration

Enhanced User Experience

Guided exploration tools for non-technical users
Collaborative features like dashboard sharing and export
Support for global languages and locales

Cost-Effective and Scalable Licensing

Flexible subscription and perpetual license options
Resource-efficient backend to reduce infrastructure costs
Multi-tenant architecture suitable for SaaS providers

Long-Term Strategic Fit

Ongoing innovation in AI, NLP, and visualization
Reliable vendor with a 25+ year track record
Smooth migration tools and expert support available