Zoho adds AI and ML capabilities in Zoho Analytics 6.0

He also loves an existing feature: the way he can publish results from Analytics to a presentation or web page so external users can view them without needing an Analytics license. He enthused about the new mobile app, and new chart types in Analytics 6.0, such as geomap, which allows him to see at a glance where each team is working, and to visualize the locations of all of the installations across the company’s service area.

Faster business results

Zoho Analytics offers other advantages too, said Thomas Wieberneit, owner and principal analyst at aheadCRM. “What I think makes Zoho analytics quite special is the wide range of addressed user groups and the pretty unique approach that Zoho calls ‘Decision Intelligence’ — giving reasons for a situation, for example, answering the ‘why,’” he said. “Combined with giving a solution recommendation, this can be extremely powerful, and I think that this makes Zoho unique at the moment. The benefit is that information presented is translated into actionable insight far faster — and when there are recommendations, even potential actions are given. Add the metrics layer and auto analysis, every business user can get powerful analytics without bothering the IT department. This is governed by an authorization system, of course. All this helps business users get results faster and this speeds up business.”

However, he observed, “In general, ‘AI enabled analytics platforms’ has become a kind of tautology. There has been (predictive) AI in analytics platforms for many years now. We just revive that term ‘AI-enabled’ because of the overhyped generative AI topic. What has changed in the industry is that it becomes easier and easier to query analytics using text instead of structured query languages or drag and drop interfaces.”