Top five ways to use APIs to improve your BI dashboards

In today’s business landscape, data is king. Making sense of that data and turning it into actionable insights is the key to unlocking growth and sustaining a competitive edge. That’s where business intelligence (BI) dashboards come in.

BI dashboards aggregate data from multiple sources and present it in an easy-to-understand format that helps decision-makers understand what’s going on in their business and what needs to be done to stay ahead of the curve.

However, building and maintaining BI dashboards can be a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, primarily if you’re relying on manual data entry.

Fortunately, there’s a better way. Using APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), you can automate the process of collecting data from multiple sources and feeding it directly into your BI dashboards.

In this article, we’ll discuss the top five ways to use APIs to improve efficiency in your BI dashboards. Whether you’re just getting started with APIs or you’re a seasoned pro, this guide will give you the insights you need to take your BI dashboards to the next level.
 

 

1. Use APIs to automate data collection

As we mentioned earlier, one of the biggest advantages of using APIs is that they automate data collection from multiple sources. This not only saves you time and resources– but also ensures that your data is always up-to-date and accurate.

If you want to improve efficiency in your BI dashboards, using APIs to automate data collection is a great place to start. By automating the process of collecting data from multiple sources, you can save time and resources while ensuring that your data is always up-to-date and accurate.

There are a number of different ways to use APIs to automate data collection. Here are a few of our favorites:

Use an API gateway to collect data from multiple sources

An API gateway is a great way to collect data from multiple sources quickly and easily. API gateways act as a middleman between your BI dashboard and various data sources, automatically collecting and filtering data as it comes in. This eliminates the need for manual data entry, which can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Use an API to access public data sets

Public data sets are a great source of information for BI dashboards. By using an API to access these data sets, you can streamline the process of collecting data and reduce the amount of time spent on manual data entry.

Use an API to connect to internal systems

If you have internal systems that generate or store data, you can use an API to connect to these systems and collect the data automatically. This saves time and reduces the chance of human error by eliminating the need for manual input.
 

2. Use APIs to transform data

Once you’ve collected your data, you’ll need to transform it into a format that’s suitable for inclusion in your BI dashboard. This process can be time-consuming and difficult, especially if you’re not familiar with SQL or other programming languages.

However, by using APIs, you can automate the process of transforming data and make it easier and faster than ever before. Here are a few ways to use APIs for this purpose:

Use an API to convert JSON or XML into SQL statements

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) and XML (eXtensible Markup Language) are two popular formats for storing data. If you need to convert this data into SQL statements for inclusion in your BI dashboard, you can use an API to do so automatically. This will save you time and effort when transforming your data into a usable format.

Use an API to cleanse or filter your data

If your dataset contains dirty or inaccurate information, you can use an API to cleanse or filter it automatically. This will improve the quality of your data and make it easier to work with when creating your BI dashboard.

Use an API to perform statistical analysis on your data

Some APIs allow users to automatically perform statistical analysis on some data. This will save you time and effort when working with large datasets, and it will ensure that your results are accurate.

As you can see, using APIs can be a great way to transform data and make it easier to work with. By automating the data transformation process, you can save time and effort while ensuring that your data is of the highest quality.
 

 

3. Use APIs to visualize data

One of the main benefits of using APIs is that they make it easy to visualize data. By using APIs to access public data sets and internal systems, you can easily include visualizations in your BI dashboard.

There are a number of different ways to use APIs for visualization purposes:

Use an API to access public data sets

Public data sets are a great source of information for BI dashboards. By using an API to access these data sets, you can quickly and easily include visualizations in your dashboard. This is a great way to get started with API-driven visualization.

Use an API to connect to internal systems

If you have internal systems that generate or store data, you can use an API to connect to these systems and include visualizations in your dashboard. This allows you to combine data from multiple sources into a single place, making it easier to track and analyze.

Use an API to create custom visualizations

If you need to create custom visualizations for your data, you can use an API to do so automatically. This will save you time and effort when creating custom visuals– and will ensure that your visuals are accurate and up-to-date.

When you can use APIs to easily include data visualizations in your BI dashboard, you’ll be able to make better decisions and take action more quickly. This is one of the main benefits of using APIs for business intelligence.
 

4. Use APIs to automate dashboard updates

If you want to ensure that your BI dashboard is always up-to-date, you can use APIs to automate the process of updating it. You can automatically update your dashboard whenever new data is available by using an API to connect to your data sources. This is a great way to keep your dashboard current and relevant.

There are a few ways to use APIs for this purpose:

Use an API to connect to internal systems

If you have internal systems that generate or store data, you can use an API to connect to these systems and automatically update your dashboard. This allows you to combine data from multiple sources into a single place, making it easier to track and analyze.

Use an API to access public data sets

Public data sets are a great source of information for BI dashboards. You can automatically update your dashboard whenever new data is available by using an API to access these data sets. This is a great way to keep your dashboard current and relevant.

Until now, updating BI dashboards has been a manual process. But by using APIs, you can automate this process and save time. When you can automatically update your dashboard, you’ll always have the most up-to-date information at your fingertips.
 

 

5. Use APIs to build custom applications

APIs provide a way to access data and functionality from other applications. This allows you to build custom applications that meet your specific needs.

There are a few ways to use APIs for this purpose:

Use an API to access public data sets

Public data sets are a great source of information for custom applications. By using an API to access these data sets, you can quickly and easily include them in your application. This is a great way to get started with API-driven development.

Use an API to connect to internal systems

If you have internal systems that generate or store data, you can use an API to connect to these systems and include them in your application. This allows you to combine data from multiple sources into a single place, making it easier to track and analyze.

Use an API to create custom visualizations

If you need to create custom visualizations for your data, you can use an API to do so automatically. This will save you time and effort when creating custom visuals– and will ensure that your visuals are accurate and up-to-date.

Imagine having the ability to build a custom application that includes data from multiple sources, all updated in real-time. This is the power of APIs. With APIs, you can build the applications you need, exactly the way you want them.
 

The bottom line

By using APIs, you can access data and functionality from other applications, making it easier to create the exact application you need. So if you’re looking for a more efficient way to develop your BI dashboard or custom application, consider using APIs.

If you’re looking for a more efficient way to develop your BI dashboard or custom application, consider using API integration. With APIs, you can access data and functionality from other applications, making it easier to create the exact application you need. So if you’re looking for a more efficient way to develop your BI dashboard or custom application, check out API integrations today.