What Is Business Intelligence Architecture?

Key takeaways 

Business intelligence (BI) architecture serves as the foundation for a business to collect, store, and analyze data.

• The business intelligence architecture framework can be hosted on systems within your organization or in the cloud. 

• The five key components of business intelligence architecture are data sources, data integration and management, data storage, analytics and BI tools, and information delivery. 

• You can lay the groundwork for a career in business intelligence by earning a degree in a relevant major, such as computer science or information technology.

Discover more about business intelligence architecture, its components, the benefits of building the framework in your organization, and how to start work in this field as a BI architect. When you’re ready to build essential technical skills to succeed in this role, enroll in the Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to create dashboards that effectively communicate data insights to stakeholders.

What is business intelligence architecture?

BI architecture is the foundation a business builds to collect, store, and analyze data. The aim is to understand more about processes and operations, to support decision-making, optimize processes, increase revenue, and reduce workload. The BI architecture framework is where you’ll find all the analytics applications, software, and business intelligence tools to collate, archive, evaluate, and report on this important data.

Business intelligence architecture components

You can build your business intelligence architecture framework on systems within your organization or in the cloud. It can incorporate all the systems you need to collect, store, analyze, and report your data to help make more informed business decisions. You’ll find five key components you may include in your BI architecture framework:

• Data sources: Data sources are wherever you get your information. They might be internal, such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems and internal documents and archives, or external, such as social media and market research. 

• Data integration and management: To analyze your data from various sources, you need a way of consolidating and integrating it so that it is easier to work with. To do this, you need an effective data management system that you can tailor to your organization. 

• Data storage: After integrating your data, you need to store it. Here, you’ll find various options, from data warehouses to smaller, more specific data marts, which you may use for individual departments.

• Analytics and BI tools: This component handles data analysis by professionals such as data analysts, data scientists, and business professionals. What you include here depends on the BI tools you choose and the depth of analysis you require. 

• Information delivery: Lastly, your business intelligence architecture will include components for reporting data, such as dashboards and visualization tools. 

What is self-service business intelligence architecture?

Self-service BI architecture enables you to access and analyze BI reports and analytics independently, without the need for IT support. Additionally, it allows novice business users to build and share dashboards, analytics apps, and reports.

Who uses BI architecture?

A business architecture framework is integral to any business or organization that gathers and uses data. Depending on the size of your company, you may have a business intelligence team. Within this team, you may have a program or project manager taking the lead. You may also have a BI analyst working directly with the data and a BI developer who develops your BI solutions.

In some companies, a BI architect collaborates with both analysts and stakeholders to define business requirements while ensuring the appropriate BI tools are in place.

What is the role of a business intelligence architect?

Median total pay (Glassdoor*): $164,000 [1]

Job outlook (BLS): 4 percent [2]

Requirements: A degree in computer science, information technology, or similar. 

A business intelligence architect creates and manages an organization's business intelligence architecture framework to collect, store, and analyze data. In this role, you’ll support your business in defining goals and ensuring that the relevant BI tools are available and integrated into your business strategies. You might provide consulting on technology and BI tools, support staff in using them, and ensure data governance and security. 

*The salary information above represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of June 2026. This figure includes base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

Business intelligence architecture tools

BI architects use a range of BI tools to help them analyze, store, and create visualizations to support business strategy and decision-making. Examples of BI tools you might utilize include:

• Microsoft Power BI: Analytics software with artificial intelligence functions for creating visualizations, dashboards, and reports.

• Tableau: Analytics tool for managing data and creating live visualizations from multiple data sources.

• SAS Augmented Analytics and Business Intelligence: A collection of tools to aid data analysis and data visualizations, to support decision-making in business.

• Domo: A cloud-based platform providing tools for analytics and reporting to improve business operations.

• GoodData: AI-assisted analytic tools for use with business data from multiple sources.

Read more: How to Choose Between Power BI and Tableau

Benefits of BI architecture

Implementing a robust business intelligence architecture framework in your business or organization creates a number of benefits, from enhancing decision-making to saving time and money. 

• Decision-making: Decision-making is more effective when it is data-driven. BI architecture can support your decision-making by providing you with historical insights and predictions. 

• Time-saving: BI tools help you automate repetitive processes, saving time and resources for high-value work.

• Cost saving: Automation saves money on staff costs while freeing up time otherwise spent on potentially unreliable data.

• Scalability: A well-designed BI architecture framework is scalable as a business grows and develops. 

How to make a start in business intelligence architecture

If you’d like to work in business intelligence architecture, you’ll find several roles to consider, including data analyst, data scientist, and project manager. However, the role that aligns most closely with the field is BI architect. To work in this position, you’ll need a relevant degree, experience, and technical and workplace skills. 

Education and training

As a business intelligence architect, you’ll have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant major such as computer science, information technology, or similar. Some employers may require you to have a master’s degree in data management, computer science, or a similar subject. 

In addition to your degree, employers may ask for certifications or professional certificates related to the software and technology they use. These will vary depending on your employer. Some examples include:

• Microsoft Certified Power BI Data Analyst Associate

• Google Business Intelligence Professional Certificate

• SAS Visual Business Analytics Professional Certificate

• Qlik Sense Data Architect

Skills and experience 

To land a job as a business intelligence architect, you need to demonstrate your skills and experience to recruiters. Working within a company in a data-related position allows you to gain real-world problem-solving skills, plus an understanding of different data structures. You may also consider an internship.

Through your degree and work experience, you can develop the necessary skills to apply for a BI architect role. These include a combination of both workplace and technical skills.

Technical skills:

• Data warehousing

• Data modeling 

• Database queries

• Database management

• IT skills

• Programming languages

• Business acumen

Workplace skills:

• Communication 

• Problem-solving 

• Organization

• Time management

• Analytical thinking

• Leadership

Explore our free resources on business intelligence

Join Career Chaton LinkedIn to get weekly updates on popular skills, tools, and certifications. Discover more about business intelligence with our other free digital resources:

• Learn the terminology: Power BI Terms and Definitions

• Watch on YouTube: Why Power BI Skills Are Essential for HR, Finance, and Business Intelligence

• Enhance your skills: How to Start Learning Data Analysis: Custom Course Guide

Accelerate your career growth with a Coursera Plus subscription. When you enroll in either the monthly or annual option, you’ll get access to over 10,000 courses.

Build job-ready skills with Coursera Plus

Start 7-day free trial

• 
• 
• 
• 

Start 7-day free trial