From Excel to AI: The Evolution of Business Intelligence Visualization Tools

Sizhe Teng

doi:10.54254/2754-1169/2025.CAU26162

Advances in Economics, Management and Political SciencesOpen access

From Excel to AI: The Evolution of Business Intelligence Visualization Tools

Research Article

Open Access

From Excel to AI: The Evolution of Business Intelligence Visualization Tools

Sizhe Teng ^1*

¹ University of California, Santa Barbara

^*Corresponding author: sizheteng@ucsb.edu

Published on 20 August 2025

AEMPS Vol.211

ISSN (Print): 2754-1177

ISSN (Online): 2754-1169

ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-321-5

ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-322-2

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Abstract

In today's era of data-driven decision making, Business Intelligence (BI) tools have evolved significantly, revolutionizing the way businesses process, analyze, and visualize data. This article explores the evolution of BI tools from traditional spreadsheets to advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven systems. The study found that, initially, Excel provided basic functionality for data entry, calculations, and basic visualization, enabling businesses to manage small data sets. However, as businesses faced larger and more complex data environments, Excel's limitations became increasingly apparent. The emergence of mid-level visualization tools such as Tableau and Power BI brought significant innovation, providing interactive dashboards, user-friendly interfaces, and enhanced visual storytelling capabilities. Despite these advances, using these tools still requires a certain level of skill. In recent years, AI-driven BI tools have revolutionized the industry landscape by incorporating natural language processing and machine learning. These technologies enable users to work and analyze these tools even without professional training. However, challenges remain, such as ensuring data security, maintaining analytical transparency, and avoiding over-reliance on automated insights that can undermine business acumen. This study systematically traces the historical trajectory of the development of business intelligence tools, analyzes technical milestones and functional characteristics, and explores their practical significance for enterprise decision-making. It is hoped that it can provide a comprehensive perspective for researchers and practitioners.

Keywords:

business intelligence visualization tools, Excel, artificial intelligence.

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References

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References

[2]. Zheng, J.G. (2017) Data visualization in business intelligence. Global business intelligence, 67-81.

[3]. Jelen, B. (2024) Microsoft Copilot Brings More AI to Excel. Strategic Finance, 105(7), 66-70.

[5]. Bussa, S. (2023) Enhancing BI tools for improved data visualization and insights. International Journal of Computer Science and Mobile Computing, 12(2), 70-92.

[7]. Zohuri, B., & Moghaddam, M. (2020) From business intelligence to artificial intelligence. Journal of Material Sciences & Manufacturing Research, 1(1), 1-10.

[8]. Chinta, S. (2022) Integrating Artificial Intelligence with Cloud Business Intelligence: Enhancing Predictive Analytics and Data Visualization. Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 5(9).

[10]. Carlisle, S. (2018) Software: Tableau and microsoft power bi. Technology Architecture+ Design, 2(2), 256-259.

[13]. Boland, G.W., Thrall, J.H., & Duszak, R. (2015) Business intelligence, data mining, and future trends. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 12(1), 9-11.

Cite this article

Teng,S. (2025). From Excel to AI: The Evolution of Business Intelligence Visualization Tools. Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences,211,54-60.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICEMGD 2025 Symposium: Resilient Business Strategies in Global Markets

ISBN: 978-1-80590-321-5(Print) / 978-1-80590-322-2(Online)

Editor: Florian Marcel Nuţă Nuţă, Li Chai

Conference website: https://2025.icemgd.org/CAU.html

Conference date: 20 September 2025

Series: Advances in Economics, Management and Political Sciences

Volume number: Vol.211

ISSN: 2754-1169(Print) / 2754-1177(Online)

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