Business Intelligence Tools Comparison: Tableau, Power BI, and Alternatives A Comprehensive Technical Analysis of Enterprise BI Platforms

Abstract

Business Intelligence (BI) tools have become critical infrastructure for data-driven decision-making in modern enterprises [1], [2]. This paper presents a comprehensive technical comparison of leading BI platforms Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, and emerging alternatives including Qlik Sense and open-source solutions. Through systematic evaluation of technical architecture, performance metrics, integration capabilities, and deployment models, this research identifies distinct strengths and limitations across platforms. The methodology encompasses multi-dimensional analysis of visualization capabilities, data processing performance, scalability, cost structures, and ecosystem integration. Results indicate that while Tableau maintains advantages in advanced visualization and exploratory analytics [3], [4], Power BI demonstrates superior enterprise integration within Microsoft ecosystems [5], [6], and alternatives like Qlik Sense excel in associative data modeling [7]. The findings provide practitioners with empirical evidence for platform selection aligned with organizational requirements, technical infrastructure, and analytical maturity. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on enterprise BI tool evaluation and provides actionable insights for technology decision-makers [8].