Business Intelligence (BI) tools can help businesses make more informed, data-driven decisions. The right tools can also help companies improve efficiency and gain a competitive advantage.

But there isn’t a one-size-fits-all, as different companies have different needs. 

Understanding areas for improvement, like where waste occurs or being able to analyse ingredient costs, is critical for bakery businesses of any size.

Procurement teams may want to analyze data on supplier performance and delivery times or identify bottlenecks in the production process. Good BI tools can also help highlight the best pricing strategies.

However, knowing what software to choose can be a minefield, with many products on the market. We look at some of the best tools available that could help you and your team achieve the best results. 

Microsoft Power BI

Benefits: Offers robust data visualization, interactive dashboards, and integration with other Microsoft products. It also has AI-powered insights and is suitable for cloud and on-premise deployments.

Suitability: Good for mid to large bakeries needing advanced analytics and reporting, especially if they already use other Microsoft tools.

Pricing: Free for a single user, with paid versions for collaboration and real-time analysis.

Tableau 

Benefits: Known for its powerful data visualization capabilities, allowing users to create interactive dashboards and reports.

Suitability: Excellent for bakeries that need visually appealing and insightful dashboards to track key performance indicators. Best for larger bakeries or FMCG companies with internal analysts and large datasets.

Pricing: Subscription-based, with varying pricing tiers depending on features and user count.

Zoho Analytics

Benefits: An affordable self-service BI tool that offers automated insights, AI-driven reports, and easy integration with other Zoho applications, making it a good option for bakeries looking to streamline their reporting and analysis processes. 

Suitability: For small to mid-sized businesses.

Pricing: Starts with a free plan for basic needs and scales up to enterprise-level options.

Qlik Sense

Benefits: Qlik Sense is a flexible BI tool with impressive security features. It is known for its ability to handle large datasets and provide in-depth analysis. These benefits can be helpful for bakeries looking to optimize their pricing strategies based on factors like ingredient costs and demand. 

Suitability: Bakeries with multi-country sourcing and supply chain complexity.

Pricing: Subscription-based, with varying pricing tiers depending on features and user count.

SAP Cloud Analytics

Benefits: This is a strong contender as it offers comprehensive features for data analysis, reporting, and visualization, especially beneficial for enterprise-level deployments. It also offers predictive analytics, scenario planning, and real-time procurement KPIs.

Suitability: Large-scale bakery manufacturers (using SAP).

Pricing: There are various subscription options available based on usage and features.

Free tool: Looker (Now part of Google Cloud)

If your bakery procurement team doesn’t want to part with cash just yet, this option may be a good way to get started. 

Benefits: Looker is an attractive option, particularly for its integration with Google products like BigQuery and its focus on embedded analytics and customizable procurement reports. Designed to help individuals and teams analyze, visualize, and share data. It offers supplier performance metrics and cost breakdowns by product line.

Suitability: Useful for smaller teams or businesses needing custom dashboards embedded in their workflows or websites.

Pricing: Free

If you like this, you may also be interested in some of our other bakery related content:
– How soft wheat and butter price trends impact your bakery margins: A bakery cost modeling guide
– Wheat types for industrial baking: Procurement manager’s buying guide 2025
– How to build your first cost model in Vesper: A complete guide for procurement managers