Infor Birst Analytics: Integration and Configuration
Birst is Infor's embedded analytics platform that provides business intelligence, dashboards, and ad-hoc reporting capabilities across CloudSuite applications. Acquired by Infor in 2017, Birst has been progressively integrated into the Infor OS platform. For organizations serious about data-driven decision making, Birst offers capabilities beyond the basic Data Lake reporting—but realizing that value requires proper configuration and an understanding of Birst's architectural quirks.
Birst Architecture and Data Flow
Birst operates as a separate analytics engine that connects to Infor Data Lake and directly to CloudSuite application databases. The platform uses a networked semantic layer that allows business users to explore data without writing SQL. However, the initial setup of this semantic layer requires significant technical effort—mapping business terms to data objects, defining measures and dimensions, and configuring security filters that align with ERP user roles.
- Plan 4-8 weeks for initial Birst semantic layer setup for a standard CloudSuite deployment
- Pre-built Birst content packages exist for SyteLine and LN but require customization for most sites
- Data refresh cycles between Data Lake and Birst can introduce 15-60 minute latency on reports
- Birst user licensing is separate from CloudSuite licensing and adds meaningful cost per user
Dashboard Design Best Practices
Effective Birst dashboards follow information hierarchy principles: executive dashboards show KPIs with drill-down capability, operational dashboards show real-time status with action triggers, and analytical dashboards enable ad-hoc exploration. The most common mistake is building dashboards that show everything to everyone—resulting in dashboards nobody uses because they cannot find their specific information.
- Design dashboards with a maximum of 6-8 visualizations per screen to maintain focus
- Implement drill-down paths from summary KPIs to detail records for investigative workflows
- Use Birst's embedded analytics to surface insights within CloudSuite application screens directly
- Create role-specific dashboard sets rather than one-size-fits-all views for all users
AI-Optimized Analytics Strategy
Netray's AI agents analyze your current reporting usage patterns, identify gaps in analytics coverage, and recommend Birst dashboard designs optimized for each organizational role. The agents also identify opportunities to replace manual Excel reporting processes with automated Birst dashboards, typically reducing report preparation time by 60-80%.
Transform your Infor analytics—get an AI-powered Birst optimization assessment.
Related Resources
Infor Data Lake: Analytics Setup and Optimization
Set up and optimize Infor Data Lake for manufacturing analytics. Data ingestion, Birst integration, custom reports, and performance tuning guide.
ERPInfor OS Platform: Architecture and Capabilities Deep Dive
Technical deep dive into Infor OS platform architecture. ION, Ming.le, Data Lake, Coleman AI, and how they integrate with CloudSuite applications.
Infor SyteLineSyteLine BI and Analytics Dashboard Guide
Build SyteLine BI dashboards and analytics. Birst integration, KPI design, real-time manufacturing metrics, and self-service analytics for CloudSuite Industrial.