Embedded Analytics

Chapter 5. Embedding Analytics Objects

Now that we’ve discussed the potential data sources that can power embedded analytics solutions, we can consider the actual objects that we can embed. In this chapter, we’ll talk about the various types of analytics objects, how users and consumers interact with them, and what considerations—technical and otherwise—should be evaluated when planning, developing, and implementing embedded solutions.

We’ll explore the ways in which embedded objects can be visually integrated into third-party applications to provide a seamless experience for end users, and we will also cover specific technical processes that extend functionality and allow embedded solutions to integrate with other enterprise resource planning (ERP), CRM, and communication platforms.

Note

In this chapter, we’re being deliberately broad by using the term “object” to refer to any analytical element, component, or content embedded within a host application, whether it’s served from within the host application itself or from an external source or application.

What Can We Embed?

It’s worth outlining some ways to categorize the types of analytics objects that can be embedded in any solution. First, we should remind ourselves that embedded analytics isn’t just about integrating analytics objects, but also analytical capabilities. These capabilities—like natural language generation (NLG), for example—help end users make better decisions in the same way as more typical embedded objects ...