Searching for the ultimate guide to bi reporting? You just landed on the right page. When I first explored advanced analytics solutions, I struggled to find a platform that combined flexibility, ease of embedding, and end-user customization. Then I discovered Explo, which transformed how I deliver customer-facing analytics. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about modern bi reporting and show how Explo can revolutionize your data workflows.

If you’ve ever spent months building internal tools or wrestled with rigid dashboards that don’t match your application’s look and feel, you’re not alone. Explo has been on the market for several years, powering analytics for startups and enterprise customers alike. Their commitment to direct database connections, zero data replication, and unparalleled support makes embedding interactive dashboards a breeze. Ready to get started? Get Started with Explo for Free Today and see how quickly you can launch.

What is Explo?

Explo is a customer-facing analytics platform built for seamless bi reporting and embedded dashboards. It connects directly to any relational database or data warehouse—no data duplication or complex modeling required. With Explo, teams can deploy interactive dashboards, enable self-serve reporting, and empower end users to explore data without writing a single line of code.

Explo Overview

Explo was founded with a clear mission: to make embedded analytics simple, flexible, and cost-efficient. The founding team recognized that most BI tools forced companies into lengthy implementation cycles or required data engineers to build and maintain complex data models. From day one, Explo focused on direct database connectivity, responsive design, and an intuitive style configurator to match any application’s UI.

Since its launch, Explo has grown rapidly, earning SOC II Type 2, GDPR, and HIPAA certifications. Customers range from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. With a dedicated support team and region-specific deployment options, Explo continues to innovate, adding features like generative AI report building and white-labeled portals for maximum customization and security.

Pros and Cons

Pro: Connects directly to your database without replication, saving infrastructure costs and simplifying maintenance.

Pro: Flexible dashboard components let you craft custom experiences that align with your brand and user needs.

Pro: Self-serve report builder allows end users to answer ad hoc questions without developer intervention.

Pro: Generative AI integration helps users ask free-text questions and receive on-the-fly visualizations.

Pro: Multiple embed options—dashboards, sharing links, email reports, white-labeled portals—maximizing reach and engagement.

Pro: SOC II, GDPR, HIPAA compliance and on-prem or region-specific deployments ensure data security and regulatory adherence.

Con: Advanced white-label features and custom visualizations require the Pro or Enterprise plan, which may be overkill for very small teams.

Con: Initial styling configuration can take some time if you need pixel-perfect alignment with an existing application.

Features

Explo’s feature set covers every stage of your embedded analytics journey, from connecting to data to delivering interactive dashboards and AI-driven insights.

Connect

Establish a secure connection to any relational database or warehouse within minutes.

• No data replication needed—queries run directly against your source.
• Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift, and more.
• On-prem, cloud, or hybrid deployment options to match your infrastructure.

Build

Create dynamic, interactive visualizations using Explo’s drag-and-drop builder.

• Choose from charts, tables, maps, and custom visuals.
• Define filters, drill-downs, and parameters for deep exploration.
• Leverage SQL for advanced transformations or stick to visual data prep.

Style

Use the style configurator to match fonts, colors, borders, and shadows to your application’s design system.

• Global theme settings for consistent look and feel.
• Per-component overrides for fine-tuned customization.
• Light and dark mode support out of the box.

Embed

Share your analytics in whatever format makes sense for your users.

• Embed dashboards directly in your web or mobile app via iFrame or JavaScript SDK.
• Generate share links and email scheduled reports.
• White-labeled portals for a fully branded analytics hub.

Editable Dashboards

Empower users to modify prebuilt dashboards to suit their unique needs.

• Add or remove widgets, change visual types, and apply custom filters.
• Guardrails ensure users can’t break underlying data models.
• Save custom views and share them across teams.

Report Builder

Allow end users to perform ad hoc analyses without writing SQL.

• Define reusable datasets with business-friendly field names.
• Drag and drop fields to create tables, charts, and cross-tabs.
• Export results to CSV or PDF, or embed within email workflows.

Explo AI

Bring the power of generative AI to your analytics experience.

• Natural language interface for creating charts and reports.
• AI suggestions for relevant dimensions, measures, and filters.
• Automated insights—explain anomalies, trends, and correlations on demand.

Explo Pricing

Explo offers transparent pricing tiers designed to suit teams of all sizes, from independent projects to global enterprises.

Launch (Free)

Price: $0
Ideal for early adopters testing embedded bi reporting capabilities.

• Unlimited internal dashboards
• Unlimited creators and viewers
• CSV, PDF exports, and share links
• AI-powered dashboard builder

Growth ($795+/mo)

Price: Starting at $795 per month
Ideal for growing SaaS products that need basic embedding features.

• Includes 3 embedded dashboard templates
• Up to 25 customer groups
• Custom styling options
• Dedicated email support

Pro ($2,195+/mo)

Price: Starting at $2,195 per month
Ideal for mid-market and enterprise clients needing white-label capabilities.

• Unlimited dashboard templates
• Tiered customer group pricing
• White-labeled dashboards and share links
• Report Builder AI add-on available

Enterprise (Custom)

Price: Custom quotes tailored to your requirements
Ideal for large enterprises with complex security and customization needs.

• SAML SSO, dedicated deployments, and private clusters
• Custom visualizations and advanced features
• Dedicated Slack support channel
• On-prem and region-specific stacks

Explo Is Best For

Whether you’re building internal reporting tools or delivering analytics to paying customers, Explo adapts to your use case. Here’s who benefits most:

Startups and Early-Stage SaaS

Fast to deploy, low upfront cost, and no need for dedicated BI engineers. Launch proof-of-concept embedded analytics in days.

Mid-Market Companies

Scalable plans, advanced styling, and customer group management keep growing teams agile while adding new features.

Enterprise Organizations

Full white-label portals, compliance certifications (SOC II, GDPR, HIPAA), and custom deployments ensure security and governance at scale.

Benefits of Using Explo for bi reporting

Choosing Explo means unlocking key advantages that accelerate your data initiatives:

• Save Time & Money: Deploy embedded analytics in days instead of quarters, with no hassle of building data pipelines.
• Empower End Users: Give customers self-serve reporting, editable dashboards, and AI-driven insights to drive adoption and satisfaction.
• Seamless Integration: Style components to match any app, keeping the user experience consistent and professional.
• Security & Compliance: Leverage SOC II Type 2, GDPR, and HIPAA certifications, plus on-prem or region-specific deployments.
• Dedicated Support: Work with a responsive team committed to quick implementation and long-term partnership.

Customer Support

Explo provides unparalleled support throughout your journey. From day one, you’ll have access to documentation, tutorials, and an onboarding specialist who guides you through setup and best practices. Implementation calls ensure your environment is configured for performance and security.

Once live, Explo’s customer success team remains at your disposal via email, Slack, or phone. Enterprise customers receive a dedicated support channel for faster response times and priority handling of feature requests or troubleshooting.

External Reviews and Ratings

Most users praise Explo for its intuitive UI, rapid deployment, and flexible embedding options. Companies often highlight the ability to spin up dashboards without waiting for BI resources, dramatically improving time to insight and customer satisfaction. Explo’s AI features also receive high marks for delivering accurate, context-aware visualizations from natural language queries.

On the flip side, some users mention a learning curve for advanced styling configurations and occasional query performance tuning for complex datasets. Explo addresses these concerns by offering best-practice guides, query optimization workshops, and continuous product updates to enhance speed and scalability.

Educational Resources and Community

Explo maintains an active blog with posts on analytics best practices, design patterns, and performance optimization. Regular webinars and hands-on workshops help users get the most out of features like Report Builder and Explo AI. You’ll find sample apps, SQL snippets, and UI templates in their GitHub repository to accelerate your development.

The community Slack workspace brings together data engineers, product managers, and BI analysts to share tips, ask questions, and showcase innovative dashboard designs. Whether you’re troubleshooting a complex query or seeking design inspiration, the Explo community is a valuable resource.

Conclusion

In the competitive world of bi reporting, you need a solution that balances power, flexibility, and ease of use. Explo delivers direct database connectivity, embeddable dashboards, self-serve reporting, and generative AI—all wrapped in a fully customizable, secure platform. Mid-way through your analytics journey or just starting out, Explo has the features and support to help you succeed.

Ready to revolutionize your embedded analytics and deliver exceptional data experiences? Get Started with Explo for Free Today