Birst

Embedded enterprise BI platform integrated within Infor's cloud suite, targeting mid-market and large enterprises across industry-specific verticals

Birst is a cloud-based business intelligence (BI) and analytics platform that was founded in 2004 and built around a networked BI architecture designed to unify data across an organization while allowing departmental flexibility. The platform offers capabilities including data integration, data warehousing, dashboards, reporting, and predictive analytics, all delivered via a multi-tenant cloud model. Birst distinguished itself through its 'Networked BI' approach, which allowed enterprises to maintain a single version of truth at the corporate level while enabling business units to extend and customize their own analytics environments without creating data silos. In 2017, Infor acquired Birst and integrated it into its portfolio as a key component of its advanced analytics and business intelligence offerings. Under Infor — itself a subsidiary of Koch Industries — Birst continues to operate as a branded analytics solution, particularly embedded within Infor's industry-specific cloud suites targeting sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and distribution. The acquisition allowed Infor to accelerate its analytics capabilities and offer customers a more comprehensive, embedded BI experience within its enterprise resource planning (ERP) and cloud platforms. Within the broader analytics and BI market, Birst competes with platforms such as Tableau, Power BI, Qlik, and MicroStrategy. Its primary differentiator remains its networked BI model and deep integration with Infor's CloudSuite products, making it especially compelling for existing Infor enterprise customers seeking embedded, governed analytics without the complexity of standalone BI deployments.