Dan Vesset, an analyst at Framingham, Mass.-based IDC, said operational BI -- embedding BI in the business processes used by front-line workers -- is becoming more common as companies seek tools to help make better business decisions.

However, he and several users noted that companies must also make sure they provide an easy-to-use interface.

Robert Richards, director of application development at Carlson Hospitality Worldwide Procurement Group Inc. in Minnetonka, Minn., said operational BI applications must be as easy to use as an Internet search engine. "My end users have difficulty turning on the computer [and] with the concept of double-clicking on the mouse," Richards said.

Within the past four months, Carlson, a lessor of hotels, resorts and other properties, has rolled out WebFocus dashboards to its hotels.

Patrick Yip, a director at Pershing LLC, which provides securities clearing and settlement services to institutional investors and investment advisers, agreed that training is key to any effort to expand access to BI tools.