Business intelligence (BI) refers to the processes, technologies, and tools used to collect, integrate, analyze, and present data and insights to support effective decision-making in an organization. BI is designed to help organizations gain a deeper understanding of their operations and performance by providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions.

BI typically involves the use of software and other tools to extract, transform, and load data from a variety of sources, such as transactional databases, spreadsheets, and social media feeds. The data is then analyzed and presented in the form of reports, dashboards, and other visualizations that help decision-makers understand key trends and patterns.

BI is used in a wide range of industries, including finance, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, to improve efficiency, increase profitability, and drive growth. It is a critical part of many organizations' data analytics and data management strategies, and is often used in conjunction with other data-driven approaches such as data mining and machine learning.