Uncovering the Intellectual Structure of Business Intelligence: A Bibliometric Expedition Based on Web of Science

Abstract

This study focuses on the concept of Business Intelligence (BI), which plays a critical role in the strategic decision-making processes of organizations in today’s digital world. Business Intelligence, through the integration of big data, information technologies, data mining, and analytical systems, significantly enhances a company's competitiveness and contributes directly to organizational performance. The primary objective of this research is to examine the scientific literature on business intelligence using a bibliometric data analysis approach, thereby revealing the field’s conceptual structures, thematic trends, collaboration networks, and key research clusters. For this purpose, publications retrieved from the Web of Science database on May 5, 2025, were analyzed using the VOSviewer software. Co-authorship, citation analysis, bibliographic coupling, and keyword co-occurrence methods were applied to map the intellectual structure of the BI domain. The results indicate that the term "business intelligence" is the most frequently occurring keyword, and the United States, China, and Australia emerge as the leading contributors to academic output in this area. The increasing number of publications over the years reflects a growing academic interest in BI. The identified thematic clusters are primarily centered around data analytics, information management, and decision support systems. This project provides a multidimensional perspective on the development of the business intelligence field, offering valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners. It highlights the evolving role of BI in enhancing data-driven decision-making and managerial effectiveness.