IBM Cognos Analytics 12.1.0 takes a bold step forward in making business intelligence more intuitive, interactive, and personalized. With significant AI-driven enhancements, users of NewIntelligence’s QuickStart Solution can now explore data more naturally—reducing friction and accelerating insight discovery.
In Part 1 of our two-part blog series, we explore the AI-driven upgrades in Cognos 12.1.0 and how they empower users within the QuickStart Solution to dig deeper and act faster.
Enhanced AI Assistant: Smarter Queries, Instant Insights
Now smarter and more responsive, the AI Assistant in 12.1.0 integrates directly with the Learning Panel—providing real-time guidance, documentation links, and contextual help. Users can now add visualizations generated through natural language queries directly into their dashboards, bridging the gap between questions and insights instantly.
Key Benefits For You
Ask and See:
Users can type questions in plain language and instantly receive relevant visualizations.
Learn as You Go:
The embedded Learning Panel provides contextual help and links to documentation.
Work Seamlessly:
Visualizations created via the Assistant can be directly added to dashboards—no extra steps required.
For QuickStart users, this means faster exploration and fewer barriers between data and action.
Data Brushing: Interactive Cross-Visualization Highlighting
This powerful new feature allows users to click on a data point in one chart and automatically highlight related data in others on the same report page. In QuickStart dashboards, this means more dynamic storytelling and clearer pattern recognition—no manual filtering needed.
This IBM video provides an overview of this new feature. This is the first iteration of the brushing feature.
Key Benefits For You
Context in a Click:
See related data trends and patterns across visuals immediately.
More Insightful Reports:
Users uncover correlations and exceptions faster without toggling between views.
No Technical Know-How Needed:
Insight discovery becomes visual and intuitive, empowering all user levels.
QuickStart dashboards now offer even deeper storytelling with dynamic interactivity baked in.
Personalized Visualization Recommendations
Cognos now uses machine learning to understand user behavior and suggest tailored visualizations. As QuickStart users interact with data, their preferences shape future suggestions—accelerating report building and reducing guesswork.
Key Benefits For You:
Faster Report Building:
Users receive smart, contextual suggestions based on how they’ve worked in the past.
Less Guesswork:
Automatically surface the best chart type for the data at hand.
Truly Personalized Analytics:
Every interaction refines future recommendations, making Cognos more useful over time.
With QuickStart, this personalization ensures users get the most relevant visuals without having to think twice.
With these AI-infused enhancements, Cognos 12.1.0 turns data exploration into a conversation—interactive, intuitive, and deeply relevant. For organizations leveraging QuickStart, it’s a leap toward true self-service analytics that adapts to every user.
Ready to see AI in action with your data?
Discover how the latest AI features in Cognos 12.1.0 within QuickStart Solution, can elevate your business intelligence. Whether you’re looking to enhance self-service analytics or empower users with intelligent recommendations, we’ll show you how to get there.
