The power of the right question
A well-formed question can unlock insights, reveal trends, and drive business outcomes. Without it, even the richest dataset can feel overwhelming or underutilized.
But what if you don’t know what to ask yet?
Even if you’re not sure what to ask at first, having guidance can make all the difference. It turns uncertainty into exploration, helps you uncover insights you might have missed, and gives you the confidence to dig deeper.
This is exactly what NDI does, through predefined questions based on your dataset, smart follow-up prompts, tailored guidance on how to perform specific analyses or make decisions, and more. We’ll explain it all in this blog. Keep reading.
Why this matters:
For anyone working in data, whether you’re an analyst, a product manager, or a business leader, this is a game-changer.
- It accelerates exploration mode when you’re just starting out with new data.
- It reduces the intimidation factor of “blank canvas” analysis.
- And most importantly, it empowers you to ask better questions, leading to better decisions.
How Nakisa Decision Intelligence helps you discover questions
In Nakisa AI, we designed a feature specifically for this challenge. Instead of waiting for you to come up with a question, the system can analyze your data and suggest valuable questions that you may not have considered.
Please note that I have switched from HR data to IWMS data.
Here’s how it works:
Once data is ingested (stay tuned for an update on real-time ingestion!), the system automatically generates curated questions tailored to the nature of your dataset.
Helpful switches let you:
- Hide questions you’ve already asked.
- Load a question into the text box without sending it so that you can tweak it first.
It’s like having a smart partner who not only answers your questions but also nudges you toward new directions of discovery.
The continuous discovery loop
What makes this feature especially powerful is how it extends the conversation:
- Even when you select a predefined question, Nakisa AI doesn’t stop at the answer.
- It suggests follow-up questions, helping you dive deeper and uncover unexpected insights.
This creates a continuous loop of exploration, where every answer opens the door to a new perspective.
I picked this question that AI suggested:
How many stores do we have in each region and property type, and how much space do they cover?
In which currencies are our stores operating, and which currencies matter the most to us?
Compare annual rent costs by currency.
Show annual rent costs converted to USD for each currency
Here are some questions I liked that were created by Nakisa Decision Intelligence.
- What share of our stores are leased versus owned in each region and business segment?
- What is the typical store size in each type of center and business segment?
- What is the average occupancy cost per square foot across our portfolio, broken down by region and property type?
- How does base rent compare to the total occupancy cost across different lease types?
- How many leases are coming up for renewal or expiry each year, and where are they located?
- How much of our space is subleased, and what share of our total leased portfolio does this represent?
- Which projects have the largest budget overruns, and what is their current status?
- Which projects are behind schedule compared to their planned end dates?
- Which types of work orders are driving the highest costs?
- How does energy use per square foot compare across our regions and property types?
- Which stores are paying the most for electricity per square foot, and is this linked to higher energy use?
Why this matters
For anyone working in data, whether you’re an analyst, a product manager, or a business leader, this is a game-changer.
- It accelerates exploration mode when you’re just starting out with new data.
- It reduces the intimidation factor of “blank canvas” analysis.
- And most importantly, it empowers you to ask better questions, leading to better decisions.
Final thought
Great data work doesn’t just depend on having the right tools. It depends on asking the right questions, and sometimes, having an AI that can inspire those questions is the real hidden gem. For anyone working in data, whether you’re an analyst, a product manager, or a business leader, this represents a fundamental shift in how insights are discovered and acted upon.
In the upcoming blogs, I’ll dive deeper into other key capabilities of the NDI platform, including what-if scenario simulations, forecasting, its architecture, and more. Stay tuned. I often write about AI and Nakisa innovations. Connect with me on LinkedIn for the latest updates!
You can request a demo of NDI here, or reach out to your dedicated Client Success Manager to access the preview environment.
