Perspective

Harnessing the power of genAI for data visualization

The growing role of data visualization for external stakeholders

Poludasu Rama Rao,

Manager, Business Consulting

Published: January 22, 2025

Data plays an essential role in shaping decisions, driving growth, and refining strategies in the current business environment. However, with the ever-growing volume and complexity of data, businesses face the challenge of interpreting and presenting it effectively. Data visualization has become a crucial tool for conveying insights to internal teams and external stakeholders, such as vendors, brokers, and clients. For these external partners, clear and actionable data visualizations are vital for informed decision-making and fostering transparency. The demand for business intelligence (BI) and analytics technology is growing fast as more businesses rely on data for decision-making, and the software market is expected to reach $13 billion by 2025.

In today's data-driven world, the need for external partners to access, interpret, and act upon data is greater than ever. Companies rely on external stakeholders, like brokers or suppliers, to make strategic decisions, from managing supply chains to setting prices. For example, a vendor needs real-time visibility into sales performance, inventory data, and trends, all of which are most effectively communicated through visualized data dashboards. Without these visualizations, decision-making can become fragmented and less precise, hindering successful partnerships.

As business relationships evolve, external partners may require different types of data at different times, often in various formats. This variability requires organizations to ensure that data shared with external entities is not only relevant but also compatible with their systems and requirements. Given the rapid pace of technological advancement, organizations must continuously adjust their tools to meet the shifting demands of their partner ecosystem.

This constant evolution in data needs translates into significant IT investments. Many industries—especially sectors like finance, retail, and manufacturing—dedicate a substantial portion of their IT budgets to developing and maintaining sophisticated data visualization solutions. According to the Fortune Business Insights report, the global business intelligence (BI) market size is estimated to grow from $29.42 billion in 2023 to $54.27 billion by 2030. These investments typically cover software purchases, system maintenance, and infrastructure upgrades to meet current and future needs.

While data visualization is undeniably a strategic investment, the accompanying IT expenditure is substantial. As data requirements continue to evolve, maintaining the effectiveness of these systems is critical to long-term success.

Integrating genAI with data visualization for greater flexibility

As organizations confront ever-growing volumes of data, many are seeking innovative ways to enhance traditional data visualization tools. One powerful solution is integrating genAI with data visualization systems. This combination offers significant advantages over static, manual, or predefined visualizations, allowing businesses to adapt quickly to changing data needs.

Contextual understanding and customization

One of the most valuable aspects of genAI-enhanced data visualization is its ability to understand and adjust to the context of user requests. Traditional visualization tools require users to manually adjust filters, queries, and parameters to retrieve the data they need. By contrast, genAI systems can intuitively comprehend the underlying intent of a user's question and automatically adjust the visualizations to deliver the most relevant insights. This ensures that the data presented is not only accessible but also tailored to the specific business objectives at hand.

For example, if a user asks to compare sales figures across regions, genAI doesn’t just provide raw data—it will intelligently present the data in the most appropriate visual form, such as a pie chart, bar graph, or heat map. This makes the process of data interpretation much faster and more efficient, freeing users from the complexity of manually adjusting dashboards and focusing on actionable insights instead.

Adapting to shifting data requirements

In insurance, retail, and finance industries data requirements can fluctuate throughout the year. Seasonal events—such as tax filing periods, policy renewals, and annual reporting—create different needs for data insights. Traditional dashboards typically do not dynamically respond to these changes without significant manual adjustments. GenAI, however, can learn from past interactions and adapt to changing user needs. As a result, the tool can automatically modify visualizations to align with the season or specific business activity, whether it is analyzing policy renewals or forecasting revenue.

Real-time, actionable insights

In high-stakes environments, genAI-powered data visualization tools can offer immediate insights. This is particularly beneficial for businesses like insurance companies, where stakeholders need up-to-date data to make time-sensitive decisions. GenAI ensures that users always have access to the most relevant and timely information, removing the need to wait for reports or dashboards to be manually updated.

Scalability across users and stakeholders

Large organizations often have a diverse set of users, each requiring access to different data. genAI can cater to these various needs by customizing the visualizations for each user group, whether they are internal teams, brokers, or vendors. By automatically adjusting the data presentation for each user’s role or expertise, the system ensures that everyone—from technical experts to non-technical users—can access and interpret data effectively.

A day in the life of an insurance broker adapting dashboards for changing needs

Let us explore how a GenAI-powered dashboard can be used in a dynamic environment, such as an insurance brokerage, where data needs change throughout the year. Imagine that an insurance broker utilizes a single dashboard throughout the year, but the visualizations and content of the dashboard adjust according to the broker’s needs at any given time.

During the policy renewal season

During the policy renewal period, the broker requires a clear view of policies up for renewal, shifts in premiums, and claims history. Instead of manually gathering and analyzing data from multiple sources, the broker can simply ask the dashboard for specific insights, such as:

“Show me the policies due for renewal next month, broken down by region, and highlight any significant spikes in claims.”

The genAI system processes the query and adjusts the dashboard to display:

  • A line chart illustrating renewal trends by region.
  • A bar graph comparing claims data across regions.
  • A heat map highlighting regions with the highest claim volume.

Although the underlying data—such as policy details and claims data—remains the same, genAI ensures that it is presented in a manner that aligns with the broker’s current priorities during the renewal season.

During tax filing season

As tax season approaches, the broker's needs shift. Instead of focusing on renewals, the broker now needs to help clients with tax-related questions, using policy data and premiums to determine deductions. The same underlying data—such as policyholder information and premiums—can now be presented differently.

The broker might ask:

“Which clients are eligible for tax deductions based on their policy type, and show me premiums paid by clients in the Northeast?”

The genAI system adjusts the dashboard once again, presenting:

  • Tax deduction visualizations, such as pie charts or bar graphs showing qualifying premiums by policy type.
  • A table summarizing premiums paid by clients in specific regions, with filters for deductible amounts.
  • Heat maps indicate regions with the highest concentration of eligible tax deductions.

Even though the data remains unchanged, the system’s ability to adjust the visualizations allows the broker to focus on helping clients navigate their tax filings easily.

Serving other stakeholders

Beyond brokers, other stakeholders—such as claims adjusters or insurers—can also use the same genAI-powered system. For instance, a vendor might need to review claims data to optimize operations, while an internal team might need to assess overall business performance. Each user can query the system in their way, and genAI will dynamically adjust the data visualizations accordingly.

For example, a vendor might ask:
“Show me claims data by region for the last quarter, broken down by policy type.”

The system responds with a detailed view of claims volumes by region and policy type, ensuring that the vendor can make informed decisions. At the same time, an internal team could query the system for revenue forecasts, and the system would automatically generate a completely different set of visualizations, specific to the company’s business goals.

Flexibility and efficiency for the insurance industry

The potential of genAI-powered data visualization tools extends far beyond simple data interaction. For insurance brokers, agents, and external partners such as vendors and third-party service providers, the ability to dynamically adjust dashboards based on voice commands and changing business requirements offers unmatched flexibility. This makes the entire data interaction process more efficient, helping users focus on critical decision-making rather than getting bogged down in data management.

The key benefits of such a system include:

  • Increased productivity: Brokers and agents save time by eliminating manual configuration, allowing them to access the insights they need quickly.
  • Enhanced collaboration: External stakeholders, like vendors and insurers, can all view the same up-to-date data visualizations, ensuring seamless collaboration.
  • Improved accuracy: By automating the adjustment of data visualizations, genAI minimizes human error, ensuring that the insights provided are always precise and relevant.

For industries like insurance, embracing genAI for data visualization will streamline workflows and improve the decision-making process across the entire ecosystem of stakeholders.

Empowering transformation with Virtusa’s expertise

As organizations strive to unlock the full potential of genAI in data visualization, Virtusa stands ready to guide businesses through every step of the journey. From assessing current systems to designing and implementing customized genAI-driven solutions, Virtusa ensures seamless integration and real-time data insights that adapt to evolving needs. Our expertise enables businesses to enhance collaboration, streamline decision-making, and create more intelligent, responsive data environments. Partner with Virtusa to harness the power of genAI and transform your data visualization into a dynamic, strategic asset.

Speaker

Poludasu Rama Rao

Manager, Business Consulting

The author has 10+ years of professional experience as a product owner responsible for improving the user experience within the insurance domain. Some significant projects include self-service portals built by a large group insurer, based out of the United States, and a call center portal built by a U.K.-based home utility insurance service provider.

 

 

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