Business Data Queries

Important to Know

⚠️ AI Accuracy: While our AI is designed to be helpful, it can make mistakes. Always review AI-generated insights and data before making business decisions.

Understanding Business Queries

ellume's AI can analyze your business data using natural language questions. No need to learn complex reporting tools - just ask what you want to know and get instant insights.

What Data Can You Query?

How to Ask Questions

Use Natural Language

Write your questions as if you're talking to a business analyst:

Financial Questions:

• "What's my total revenue this month?"
• "Show me my top 5 expenses this quarter"
• "How much did I earn from client Sarah last year?"
• "What's my average monthly income over the past 6 months?"

Client Analysis:

• "Who are my most valuable clients?"
• "Which clients haven't visited in the last 3 months?"
• "How many new clients did I get this quarter?"
• "Show me clients from New York"

Appointment Insights:

• "How busy am I this month compared to last month?"
• "What are my peak booking days?"
• "Show me all appointments for next week"
• "How many sessions did I have with John Smith?"

Growth and Forecasting:

• "Am I growing compared to last year?"
• "What's my revenue trend over the past 12 months?"
• "Will I be profitable next quarter?"
• "How much runway do I have left?"

Be Specific When Needed

Time Periods:

• "Revenue in January 2024"
• "Expenses last month"
• "Clients added this quarter"
• "Appointments next week"

Client Names:

• "Revenue from Maria Garcia"
• "Show me John Smith's appointment history"
• "Does Sarah Johnson have a signature on file?"

Categories and Filters:

• "Marketing expenses this year"
• "Income from tattoo services"
• "Clients in Los Angeles"
• "Appointments on Fridays"

Common Business Questions

Understanding Results

Data Visualization

Results often include:

• Tables for detailed breakdowns
• Summary statistics for quick insights
• Key metrics highlighted for easy understanding

Contextual Insights

The AI provides:

• Explanations of what the data means
• Comparisons to previous periods
• Recommendations based on patterns
• Follow-up questions to explore further

Advanced Query Techniques

Comparative Analysis

• "Compare this month's revenue to last month"
• "Show me year-over-year growth"
• "How does this quarter compare to the same quarter last year?"

Filtering and Segmentation

• "Revenue from returning clients only"
• "New appointments this month vs last month"
• "Expenses excluding equipment purchases"

Forecasting Questions

• "Based on current trends, what will my revenue be next month?"
• "How much should I expect to earn this quarter?"
• "When will I reach my income goal?"

Client Lifecycle Analysis

• "How long do clients typically stay active?"
• "What's the average time between client visits?"
• "Which clients are at risk of churning?"

Troubleshooting Common Issues

No Results Found

• Check spelling of client names or categories
• Try broader date ranges if looking for historical data
• Verify the data exists - you might not have transactions in that period

Unclear Results

• Ask follow-up questions to clarify
• Be more specific about what you're looking for
• Try different wording for the same question

Large Result Sets

• Add filters like date ranges or client names
• Ask for "top 10" instead of all results
• Focus on specific metrics rather than broad queries

Best Practices

For Accurate Results

1. Use exact client names when possible
2. Specify time periods clearly
3. Be precise about what metrics you want
4. Ask one question at a time for clarity

For Better Insights

1. Follow up on interesting findings
2. Compare periods to understand trends
3. Dig deeper into unexpected results
4. Save important insights for future reference

Building Business Intelligence

Privacy and Security

• Your data stays private - only you can see your business information
• No data sharing - your information is never used to train AI models
• Access control - only authenticated users can query data

Remember: The AI is your business analyst. The more specific your questions, the more valuable your insights will be.