Knowledge base — Getting started
Zebra AI takes you from data to decision, in minutes. Connect a source — Excel, CSV, Power BI, SQL, Snowflake or Databricks — and Zebra AI does the analysis: it builds an interactive dashboard, explains the drivers behind every number, and answers whatever you ask in plain language. Then export to PowerPoint or share a live link. Every figure stays traceable to your data.
01 — Overview
What is Zebra AI?
Zebra AI is data analytics software that takes you from data to decision. Connect your data and it runs the analysis for you — surfacing the drivers and outliers that explain what’s going on — then hands you an interactive dashboard with the story already written: not just what changed, but why.
From there you ask anything in plain language and drill into any number, with every figure traceable back to your data — no BI skills, no ticket, no waiting on someone else for the answer. Your visuals follow IBCS, the international standard for business communication (now ISO 24896:2026), so every chart reads clearly for whoever you share it with. Zebra AI is built by Zebra BI, trusted by 3,000+ organisations since 2015.
02 — Getting started
How do I get started with Zebra AI?
Five steps take you from a raw dataset to a story you can send.
- Connect your data Drop in an Excel or CSV file, or connect a live source — a Power BI semantic model, a SQL database (MS SQL, PostgreSQL, MySQL), Snowflake or Databricks, or a OneLake warehouse in Microsoft Fabric. Zebra AI analyses the data on connection and cleans it automatically if needed.
- Generate your first data story You don’t start from a blank canvas. Zebra AI reasons through your data, proposes a plan, and lets you preview and adjust it before it builds — returning a first draft that’s already structured, with automatic hierarchies (categories rolling up into groups, or a full revenue-to-EBITDA waterfall for P&L data) and the story in place.
- Ask questions in plain language Type a question like “which regions drove the drop in Q2?” or “show top-performing product categories.” Zebra AI answers with IBCS visuals and a written explanation, holds the context for follow-ups, and lets you expand its thought process to see the reasoning behind every number.
- Customise and export Adjust colours, fonts and layout to match your brand, switch the output language, then export to PowerPoint or Excel as real, editable charts.*
- Share and refresh Send a live viewer link so stakeholders can drill into any number and ask their own follow-ups.* Next cycle, reconnect and refresh — refresh protection detects any manual edits and asks whether to keep or overwrite them, so you review and send instead of rebuilding.
Note
*Export and sharing are not currently available in the Zebra AI Workload for Fabric.
03 — Data sources
Which data sources can I connect?
| Source | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Excel / CSV | The fastest first look | Drag & drop; files up to 50 MB |
| Power BI semantic model | Extending your governed BI model | XMLA/DAX; row-level security respected, measures auto-selected |
| SQL database | Going straight to source | MS SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL |
| Snowflake / Databricks | Cloud data warehouses | Direct connection, no BI stack required |
| OneLake warehouse | Teams already in Microsoft Fabric | Fabric workload only |
New to connecting a source? Start with preparing your data for Zebra AI.
04 — Trust & security
Is my data secure?
Yes. Zebra AI works only from the governed data you connect — it never browses the open web.
- Hosted on Microsoft Azure (Western Europe); encrypted in transit (TLS 1.2+) and at rest (AES-256)
- Only aggregated summaries reach the AI provider; your full dataset never leaves Azure
- Data is processed for your active session only and deleted on logout or after 6 hours of inactivity
- Never used to train AI models
- Power BI Row-Level Security respected; Microsoft and Google SSO supported
05 — Starting out
How do I start?
You can start with Zebra AI for free — no credit card required. Sign up, connect a source, and generate your first data story.
06 — FAQ
Can I trust the numbers Zebra AI produces, or does it hallucinate?
Yes. Zebra AI computes with real analytical tools instead of predicting text, so it doesn’t hallucinate your figures. Every number is traceable to your data, and you can inspect the reasoning behind it before you share the story.
How is Zebra AI different from using ChatGPT or generic AI on my data?
Generic AI predicts plausible text, so numbers can look right but aren’t traceable. Zebra AI works only from the governed data you connect — never the open web — computes deterministically, shows its work, and outputs IBCS visuals. Next cycle, the same story refreshes instead of starting from scratch.
Do I need BI or technical skills to use Zebra AI?
No. You connect a source and Zebra AI builds the dashboard, writes the story, and answers in plain language — no SQL, DAX, or BI ticket required.
Is my data secure, and is it used to train AI models?
No — your data is never used to train models, and Zebra AI’s providers contractually guarantee the same. It’s processed on Microsoft Azure for your active session only, encrypted in transit and at rest, and only aggregated summaries ever reach the AI provider.
Can Zebra AI connect to Power BI, Snowflake, or Databricks?
Yes — plus SQL databases (MS SQL, MySQL, PostgreSQL), OneLake in Microsoft Fabric, and Excel or CSV files. Power BI connections respect row-level security and auto-select the model’s measures.
Is Zebra AI free to try?
You can start for free with no credit card. Connect a spreadsheet or a live source and generate your first data story right away.
See it on your own data
Connect a source and generate your first data story in minutes.