Business Intelligence Armoury – What’s the Best Tool for the Job? Mark Macrae
Business Intelligence Armoury – What’s the Best Tool for the Job?Mark Macrae
Mark [email protected] @m_macrae
•MCTS SharePoint/BI• Intelligent Decisioning Ltd • 7 Yrs SharePoint Project Experience• SUGUK
Outside SharePoint…Football Coach, Krav Maga, West Ham (shhh)
Agenda or Summary Layout
•Microsoft Vision• A Little History• Toolkit for 2010
• Tactical•Operational• Enterprise
Microsoft’s VisionOverview
Delivered through a familiar environment
Integrated into business collaboration infrastructure
Built on a trusted and extensible platform
Improving organizations by providing business insights to all
employees leading to better, faster, more relevant decisions
Microsoft BI Stack - 2006Overview
Strategic• SQL Server 2005 (SSAS, SSRS, SSIS)• Sound foundations• Acquisition of ProClarity
Tactical• MS Excel 2003, MS Visio 2003• SSRS Report Builder 1.0• Business Scorecard Manager
Operational• SharePoint 2003 • Poor delivery mechanism Gartner Magic Quadrant (BI) - Jan 2007
Microsoft BI Stack - TodayOverview
Strategic• SQL Server 2008 R2 (SSAS, SSRS, SSIS)• PerformancePoint Services 2010• Excel Services 2010• Power Pivot
Tactical• MS Excel 2010, MS Visio 2010• SSRS Report Builder 3.0• PPS Dashboard Designer• Chart Web Parts
Operational• SharePoint 2010
Gartner Magic Quadrant (BI) - Jan 2010
Everyday tools – Excel, Access, Visio
Tools in the ArsenalBy Ease of Deployment
Chart/Map Web PartsKPI Status Lists
Strategic Data LayerControlled, publication of reportsPerformancePoint, SSRS, Power Pivot
Tactical
Operational
Enterprise
Tactical Solutions
• Scope• Single User• Team
• Data Sources• Mixture (SP Lists, Excel, SQL)• Generally local
• Setup• Quick, simple
• Cost• Mixture, but look out for freebies
Chart Web PartWhat can it do?
• Enterprise• Connect to data from
• SP List• BCS• Excel• Another WebPart
• Extensive design options• Cannot Roll Up and chart
counts
Google Chart API• Free Web Parts (check
licensing)• Requires Internet
Connection to setup• Web Parts available
which connect to SPLists• Simple design options• Can Roll Up (count, sum
etc)
Status ListsIn a nutshell
• KPI Lists in 2007• Lightweight Scorecard• Connect to
• SP Lists• Excel• Analysis Services
• Actual, Goal, Thresholds
Operational SolutionsEveryday Tools (Excel, Visio, Access)
• Scope• Single User• Team• Enterprise
• Data Sources• SP Lists, Excel, Access• SQL Server / OLEDB / ODBC
• Setup• As simple or complex as you wish
• Cost• Enterprise Licenses• Infrastructure, Server Power
Visio Services
• Only author requires Visio client• Pictorial representation e.g.
• Network Diagrams• Maps, plans• Flow chart / workflow / project plans
• Hook up to data from:• SP Lists, Excel, Access, ODBC, SQL
• Selective usage
Excel Services
• Most popular tool for BI• Most feature rich product• Most versatile• Excel Services Enterprise Only• Most data sources
Enterprise SolutionsStrategic Tools for Mature Data Sources
• Scope• Team / Enterprise
• Data Sources• SP Lists, Excel, SQL, ODBC• Analysis Services OLAP Cubes
• Setup• Well structured Data Warehouse / OLAP is key• Actual report building straightforward
• Cost• Enterprise Licenses• Infrastructure, Server Power
PerformancePoint Services
• Primarily OLAP Cube Browser• Interactive, Exploratory• Supplementary data analysis• Avoid ODBC/Flat Data Sources• Limited Customisations (SDK?)• Configuration much easier
SQL Reporting Services
• Print Quality Reports• ‘Hot link’ to sub reports• Geospatial mapping• 2008 R2 Supports SP Lists
natively• OLAP Cube Query Builder• Report Parts for centralised
core• Workflow, Document
Management• Report Builder 3.0• Foundation
Power Pivot
• SQL 2008 R2• Excel Add-In• Large data sets (millions of rows)• High spec client machines• Self serve cube building• Complex Setup• Niche tool
Summary*Options available for customisation
Setup Customise* Cost Scope Training
Chart Parts
Status Lists
Excel
Visio
PPS
SSRS
Power Pivot
Thanks!
• James Love @jimmywim
• Alex Clark @sharepointalex
Questions?