ERP and BI
Power BI
Power BI is a comprehensive suite of software services, applications, and connectors that collaborate seamlessly to transform disparate data sources into cohesive, visually engaging, and interactive insights. Whether your data originates from an Excel spreadsheet or a combination of cloud-based and on-premises hybrid data warehouses, Power BI simplifies the process of connecting to these sources, visualizing critical information, and sharing it with your desired audience.
Here are the key components of Power BI, all working in harmony:
Power BI Desktop
This Windows desktop application serves as the starting point for creating reports. In Power BI Desktop, you can import data from various sources, merge and organize it into an analytics data model, and design reports with interactive visualizations. It allows you to design data models, build visualizations, and craft interactive dashboards.
Power BI Service (SaaS)
Once you’ve built your data models and reports, you can publish them to the Power BI service, a cloud-based platform where business users can access and interact with the reports. While basic data modeling and report editing can be done directly in the service using a web browser, the full functionality is available in the Power BI Desktop tool. Additionally, the service supports scheduled data source refreshes for your reports and allows you to share them with other users. You can also create dashboards and apps that consolidate related reports in a single, user-friendly location.
Power BI Mobile Apps
Available for Windows, iOS, and Android devices, these mobile apps empower you to consume business insights on the go. Whether you’re a business analyst, executive, or field worker, mobile apps cater to your specific needs.
In addition to the core trio, Power BI offers two other essential elements:
- Power BI Report Builder: This tool allows you to create paginated reports, which are ideal for sharing structured data in a tabular format within the Power BI service.
- Power BI Report Server: Designed for on-premises deployment, the report server lets you publish Power BI reports created in Power BI Desktop. It’s a valuable option for organizations with specific security or compliance requirements.