Power BI under the microscope: why Microsoft's rising giant makes data analytics more accessible than ever before.
This 4th post of our 5-part series on data analytics front-end tools looks at Power BI, the rising giant.
Its main strengths in a nutshell: accessible and well-integrated in Microsoft’s universe.
First released in 2011 as Project Crescent and later renamed Power BI, it is part of Microsoft’s extensive ecosystem. It consists of three main products: The Windows desktop application Power BI Desktop, the online software as a service version Power BI Service; and the Power BI Mobile Apps for Windows, iOS, and Android.
Simple access for novices
Its most obvious strength is its inclusion in Microsoft’s ecosystem, that brings at least three advantages.First, the software follows the design and functionality of MS Office tools. That familiarity helps novices. The software’s guided process may feel somewhat restrictive to experienced developers. But its intuitive, clean interface provides a user-friendly first approach.That accessibility also holds for creators interacting with multiple stakeholders, which can be important in large companies. The server structure might provide fewer options than some advanced users may require. But it has a lower barrier to entry.Second, Power BI facilitates the extraction of data from other MS products and multiple types of sources.Finally, working in Microsoft’s realm also provides exposure to a huge user base and a context of leading cyber security.
Smooth sailing
Power BI also performs well for certain complex tasks. It facilitates work with different types of data sets from data inception and transformation (ETL) to analysis and presentation.Many competing tools require separate steps to prepare, transform and analyse data. That is cumbersome. In contrast, Power BI’s integrated ETL tool Power Query, which is also part of Microsoft Excel, allows its users to continuously edit their data during development. That makes the workflow smoother, faster and more flexible.
Hurdles down the road
However, Power BI’s accessibility also brings drawbacks for advanced users.The programming language DAX, often learned by Excel users, which Microsoft expanded for Power BI, is very accessible and potentially powerful. But mastering it for advanced use is tricky due to subtle differences between the Excel and the Power Bi version. That can be frustrating.
Summary: The gentle giant
Power BI has achieved an impressive rise over the past decade. It might lack some of Tableau’s competitive edge for sophisticated use cases.Yet, its integration in Microsoft’s ecosystem provides accessibility for BI novices as well as simple and safe interaction with other MS products. It also offers solid cyber security and smooth workflows, especially for companies that already use Microsoft server space.
What is your experience with Power BI?
