Business Intelligence

Business intelligence aims to support better business decision-making. Thus a BI system can be called a decision support system (DSS). Business intelligence is the delivery of accurate, useful information to decision makers to support effective decision making.

 

BI technologies provide historical, current and predictive views of business operations. Business Intelligence tools enable us to slice, dice, and summarize information, so it can be presented in a meaningful manner.

 

Microsoft Business Intelligence (MSBI)

 

Microsoft SQL Server provides tools to support all aspects of business intelligence. Microsoft has included a number of services in SQL Server related to business intelligence and data warehousing. These services include Integration Services (SSIS), Analysis Services (SSAS) and Reporting Services (SSRS).

 

 

Integration Services (SSIS)

 

SSIS provides functionality referred to as Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) and can move and transforms data between source and destination, regardless of format.

 

SSIS enables us to create processes to cleanse data and move it into a business intelligence warehouse, to insure we have accurate information available in a timely manner.

 

Analysis Services (SSAS)

 

SSAS delivers online analytical processing (OLAP) and data mining functionality.

Analysis Services supports OLAP by letting you design, create, and manage multidimensional structures that contain data aggregated from other data sources.

 

Analysis Services lets you design, create, and visualize data mining models that are constructed by using a wide variety of industry-standard data mining algorithms.

 

SSAS includes advanced analytical features such as complete data mining and key performance indicator frameworks.

 

Reporting Services (SSRS)

 

SSRS is a server-based report generation system from Microsoft. It can be used to create and deliver variety of interactive and printed reports.

 

Reporting services features a web services interface to support the development of custom reporting applications.

 

SSRS allows rendering of reports in popular formats such as Microsoft Excel and PDF.

 

 

Advantages of MSBI over other BI systems

 

Microsoft BI is affordable and less expensive compared to other BI technologies.
In many cases organizations already own SQL Server, SharePoint and MS Office, licenses. MSBI leverages the investment already made.
MBSI contains robust e-mail subscription capability.
Custom Extensions can be developed to meet specific requirements. Most other BI systems currently in the market are closed systems and lack the extensibility.

 

Our Experience with Microsoft BI

 

Integration Services (SSIS)

Implementing ETL between legacy FoxPro systems and the online portal developed with latest Microsoft technologies (E-Customs)

Export and Import of data between SQL Server and flat files as per the health compliance standards (DEYTA)

 

Analysis Services (SSAS)

End user reporting system based on preprocessed SSAS cubes (Supplier Diversity)

 

Reporting Services (SSRS)

Customer reporting portal for Health care domain (DSS Online Reporter and DSS Sapphire)

Reports based out of preprocessed Cubes (DEYTA)