PowerBI: the perfect match for Jet Enterprise via Live Connection

Last year my most read, commented and discussed blog post was about why PowerBI would never replace a Data Warehouse. Today, I stand by my assessment, but revise my statement to say, PowerBI is (finally) ready for the big leagues.

This is not a drill. If you tried out PowerBI in it's early forms, it's time to revisit.

Why now? What changed?
The "Connect Live" option allows PowerBI to read your native multidimensional cube structure without importing individual columns. Translation: "PowerBI looks like pivot tables in Excel with more control and finesse."

See comparisons below:

The Jet Enterprise + PowerBI combo is rooted firmly on the past (the software is 10+ years old, the methodologies are 30+ years old) but the combination is flexible enough to embrace the future (and all its buzzwords)--predictive analytics, the Internet of Things, big data, Azure and machine learning, data science etc.

Why YOU need to know about and start using (or selling) PowerBI.

• ​Business Owners - PowerBI combined with Jet Enterprise can give your organization the (free-ish) kick start you need to sail past your current business reporting & analytics roadblocks without dishing out thousands of dollars on software. If you're thinking about 'switching to PowerBI' don't pay for anything. You can try PowerBI for free (and I'm happy to talk you through it). Cost implications aside, you want to get on PowerBI because you'll attract a different caliber of talent when you advertise for PowerBI skilled analysts (as opposed to just Excel). See why below
• Business Analysts & BI Consultants. Google "PowerBI contracts or salaries." The skillset commands a premium because, compared to the SQL and Excel communities which are overflowing with talent, PowerBI is so cutting edge only the hungriest / nerdiest minds are really on it. Translation: "companies should, can and will drop top dollar for those skills."

In the next 10 years, PowerBI will supplant Excel as the great-democratizer of business analytics. Why? Because implementations can vary from 'basic Excel alternative' to the infinite spectrum of predictive analytics and data science. If you know PowerBI, you could choose to never be bored again AND have (virtually) unlimited earning potential.

• Dynamics partners. Last year when PowerBI went mainstream, early adopters could charge the world for being cutting edge, but because the platform didn't support existing Multidimensional SSAS infrastructure, we said, "that's a lot of risk, let's wait and see where this is going." But now is the time to get onboard.

By combining PoweBI with Jet Enterprise organizations can mitigate the risk of embracing new technologies by upcycling, extending, and revitalizing mature skills and tools (SQL, SSIS & SSAS) before having to invest heavily in DAX and M.

​In short, today we're able to strike a happy medium between traditional and emerging technologies

Are you ready to get started?