Microsoft Business Intelligence
Microsoft BI solutions is a common second step for most medium sized companies that want to develop Business Intelligence Solutions. It allows you to create rich integrated reporting and analytics tools that empower users to gain access to accurate up-to-date information for better more relevant decision making. Microsoft Business Intelligence suite is integrated by four components: SQL Server The SQL Server is the standard Microsoft database engine. It is a easy to use, powerful and flexible data storage solution. It is nearly a standard solution for a big range of BI solutions, including non-Microsoft BI solutions, due to its low price and scalability. SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) This is the data-warehousing arm of the SQL Server 2008 R2 suite equipped with superior Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) capabilities. It provides the vehicle for moving data from different data sources to a centralised Data Warehouse. Due to its affordable price SSIS is a common tool used in combination with other non-Microsoft solutions. SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) SSRS is a framework of reporting mechanisms such as the Report Builder, Report Designer, Report Manager and Report Server that work together through a Web interface to enable the development of concise interactive reporting solutions in print or web format. SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) As a multidimensional analysis tool, SSAS allows you analyse information in realtime. Multidimensional analysis is an Online Analityc Processing (OLAP) technique that produces the ability to analyse large quantities of data by storing data in axes and cells instead of the traditional relational two-dimensional view in rows and columns , as seen in spreedsheet.