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Decide Whether Microsoft Business Intelligence 2012 Fits the Bill

Microsoft Business Intelligence 2012 focuses on self-serve BI.

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Your Challenge

  • Clients are looking for insight into their organization. Business Intelligence (BI) platforms have become a key vehicle to qualify strategic decisions, leverage market opportunities, and respond to externalities.  
  • With most BI platforms requiring significant investment, Microsoft has responded by aiming squarely at the mid-market by adding BI functionality into their core offerings (SQL, SharePoint, and Office).
  • Clients need to know if the Microsoft BI platform is comprehensive, effective, and able to address their organizational needs.  

Our Advice

Critical Insight
  • Microsoft’s 2012 BI platform is suitable for mid-market organizations without a formal BI solution that already use Microsoft tools for reporting and analytics. However, the impending 2013 release is expected to drive significant changes to SharePoint and Office. Consequently, buyers are advised to defer a decision until the 2013 release is available.
  • Smaller customers are advised to defer a decision until the impact of the 2013 release on Microsoft Office 365 is understood.
Impact and Result
  • This solution set outlines the historical growth of Microsoft’s BI offerings and outlines the new additions found in this version.
  • It covers deployment scenarios for organizations of various sizes and discusses the differences in terms of services, infrastructure, and costing.
  • It summarizes the key factors needed for organizations to determine if Microsoft BI is for them.
  • Overall, if you are a mid-market organization in need of BI, defer judgment of Microsoft’s offering until the 2013 release of Office and SharePoint.

Get to Action

  1. Evaluate organizational BI needs

    Determine if Microsoft BI addresses the needs of the organization.

  2. Identify the organization's BI needs

    Determine if Microsoft BI is for the organization.

  3. Identify organizational license needs in regards to SQL, SharePoint, and Office

    Determine how much Microsoft’s BI platform will cost the organization.

Related Solution Sets

Develop a BI Strategy

Business Intelligence is about insight, not technology.

Vendor Landscape: Enterprise BI

Before you can make the right data-driven decisions, you need to select the right BI vendor.

Vendor Landscape: Mid-Market BI

Enabling business users to make intelligent business decisions.

Optimize the BI Program for a Better ROI

Squeeze more juice from the fruits of your BI labor.

Deliver the BI Tools and Information Needed by Management

Navigate the BI maze, and find a straight path to the solution that fits your needs.

Tags

Microsoft, BI, business intelligence, excel, SharePoint, SQL Server, Windows Server, xvelocity, Office, MDM, reporting services, SSIS, SSRS, integration services, analysis services, ssas, vertipaq, master data services, mds, data quality services, dqs, powerview, power view, powerpivot

Related Content


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Microsoft Business Intelligence 2012 focuses on self-serve BI.

Companies Who Helped

Ella Maschiach, System Analyst, OLAP Developer, and Microsoft BI Blogger

Solution Road Map

Other Solution Sets in Business Intelligence & Analytics

  1. Develop a BI Strategy
    Business Intelligence is about insight, not technology.
  2. Deliver the BI Tools and Information Needed by Management
    Navigate the BI maze, and find a straight path to the solution that fits your needs.
  3. Vendor Landscape: Enterprise BI
    Before you can make the right data-driven decisions, you need to select the right BI vendor.
  4. Vendor Landscape: Mid-Market BI
    Enabling business users to make intelligent business decisions.
  5. Build a Data Warehouse on a Solid Foundation
    Evaluate the need for a data warehouse and plan the project.
  6. Execute the BI Implementation while Avoiding Common Pitfalls
    The BI implementation has set sail; make sure end users are all on board.
  7. Optimize the BI Program for a Better ROI
    Squeeze more juice from the fruits of your BI labor.
  8. Formulate a Social Analytics Strategy
    Decide when to do more than merely follow yourself on Twitter.
  9. Decide Whether Microsoft Business Intelligence 2012 Fits the Bill
    Microsoft Business Intelligence 2012 focuses on self-serve BI.
View the full Solution Road Map