Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Analysis and Insight | Nottingham City Council: [email protected]
Tips, tricks and lessons learnt from running a Microsoft Power BI Server
Power BI Overview: Microsoft delivering….
1. Import the data, tweak (M) and build the model (Power Query)- Preparing data takes most of the time. Structure data outside or in PBI. Arguments for both.
2. Create any measures and/or calculated new columns (DAX).- Requires a slightly different mind-set to other syntax, but strong user community and Microsoft support with technical docs and an investment in the user base. E.g. Guy in a Cube, etc.
3. Build your report and publish…..somewhere!- Fast and easy report building and deployment.
Power BI Overview: Using the tool
Power BI Overview: Overview
Demo dashboard here: http://tinyurl.com/y62uv5pe
• This demo is published to the PBI Cloud Service, so anyone can see it. That route is not always appropriate, in fact its barely ever appropriate. Alternatives (and security) come at a cost.
• The dashboard uses various visualisations. All are Microsoft approved. Some visuals may process data off-site, so use with caution. E.g. Mapping passes location data field to Azure.
• PBI Dashboards can be flexible highly engaging, supplying insight in real time. Some can be too engaging and distract managers. Find a balance that is appropriate for your consumers. E.g. Only allow exploration of known issues and trends.
• Reports render well in all up-to-date browsers. Reports can also be fine tuned for mobile devices.
Power BI Overview: Getting assisted insights
Worth a mention: Both the Desktop tool and the Cloud Service provide AI insight generation. Not always helpful, but vastly improved since this was in demo.
Power BI Overview: Publishing options
Data Source
Power BI Desktop
Very flexible: CSV files through to SQL Server, Hadoop, *API’s, etc.
Power BI Server
Power BI Service
Different versions for BI Service and PBI Server. Software updated on a regular basis. Tool constantly evolving and backwards compatibility not guaranteed. E.g. PBIX on v2 may not open in V1. If usingPBI Server then update Desktop along with Server. Testing required.
Delivery
MS BI Stack. Integrates with SSRS. Require Enterprise License and SA Assurance. PBI Pro for Publishers.
More features, but to limit access a PBI Pro license for Publishers and Consumers required (about £7 per month per user). Nice SharePoint integration.
Browser based interactive navigation for mobile and/or PC devices. Data sources refreshed via gateways. Setup differs significantly from Service (Content Packs) to Server (SSRS type management).O
n P
rem
Op
tio
nC
lou
d O
pti
on
*Demo viz using LG Inform API.
Power BI Overview: Points for consideration• Don’t consider a tool in isolation; Form a strategy based on a platform, the scale, the cost and the needs of the report
consumer. Think long term.
• IT support around contracting, product support would be beneficial if not already running Microsoft BI Stack.
• To reduce implementation a DBA familiar with Microsoft set-up will help. There is the initial set-up and then testing (regular) updates. This can be time consuming.
• Consider security and Information Governance.
• Consider resilience, high availability and scalability of hardware. E.g. NCC run 3 servers for DB and 3 for URL.
• Consider the impact on your IT Service Desk. Setting up admin groups, software compatibility, etc.
• Requires analysts comfortable with tabular data models and willing to learn DAX (although not essential). The simpler the model the better, it will aid resilience. Aim to support PBI builds with metadata and documentation.
• Monitor usage and review regularly to optimise your consumer group as it’ll save money.
• If going fully self-serve consider going paperless. Only performance manage using live data.
Power BI Overview: Smartsheet* workflow1. Download the Smartsheet connector for PBI
Desktop.
2. Once in PBI Desktop login with Smartsheetcredentials.
3. Connect to the Smartsheet and load the data.
4. Organise the data and build measures, etc.
5. Build the dashboard.
6. Publish to PBI Service (Cloud) or PBI Server (On-prem).
* There was a specific question around smartsheets.
