Comparing Data Warehouse Design Methodologies for Microsoft SQL Server

In my last couple of articles, I talked about the importance of a Business Intelligence solution, why it is becoming priority for executives, what a typical Business Intelligence system architecture looks like, etc. In this tip, I going to talk in detail about how a data warehouse is different from operational data store and the different design methodologies for a data warehouse. For more information click here.

Microsoft SQL Server Business Intelligence System Architecture

In my last tip in this series, I talked about how Business Intelligence (BI) systems have become a priority for top executives in order to optimize resource utilization as well as to remain competitive. I also talked about BI users and how BI relates to Data Warehousing and Business Analytics. In this tip, I am going to take this discussion even further in order to understand how Business Intelligence differs from an organization's OLTP systems, what a typical BI system architecture looks as well as the different components of the Business Intelligence system architecture. For more information click here.

Microsoft SQL Server Business Intelligence - What, Why and How

Because of the recent crisis or surge in competition, it has even become more important for organizations to optimize its resources and stay competitive. This has led Business Intelligence to become one of the top priorities for many organizations, especially for top management responsible for strategic decision making. But what is Business Intelligence? How it can help an organization in optimizing their utilization of resources?  How can it help the organization remain competitive?  Check out this tip to learn more.

Importing and Processing data from XML files into SQL Server tables

In my last article, I talked about how you can use an  FTP task in SSIS to download files from an FTP server. But what if the file you have downloaded is an XML file and you need to import this data from the XML file into a SQL Server table? How do you process/parse XML data into SQL Server tables? For information click here. 

Getting Started with Microsoft Power Map for Excel

Power Map is an Excel add-in under the Microsoft Power BI umbrella that extends the capability of Power View by enabling end users to visualize data in a 3D visualization format. It lets you plot geographical and temporal data visually, analyze it in 3D visualization format and create an interactive, guided cinematic tour to discover new insights by seeing your data in geographic space and seeing time-stamped data change over time (which you might not have seen in traditional 2D tables and charts) and to share it with others. For more information click here.

Getting Started with Microsoft Power Query for Excel

Power Query is an Excel add-in that can be used for data discovery, reshaping the data and combining data coming from different sources. Power Query is one of the Excel add-ins provided as part of Microsoft Power BI self-service solution.

You can think of an ETL tool built into your familiar Excel to search or discover data from a wide variety of data sources (both from your enterprise as well as from online public data sources). Power Query has an intuitive and interactive user interface which can be used to search, discover, acquire, combine, refine, transform and enrich the data. For more information click here.

Understanding Microsoft Power BI – Self Service Solutions

Microsoft Power BI is a familiar, intuitive and cloud based self-service BI (Business Intelligence) solution for all your data needs in your very own Excel, which users have been using for decades. It includes different tools for data discovery, analysis and visualization. This article discusses Microsoft Power BI, different tools under the Microsoft Power BI umbrella and when each of them can be used. For more information click here.