SQL Server Tabular Models (SSAS) and Power BI

Use SQL Server SSAS Tabular Models to Enhance your Power BI reports

Companies with SQL Server licenses running in production most likely already own but are not using SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS).  To get the most from your existing investment in SQL licenses.  Companies should explore how SQL Server SSAS Tabular Models  can increase the performance of their reporting environments and maximize their investment in SQL Server technology.  Transforming your data into a tabular model will allow you to get more performance from Power BI, Excel or other reporting software.

Top 3 Reasons to Use SQL Server SSAS Tabular Models

  1. Speed – The data in tabular models are deployed to an in-memory data structure that makes your Power BI reports return visualizations faster than using data tables.  If your executive team hates waiting for answers or spinning circle of death Tabular models can help.  Using data compression and in-memory objects allows the data to be found without needing to query the disks directly.
  2. Standardize Business Logic – Business logic can be stored in the tabular model by creating new Measures.  Need to calculate the net sales between this year and last year.  Add a measure and everyone that uses the data sees the same results.  Users that connect to the tabular model get the same answers regardless of the tool.  Want to use Excel as well as Power BI, the logic is the same and users get the same results.
  3. No Need to Refresh the Power BI Cache – Power BI directly connects to the tabular models, therefore you do not need Power BI to refresh the data loaded into Power BI.  Keep you data refresh cycle at the database level and allow Power BI to do what it does best.

 

Learn how to build SSAS Tabular models from my cookbook available on Amazon – SSAS Tabular Cookbook by Derek Wilson

Analytics Quick Start Packages

Power BI Leveraging Tabular Models