Data is one of the most valuable assets of any organization. However, data alone is not enough – the ability to interpret it and transform it into specific business decisions is key. This is where BI Microsoft comes into play, a set of Business Intelligence solutions that support companies in analysis, reporting and strategic planning. Thanks to Microsoft tools, information management becomes simpler, faster and more accessible – regardless of the industry or size of the organization.

What is Microsoft BI and why is it worth using?

Microsoft BI is an ecosystem of analytical tools that allows users to transform data into readable, understandable and interactive reports and visualizations. Microsoft has been developing its BI solutions for years, offering both comprehensive platforms for IT teams and intuitive tools for non-technical users. The goal is one – to provide reliable information where decisions are made.

Unlike many competitive systems, Microsoft BI stands out for its consistency with other Microsoft services and applications, such as Excel, Teams, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365. This makes the process of implementing analytics into the daily work of teams smooth and natural.

Microsoft BI Tools – a comprehensive ecosystem of possibilities

One of the greatest advantages of the Microsoft BI platform is its modular structure. This means that a company can use exactly those components that meet its current needs, and over time – as it grows – extend the environment with additional functions. The set of the most important Microsoft BI tools includes:

Power BI – the most frequently chosen tool for creating data visualizations. It allows you to build interactive dashboards and reports that can be shared in a browser, mobile application or embedded in websites.

Power BI Embedded – a solution dedicated to developers, enabling the integration of Power BI reports directly into business applications, portals or CRM systems. Thanks to this, end users do not have to log in to a separate platform.

Excel with Power Pivot and Power Query – a familiar office tool with additional analytical capabilities. It allows you to create complex data models and transform information from various sources – ideal for analysts who prefer to work in a familiar environment.

Azure Analysis Services – a cloud service for large-scale data modeling. It allows you to create advanced table and multidimensional models used in more complex corporate environments.

Azure Synapse Analytics – a platform that combines data warehousing with real-time analysis and artificial intelligence. An ideal solution for companies processing large data sets and needing ongoing analyses.

Microsoft Fabric – Microsoft’s latest approach to integrating data, analytics and AI into one coherent platform. It allows you to combine data from different sources, create reports and implement automation using generative artificial intelligence.

Each of the Microsoft BI tools has a different function, but together they create a coherent and flexible analytical environment, ready to work in any company.

BI Microsoft in everyday work – functionalities for everyone

What sets Microsoft BI apart is not only its advanced technical capabilities, but also its accessibility to a wide range of users – regardless of their level of analytical knowledge or IT skills. These solutions are designed with simplicity of use in mind, which is why they are increasingly used by sales, marketing, finance and HR departments.

Among the key functionalities it is worth mentioning:

• Create dashboards without coding – Power BI’s intuitive interface allows any user to build visualizations by dragging data into the appropriate fields and selecting chart types.
• Asking questions in natural language (Q&A) – this feature allows you to enter a question like “What were your sales in March?” and immediately get the answer in the form of a table or chart.
• Sharing reports in Microsoft Teams and SharePoint – integration with teamwork tools allows for quick sharing of knowledge in real time.
• Mobile access to reports – Power BI Mobile lets you view analytics on your phone or tablet, which is especially useful for field workers and managers on the go.
• ETL process automation – tools such as Power Query or Dataflows allow you to automatically prepare data from various sources, eliminating the need for manual processing.
• Compliance and data security – BI Microsoft operates based on security standards compliant with GDPR, ISO and other industry standards. This allows companies to analyze sensitive data with confidence.

BI Microsoft are tools that meet the needs of modern companies – both those that are just starting their adventure with data analytics and those looking for enterprise-class solutions. Regardless of the size of the organization, the benefits of implementing BI Microsoft are clear: better decisions, faster reactions and more informed actions.

Who are BI Microsoft tools for?

BI Microsoft solutions are designed with a wide audience in mind – from strategic management to operational and IT teams. Their versatility means that every group in the organization can use data according to their needs and competencies.

Board and managers use Microsoft BI to monitor the most important business indicators on a daily basis – KPIs, sales results, profitability or implementation of strategic goals. Interactive dashboards provide them with quick and up-to-date insight into the company’s condition.

Business analysts use Microsoft BI tools for advanced data exploration, cross-sectional reporting, and scenario modeling. Power BI, Excel with Power Pivot, and Azure Analysis Services provide them with environments for working at multiple levels of detail.

Sales and operations teams analyze current results, identify trends and respond faster to changing market conditions. Mobile access and integration with Teams or SharePoint allow them to use analyses wherever they need them – in the office, in the field, during meetings with clients.

IT departments act as custodians of the data infrastructure and manage access to information. Microsoft BI supports them in controlling data flow, protecting resources, and ensuring compliance with security requirements.

Importantly, all of these groups use a single, common source of truth. Microsoft BI enables the construction of a consistent data model that eliminates discrepancies and ensures a uniform interpretation of information across the organization.

Security, compliance and access management

In an era of growing amounts of data and stricter regulations regarding their protection, Microsoft BI focuses on security and full control. The platform meets international standards such as GDPR, ISO 27001 and SOC, and also has certificates confirming compliance with regulations in the financial, health and public sectors.

Thanks to advanced permission management mechanisms, it is possible to precisely define who has access to which data – at the level of a report, table, or even a single record. Functions such as row-level security, data encryption, and data loss prevention ensure full information security.

It is worth adding that BI Microsoft solutions can be implemented within the national cloud, which is of key importance for institutions subject to local regulations regarding the location and processing of data.

Integrating BI Microsoft with other tools

One of the greatest advantages of BI Microsoft is its ability to integrate with other everyday work tools. Power BI works seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, SharePoint, and also with Excel – making it much easier to share analyses and knowledge across teams.

The platform supports hundreds of data source connectors, both cloud (Azure SQL, Dynamics 365, Salesforce, Google Analytics) and local (SQL Server, Access, Oracle databases). This allows companies to quickly connect to the data they already have – without having to create new databases from scratch.

The ability to embedding reports in applications, portals or CRM systems means that analytics can be where the work actually takes place – without having to move to separate systems.

How to get started with BI Microsoft?

Implementing BI Microsoft doesn’t have to be a complicated IT project. It’s best to start by identifying business goals – that is, answering the question: what do we want to analyze and why? Then it’s worth selecting the right components – e.g. Power BI for reporting, Azure Synapse for analyzing large data sets, or Microsoft Fabric for advanced integration with AI.

The next step is to prepare the data – to clean it, organize it and define the appropriate models. User education is also key in this process – training in the use of Microsoft BI tools significantly increases the efficiency of the entire organization.

The best implementations are those that treat BI as a process, not a one-time project. This enables continuous development of analytics – in rhythm with organizational changes and growing business needs.

Take advantage of the help of EBIS specialists

At EBIS, we have been supporting companies in creating modern analytical environments based on BI Microsoft tools for years. We carry out projects both for organizations that are just starting their adventure with Business Intelligence, as well as for those that need specialist support in expanding existing solutions.

Our experts will help you choose the right tools, guide you through the implementation process, and ensure that your organization grows based on data. Regardless of whether you are interested in Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse, or full integration with cloud systems – you can count on our experience and knowledge.

Contact us to see how we can help your company unlock the full potential of Microsoft BI tools. | CONTACT