SQL Server Reporting Services vs. Power BI

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When I think of Reporting, I think of the news. 



Throughout my career in Technology, I have encountered two Microsoft products, Power BI and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), both designed to serve the same purpose: Reporting. 

Today, I decided to delve into their origins and explore their respective strengths and weaknesses.

A Brief History on SSRS 

If you were to ask me, "What is SSRS?" before my current job, I'd probably just stare blankly and shrug my shoulders.

However, now I can confidently tell you that SSRS stands for SQL Server Reporting Services.

Here's a fun fact: It started in 2004 as an add-on for SQL Server 2000.

People really liked it because it could work with all sorts of data, such as tables from SQL Server databases, Excel, and XML files.

And you know what's interesting? Even after all these years, people are still using it.

SSRS Strengths

  • SSRS is better suited for generating paginated reports, such as invoices and statements.
  • Report subscriptions allows users to schedule reports which can be delivered automatically.

SSRS Weaknesses 

  • While SSRS can create basic charts and graphs, it lacks the advanced data visualization capabilities and interactive features that are increasingly in demand for modern reporting and dashboards.
  • For extremely large datasets, performance issues can arise, and optimization may be required.

A Brief History on Power BI

A fun fact about Power BI is that it was originally developed as an internal Microsoft project codenamed "Project Crescent."

The goal was to create a self-service business intelligence tool that would be easy to use for non-technical users. 

In 2015, Power BI was officially launched as a standalone product. 

It didn't take long for it to gain immense popularity due to its versatility and user-friendly interface.


PBI Strengths 

  • Power BI's drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to create interactive reports and dashboards
  • Power BI has built-in machine learning features that can be used to get insights from data. 

PBI Weaknesses 

  • While Power BI offers a free version (Power BI Desktop) and a relatively affordable cloud service (Power BI Pro), it can become expensive for organizations with a large user base. 
  • Mastering the full range of Power BI's capabilities can take time, especially for complex data modeling and DAX calculations.

Organizations often leverage a combination of these tools to address their reporting and data visualization requirements.

Resources 

SSRS vs Power BI
Microsoft Power BI Learning Path
Build an SSRS Report
Migrating Paginated Reports To Power BI

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