Power BI, it is a cloud-based business analytics service for non-technical business users. With just a browser or a Power BI mobile app, you can keep a pulse on your business via live operational dashboards or explore business data through interactive visual reports.
Recent new Power BI capabilities, including dashboards, new visualizations, support for popular software-as-a-service applications, a native iPad app and live “hybrid” connectivity to on-premises SQL Server Analysis Services tabular models.
Dynamics CRM Online connector. This new connector relies on the CRM Online OData feed to present new dashboard views with improved data refresh rates. The framework is still limited to standard entities and fields, so its utility in more sophisticated CRM solutions will be limited as-is.
Expect to see more pre-built SaaS connectors (with more to come, including one for Microsoft Dynamics Marketing), an iPad interface, and improved connectivity to on-premise data sources. There is a new Power BI Designer to allow business analysts to model and visualize data, then publish the results to for use by others. (free USA trials for now)
Microsoft also released a preview of Power BI for iPad. They will also introduce iPhone, Android and Windows universal apps
The technology, including tools like Power Query, Power View, and Power Pivot, has been compelling for a while. Easier access, more and better interfaces, improved collaboration, and simpler integration points will ease the path toward a tool and platform like Power BI.
