Why BI?
Some describe Business Intelligence as a technology for processing large volumes of corporate data. Others consider it more philosophical; an attitude that business processes can be altered by data analysis. Whatever the formal definition, Business Intelligence is fundamentally about one thing… turning corporate data into useful information that facilitates better, timelier business decisions. This article details the Microsoft Business Intelligence Platform, the tools organizations, big and small, use to derive value from customer and employee data.

The Microsoft Business Intelligence Platform
The Microsoft BI Platform is primarily made up of two components, SQL Server and Office System. SQL Server provides the backend analytics engine while Office System offers a robust user interface. Together they represent a familiar infrastructure for building Microsoft-based Business Intelligence applications.

SQL Server 2000
SQL Server provides several tools for data storage and analytics. They include a relational database engine, data transformation services, and analysis services. The key components are:

Analysis Services
SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services provides a set of integrated, analysis services that include data-mining features and an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) engine. It is a tool designed for business analysts and application developers.

Reporting Services
Reporting Services is a new feature of SQL Server 2000. It provides a platform for creating, managing, and delivering real-time reports. Reporting Services offers a flexible reporting environment with numerous output formats. Information workers can build, publish and subscribe to specific reports; reports can be scheduled based on time of day or data changes.

Office System
Office System is the latest version of the Microsoft Office productivity suite. It includes new features that enhance the user experience for viewing and analyzing BI data. The key components are:

Rich Clients
Excel 2003 enables information workers to access and process BI results. It offers PivotTable capabilities in both the desktop product and web-based Office Web Component.

Collaboration Tools
Office System technologies like SharePoint Portal Server and Office web components provide employees with rapid, real-time access to BI data. BI portals provide teams with a common view of specific performance indicators.

Solution Accelerators
The Microsoft Office Solution Accelerator for Business Scorecards enables organizations to manage key performance initiatives through the presentation of key performance metrics. The Microsoft Office Solution Accelerator for Excel OLAP Reporting offers dynamic analysis and report creation. Both provide highly customizable software that provides an enhanced interface for metrics management and flexible reporting.

BI for Everyone
One of the biggest benefits of the Microsoft Business Intelligence Platform is that it extends the user base of BI tools from a small group of financial analysts to all information workers. This includes information users, information consumers, and power analysts. Compared to other Business Intelligence software tools, the Microsoft BI Platform offers the following benefits:

Better Integration
Traditionally, BI tools have required modifications to existing corporate databases to facilitate data retrieval. The Microsoft BI Platform integrates seamlessly with enterprise data repositories. It provides a single interface that connects multiple data sources, without requiring modifications? to existing applications.

Lower Total Cost
The Microsoft BI Platform lowers the cost of implementing a BI solution by leveraging familiar desktop and server based Microsoft products. It does not require a large initial investment in hardware or software.

Reduced Information Worker Training
BI tools have historically been difficult to use and have required extensive end user training. The Microsoft BI Platform leverages familiar desktop tools like Excel; this reduces the cost of training and allows for a broader corporate audience.

Better Collaboration
The Microsoft BI Platform integrates nicely with SharePoint Portal Server. This allows for a more robust publishing and data sharing environment. Peers can better collaborate around key BI findings. Real-time information can be shared at both the team and organizational level.

Conclusion
The Microsoft BI Platform offers organizations a low cost, end-to-end business intelligence solution. It is based on familiar tools and integrates seamlessly with enterprise data repositories. The Microsoft BI Platform offers organizations of all sizes the ability to turn corporate data into measurable metrics. Most importantly, it empowers decision makers to make better, timelier business decisions.