PowerBI alternatives
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I read rnbergrens post below on PowerBI and wondered what alternatives there are? We have a couple of legacy application at my company that creates reports using SSRS. We need a new application that uses SSAS for the data, and the obvious choice for our management is PowerBI. I have never worked with it, so my personal choice would be Devexpress just because of impressive support. But what else is around? And why would you recommend it. BTW, is SSRS still a viable choice? And no, Crystal Reports is NOT a choice.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Jörgen Andersson wrote:
my personal choice would be Devexpress just because of impressive support.
I don't think Power BI and DevExpress are interchangeable. I don't know DevExpress reporting very well, but as I understood it offers a designer to create reports, like Crystal Reports, but done right. With Power BI you create dashboards with real-time data. Crystal Reports and DevExpress create reports and documents that can be used in your software, like invoices. Again, I could be wrong, but I haven't heard of anyone switching the one for the other and I know companies use both tools side by side.
Jörgen Andersson wrote:
And no, Crystal Reports is NOT a choice.
This goes without saying X| Unfortunately, I still have a client who's using it :((
Jörgen Andersson wrote:
PowerBI and wondered what alternatives there are?
To answer your question, sort of... A customer of mine is using Qlik | Analytics & Data Integration Platform[^] , and as far as I know they're happy about it. I haven't used or seen it though, so I can't say what it's like. I've seen Tableau[^] mentioned in this thread, which is also one of the bigger and more well-known alternatives. Again, can't say if it's good. After all, Crystal Reports is probably the most well-known reporting tool and still much used, and probably the worst pile of crap I've ever used X|
Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript
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I have worked in Tableau, SSRS, PowerBI etc... SSRS would be my personal first choice and it is still viable as far as I am concerned. unfortunately in my current job my employer has mandated the use of PowerBI which would be my last choice. Tableau is a solid choice but is pretty expensive. There are others. I have played with quite a few. These are the ones that stand out the most to me. PS I have been working in PowerBI for about 6 months now. I have had nothing but headaches for the simplest things. Like Data refreshing automatically. That was a huge pain. And the afore mentioned Hotkeys not working and getting on my nerves yesterday. Also, the lack of programmability to the interface(Powerbi, Visual Studio, Object model etc.. I would take anything at this point) PPS I have 4 on going reports/dashboards in production from production data in PowerBI so I am making it work. It is just ugly. PPPS I hate it when management makes a decision upon high about which tool to use. You don't tell your mechanic which tool to use. Don't tell your staff. Tell them what you want and let them make the decisions on best tools.
To err is human to really elephant it up you need a computer
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I read rnbergrens post below on PowerBI and wondered what alternatives there are? We have a couple of legacy application at my company that creates reports using SSRS. We need a new application that uses SSAS for the data, and the obvious choice for our management is PowerBI. I have never worked with it, so my personal choice would be Devexpress just because of impressive support. But what else is around? And why would you recommend it. BTW, is SSRS still a viable choice? And no, Crystal Reports is NOT a choice.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
What you really need is 10,000 nuns and orphans.
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I read rnbergrens post below on PowerBI and wondered what alternatives there are? We have a couple of legacy application at my company that creates reports using SSRS. We need a new application that uses SSAS for the data, and the obvious choice for our management is PowerBI. I have never worked with it, so my personal choice would be Devexpress just because of impressive support. But what else is around? And why would you recommend it. BTW, is SSRS still a viable choice? And no, Crystal Reports is NOT a choice.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Be sure what you actually are looking for. A reporting tool or a powerful, interactive business intelligence tool. As Sander said they are not the same. Stick with SSRS for static and scheduled reports (I applaud your disgust of Crystal) and look for a BI suite. The problem we had with MS offering was that it tied you into their eco system, you end up purchasing a number of different servers to drive the tolls.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
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I read rnbergrens post below on PowerBI and wondered what alternatives there are? We have a couple of legacy application at my company that creates reports using SSRS. We need a new application that uses SSAS for the data, and the obvious choice for our management is PowerBI. I have never worked with it, so my personal choice would be Devexpress just because of impressive support. But what else is around? And why would you recommend it. BTW, is SSRS still a viable choice? And no, Crystal Reports is NOT a choice.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
One thing to consider is, who will be creating the reports in the long run. If the reports will always be created by developers, then choosing a good, programmable reporting tool, like DevExpress, would be a good choice. However, if you plan to create an environment where also users will also be able to create their own reports, then the usability and proper metadata capabilities would be important. In such case why not PowerBI but you also have other options like Qlik, Tableau or even products like Cognos. They each have their pros and cons, depending on the requirements.
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I read rnbergrens post below on PowerBI and wondered what alternatives there are? We have a couple of legacy application at my company that creates reports using SSRS. We need a new application that uses SSAS for the data, and the obvious choice for our management is PowerBI. I have never worked with it, so my personal choice would be Devexpress just because of impressive support. But what else is around? And why would you recommend it. BTW, is SSRS still a viable choice? And no, Crystal Reports is NOT a choice.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
there is no issue using SSRS, you need to check which version you are using and what is the new version and how long its being supported by msft and how you plan to use it and if it covers you new requirement needs, powerbi you need to check how you will cover the deployment requirements and licensing etc since its cloud based etc or on premise ([Understand Power BI and Setup On premises Power BI Report Server - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS7WySSELKA).) power-bi is simple and there are lotta books and videos on yt etc that can get u started, you need to need to know some BI concepts in general plus analyze the end users requirements etc. (if you are looking for bi suites there companion of bi vendors)
Caveat Emptor. "Progress doesn't come from early risers – progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things." Lazarus Long
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I read rnbergrens post below on PowerBI and wondered what alternatives there are? We have a couple of legacy application at my company that creates reports using SSRS. We need a new application that uses SSAS for the data, and the obvious choice for our management is PowerBI. I have never worked with it, so my personal choice would be Devexpress just because of impressive support. But what else is around? And why would you recommend it. BTW, is SSRS still a viable choice? And no, Crystal Reports is NOT a choice.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Power BI is a step above MS Query, MS Access, Excel. Data analytics with "hooks" into various database systems. It's a query tool; which anyone can muck up if the queries are convoluted enough. Reports; charts; it has what users want to see. No "dragging or dropping" or "programming". BI is "on line"; SSRS is "batch". DevExpress is a "programming tool" for "programmers". BI is an end-user (desktop) tool; from easy to complex (power users). Give the users BI and listen to their feedback / get them started. And, it's free.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
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Be sure what you actually are looking for. A reporting tool or a powerful, interactive business intelligence tool. As Sander said they are not the same. Stick with SSRS for static and scheduled reports (I applaud your disgust of Crystal) and look for a BI suite. The problem we had with MS offering was that it tied you into their eco system, you end up purchasing a number of different servers to drive the tolls.
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity - RAH I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
Good point. I don't really believe our users are able to use interactive tools. They want ready made reports.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
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One thing to consider is, who will be creating the reports in the long run. If the reports will always be created by developers, then choosing a good, programmable reporting tool, like DevExpress, would be a good choice. However, if you plan to create an environment where also users will also be able to create their own reports, then the usability and proper metadata capabilities would be important. In such case why not PowerBI but you also have other options like Qlik, Tableau or even products like Cognos. They each have their pros and cons, depending on the requirements.
Looks like another vote for Devexpress. :laugh: Also see my response to Mycroft.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
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Jörgen Andersson wrote:
my personal choice would be Devexpress just because of impressive support.
I don't think Power BI and DevExpress are interchangeable. I don't know DevExpress reporting very well, but as I understood it offers a designer to create reports, like Crystal Reports, but done right. With Power BI you create dashboards with real-time data. Crystal Reports and DevExpress create reports and documents that can be used in your software, like invoices. Again, I could be wrong, but I haven't heard of anyone switching the one for the other and I know companies use both tools side by side.
Jörgen Andersson wrote:
And no, Crystal Reports is NOT a choice.
This goes without saying X| Unfortunately, I still have a client who's using it :((
Jörgen Andersson wrote:
PowerBI and wondered what alternatives there are?
To answer your question, sort of... A customer of mine is using Qlik | Analytics & Data Integration Platform[^] , and as far as I know they're happy about it. I haven't used or seen it though, so I can't say what it's like. I've seen Tableau[^] mentioned in this thread, which is also one of the bigger and more well-known alternatives. Again, can't say if it's good. After all, Crystal Reports is probably the most well-known reporting tool and still much used, and probably the worst pile of crap I've ever used X|
Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript
Well, Devexpress has both a Dashboard Server and a programming interface. But I have only used the latter.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
