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19th September 2024
This may appear to be a simple concept, and one that could at first seem too reductive. However, no matter what space, industry or market you operate in, a modern workplace is reliant on the successful storage, utilisation and analysis of all the data that it uses across the whole operation, every day. Knowing how to use this data most productively means being able to share it in a way that is instantly understood, accessible and actionable. In this guide we’ll look at Power Bi Pricing options to help you decide which is best for your organisation.
Microsoft Power BI is the industry-leading visualisation and analytics tool that works as part of the Microsoft Power Platform to deliver reports, dashboards and insights that power data-driven decision making in a simple and effective way. Maximising your investment in this tool requires an appreciation of the levels of Power BI pricing, products, and subscription, available to find out which is the best fit for your organisation.
The functionality and requirements of Power BI tiers can be difficult to navigate from a standing start. At BCN, our experience has shown us that working alongside a Microsoft Partner is the best way to make this journey as simple and valuable as possible.
Let’s take a look at these Power BI levels in an introductory way. This will arm you with the fundamental knowledge to drive any conversations with confidence, when trying to find a Microsoft Partner for your organisation.
This is geared towards individuals or small teams that need to build and publish dashboards and reports to understand and visualise their data. Sharing functionality is not supported, so the scope here is limited to more of a foundation for personal use.
This tier is great for companies looking for data sharing and real-time collaboration across teams and their members. You can publish, share and embed reports and dashboards to allow ad-hoc analysis and input company-wide. Integration with the suite of Microsoft products such as Teams and Excel is also supported.
This is where a larger scale and volume of report creation, collaboration and editing is catered for. Dedicated cloud computing resources look after the bigger capacity data modelling, with elements of AI and machine learning built in to continually improve and iterate. The data refresh rate is also significantly increased to allow almost real-time collaboration amongst users. This is all delivered on a price per user model for.
This is tailored towards Independent Software Vendors and developers that want to harness the value of Power BI functionality into their tools, apps and products. It offers embedded analytics, insights and data visualisation capability into existing custom products for their clients. The pricing structure is based in Azure resources used in a scalable way without the need for a per user model.
The support and experience offered by a Microsoft Partner can augment your own knowledge about your company data in a big way. Optimising your choices on current, mid and long-term overall business goals means getting your data strategy aligned, and that’s exactly where a partner offers incredible value.
Determining which Power BI services to take for your business should only be the beginning. A Managed Service Provider can ensure that your investment in Power BI is working as hard as possible to provide the data that allows you to grow in a measured, secure and future-proofed way.
Can Power BI be used for free?
Yes. A free version of Power BI is available for users to familiarise themselves with the fundamental functionality of data visualisation and explore its applications. However, if you do want to share your reports, integrate with other Microsoft products and access the additional business intelligence capabilities, you will need to upgrade to a higher tier.
Is Power BI similar to Excel?
The two applications of Excel and Power BI do share a core set of visualisation content choices through bar charts, line charts and pie charts. However, it is the advanced business intelligence capability and customisation of data visualisation that makes Power BI significantly more valuable for reporting and dashboard creation.
Will Power BI be replaced by Microsoft Fabric?
No. Power BI is an element of the Microsoft Fabric environment with the two able to work in an intuitive and integrated way. Licensing and applying the value of Power BI will continue as normal, with the added option of more AI driven analytics through Fabric.
BCN is always looking for ways to strengthen our clients understanding of the technology tools, products and services that their company relies on to succeed. As one of the very elite few MSPs that can boast accreditation in all six designations of the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, we know how vital it is that information is shared in a concise and engaging way.
Where to go next
BCN has a library of resources that will inform you on the value of Power BI. This includes real-world stories to focus on the product in action. It’s also a great idea to learn more about how we have been a big part of the Power BI journey for SMEs in this podcast. And when you’re ready to talk about your own Power BI journey, our team is always ready to listen and able to help.
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