In the previous blog post, we discussed some of the reporting solutions that Power BI offers. In this blog we shall discuss the remaining reporting solutions offered by Power BI, which are: on-premises data gateway, on-premises reporting with a report server, and Power BI report builder. We shall also dive deep into the differences between Power BI, Tableau, and Excel. Let us get started!
On Premises Data Gateway
On premise data gateway acts as a bridge between Power BI cloud and data that is stored On Premise (aka data that is not stored on cloud). Additionally, on premise data gateway can be used for other Microsoft Cloud services such as Azure Analysis Services, Power Automate, Power Apps, etc. There are three types of On-premises data gateway:
- On Premises Data Gateway– Allows multiple users to connect to multiple on premises data sources. This gateway is ideal for when there are multiple users that need access to multiple data sources.
- On Premises Data Gateway (Personal Mode): This mode only allows one user to connect to a data source that cannot be shared with other users. This mode can only be used with Power BI. Ideal for when only one user is creating reports that need not be shared with other users.
- VNet Data Gateway- It allows multiple users to connect with multiple data sources on a virtual network. Currently this feature is only available for dataflows 2, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Semantic Models, Power Platform dataflows and Power BI paginated reports.
On Premise Reporting with Report Server
Power BI Report Server is an on-premises solution that allows you to manage and access Power BI reports and key performance indicators (KPIs). Users can view these reports through web browsers, mobile devices, or email.
Power BI report Builder
Power BI Report Builder is used for creating paginated reports. Paginated reports are created for the purpose of being printed and shared. For example, invoices and financial reports. When you design a report, you are creating a report definition that specifies what data to retrieve, where it is stored, and how to display it. Power BI paginated reports use the .rdl file extension, whereas Power BI reports use the .pbix extension. In order to publish a paginated report in a workspace, you need to have Power BI in Premium capacity.
Power BI and Tableau are the two most popular business intelligence tools. We shall now look into some of the major differences between the two:
- Cost: Tableau provides many pricing plans to cater to different customers. These plans include Tableau Creator, Tableau Explorer, Tableau Viewer, and Tableau Server. Power BI, on the other hand, also has many kinds of pricing options, including Power BI Basic, Power BI Pro, Power BI Premium, and Power BI embedded. Flexible pricing plans are provided by Tableau, but it is more expensive.
- Visualization Capabilities: Tableau has more advanced visualization options; however, Power BI is more user-friendly.
- Customization: Customization will allow businesses to modify the tools based on their own requirements. Both Tableau and Power BI offer some customization tools; however, comparatively, Power BI is more suitable for creating quick and easy custom visuals. Tableau is more suited for those who need more detailed and complex visuals.
- User Interface: Tableau provides drag-and-drop functionality and data blending, and the user interface is easy to navigate. Power BI consists of different panes, including visualization pane, fields pane, filters pane, etc. These provide all the tools and options required to create and modify a visual. It is generally accepted that Power BI has a more user-friendly interface.
- Security: Both Tableau and Power BI provide users with robust security solutions, and users can choose according to their needs.
- Data Sources: Both Tableau and Power BI can be connected to almost all the different kinds of data sources. Additionally, both Tableau and Power BI keep updating their data connectors and support an equal number of data connectors.
- Supported machines: Tableau is supported by both Windows, Mac, and Linux. Whereas Power BI is only supported by Windows and not supported by Mac.
- Sharing: Tableau is complex when it comes to sharing resources. A workbook must be published to Tableau Server, Tableau Online, or Tableau Public before it can be shared. However, Power BI allows users to publish their reports in a secure manner and is more flexible than Tableau.
Both Power BI and Excel utilize the Power Query and Power Pivot. The two platforms work together very well both being created by Microsoft. However, they have some differences, which we shall look at below:
- Tabular reports: Excel is ideal for creating reports in tabular form, whereas Power BI has limited functionality when it comes to tabular reporting.
- Reports: In Excel, you can create simple, easy, but less attractive reports. Power BI lets you create more attractive, dynamic, and interactive reports.
- Connectivity: Excel has limited connectivity, whereas Power BI can be connected to virtually any data source.
- Duplicated tables: Excel allows you to display duplicated tables, whereas Power BI cannot display duplicated tables.
- Data Update: Data is not automatically updated in Excel, whereas it is automatically updated in Power BI.
- Amount of data: Excel cannot handle large amounts of data, whereas Power BI can handle substantial amounts of data.
- Processing: Excel has slower processing as compared to Power BI.
- Analytics: Excel has fewer data analytics options than Power BI.
- Availability: Excel reports are limited to a certain number of users. Whereas Power BI reports can be worked on by many users.
