Microsoft Business Intelligence Tools for Excel Analysts

Book Description

Bridge the big data gap with Microsoft Business Intelligence Tools for Excel Analysts

The distinction between departmental reporting done by business analysts with Excel and the enterprise reporting done by IT departments with SQL Server and SharePoint tools is more blurry now than ever before. With the introduction of robust new features like PowerPivot and Power View, it is essential for business analysts to get up to speed with big data tools that in the past have been reserved for IT professionals. Written by a team of Business Intelligence experts, Microsoft Business Intelligence Tools for Excel Analysts introduces business analysts to the rich toolset and reporting capabilities that can be leveraged to more effectively source and incorporate large datasets in their analytics while saving them time and simplifying the reporting process.

• Walks you step-by-step through important BI tools like PowerPivot, SQL Server, and SharePoint and shows you how to move data back and forth between these tools and Excel
• Shows you how to leverage relational databases, slice data into various views to gain different visibility perspectives, create eye-catching visualizations and dashboards, automate SQL Server data retrieval and integration, and publish dashboards and reports to the web
• Details how you can use SQL Server’s built-in functions to analyze large amounts of data, Excel pivot tables to access and report OLAP data, and PowerPivot to create powerful reporting mechanisms

You’ll get on top of the Microsoft BI stack and all it can do to enhance Excel data analysis with this one-of-a-kind guide written for Excel analysts just like you.

Table of Contents

Part I: Leveraging Excel for Business Intelligence
Chapter 1: Important Database Concepts
Chapter 2: PivotTable Fundamentals
Chapter 3: Introduction to Power Pivot
Chapter 4: Loading External Data into Power Pivot
Chapter 5: Creating Dashboards with Power View
Chapter 6: Adding Location Intelligence with Power Map
Chapter 7: Using the Power Query Add-In

Part II: Leveraging SQL for Business Intelligence
Chapter 8: Essential SQL Server Concepts
Chapter 9: Introduction to SQL
Chapter 10: Creating and Managing SQL Scripts
Chapter 11: Calling Views and Stored Procedures from Excel
Chapter 12: Understanding Reporting Services
Chapter 13: Browsing Analysis Services OLAP Cubes with Excel
Chapter 14: Using the Data Mining Add-In for Microsoft Office

Part III: Delivering Business Intelligence with SharePoint and Excel Services
Chapter 15: Publishing Your BI Tools to SharePoint
Chapter 16: Leveraging PerformancePoint Services

Part IV: Appendixes
Appendix A: Understanding the Big Data Toolset
Appendix B: Considerations for Delivering Mobile BI

About The Author

Bernard Wehbe

Bernard Wehbe has over 14 years of consulting experience focused exclusively on data warehousing, analytics, and business intelligence. His experience includes data warehousing architecture, OLAP, data modeling, ETL, reporting, business analysis, team leadership, and project management. Prior to founding StatSlice Systems, Bernard served as a technical architect for Hitachi Consulting in the Dallas, TX area.

Jared Decker

Jared Decker has over fourteen years of experience in the IT industry and ten years of consulting experience focused exclusively on data warehousing and business intelligence. In addition to playing an architect or lead role on dozens of projects, he has spent more than five hundred hours in-house with corporations training their development teams on the Microsoft SQL Server, Tableau, and QlikView BI platforms. His breadth of experience entails everything from architecture and design to system implementation, with particular focus on business analytics and data visualization. Jared holds technical certifications in Microsoft (MCITP Business Intelligence Developer and certified trainer), Tableau Developer, and QlikView Developer and Trainer.

Michael Alexander

Mike Alexander is a Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) and author of several books on advanced business analysis with Microsoft Access and Excel. He has more than 16 years’ experience consulting and developing Office solutions. Mike has been named a Microsoft MVP for his ongoing contributions to the Excel community. You can visit Mike at www.datapigtechnologies.com, where he regularly shares Excel and Access tips and techniques.