ChatGPT is on Air today – we explore Microsoft Power BI Reporting tool

Happy to see you here – on our experimental blog post!

We invited ChatGPT (thanks for coming, bro!) to address the most common questions in some of our areas of expertise.

Today we asked the bot to share some thoughts on Power BI tool, which we widely use in our clients’ projects. Below, we covered various topics from Power BI pricing and its competitors through its technical capabilities and options to embed into your custom solutions.

Disclaimer! The answers provided as is – and, by the way, they are not legal advice! Do your own research.

There’s just one question that we helped ChatGPT to be fair enough with – find it and get a reward 😊 

Let’s kick it off.

• What is the best reporting tool?
• What companies use what reporting tools?
• What do you think specifically about Power BI reports?
• Can you provide more examples and details of Power BI usage?
• What systems Power BI can pull data from?
• How can a user view and explore Power BI dashboards?
• Can I embed live Power BI report into my custom website?
• Can a power bi reports be viewed through a SharePoint portal?
• Can the third-party authorization be used to view Power BI reports?
• How else can I use Power BI API?
• What are pros and cons of Power BI?
• What is Power BI pricing model?
• What company to entrust your Power BI project to?

There is no one “best” reporting tool that suits every need and organization, as each tool has its strengths and weaknesses. The best reporting tool for you depends on your specific requirements and the type of data you need to analyze. However, here are some of the most popular reporting tools on the market:

Power BI is a popular business intelligence tool that allows users to connect to a wide range of data sources, create data models, and generate interactive visualizations and reports. It is known for its ease of use and can be used by both technical and non-technical users. 

Tableau is another widely used business intelligence tool that is known for its powerful data visualization capabilities. It offers a range of features for creating interactive dashboards, reports, and visualizations. However, it can be more complex to use than Power BI.

Looker Studio, formerly Google Data Studio, is a free reporting tool from Google that allows users to create custom reports and dashboards using data from a variety of sources, including Google Analytics, Google Sheets, and other databases. It is a good option for smaller businesses or users with limited budgets. 

Crystal Reports is a reporting tool that allows users to create custom reports from a variety of data sources. It is particularly popular for creating complex reports and has been used in a wide range of industries. 

QlikView is a business intelligence tool that allows users to create interactive dashboards and reports. It is known for its fast processing speed and ease of use.

SAS Visual Analytics is a tool for creating reports and visualizations that is particularly popular in the finance and healthcare industries. It offers a range of features for data analysis and visualization, but can be more complex to use than some other tools.

Zoho Reports, also known as Zoho Analytics, is a web-based reporting tool that allows users to create and share reports and dashboards. It offers a range of features for data analysis and visualization, as well as integrations with other Zoho products.

Ultimately, the best reporting tool for you will depend on your specific needs, data sources, and budget. It is recommended that you evaluate multiple options and choose the one that best fits your organization’s requirements. 

The reporting tools used by companies can vary widely depending on a range of factors, such as the industry, the size of the company, the type of data being analyzed, and the specific requirements of the project. However, here are a few examples of companies and industries that tend to use certain reporting tools: 

Power BI is a popular reporting tool that is used by a wide range of companies and industries, particularly those that use Microsoft products. Some examples of companies that use Power BI include Heathrow Airport, JPMorgan Chase, and Shell. 

Tableau is a powerful data visualization tool that is particularly popular in the technology, finance, and healthcare industries. Some examples of companies that use Tableau include Amazon, Deloitte, and the Mayo Clinic. 

Looker Studio is a free reporting tool that is often used by small to medium-sized businesses, as well as marketing and advertising agencies. Some examples of companies that use Looker Studio include HubSpot, Lonely Planet, and Wix.

Crystal Reports is a reporting tool that is widely used in the manufacturing, healthcare, and financial services industries. Some examples of companies that use Crystal Reports include Cargill, John Deere, and TD Bank.

QlikView is a reporting tool that is often used by large enterprises and is particularly popular in the healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing industries. Some examples of companies that use QlikView include Cisco Systems, Credit Suisse, and Siemens. 

SAS Visual Analytics is a reporting tool that is widely used in the finance, healthcare, and retail industries. Some examples of companies that use SAS Visual Analytics include Walgreens, Bank of America, and Cigna. 

Zoho Reports is a web-based reporting tool that is often used by small to medium-sized businesses. Some examples of companies that use Zoho Reports include RE/MAX, BMW, and Pearson. 

Power BI reports are a great way to present data visually and make it easy for users to gain insights quickly. Power BI has a great selection of tools and visuals that allow for easy customization and sharing. It also integrates with other data sources and applications, making it easier for organizations to pull in data from multiple sources.

Overall, Power BI is a great tool for understanding data and making decisions. 

Power BI reports can include visualizations such as graphs, charts, maps, and more. They can also include visuals with detailed descriptions, such as drill-down reports. 

Power BI dashboards are collections of visuals that tell a story about the data. They can be used to monitor, analyze, and track performance of business processes and operations. They often include visuals such as bar charts, line graphs, pies, and other visuals. 

Power BI scorecards are collections of visuals that measure performance against a set of goals or metrics. They can inform decision making and can be used to track progress and identify areas of improvement. Scorecards often include visuals such as KPI gauges, sparklines, and other visuals.  

Power BI reports and apps are interactive experiences that enable users to explore data and discover trends and insights. They often include visuals such as tables, matrices, and scatter charts. They can be used to share data and insights to a wider audience. 

Power BI can pull data from various sources including: 

• Microsoft Excel 
• Microsoft SQL Server 
• Microsoft Azure 
• Microsoft Access 
• Oracle Database 
• SAP HANA 
• SAP Business Warehouse 
• Teradata 
• Amazon Redshift 
• Google BigQuery 
• Cloudera Impala 
• Hortonworks Hive 
• IBM DB2 
• MySQL 
• PostgreSQL 
• IBM Netezza 
• Microsoft SharePoint Lists 
• Microsoft Exchange 
• Dynamics CRM 
• OData Feeds 
• Web Services

and more! 

A user can view and explore Power BI dashboards by signing into Power BI Service using a web browser or the Power BI mobile app. Once signed in, a user can explore shared dashboards, interact with visuals, and use the Q&A feature to ask questions of their data. Additionally, a user can create their own dashboards and reports or use existing templates or content packs.

Yes, you can embed a live Power BI report into a custom website. Using the Power BI Embedded API, you can programmatically embed Power BI report pages and visuals into your website or application. The API also allows for more granular control over the reports, such as setting the page size and adjusting interactivity settings. 

Yes, Power BI reports can be viewed through a SharePoint portal. Power BI supports integration with the SharePoint Online portal, allowing you to embed reports from the Power BI service into SharePoint pages. Additionally, users with SharePoint Online permission can create, share, and view Power BI reports directly in the SharePoint portal. 

Yes, it is possible to use third-party authorization to control access to Power BI reports. Power BI supports several authentication and authorization methods, including Microsoft accounts, Azure Active Directory, and third-party identity providers such as Google and Facebook. 

To enable third-party authorization for Power BI, you can use the Power BI Embedded service or the Power BI REST APIs. With Power BI Embedded, you can embed Power BI reports into your own applications and control access to them using OAuth 2.0 or Azure Active Directory authentication. 

With the Power BI REST APIs, you can also programmatically manage access to Power BI reports, datasets, and other resources. This includes creating and managing user permissions, assigning roles, and generating access tokens for third-party applications. 

By using these methods, you can ensure that only authorized users can access your Power BI reports and data, and that access is granted in a secure and controlled manner.. 

Power BI API can be used to build custom applications that interact with Power BI services and data. This might include:  

• Integrating Power BI content into external applications or websites  
• Creating custom alerts and notifications for Power BI content  
• Automating the creation and management of Power BI content  
• Embedding Power BI reports and dashboards in external applications  
• Accelerating data refresh times and performance  
• Simplifying self-service BI and data preparation  
• Creating custom visualizations and visuals  
• Integrating with external data sources. 

Pros:  

• Easy to use – Power BI requires no coding and has a user friendly interface. 
• Data integration – Power BI allows you to easily connect to various data sources. 
• Visualization – The drag and drop visualizations, filters, and other customizations allows you to create comprehensive reports with ease. 
• Scalability – Power BI can be scaled from individual users to large sized departments and organizations. 
• Real-time insights – Power BI offers real-time analytics and insights based on your data.

Cons:  

• Cost – Power BI is not the cheapest analytics solution and may be cost prohibitive for some users. 
• Complexity – The complex nature of the platform may be intimidating for some users, and the steep learning curve may make it difficult to use. 
• Limited capabilities – Power BI has limited capabilities when it comes to statistical analytics and predictive modeling. 
• Connectivity – Power BI is limited in terms of its ability to connect to certain data sources..

Power BI comes in two versions: Power BI Pro and Power BI Premium.  

• Power BI Pro is available on a per user subscription basis at $9.99/user/month.  
• Power BI Premium is a more comprehensive offering and is available on a capacity-based model, meaning the more users you have, the more you pay. Prices range from $4,995/capacity month to $20,000/capacity month. 

ISDK.