Microsoft has November 18th 2009 released a number of public Betas of new versions of their "Business Intelligence Suite". There will not be released Danish Betas, thus the Danish versions of SharePoint and Office cannot be seen when released "the first half of 2010". [ed. Note: the international editions of the products are released, respectively at the end of April and early may, 2010 in "release to Manufacturing" – Danish versions are not yet available per May 13th 2010].
Links
Introduction to SharePoint 2010
Introduction to SQL Server 2008 R2
Introduction to Office 2010
ebs.dk’ assessment and recommendations
It is ebs.dk' assessment that Microsoft with these new versions has moved another step closer to realization of the sales slogan / the vision "BI for the masses". The improvements and new features are so significant that even relatively simple BI-projects would accrue benefits by already now to
1. Prepare new solutions for the use of the new versions
2. Plan upgrade existing solutions
3. If the business conditions and requirements permits, base new solutions to the new versions.
At the same time the backward compatibility with very few exceptions - see below - comprehensive. If the existing solution is based on best practice recommendations upgrade projects can be implemented relatively painless.
All products are in particular with regard to collaboration features and integration improved significantly. Amongst other because of that, Microsoft new BI-Suite "2008R2/2010" offers better BI.
All products have been added a number of productivity-enhancing features. Amongst other because of that, Microsoft new BI-Suite "2008R2/2010" offers faster BI.
Microsoft has not yet released information on the exact mix of features covered by which licenses – nor on which existing licenses that can be upgraded to the new licenses. But it is ebs.dk' assessment that alone the long series of new functions that previously required the acquisition of additional |
Microsoft and 3. party product, as well as the productivity enhancements, will result in savings on BI-deployment costs. Amongst other because of that, Microsoft new BI-Suite "2008R2/2010" offers cheaper BI.
ebs .com recommends that the businesses already now plan to use the "2010" versions in BI projects based on Microsoft BI suite.
BI news highlights
SQL Server 2008R2
SQL Server is planned to be released at the same time as SharePoint2010, but have not been released in public Beta.
SQL Server 2008R2 should be seen as a special version targeting support for better business intelligence and SharePoint 2010. There is not yet stated an exact release date for SQL Server. [ed.: Released May 3rd 2010 in "Release To Manufacturing"]
The bi-improvements include:
1. faster and more scalable data warehouses
2. better reporting and analysis tools – in particular visualization, including enhanced support for geospatial analysis and presentation
3. "the self-service-BI".
Office 2010
The bi-improvements include:
1. improved integration to SharePoint with regard to document collaboration and content management
2. publication of all types of Office documents as services!
3. Excel PowerPivot support
4. Office WebApps 2010 makes it possible to work with Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2010 through a Web browser — without any Microsoft Office software installed on the client.
SharePoint 2010
The bi-improvements include:
1. Heavily enhanced metadata management (Content Types and Columns)
2. the well-known but heavily upgraded and more powerful Excel, and InfoPath services is augmented with Word Services, Access Services, Visio Services … All these services supports the ability to update via Web browser – I.e. without the user needing an Office client
3. Excel PowerPivot – many times more efficient pivot tables – supports the user’ access via Web browser to perform sophisticated analyses. |