Still on MSBI ? You're not alone
You might be surprised by how many organisations still rely on the full MSBI stack. Despite the rapid shifts in the data landscape, MSBI continues to be a robust, reliable solution that delivers significant value to businesses worldwide. Its enduring presence is a testament to its strength—but is it enough for what lies ahead?
That question is even more interesting when we consider Microsoft’s Azure-based alternatives. Take Azure Data Factory (ADF) for example—does it meet your expectations? Are Synapse and SQL Server Pools delivering the seamless performance and scalability you need? For many, the answer is lukewarm at best.
Then there’s the question of cubes: MDX or DAX? Are you stuck with Multi-Dimensional cubes, or transitioned to Tabular cubes via Azure Analysis Services (AAS) or Power BI models? Excel users (sorry, Mac folks!) still find these features useful for self-service analytics. And while Power BI has emerged as a standout in Microsoft’s ecosystem, even it doesn’t solve every challenge posed by modern data demands.
However there is another solution, enter Databricks, a modern data platform that addresses a lot of the challenges when moving from descriptive to predictive and automated analytics. Like Obi-Wan Kenobi said about the lightsaber that it’s a more elegant weapon for more civilised times, Databricks is a modern tool addressing current and future data problems.
Why Companies are Looking to Databricks
Faced with these challenges, it’s no surprise that many organizations are turning to Databricks as their next-generation data platform. Databricks offers an open, unified platform that goes beyond traditional BI capabilities, making it possible to integrate advanced analytics, data engineering, and machine learning in one place.
Interestingly, many of our customers choose to retain Power BI as their primary data consumption layer while leveraging Databricks to power their data processing and engineering needs. This hybrid approach offers the best of both worlds: familiar tools for end users and cutting-edge capabilities for data teams.
Join the Conversation
Over the coming weeks, I will share a series of posts designed to help you navigate the shift from MSBI to Databricks. Through an opinionated mental map (attached), I will provide apples-to-pears comparisons, practical advice, and insights into building a future-proof data architecture.
These conversations may spark debate—and that’s a good thing! I invite you to join the dialogue, share your experiences, and explore new perspectives. Stay tuned for the next post in the series. Let’s chart this journey together!
Rafal Frydrych
Senior Consultant at RevoData, sharing with you his knowledge in the opinionated series: Migrating from MSBI to Databricks.