BI Publisher vs BICS Visual Analyzer or Power BI

Question

Hello All,

As a tactical solution, we've a requirement to generate about 10 fairly complex dashboards/reports using data source solely as excel. We have various Oracle tools available in the organization namely

1) OBIEE 11.1.1.9.1,

2) OBIA HR Analytics 11g,

3) BI Publisher 11.1.1.9.1,

4) Oracle BICS with Visual Analyzer

5) Microsoft Power BI Pro

Using OBIA/OBIEE is main intent, but its going to take at least 6-9 months to properly model and develop the complex dashboards using a properly built Oracle datawarehouse/ETL etc.

So which tool to use BI Publisher or BICS Visual Analyzer or Microsoft Power BI or anything else as short term/interim tactical solution to make the data available as dashboards/reports using excel as a source & what are the key factors to consider including licensing.

Data volume is not more than a max of 20,000 records in one excel file

Thanks

Dhananjay

Thomas Dodds · Answer

Once your full solution is built .. what makes you think your users will undergo a second change?  From a leadership perspective this is a risky move ... furthermore - you will have to spend double effort to build the 'rules' ... do the same work twice?  Sounds like a management risk.

What is your plan when you have something that can be built in the interim that is difficult in the full solution?  or vice-versa?  Are you only accepting/vetting/approving requirements that can be satisfied by BOTH tool sets?

You might be better off changing the approach to the full solution such that you can regularly turn out content as you expand the offering ... then you've built ONCE and you've introduced ONE CHANGE - and you have NO TOOLS to SUNSET.   This approach also takes into account the fact that the EDW is NEVER done.  As long at the business changes the EDW needs to change - a business that doesn't change is dead.

Specific to OBIA (pre-built Oracle BI Apps):

* install OOTB
* configure OOTB
* load OOTB
* show business OOTB <-- uat
* vet requirements for change; prioritize and plan to release # items on given date
* configure OOTB + custom
* load OOTB + custom
* show business OOTB + custom <-- uat #2

^ happens in weeks, not months, and shows REAL progress

(assumptions:  you HAVE the right team in place and you have the infrastructure to support the effort) <-- applies to ALL EDW/BI/Analytics endeavors

Now having said that - if you are insistent on an interim solution - name it a POC and use the closest speedy tool to showcase and vet requirements -- never use it as anything beyond UAT/QA stage.

Dhananjay Papde · Answer

Yes we evaluated Oracle DV Desktop tool. Currently the plan is to use Oracle OBIA OOTB reports or customise them or use BICS. Problem with BICS is it needs a named user license and hence cost increases.

Community DW Integration · Answer

I'd specifically recommend PowerBI because of how simple it is now to connect with OBIEE data. Here's a video that shows how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXDGsgG_IUk

The app is still in beta but you can sign up here: http://bit.ly/2mefBis