New SQL Server 2012 BI tools

 “Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”- Buddha

In Microsoft’s case, try as they might to be cute in naming their new products that no one understands, BI professionals have uncovered key features. I bring this up because many organizations are Microsoft-centric. Microsoft doesn’t make it easy to understand how to fully utilize their technologies.
Microsoft will launch their newest version of the venerable database system, SQL Server 2012 (Online launch event) on March 7.
New tools in SQL Server 2012 that I found:

• SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) – the tool to develop database models, SSRS reports, SSIS packages, and more.

It will replace the Business Intelligence Development Studio (BIDS). Check out SQL Server’s Pro’s write-up.

• BI Semantic Tabular Model – Allows an analyst, as well as a developer, to create data models that can be published on SharePoint. In Microsoft’s vision (See in diagram below), developers create multi-dimensional models (cubes) and business analysts create tabular models.

Thanks to James Serra’s blog entry for clearing up Microsoft’s marketing mumbo-jumbo.

An analyst can design a data model by visually linking tables and writing DAX (Data Analysis Expressions language) formulas to encapsulate business logic.
Check out this slide deck
Check out demo

• PowerView -  PowerView is an interactive data exploration, visualization, and presentation experience. It provides intuitive ad-hoc reporting for business users such as data analysts, business decision makers, and information workers.

Features:

• Interactive, web-based report authoring & sharing
• Powerful BI data layout with new visualization
• Multi-view story board in tool, and Export to PowerPoint & present interactively with data
• Runs off PowerPivot BI data, or other SQL 2012 tabular models
• Smart and powerful querying, with zero configuration for filtering

Check out the Demo 1 or Demo 2