Defining BI Using Microsoft's Tools

Microsoft entered the BI market when it released OLAP Services with SQL Server 7.0. It was a quiet entry, and Microsoft didn't gain much traction until its second BI product release, SQL Server 2000 Analysis Services. Since its first market entry, Microsoft has taken the approach that BI should not be for the few (business analysts and possibly executives) but for everyone in the organization. This is a key differentiator from competing BI product suites. One implementation of this differentiation is Microsoft's focus on integrating support for SSAS into its Office products—specifically Excel. Excel can be used as a SSAS client at a much lower cost than third-party client tools. The tools and products Microsoft has designed to support BI have been targeted very broadly. In typical Microsoft fashion, they've attempted to broaden the BI usage base with each release.