The document discusses the benefits of using Analysis Services cubes for business intelligence including aggregation management, a semantic layer, and a calculation engine that allows for faster and clearer calculations without correlated subqueries. It also outlines when not to use cubes, such as for pre-aggregation calculations, listing reports, write back functions, and business modeling scenarios. Finally, it provides an overview of Symmetry Corporation as an Microsoft partner focused on business intelligence consulting services.

1. Why Cubes?
Why Cubes?
Benefits of Using Analysis Services
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Speaker: Dan Bulos
Symmetry Corporation
Symmetry Corporation
July 2010
Mark Ginnebaugh, User Group Leader

2. Why Cubes?
Benefits of Using Analysis Services
Dan Bulos – bulos@symcorp.com
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

3. Why NOT Cubes?
I already know SQL
RDBMSs do everything I need to do
MDBs are not as mature
Cubes are hard
My SQL skills are translatable to other
vendors
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

4. Why Cubes are a Good Idea
Aggregation Semantic
Management Layer
Strategy Dimensions
Management Hierarchies
Maintenance Time Intelligence
Navigation KPIs & Metrics
Calculation
Engine
E i
Clear Formulas
Faster Calculations
Business Functions
No Correlated Subqueries
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

5. Aggregation Management
Aggregation Strategy
▪ What aggregates to create
Aggregation Navigation
▪ Query independence
Aggregation Maintenance
gg g
▪ Re-Aggregation following a change in strategy
Usage-Based Optimization
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▪ Logging of queries and aggregates used
Fast Aggregations
▪ No joins
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

6. Semantic Layer
Translation of data into information
▪ A layer between the DBA and User
Familiar terms
▪ Schema knowledge not required
Understands relationships p
▪ Dimensions, Attributes, Hierarchies
Represents the business p
p perspective
p
▪ Not the data
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

7. Calculation Engine
Clear Formulas
▪ Designed for the job
Faster Calculations
▪ Random access to data
Business Functions
▪ Time intelligence (e.g. Lag)
No Correlated Subqueries
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

8. MDX – The Good, Bad, & Ugly
The Good
▪ Best calculation language
The Bad
▪ No enough knowledge in the marketplace
The Ugly
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©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

9. Analysis Services
BI Dev Studio
Mgt Studio IntelliCube Client
Tools
BI Wizards
Analysis Services PPS
Data
UDM Mining
ADOMD
Integration Data Sources Views
Services Dimensions KPIs
Cubes
Measures Excel
XML/A
Calculation Scripts
Actions
Data Sources
SQL, OLE DB, ODBC,
Security Translation
Oracle, Reporting
Analysis Server Services
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

10. When NOT to Use Cubes
Pre-Aggregation Calculations
▪ Allocations
Listing Reports
▪ Data Dumps
Write Back
▪ Budgeting
Business Modeling
▪ What-If Scenarios
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

11. 3rd Party Options
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

12. PowerPivot
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

13. Symmetry – Who We Are
Founded in 1986
Experience Qualified Consultants: minimum 15
years BI, 10 years MS BI
BI is our Specialty
Expertise Business Solutions, not Technology
Consulting, not Contracting
ADAPTTM Design Methodology
Engineering PROOF Application Framework
Fastest B t POC/D
F t t & Best POC/Demo/Prototypes
/P t t
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

14. Symmetry & Microsoft
“Trusted”
“T d” “Technology”
“T h l ”
Licensed technology
to SQL Server group
Premier
Basis of SSABI
BI
Embedded with
PerformancePoint
Partner Frequent speaking
engagements at
dev team for 2 years MS conferences
“Teamwork”
Teamwork “Teach”
Teach
©2010 Symmetry Corporation http://www.symcorp.com

15. To learn more or attend a meeting: www.bayareamicrosoftbi.org
To inquire about sponsorship or speaking opportunities:
Mark Ginnebaugh, User Group Leader mark@designmind.com