We all know that the evolution of big data technologies have driven smarter and more sophisticated business insights. From omnichannel solutions coming of age in retail, to the impact of customised algorithms whenever we click through to a social media site, business owners can now interact and engage with consumers like never before. The development of Microsoft Azure solutions, as we’ve been shouting about for quite a while now, marks the next evolution in customer insight, and creates greater opportunities for IT support providers, like LMS Group, to keep clients ahead of the competition.
Next-level business insights
OK, we’re not saying that better apps won’t come along, because they will. But, by placing more investment into its cloud applications than its traditional ones, like Office, Microsoft has set a new precedent in what we can expect from cloud-based capabilities and services.
Microsoft Azure Analysis Services is a fully-managed cloud platform service, aimed at all abilities and levels of interest. The technology has been around for a while: it is the engine in Power BI (which we love) and PowerPivot. The transfer of this proven technology into the cloud has merged its industry-leading tools with the accessibility of the cloud to create bigger and better business opportunities, wherever you are in the world.
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What’s so good about it?
Analysis Services has traditionally followed a technical business intelligence set up. This IT-led Microsoft solution achieves high-end scalability, and allows businesses to create business intelligence (BI) models that can be revisited and recycled throughout an organisation. Having this BI stored in a secure location which can be accessed by all your staff – technical and non-technical – enhances your ability to create cohesive messaging and strategy moving forward. As expected with an IT-managed programme, Analysis Services is also equipped with strong programmability and automation features.
Although businesses can currently access the engine through other Microsoft services – and Microsoft is unique in the fact that it provides seamless migration from the cloud and on-premises – what makes Microsoft Azure Analysis Services superior is that BI models can be deployed quickly across an entire organisation, which eliminates or significantly reduces manageability issues. Say you come across an unforeseen customer activity trend. Asking for a server used to take a few days or up to a week, even with optimum configurations and drivers on a virtual server. With this, you can spin a server in a matter of seconds. Succinctly put, speed is the real difference.
Users can still use Power BI to digest billions of rows of data into rich visuals to collect and organise, or send the data over to Visual Studio to develop it for any app or platform; only now it’s a fully managed, end-to-end cloud service. If you’re already using tools like Power BI to transform your business data, you don’t even need to abandon current projects to make the transition into the cloud as they work together seamlessly.
Why are we talking about this?
Like Microsoft Azure solutions, our primary goal is to allow staff to get on with their work, without the extra hassle of managing IT infrastructure and availability problems. Not everyone works in BI, but what is great about this Microsoft Azure solution is that you don’t have to be in a technical role to access and understand your business strategy.
As a provider of smart, strategic solutions to SMEs in the South of England, we’re always on the lookout for the newest innovations that will complement our IT infrastructure, telecom and connectivity services. On top of that, LMS Group is a Microsoft Gold Partner for ‘Small and Midmarket Cloud Solutions’ which gives us greater bragging rights and many more opportunities to deliver top level service.
As readers of this site will already know, the cloud improves continuity, productivity, accessibility and business security. What Microsoft has done is to take some of its most popular business software and transfer it to a cloud-based system with quicker and easier functionality and seamless migration. Billions of rows of data can be pulled into a visual graph within seconds to provide instant gratification and interactivity at the speed of thought in a single click. All this culminates into powerful insights that you can transfer to your business strategy.
Managing Director Luke Mead set up LMS back when he was 15 years old. His key specialities include cloud-based technologies and remote working, along with Microsoft Windows Small Business Server solutions.
From 2010 the business became LMS Group, and the company has continued to grow since. Starting from a one-man-band to a 10 person team, LMS Group is a Microsoft Gold Partner for Small and Midmarket Cloud Solutions, specialising in IT infrastructure, connectivity, cloud software and telecoms.