The Gemini code-name for Microsoft’s new BI add-in for Excel and SharePoint has now been officially named “PowerPivot” !!
I just had a great chat with Rob Collie of the PowerPivot team about this product and I must admit that I am more and more optimistic about this application and about the potential for BI to move to the world of REAL users with REAL needs for advanced data analysis without the overhead of Analysis Services and DBA’s, etc., etc. At the same time when the need grows to the point where the “Big-Iron” needs to come into play PowerPivot will work just fine. Feel free to visit Rob’s site http://powerpivotpro.com/ ….
Of course I am excited about this from an Excel standpoint, but perhaps the biggest story will be in SharePoint instead. If so this cannot but help Excel’s legitimacy as a high-end analytical program and as part of serious BI solutions for business small and large.
It might just make us a little money too :-).
Dick
Dick Moffat's Spreadsheet and BI Blog 