Will freemium model, new tools, connectivity improvements draw Microsoft Dynamics users to Power BI?

Microsoft has firmed up the details of its new Power BI preview. It includes a range of new connectors, including one for Dynamics CRM Online, new design tools and client apps, and new pricing including a free entry level option.

We looked at some of the capabilities of the new preview version in late December, including the new Dynamics CRM Online connector. The connector relies on the CRM Online OData feed to present new dashboard views with improved data refresh rates. The framework is still limited to standard entities and fields, so its utility in more sophisticated CRM solutions will be limited if taken as-is.

This week's announcement is perhaps more interested for the updated pricing model with free and paid level. In the US, people can now sign up for access to the free version without an Office 365 account.

The current Power BI preview highlights some key decisions in the product's future. More pre-built SaaS connectors (with more to come, including one for Microsoft Dynamics Marketing), an iPad interface, and improved connectivity to on-premise data sources. There is a new Power BI Designer to allow business analysts to model and visualize data, then publish the results to for use by others.

Microsoft also released a preview of Power BI for iPad. They will also introduce iPhone, Android and Windows universal apps, according to yesterday's announcement.

For Microsoft Dynamics customers, time will tell whether the enhancements shown off this week are enough to entice more uptake of Power BI. Improvements in connectivity to on-premise SQL Server Analysis Services and the iPad app ought to appeal to some customers. 

But the technology, including tools like Power Query, Power View, and Power Pivot, has been compelling for a while, as demonstrated by experts who have showed off the possibilities since 2013 in a range of webcasts hosted by MSDynamicsWorld.com. There is a lot power in these tools, but as others in the community have noted repeatedly in recent years, it is not the latest and greatest features that are holding many organizations back. Instead, they are still working toward embracing analytic tools and techniques that early adopters have long since embraced.

Still, easier access, more and better interfaces, improved collaboration, and simpler integration points can only help ease the path toward a tool and platform like Power BI. You can try out the preview in the US with just a business email address, and people in other countries will reportedly have the same opportunity in the future.