Author: Angel Abundez | Today's executives and information workers want to use mobile devices to get at their business information so they can make critical decisions and thrive. Let's help them get there with SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) and SharePoint. Tablets and smart phones are ubiquitous, but are we making effective use of them? We'll discuss the design approach to launch mission-critical dashboards and reports on smaller screen sizes using touch-screen technology. We'll look at iPad and Windows Phone, SSRS, and SharePoint from the perspectives of BI developers and business users, with an emphasis on data visualization best practices. You'll learn about: • Current mobile apps that deliver BI on the Microsoft platform • Pros and cons of each delivery type • Resources for mobile BI development • How to design SSRS reports for mobile devices • How to design PerformancePoint dashboards for mobile devices • Administering cloud services for SQL Server and SSRS

1. Mobile Business
Intelligence
with SSRS & SharePoint
Angel Abundez
Lead BI Consultant
DesignMind
November 6-9, Seattle, WA

2. Angel Abundez
Business Intelligence Consultant, DesignMind
• Microsoft BI - ASP.NET – Tableau
• SQL Server since 2007
• SSWUG BI Author
• Co-Lead Microsoft Bay Area BI User Group
• Blog: http://angelsbiblog.com
• Twitter: @AngelStreamline
DesignMind
• San Francisco - California - West Coast
• Microsoft Gold Certified Partner
• SQL Server, .NET, SharePoint, Business Intelligence
• www.designmind.com
[BID-200]

3. Agenda
Options for Mobile BI
• Web Browser
• Native Apps
New Challenges
• Ergonomics
• User Experience
What makes good Mobile BI?
[BID-200]

4. Why is Mobile BI important?
33% of BI will be consumed on Mobile Devices by the end of 2013
(Source: Gartner)
Tablet and Smartphone Sales grow over 100% each year
(Source: ABI Research)
119M Projected Tablet sales in 2012
(Source: Gartner)
[BID-200]

5. Why is Mobile BI important?
Source: JenUnderwood.com
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6. Mobile BI Options – Delivery Platforms
MOBILE WEB BROWSER NATIVE APPS
SharePoint 2010 Mobile Reports Pro
• Performance Point Services
• Excel Services
• For iOS, use CU 2011-12
Build your own
SSRS Report Manager
• Limited Support for iOS devices 3rd Party ($$$)
in SQL Server 2012 SP1 • Tableau
• RoamBI
3rd Party ($)
• Mobile Entreé • PushBI
• DevExpress • MicroStrategy
• Strategy Companion
[BID-200]

7. Mobile BI Architecture Considerations
MOBILE WEB BROWSER NATIVE APP
Pros Pros
• Easier Cross-Platform • Multi-gesture Controls
Development and Testing
• Caching
• Low Cost. Fast Implementation.
• Pop-Up Menus, Navigation Tricks,
• Support for Authentication in IE,
Firefox, and Safari Screen Real-Estate utilization
• Got SQL Server? Quick mobile • Communicate with other apps
turn-around Cons
Cons • Unfamiliar Multi-gesture Controls
• Limiting Navigation and Screen • High Cost/Risk. Slow
Real Estate implementation
• Browser CSS rendering differences
• Cross-Platform app developers
• No cached data unless HTML5 needed
(Mobile Entrée‘)
• OS/Hardware Updates
[BID-200]

8. Mobile BI Development Considerations
SQL Server Reporting Services 2012 Performance Point Services
Pros Pros
• Pixel Perfect Layout/Customization • Consistent Look and Feel
• Advanced Visualizations (Bullet • Pre-built Functionality
Graphs, Maps, Sparklines, Data Bars) • Ad Hoc Visualizations
• Callbacks refresh dashboards
Cons
• Postbacks refresh report all at Cons
once. AKA Flicker
• Requires an OLAP cube to take
• Browser CSS rendering differences advantage of prebuilt functions
• Different developers, Different • Customization requires coding of
styles master pages/CSS
[BID-200]

9. SharePoint Mobile BI
Demo
November 6-9, Seattle, WA

10. Challenges in Mobile BI
Security Performance Real Estate
Design Cross-Platform
[BID-200]

11. Challenges in Mobile BI - Security
Security
• VPN
• SSL (HTTPS, SQL Server Encryption)
• SOAP/REST APIs
• Mobile Device Management (Zenprise, Symantec)
• Remote Control over Apps & Settings
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12. Challenges in Mobile BI - Security
Symantec SSL Assistant
• Install IIS Role in Windows Server 2008
• Generate CSR with Assistant and submit to Symantec upon Payment.
• Install SSL Certificate with Assistant
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13. Challenges in Mobile BI - Performance
Software Hardware
• SSRS Report Caching and • SSD
Snapshots • Cloud-based servers
• Minimize SharePoint • Dedicated Server Roles: Web-
Customization reducing Front End, Indexing, Database
roundtrips server, SSAS, SSIS, SSRS
• Data Warehousing (Columnstore • Cellular coverage and Carrier (LTE,
and Compression) HDSPA, CDMA) (AT&T, Verizon,
• Data Model and Self-Service BI Sprint)
(PowerPivot)
• SSAS UDM
• SQL Server 2012 BI Semantic
Model (OLAP or Tabular)
[BID-200]

14. Challenges in Mobile BI - Design
Report Item Actions
User Experience PerformancePoint Filters
• Highlight what’s important Scorecard Data Connections
• Filter where, when, whom appropriate
• Drill-Down/Drill-Through
• *Pop-up Menus (Native Apps)
Ergonomics
• “Keep to a rhythm of 44 pixels”
• Keep thumbs happy on smartphones
• Portrait/Landscape Modes
• Don’t forget Keyboard in Landscape mode
• “Be a Scroll Skeptic”
Features that can help
• Callbacks instead of Postbacks
• Lists instead of Tables
• Gradients instead of Solid Left thumb comfort zone
Source: Tapworthy: Designing Great iPhone Apps
[BID-200]

15. Challenges in Mobile BI - Design
Drill-Down
• SSRS Charts > Category Groups
• SSRS Tablix > Row Groups or Column Groups.
• PPS Filters and Data Connections
Drill-Through
• Opens up a whole new report showing transactional detail.
[BID-200]

16. Drill-Down/Drill-Through
Demo on Performance Point and SSRS
November 6-9, Seattle, WA

17. Challenges in Mobile BI - Design
“Multi-touch gestures are often forgotten…”
“Fingers are remarkable things. We can test
the weather, test the direction of the wind,
plug a leak, but not precision tapping on a
mobile device.”
“Keep to a rhythm of 44 pixel tap targets.”
“Keep the interface (technology) essentially
invisible.”
“Nobody wants to spend brain power
figuring out how your app works.”

18. Challenges in Mobile BI - Design
Source: Tapworthy: Designing Great iPhone Apps

19. Challenges in Mobile BI - Design
Bullet Graph Comparative Sparkline and Trellis Chart
Bar Chart Indicator

20. Mobi Reports Pro & Mobi SSRS
 View SQL Reporting Services
Reports
 Supports SSRS 2005, 2008,
2008 R2, 2012, Azure SSRS
in Native and SharePoint
modes
 Parameters support
 Drill-Down and Drill-Through
reports
 Navigate between multiple
reports quickly with
Bookmarks and History
 Print and Email Reports

21. SSRS Mobile BI
Interactivity Demo
November 6-9, Seattle, WA

22. Conclusion
• Microsoft has options for
Mobile BI
• Cost vs. Functionality vs. User
Experience will tell you which
platform
• Practice good Security
principles
• Fundamental BI and Mobile App
design (KISS)
• Making it easy for users is hard,
but the rewards for adoption
are great
[BID-200]

23. Learn More
Sources
• SharePoint December 2011 Cumulative Update
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh697482.aspx#part1
• SQL Server 2012 SP1
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj659023.aspx
• Prerequisites for Forcing Protocal Encryption with SSL Certificates
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-
us/library/ms189067(v=sql.100).aspx
• Jen Stirrup, SQL Server MVP UK
Jenstirrup.com
• Jen Underwood, Technical Evangelist, Microsoft
JenUnderwood.com
• Stacia Misner’s SQL Azure Reporting Services webinar
http://www.syncfusion.com/resources/webinar/sql-azure
• Mobiweave.com
• 5 Best Mobile BI Tips by Tableau
http://tableausoftware.com/mobile-business-intelligence
[BID-200]

24. PASS Resources
Free SQL Server and BI training Free 1-day Training Events Regional Event
Local and Virtual User Groups Free Online Technical Training This is Community
Learning Center
[BID-200]

25. Thank you
for attending this session and
the 2012 PASS Summit in Seattle
[Session Code] November 6-9, Seattle, WA