In just a couple of weeks, I’ll be in Tampa, FL to launch the new BI Immersion experience. I’ve been teaching this class for several years, adding in elements relevant to the latest releases of SQL Server and Office that relate to BI along the way. Students have always been able to follow along with demos and I’ve even had students drive the demos in front of class as I talk them through the steps. But I thought it was time to shake things up a bit and add in another component for some added hands-on experience.

The addition of a hands-on portion of the class means some of the topics we used to cover in class are gone – like installation and configuration of BI components. I used the feedback from prior classes to determine what should go and what should stay. The result is still a great comprehensive class that teaches you everything you need to know about working with the Microsoft BI stack.

And of course, if you have questions about the things I left out, all you have to do is ask! Another benefit of attending BI Immersion is that we get to hang out and talk over lunch and during some of the evening networking activities.

What’s in the class?

A lot. Your brain will be full by the end of the week. I promise.

We start with an overview of relational data warehousing and then move into using Integration Services to populate a staging environment and a data warehouse. We’ll talk about maintaining and tuning packages. Then we build a cube using Analysis Services to consume that data warehouse and learn how to tune the performance of cubes, for both processing and querying. We’ll also review the differences between multidimensional and tabular models in Analysis Services and learn the basics about the languages that each model uses, MDX and DAX. We wrap up the week with a review of presentation layer tools: Reporting Services, Excel, and Power BI.

You can find the complete agenda HERE.

Why should you go?

You will learn a lot of things about Microsoft BI. Not just features and functions, but how to get started on a new project, how to pick the right technology for your solution, and how to avoid the perils and pitfalls that certain approaches can create. I’ve been working with Microsoft BI for a very long time (since 2000) and have helped clients in all kinds of industries build BI solutions that work. I haven’t learned how to perform the Vulcan Mind Meld yet, but this class is the next best thing!

But that’s just my opinion. What have past students said about the class?

  • Relational Data Warehousing/SSIS

I’ve been in and out of BI since 1999 and a surprising amount of this seemed new.

Loved the interactive modeling exercise!

Relational Data Warehousing/SSIS

  • SSAS

It finally made sense to me.

  • MDX

This was all new and gave me a great starting point. Thx!

I had basic understanding of MDX before going to this class. The light bulb came on after Stacia explained the key of MDX.

  • SSRS / Excel / PowerPivot

Great coverage of BI presentation layer at an understandable level.

  • Overall Class

A lot of info to hold in my brain.

Best class so far on BI. I learned so much more here than [from a competitor].

Great tips and tricks. Like the pragmatic/common sense/non-marketing approach.

Very informative and relative to the real world.

BI is a huge topic and Stacia does an excellent job hitting every major area…I would highly recommend this class. The first training session I’ve attended that took full advantage of my time away from the office. This was money well spent.

Any presenter can teach someone how to use a tool, but how best to use that tool to interact with the business in order to have a successful implementation that you’re confident business can adopt is what set this apart.

How can you sign up?

There’s still time to sign up for the Tampa class which runs Monday to Friday, February 10-14. All you have to do is click HERE.