Sisense to Power BI migration for internal and embedded reports
Sisense to Power BI migration rebuilds your data models, dashboards and embedded views in Power BI, inside a Microsoft tenant that you own. Nothing converts on its own, so the work follows a plan. One of our consultants reviews each model and widget, decides what deserves a rebuild and then checks the results against the current system before people move across.
- Models redesigned first
- Embedded views planned
- Custom scripts reviewed
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What happens in a Sisense to Power BI migration?
Two layers move. Underneath sit the data models, which join tables and hold the logic. On top sit dashboards made of widgets and filters. Power BI has the same two layers, but it arranges them differently.
So we treat the model as the foundation. A Power BI semantic model works best as a star schema, with fact tables in the middle and dimensions around them. Then formulas from widgets become DAX measures in that model. Because measures live in one place, reports stay consistent.
The dashboards come next. Each widget maps to a visual, and dashboard filters map to slicers. However, some custom behavior relies on scripts or add-ons. Those need a fresh design, and we flag each one early. For example, a Power BI customer service dashboard may replace several Sisense widgets at once.
Six areas of work in a move from Sisense
The quote lists these areas one by one, so the size of each is clear.
Model inventory
We document every data model, its sources and its refresh pattern. Then we note which dashboards depend on it.
Star schema design
Tables get a clean shape for Power BI. As a result, measures run faster and filters behave as users expect.
Formula translation
Widget formulas become DAX. Since the languages differ, we test each measure against the old output.
Dashboards moved to Power BI
Widgets turn into visuals on report pages. We also add drill paths where users exported data before.
Embedded analytics
If customers view dashboards inside your product, we plan the Power BI embedding route and its capacity needs.
Security rules
Data security by user or tenant becomes row-level security, and we test it with sample accounts.
When is a Sisense to Power BI migration worth doing?
A change of platform should solve a real problem. Often the driver is a wider Microsoft strategy. For example, the company standardizes on Azure and Microsoft 365, and a separate BI product no longer fits the plan.
Skills are another driver. Power BI has a large user community, so hiring and training are simpler. Business users can also build their own reports on a shared model, which reduces the queue for the central team.
Still, the current platform has strengths, especially for analytics embedded in software products. Therefore we compare the embedding needs with care. If Power BI serves them well, the move goes ahead. Otherwise a split approach may be wiser, and we say that plainly. If you are still comparing tools, see our Power BI vs Sisense guide.
Points to settle before a Sisense to Power BI migration
Answer these six points early, because each one shapes the scope and the order of work.
- Which dashboards do people open weekly
- Where each data model gets its rows
- Whether customers see embedded views
- Which widgets rely on custom scripts
- How row security works per user today
- Who signs off the matching totals
Our four-stage route off Sisense
Each stage ends with your approval, and progress appears at a demo every week.
Free first call
First we listen for thirty minutes and look at a sample dashboard. You then hear whether the move looks sensible.
Scope in writing
Then a quote lists the models, dashboards and embedded views in scope. It also states what stays out.
Pilot model
We rebuild one model and its dashboards. Because results sit beside the old ones, differences show up at once.
Phased switch to Power BI
Finally groups of users move in turn. Each group gets a short walkthrough, so the change feels small.
Switching from Sisense to Power BI: key questions
Can Power BI replace embedded Sisense dashboards?
In many cases, yes. Power BI supports embedding reports in your own application, with your app handling sign-in for customers. That route needs a suitable capacity, and its limits differ from what you have today. So we review your embedding scenario first and point you to Microsoft's current documentation on the options.
Do the data models move across as they are?
No, and that is usually good news. A model tuned for one engine seldom suits another. Therefore we redesign it as a star schema for Power BI. The sources stay the same, but the shape improves. As a result, reports tend to respond faster and measures become easier to read.
What happens to custom scripts and add-ons?
We review each one. Some exist only to fill a gap that Power BI covers natively, so they disappear. Others need a new design, such as a custom visual or a different page layout. A few may have no close match. We list those early, and you decide how to handle them.
How do you check the migrated Power BI reports?
We compare them with the current dashboards, using the same dates and filters. Each key measure gets a written test. Your subject experts then review any difference with us. Because both systems stay live during the pilot, nobody has to rely on an unproven number.
Who runs the move to Power BI?
You work with consultants from Power BI Agency, a division of Sataware Technologies. The team is small and independent of Microsoft and other BI vendors. All work happens online in your tenant. We also reply within 2 hours and hand over every file at the end.
Let's build your first dashboard together.
Tell us what you report on today. A consultant replies within 2 hours with next steps.
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