The Acterys engine automatically generates optimal data warehouse structures either based on a variety of connectors (cloud-based accounting systems like Xero, QuickBooks, WorkflowMax, Dear Inventory, Hubspot, Salesforce, Saasu etc.) or completely from scratch when users build their own dimensions and cubes as required using the Acterys Cube Wizard, Web Modeller, copy and paste from Excel or by importing data via nearly any ETL tool ( e.g. SQL Server Integration Services, Azure Data Factory, etc.).
The simplest option is «Data Entry» which enables users to create simple new tables in Power BI. This is only available to report admins on the backend and doesn’t really cater for planning requirements as it is based on entering single records. Good for adding a new mapping for a few Power BI items but not usable for planning where you require multi-dimensional data (row/column/filters) entry not to mention more advanced options like top down/bottom, allocations etc.
PowerApps is another option -for users happy with a cloud setup- to collect a few specific numbers/KPI’s on the base level and add records to a database. If that’s all you require perfect. Our customers frequently use it alongside Acterys, but it is unsuitable for matrix based, planning and forecasting requirements. PowerApps also requires licenses that are available at a similar investment level to Acterys. Finally PowerApps do not support guest users outside your domain. In Acterys you can add any user with their email address or Microsoft Account.
In the planning process, users are dealing with complex data models that include among others: financials, sales, HR details , etc. as well as sophisticated calculation logic. Working with these requires effective (including the support of special financial report structures) tabular entry and the option of entering data on any hierarchy levels with the respective distribution and allocation processing. All this is not supported in PowerApps and that is not what it is built for.
In the following table we are outlining how the different options to enter data in Power BI compare:
Feature |
Acterys |
PowerApps |
Other Write Back Tools (Power on, ValQ) |
Getting Started |
|||
Initiation |
Cloud based self-service sign on/ billing | Download of an App or web service | Manual purchase (Power on) from vendor (no self-service checkout) |
Back end |
|||
Automatically generating optimal data warehouse structures |
ü | × |
× |
Processing write back/model changes in memory |
ü |
× |
× |
Connectors to cloud-based accounting systems and SaaS |
ü | × |
× |
Audit trail and edit history that tracks all changes (who, what, when) for exact monitoring & control as well as simple undo. |
ü |
× |
Limited |
AAD B2B support, single sign on |
ü | ü | ~ |
Front end |
|||
Modelling |
|
Limited to table edits (Power on), Power BI visual only (ValQ) |
|
Instant Link (Option to avoid ETL and link parts of the data model as opposed to physically moving data but still read/write enabled) | ü | × | × |
Planning / Writeback |
|||
Data Entry on Pivot Tables and Power BI visual |
ü | × |
ü |
«Splashing»/data entry on any level of the dimensional hierarchy |
ü | × |
ü |
Copy Wizard for data manipulation in Power BI & Excel |
ü |
× |
~ |
Write back on Excel report formulas in addition to Pivot Table |
ü | × |
× |
Comments |
ü |
× |
ü |
For further details on how the solutions compare and how Acterys can assist your business modelling and planning processes please contact us.
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