Slash Your BI Costs: How Power BI HUB Is Revolutionizing Financial Reporting Efficiency

Are you contemplating the acquisition of Power BI but are deterred by the high licensing costs associated with each user? In the current landscape, which is heavily influenced by data, many organizations tend to overlook the often significant hidden costs that are associated with conventional business intelligence (BI) platforms.

However, Power BI HUB offers a compelling alternative that addresses these concerns effectively. By eliminating the burdensome licensing models that can strain budgets, it significantly reduces the reliance on IT departments, thereby streamlining the entire reporting workflow process.

The differences between Power BI and Power BI HUB:

Feature/Aspect	Power BI	Power BI HUB
Purpose	A Microsoft tool for data analysis, visualization, and reporting.	A cloud-based web application by onpoint for sharing, viewing, and managing Power BI reports.
Licensing Costs	Requires per-user licensing (e.g., Power BI Pro: $14/user/month).	No per-user licensing fees; operates on a flat monthly/annual subscription.
Report Creation	Users create their own reports using Power BI Desktop or through IT teams.	Reports are created and managed by onpoint, with new reports provided every other month.
Customization Options	Full customization of reports by users with technical skills.	Admin users can modify reports (e.g., colors, filters) to align with corporate identity.
IT Dependency	Often requires IT support for report creation and maintenance.	Minimal IT involvement; onpoint handles report preparation and management.
Sharing Capabilities	Sharing is limited to licensed users within the organization.	Allows sharing with external stakeholders via password-protected URLs with expiration settings.
Integration	Seamless integration with Microsoft tools like D365 Business Central, Excel, and Azure.	Built on Microsoft Power BI Embedded; integrates with ERP systems like D365 Business Central and accounting software.
Infrastructure Requirements	May require infrastructure setup for on-premises solutions or additional cloud costs.	Fully cloud-based, deployed via Microsoft Azure—no additional infrastructure needed.
Security Features	Includes data encryption, role-based access control, and Microsoft MFA/SSO.	Similar security features (MFA/SSO) plus enhanced control over external sharing permissions.
Target Audience	Data analysts, business intelligence professionals, and organizations needing in-depth analytics capabilities.	Businesses seeking a cost-effective, hands-off reporting solution with simplified sharing and collaboration features.
Scalability	Scales well but incurs higher costs as more users are added.	Scales without additional user costs due to its flat subscription model.

The High Costs of Traditional BI Solutions

Business intelligence has become non-negotiable for companies seeking competitive advantage. However, as organizations deepen their commitment to data-driven decision making, many experience significant sticker shock from the mounting costs of traditional BI implementations.

As Gartner notes, license costs represent "only a small portion of overall cost of ownership."The reality is far more complex, with hidden expenses lurking beneath the surface—integration challenges, ongoing maintenance fees, infrastructure requirements, specialized IT support, and extensive training needs all contribute to the actual cost of traditional BI solutions.

This is where Power BI HUB creates a significant advantage—by dramatically reducing costs while enhancing analytical capabilities and democratizing data access across organizations.

The Hidden Costs of Traditional BI Tools

Traditional business intelligence platforms carry numerous costs that frequently go unacknowledged during the procurement process. Understanding these hidden expenses is crucial for organizations seeking to optimize their analytics investment:

Some solutions charge upwards of $1,000 per desktop license, creating a significant barrier to widespread adoption. This constrains the very purpose of business intelligence—to democratize data access across the organization.

The journey from purchase to production with traditional BI tools is both lengthy and costly. Research indicates that the actual cost of BI implementation frequently amounts to $5 for every $1 spent on software.

For a typical departmental BI implementation costing $150,000 in software, this translates to approximately $750,000 in additional implementation expenses.

Traditional BI platforms typically require specialized technical expertise, creating a dependency on IT resources for everything from data preparation to report development.

According to industry analyses, the typical development cycle for a medium-complexity report—involving two data sources, multiple joins, several facts and dimensions—requires approximately four person-days of effort.

At loaded salary rates of approximately $460 per day for an internal FTE or $800 per day for an external contractor, even a single report development cycle costs between $1,840 and $2,520.

Why Businesses Should Switch to Power BI HUB Now

The business intelligence landscape is transforming, with Power BI HUB leading the way to more affordable and effective analytics. Organizations relying on costly BI solutions on Business Central or other platform risk a competitive disadvantage as rivals adopt more cost-effective options that yield better results.

As data volumes and analytics demand rise, the cost gap between Power BI HUB and traditional solutions is expected to widen.

Early adopters of Power BI HUB gain competitive advantages through cost savings and enhanced analytics. As your organization can access advanced analytics, questioning the viability of expensive legacy BI platforms.

Transitioning to Power BI HUB may significantly lower costs and improve insights, making it a crucial step in transforming business intelligence.

How Power BI HUB Optimizes Financial Reporting Without IT Complexity

Power BI HUB addresses these challenges head-on by offering a streamlined solution that eliminates licensing fees and minimizes IT dependency while delivering robust reporting capabilities:

Cloud-Based and Turnkey Setup

• No Installation or Licensing Hassles: The Power BI HUB is accessed through a cloud-based web application—meaning there's no need for complex installations or expensive per-user licenses. onpoint manages the complete setup, including account configuration, user uploads, and the establishment of user groups tailored to your company's specific needs. This removes the traditional IT burden of software deployment and licensing management.

Automated Reporting and Regular Updates

• Scheduled and Automated Report Delivery: Instead of waiting for IT to generate or update reports, Power BI HUB delivers a new, professionally prepared report every other month. This automated, regular update cycle ensures your financial reporting remains current and relevant without any manual intervention, allowing your teams to focus on analysis rather than data wrangling.

User Empowerment with Minimal IT Dependency

• Self-Service and Customization: While IT typically handles report creation in traditional systems, Power BI HUB empowers business users by offering a hands-off approach where finished reports are readily available. For organizations that desire more control, an admin user can be designated to tweak reports (such as adjusting colors, chart types, or filters) without requiring full IT support. This dual approach means that your team can opt for complete convenience or a bit more customization, significantly reducing IT bottlenecks.

Seamless Integration and Security

• Integrated with Modern Technologies: The HUB leverages Microsoft Power BI Embedded and is deployed on Microsoft Azure, ensuring that data integration is smooth and secure. User authentication is managed through robust methods like Microsoft MFA and SSO, along with Azure Active Directory B2B for user management. This integrated approach means that not only is IT complexity reduced, but security and compliance are also maintained at high standards without added IT overhead.

Tailored Solutions and Professional Service Management

• Custom Setup and Ongoing Support: onpoint, the service provider behind Power BI HUB, customizes the solution to meet your company's requirements. They handle all aspects of service management—from scheduled report updates to the customization of access controls (including options for password-protected sharing and limited access time). This tailored, full-service model relieves your IT teams from routine maintenance and troubleshooting, allowing them to concentrate on other strategic initiatives.

Ready to Transform Your Financial Reporting?

Don’t let IT complexity hold your business back. With Power BI HUB, you gain a cost-effective, hands-off solution that delivers real-time, accurate financial insights—empowering you to make faster, smarter decisions.

Take the next step toward streamlined reporting and ROI-driven decision making.Book a free demo today and take the first step towards smarter, data-driven workforce decisions..

Contact our consultant, Sára Stepaková, at sstepakova@onpointserv.com or visit On Point Services to get started.