Data analytics tools have become the backbone of decision-making and operational efficiency. Microsoft’s Power BI remains one of the most widely adopted analytics platforms, largely due to its bundling with Microsoft 365. On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer—an analytics powerhouse that’s “free” with your existing Microsoft license.
But as many users quickly realise, free doesn’t always mean cost-effective. The deeper you go, the more you hit hidden costs, performance bottlenecks, and governance challenges.
So, is Power BI the right solution for your data strategy in 2025 and beyond? Let’s break it down.
What Makes Power BI So Popular?
Power BI has gained massive traction because it fits seamlessly into the Microsoft ecosystem. Its strengths include:
✅ Easy integration with Microsoft 365, Azure, and SQL Server
✅ A familiar interface that feels like an upgraded version of Excel
✅ Visually appealing dashboards that offer interactive data visualisation
✅ Self-service reporting that allows users to explore data without relying on IT
✅ A growing AI & automation feature set
It’s no surprise that businesses heavily invested in Microsoft are drawn to Power BI. But once you move beyond simple reports and dashboards, the cracks begin to show.
The Hidden Costs and Challenges of Power BI
Power BI isn’t as “free” as it appears. The more you scale, the more you pay—and the more complex your data gets, the harder it becomes to manage.
1. Licensing Costs Quickly Escalate
While Power BI Desktop is free, most businesses outgrow it fast. To share reports securely across teams, you need Power BI Pro (£8.20 per user/month) or Power BI Premium (£4,995 per capacity/month).
For mid-market businesses, costs can skyrocket as user numbers grow—especially if you’re managing large datasets that require the premium tier.
2. Performance Bottlenecks
Power BI struggles with large-scale data models. Common pain points include:
⚠️ Slow load times when dealing with millions of rows
⚠️ Desktop application limits, forcing you to publish to the cloud for better performance
⚠️ Governance headaches, as multiple users create duplicate reports and disconnected data models
3. Data Governance & Security Gaps
A major challenge for businesses is data sprawl—where different teams create their own Power BI models with no centralised control. This leads to:
❌ Inconsistent KPIs (because different reports use different data definitions)
❌ Version control issues (multiple copies of reports floating around)
❌ Compliance risks, especially for highly regulated industries
Without proper governance, Power BI can become a reporting free-for-all, making data less trustworthy rather than more useful.
How Motio Can Help Fix Power BI’s Shortcomings
If Power BI is already embedded in your business, you don’t have to scrap it—you just need the right governance and optimisation tools to make it work at scale.
That’s where Motio comes in.
As an official Motio partner, assimil8 helps businesses streamline, secure, and optimise their Power BI environments.
🔹 Automate report governance and eliminate duplicate datasets
🔹 Improve version control to avoid multiple conflicting reports
🔹 Optimise performance so dashboards load faster and run more efficiently
🔹 Ensure compliance by securing data models and enforcing governance best practices
If you’re already using Power BI but struggling with performance, governance, or spiralling costs, our team can help bring order to the chaos.
Should You Look Beyond Power BI?
Power BI works well for many businesses—but it’s not the only analytics tool worth considering. If you’re feeling trapped by licensing costs or need more advanced, AI-driven analytics, it might be time to explore alternatives like ThoughtSpot, Tableau, or IBM Cognos Analytics.
At assimil8, we take a tech-agnostic approach. That means we don’t push one tool over another—we find the best analytics solution for you based on your actual needs.
Power BI: Keep It or Move On? Let’s Talk.
If you’re using Power BI and hitting roadblocks, or if you’re considering analytics options but don’t know where to start, we can help.
💡 Want to make Power BI work better for you? Let’s optimise it.
💡 Not sure if Power BI is the right fit? We’ll guide you through alternatives.
💡 Struggling with governance and performance? We’ll help fix it.
📩 Get in touch with us today to discuss your analytics strategy for 2025 and beyond.
