Analysis Services is a free module that ships with Microsoft SQL Server. Analysis Services is Microsoft's offering in the OLAP arena, competing against products like Arbor Essbase.

Analysis Services offers many advantages over competing products, not least the level of integration that can be achieved with Microsoft Office. Cubes can be designed and implemented very quickly providing a unique way of looking at your data through tools like MS Excel.

Analysis Services lends itself to analysing data such as sales statistics, financial information and web site statistics. It is commonly used as a financial modelling tool, providing accountants with a flexible view of accounts.

Dean & Hilton has many years of experience with Analysis Services, having produced solutions to analyse financials, property information and website statistics.

Analysis Services is free with SQL Server and therefore an obvious choice for firms wishing to make use of OLAP technologies.