Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) is designed to expose database capabilities via SQL. It improves the analytics process by giving users real-time access to data from multiple sources. Data can be transformed, within applications such as Excel and PowerBI, into reports and dashboards. Excel macros and scripting languages like PowerShell can automate the creation and distribution of reports via email, web page, or as saved files.
Connecting data to applications that are familiar to users, such as Excel, saves time and the expense of developing interfaces in proprietary database-driven platforms. Modern web-based platforms also have performance and interface limitations that can be removed by accessing data directly in desktop applications. In this example, you can see the web interface is limited compared to the Excel sheet, which has additional formatting and filters applied.
Web Interface
Excel Sheet
Upon opening the linked excel , sheet is populated with current data almost instantly.
