MS SQL Server Reporting Services
SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) has long been a robust, reliable, and highly flexible tool for creating paginated reports and standardized document outputs. Especially in organizations with complex approval workflows, regulatory requirements, or high-volume PDF and Excel generation, SSRS remains an important component.
Many of our customers have used SSRS for years—often as a core element of operational reporting. We continue to support these environments professionally: from maintenance and modernization to migrations and the development of new reports.
At the same time, Microsoft’s reporting ecosystem is evolving. With Power BI Report Builder, a modern, cloud-integrated successor for paginated reports is available today—fully compatible and designed for integration into Microsoft Fabric and the Power BI service.
We help you keep existing SSRS landscapes running efficiently, modernize them where appropriate, and transition step by step into the Power BI ecosystem.
Use Cases
If reports are to be provided through a report portal or embedded via a URL into custom applications, and the output primarily consists of tables and simple charts, SSRS is a suitable choice as the traditional reporting solution included with Microsoft SQL Server.
Paginated reports
A standard SSRS use case is paginated reports with interactive tables and basic charts. These reports can include database data, values from OLAP cubes in SQL Server Analysis Services, and results from data mining models. They are well suited for exports to print formats or Microsoft Excel.
URL embedding
If the built-in report portal is not used, reports—including parameters—can be accessed via URL and integrated into custom (web) applications. This enables the generation of business documents through reporting outputs.
Integration with MS SQL Server Business Intelligence
SSRS complements an end-to-end Business Intelligence / Data Warehousing solution built with Microsoft SQL Server components and supports an “all-in-one” approach.
Product Overview
Features
- Drag-and-drop report design
- Reports in HTML, PDF, and Word
- Support for chart creation
- Table and chart wizards
- Use of SQL and built-in expressions
- Embedding in custom applications via URL
Stable, predictable, established
- Mature technology with a clear structure
- Well suited for bulk reporting and mass document generation
- Strong fit for batch processing and scheduled exports
Flexible data sources
- Relational databases (SQL, Oracle, MySQL, etc.)
- Stored procedures, views, scripts, XML files
- Reporting on legacy systems or proprietary applications
Governance and security
- Integration with Active Directory / Entra ID
- Fine-grained permissions (folders, reports, items)
- Auditable and controlled reporting processes
Services
We support you both in designing reports and outputs and in the technical implementation and stable operation of reporting solutions with MS SQL Server Reporting Services and other Microsoft BI products.
We also help maintain existing SSRS reports and support teams in adopting Power BI Report Builder for paginated reporting scenarios.
Maintenance and enhancement of existing SSRS environments
- Review and optimization of existing reports
- Implementation of new requirements and layouts
- Performance tuning (datasets, caching, queries)
- Adjustments for regulatory reporting requirements
Creation of paginated reports
- Design of professional, print-optimized reports
- Implementation of complex document structures (invoices, customer reports, notices, forms)
- Export formats such as PDF, Excel, Word, CSV, or XML
- Integration of statistical evaluations and RDL expressions
Modernization and migration
- Assessment of existing installations
- Migration to modern data sources and current SQL Server versions
- Step-by-step transition to Power BI Report Builder
- Implementation of hybrid scenarios (SSRS on-prem + Power BI cloud)
Training and enablement
- SSRS workshops for administrators and developers
- DAX and data modeling training for the transition to Power BI
- Best practices for creating high-quality paginated reports
References
Over the last 15 years, we have delivered or contributed to reporting systems based on Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) across various industries and locations. In many cases, other SQL Server components such as SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) were also part of the solution.
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Generation of individual confirmations and information letters for insurance customers based on database data.
Insurance company, Vienna
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Generation of mandatory reports for financial products in exchange trading based on database data and additional XML information.
Bank, Zurich and Geneva
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Evaluation of questionnaire data for a large number of recipient groups with individually filtered, aggregated responses. Creation of individualized documents for teams, groups, and departments, including cross and comparative analyses within the organization.
Consulting firm, Munich
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Dynamic generation of invoices and quotations with SSRS based on Microsoft Navision.
Logistics company, Berlin
Frequently Asked Questions about MS SQL Server Reporting Services
In this FAQ you will find the topics that come up most frequently in consulting and training. Each answer is concise and refers to further content where appropriate. Is your question missing? Feel free to contact us.
When is SSRS more suitable than Power BI?
SSRS is a strong fit for print-optimized, paginated reports, bulk document outputs, and scheduled batch exports. Power BI, by contrast, is designed for interactive self-service dashboards.
Can existing SSRS reports be migrated into the Power BI ecosystem?
Yes. Paginated reports can be maintained and extended with Power BI Report Builder and integrated into modern cloud environments. A step-by-step migration is possible.
Which data sources are supported?
SSRS supports relational databases, stored procedures, OLAP models, XML files, as well as data from legacy or proprietary systems.
How is security managed?
SSRS integrates with Active Directory / Entra ID and allows fine-grained access control on folder, report, and item level.