Adaptive Insights vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services comparison

Workday and Microsoft are both solutions in the Reporting category. Workday is ranked #11 with an average rating of 8.2, while Microsoft is ranked #3 with an average rating of 7.4. Workday holds a 0.6% mindshare in RT, compared to Microsoft’s 3.4% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Workday users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 85% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Adaptive Insights

Read 18 Adaptive Insights reviews

1,373 Views
302 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

Read 21 Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services reviews

2,287 Views
2,287 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Adaptive Insights

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 4, 2025

Adaptive Insights and Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services compete in business performance analysis and reporting. Adaptive Insights has a more modern approach to financial planning, while Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services excels in data integration and customization.

Features: Adaptive Insights provides robust financial tools, including budgeting, forecasting, and integration with ERP systems for a comprehensive approach. It offers cloud-based dashboards and tools like Office Connect for streamlined planning. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services shines with customizable reporting, integration with SQL databases, and advanced data visualization through its intuitive interface.

Room for Improvement: Adaptive Insights could improve in accommodating smaller business needs without extensive features and enhancing offline functionalities. Streamlining its user interface for less technical users might also be beneficial. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services needs enhancements in mobile report capabilities, support for non-Microsoft data sources, and simplifying the setup process for less tech-savvy users.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Adaptive Insights offers a faster cloud-based deployment with responsive customer service suited for dynamic environments. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services requires a more complex on-premise setup but benefits from strong documentation and dedicated support from Microsoft experts.

Pricing and ROI: Adaptive Insights involves higher initial costs, reflecting its comprehensive suite, but offers quick ROI through efficient financial processes. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services provides a more affordable initial setup and leverages existing Microsoft infrastructure, potentially delaying ROI depending on complexity but may be cost-effective in the longer term with advanced integration capabilities.

To learn more, read our detailed Adaptive Insights vs. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Adaptive Insights vs. Microsoft SQL Servering Services

July 2025

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Helped 865,484 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Adaptive Insights

Ranking in Reporting

11th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Business Performance Management (6th), Financial Performance and Strategy Management (3rd), Data Visualization (11th), ESG Reporting Software (3rd)

Microsoft SQL Server Report...

Ranking in Reporting

3rd

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Reporting category, the mindshare of Adaptive Insights is 0.6%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is 3.4%, down from 4.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Reporting

Featured Reviews

Andrew Rosenberg

Adaptive Planning Manager at Alight

Adaptive scales well, simple to create new budget versions and models

For the organization I used to work at, it streamlined the process of creating budgets. It's very simple to create a new version and do some more modeling based on your need for planning things like headcount, other expenses, and revenue, everything is configurable within Workday. So that made it easy. Reporting was pretty easy to set up as well. It streamlined the amount of time it took to do the budget as well as kind of making it simple to implement a rolling forecast process. So, it really was more just a productivity increase and time shortening for the budgeting and forecasting process.

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MartinSimons

Senior Consultant at X1F

Ensures database access and monitoring have been manageable, but batch load analysis needs better support

There are occasions during maintenance runs when the Check Point monitoring system reports a lot of blocked sessions. This is typically due to system processes or maintenance processes that temporarily block themselves. Additionally, a tool within the studio for performing SQL analysis does not provide useful information for batch load processes, often advising not to use an index, which is expected with batch loads.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"It's very stable."

"We utilize planning on a daily basis, therefore we find it to be the most valuable product for our organization."

"Changes to corporate structure, account codes are updated in all versions including prior years, hence "one-version of truth" as claimed."

"It helps develop a more unified work format throughout the company."

"Forecasting changes that instantly flow through all financial statements."

"It's very simple to create a new version and do some more modeling based on your need for planning things like headcount, other expenses, and revenue, everything is configurable within Workday."

"Reports are allowed to be edited for aesthetic purposes, which is lacking in a lot of other dashboard tools."

"The integration with our payroll system to complete staff modeling during our budget and forecast processes."

More Adaptive Insights pros

"I like Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services' automated reporting feature."

"The initial setup is easy."

"We get good support from Microsoft."

"The best features of Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services are that it is easy to get the reports out because it is integrated with SQL and we have many of these tables."

"The stability of SSRS has been reliable, with minimal issues encountered during our usage."

"With SQL Server Reporting Services, I can create reports and printable reports, known as paginated reports."

"The solution is known for its robust security features."

"I am impressed with the product's seamless integration. It can work with different databases like Oracle."

More Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services pros

Cons

"It's a Workday product; they could do a little bit better to integrate a pure-play integration with Workday, which really doesn't do that."

"Their customer support team is slow to respond and not extremely confident."

"Discovery (the data visualization module): Needs to catch up with BI leaders, such as MS and Tableau. E.g., sorting by amounts in column charts and page slicers to control all visuals."

"The product's configuration process could be faster."

"Users continue to become more advanced and are looking for more advanced solutions."

"Adaptive Insights could improve the data designer interface to make integrations easier to set up."

"The integrations could be simpler. It takes quite a bit of internal and IT know-how to set up."

"The upload feature exists, but isn't terribly useful."

More Adaptive Insights cons

"The setup is difficult because you have to install different servers."

"Sometimes, we need to make sure that the configuration stays consistent across the reporting instances. They all connect to the same database. So, it shares that same backend, but the reporting services itself can also be configured. On the application level, for reporting level. And it is, based on my own experience, it is a manual effort to make sure that the reporting servers are configured the same across the environment."

"We have had issues with the refresh interval since we have too many reports scheduled. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services is also expensive."

"The solution's interface is old."

"Technical support is in minor need of improvement so that they can solve problems in a more timely manner."

"There is room for improvement in the pricing model."

"I haven't contacted Microsoft technical support because of this tool, but for some other things I have, and I found them quite lacking."

"Tableau is more user-friendly because it doesn't need to do any extra programming. It has drag-and-drop functionality."

More Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Licensing seems to be worth the cost considering the efficiency Adaptive brings."

"Everything is negotiable, but this solution is low cost compared to others."

"Adaptive Insights' pricing is relative to its peer competitors. It's certainly competitive compared to a spreadsheet template that you build in Excel. It can be expensive if you need to have 100-500 budget holders giving input and building financial plans. However, in that case, it becomes an extremely good bargain. Compared to its competitors, it offers an excellent value."

"Ensure that you have the proper pricing plan in place."

"Pricing is in line with other cloud-based EPM tools. It is a subscription-based model based upon the number of users and site type if it's an admin or end-user type thing."

"Prior to purchasing licenses, make sure you understand which users will only need planning and which users will need both planning and OfficeConnect."

"It's affordable."

"Adaptive Insights' pricing is reasonable."

"The price is pretty good."

"The solution is free to use for developers."

"The pricing is high."

"The tool's licensing costs are expensive."

"The product pricing is reasonable in terms of suitable features for business."

"The solution is expensive."

"The solution is cheaper than its alternatives."

"Value-wise, the solution's pricing is good for the price that we pay."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

Non Profit

Healthcare Company

Financial Services Firm

13%

Government

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Adaptive Insights?

It's very simple to create a new version and do some more modeling based on your need for planning things like headcount, other expenses, and revenue, everything is configurable within Workday.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Adaptive Insights?

12 years ago, it was very affordable. Workday has definitely increased its price since it acquired Adaptive a few years ago. So, it's affordable. But there are other more affordable solutions that ...

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What needs improvement with Adaptive Insights?

The integrations could be simpler. It takes quite a bit of internal and IT know-how to set up. So, there could be room for just improving the integrations, making it easier to integrate outside sys...

See all answers

What do you like most about Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

I mainly use the solution for the ease of reporting and for executive dashboards.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

I would consider it cost effective for our environment, and we don't have to invest in another big tool to generate these reports, making it all integrated and easier. Otherwise, you need to write ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services?

I am thinking that with all the Copilot integration within the Microsoft environment, that could be integrated as well, so that you could issue a prompt and it generates designs.

See all answers

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Compared 18% of the time

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Compared 12% of the time

Oracle OBIEE vs Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Compared 10% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Adaptive Insights

August 2025

Download Adaptive Insights product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft SQL Servering Services

August 2025

Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services report

Download Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services product report

Also Known As

Workday Adaptive Planning, Adaptive Discovery , Workday Adaptive Planning

SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft SSRS, SSRS, MS SQL Server Reporting Services

Overview

Adaptive Insights is a cloud-based financial planning and analysis software that helps businesses streamline their budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes.

With its intuitive interface and powerful analytics, it enables organizations to make data-driven decisions and drive business performance.

Workday

At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Our mission is grounded in both the world in which we live and the future we strive to create. Today, we live in a mobile-first, cloud-first world, and the transformation we are driving across our businesses is designed to enable Microsoft and our customers to thrive in this world.

We do business in 170 countries and are made up of 114,000 passionate employees dedicated to fulfilling our mission of helping you and your organization achieve more.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

1. Cisco Systems 2. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated 3. Deloitte 4. DocuSign 5. Dropbox 6. Electronic Arts 7. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation 8. Fitbit 9. Fossil Group 10. Groupon 11. Hilton Worldwide 12. HP Inc. 13. Intuit 14. Johnson & Johnson 15. LinkedIn 16. Lyft 17. McAfee 18. Medtronic 19. Netflix 20. Oracle 21. Pandora 22. PayPal 23. Pinterest 24. Red Hat 25. Salesforce 26. ServiceNow 27. Slack Technologies 28. Spotify 29. Symantec 30. Tableau Software 31. Twitter 32. Workday

CMS Wire, The New York Times

Buyer's Guide

Adaptive Insights vs. Microsoft SQL Servering Services

July 2025

Free Report: Adaptive Insights vs. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services

Find out what your peers are saying about Adaptive Insights vs. Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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