Plain-English writing on AI, data and building software.
Power BI and Fabric how-tos, honest cost guides, AI for SMEs without the hype, and the occasional look behind how we build. No jargon for its own sake.
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- How-to guidesHow to budget a Power BI project: a step-by-step methodRead it →
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All posts (26)
- App development
App development cost in the UK: what SMEs actually pay
What app development really costs a UK SME, from build through to the year-two maintenance bill nobody budgets for — with current contract rate data.
- Web development
How much does a website cost in the UK in 2026? Honest numbers
What a website really costs in the UK in 2026, why quotes vary so much, and the ongoing costs that never make it into the proposal. With current rate data.
- Tools & resources
Microsoft Fabric pricing explained: F2 to F64 without the jargon
What a Microsoft Fabric capacity actually costs in the UK, from F2 to F64: list prices, the reservation discount, and the F64 rule that decides the sum.
- AI in practice
How to implement AI in a small business: a 90-day plan
A 90-day plan for putting AI to work in a UK small business: choose one process, baseline it, pilot in parallel, then decide to scale, fix or stop.
- AI in practice
How much does AI consulting cost for UK SMEs? (2026 guide)
UK AI consulting rates, what typical SME engagements cost, and why quotes vary so wildly — with current contract rate data and the questions to ask.
- How-to guides
Star schema for Power BI: model your data properly from day one
One fact table, a ring of dimensions, filters flowing one way. Here is how to build a star schema in Power BI, and why the engine rewards you for it.
- How-to guides
How to budget a Power BI project: a step-by-step method
A Power BI budget has three lines, not one: build, licences and run. Here is the method we use to price each of them, with current UK rate and licence data.
- Web development
Next.js for business websites: why we build on it
Why we build client websites on Next.js — what the framework genuinely gives a business site, where WordPress is still the better answer, and the trade-offs.
- BI essentials
Power BI vs Excel: when a spreadsheet stops being enough
Excel is not the wrong tool — it is the wrong tool for certain jobs. Here are the five signals a report has outgrown a spreadsheet, and what to do about it.
- AI in practice
AI for customer service in small businesses: what actually works
AI handles the repetitive half of customer service well and the judgement half badly. What works for UK small businesses, what it costs, where to stop.
- Web development
What a custom web app actually costs in 2026
Agencies are famously coy about price. Here's an honest breakdown of what a custom web app really costs to build in 2026, and what moves the number.
- App development
SaaS MVP in six weeks: how we build
Six weeks from idea to a product that can take payment. Not by cutting corners, but by cutting scope. Here's the method we use on our own products.
- Web development
Website vs web app: which do you need?
The words get used interchangeably and it costs people money. A plain-English guide to the difference, and how to tell which one your project actually is.
- How-to guides
12 essential keyboard shortcuts for writing DAX code in Power BI
The keyboard shortcuts that turn writing DAX from a chore into something fast: formatting, commenting, multi-cursor editing and more.
- Trends & opinions
In-house vs outsourced Power BI development: pros and cons
When it makes sense to build Power BI capability internally, when to bring in a consultant, and the honest trade-offs of each.
- Trends & opinions
Do you need a Power BI consultant? 5 signs it's time to call an expert
Five concrete signals that your reporting has outgrown DIY, and what a consultant actually changes when they step in.
- Learning centre
The complete guide to data visualisation
What makes a chart honest, readable and worth the space it takes: our full guide to data visualisation, from choosing the visual to designing the page.
- News
Microsoft Fabric and SQL Server at Ignite 2024
The Fabric and SQL Server announcements from Microsoft Ignite 2024 that actually matter for UK data teams.
- How-to guides
What are field parameters in Power BI?
Field parameters let users switch the measures and dimensions on a visual themselves. Here's what they are and when to reach for them.
- How-to guides
How to connect Power BI to an Excel file on OneDrive or SharePoint
A step-by-step for connecting Power BI to Excel living in OneDrive or SharePoint, so refreshes just work.
- Learning centre
Beginner's guide to Power BI, part two: connecting to various data sources
Part two of our beginner's series: getting data into Power BI from files, databases and online services.
- BI essentials
Recover from spreadsheet chaos the right way
When the spreadsheet that runs your business starts to buckle, here's how to move off it without losing what worked.
- Tools & resources
Our new Power BI Pricing Estimator
Introducing our free Power BI & Fabric Pricing Estimator: a two-minute way to get a first-pass licensing figure.
- Learning centre
Beginner's guide to Power BI, part one: getting started
Part one of our beginner's series: what Power BI is, the pieces that make it up, and how to get your bearings.
- BI essentials
Data strategy: 8 critical elements for yours to succeed
The eight elements every workable data strategy needs — objectives, governance, infrastructure, quality, people, security, analytics and review.
- Learning centre
What are Power BI semantic models?
Semantic models are the trustworthy layer underneath every good report. Here's what they are and why they matter.