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News, updates and field notes for modern data teams.

Semantic Model vs Semantic Layer: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between a semantic model and a semantic layer? Learn how semantic models define business metrics and relationships, how semantic layers make those definitions reusable, and how tools like Power BI, Looker and dbt approach both concepts.

By Manuel Silverio Analytics

SaaS Metrics Dashboard: Essential Metrics to Track in 2026

Learn which SaaS metrics belong on your dashboard, including ARR, MRR, NRR, GRR, churn, CAC payback, activation and gross margin, and how to visualise them effectively.

By Manuel Silverio Analytics

Databricks vs Snowflake for BI in 2026: Differences, Use Cases and How to Choose

Databricks and Snowflake now cover much of the same BI ground. The real difference lies in where your data lives, how teams work and who owns the answer when a metric goes wrong.

By Manuel Silverio Data Academy

What Is a Semantic Layer in Business Intelligence?

A semantic layer gives BI tools a shared definition of business data. Learn how it works, when it helps and when it adds needless complexity.

By Manuel Silverio Data Academy

How AI Is Changing Business Intelligence in 2026

AI is making business intelligence faster and more conversational. But reliable answers still depend on clear definitions, sound data models and people who can spot a convincing mistake.

By Manuel Silverio Data Academy

What Is a Data Warehouse? How Data Warehousing Has Evolved

A data warehouse was once primarily a repository for historical reporting. Today, platforms such as BigQuery combine ingestion, transformation, governance, analytics and AI in one data ecosystem.

By Manuel Silverio Data Academy