predictive analytics in R script or Azure ML

[Anonymous]

Hello there

Am a  newbie to preditive analytics world.

I wonder now that we can run R script as part of ETL within Power BI. How does this give pros and cons if say I want to run general linear regression or random forest using R script comparing to azure ml -anyone has had compared the accuracy of results in both approaches?

Please can you share your views?

Thank you 🙂

[cyclist007]

Hi @Anonymous,

Do you have more insights on using R vs Azure ML for predictive analytics? Did you try either, was wondering if there is anything to learn from your experience?

[Anonymous]

@cyclist007 hi there sorry I just saw your message.

Yes I have explored a lot between Azure ML and R. I dont claim to be an expert but below are just my views

1. Azure ML - if you have end users who will consume the model you build through powerbi or excel then Azure ML is a great tool. The pre defined modules (e.g transformation, normalise, ML algorithms and so one) are easy to use.

2. R - I use PowerBI at work on day to day basis and along side that Im learning R so I try to find any opportunity to use both.... I think PowerBI is almost like a Microsoft answer to Shiny - but the downside of using Microsoft PowerBI for R visualisation is that not many packages are supported by PowerBI. Package like ggplot2 is great but I would like to see Microsoft PowerBi takes on html widget and stuff....

So i sometimes use PowerBI in ETL process then use R to do modelling and stuff.

I dont visualise R within PowerBI as we need Pro license for that and we are on budget 😛

As per model accuracy / precision and so on - I found them to be very similar. So i think its not the tool that judges whether my models are good or not its how I feature engineer my variable and tune my model....so that this point Azure ML or R are immaterial in a way....

So in short - for a quick prototype - I use PowerBI + R, once I trust my models to be stable and consumable I move on to Azure ML then publish this as web service then consume it via PowerBI.

Hope this helps? Share me your experience I am keen to know too. Many thanks

[ankitpatira]

@Anonymous Using power bi desktop via query editor -> Transform tab -> Run R Scripts, you can run R scripts to perform tasks you want via R. Note that this will create dataset for you that you can use to execute R scripts on.

[BhaveshPatel]

Hi Pedzilla,

More information on Running Machine Learning through Azure ML in PowerBI  can be found here.

Thanks & Regards,

Bhavesh