Power BI: A Powerful Business Intelligence Tool

Do you need a business intelligence tool? The Business Blocks can help!

At first glance, one may assume that the workplace demands working hard. But why should you work hard when you can work smart? One of the keys to every company’s success is efficiency. 

Not only will The Business Blocks assist in lightening your workload, but we will also make room for productivity, improvement, and restructuring.

The Business Blocks is a strategic business partner to help modernize the workplace. We have a compilation of programs that allow you to digitize outdated paper loads. 

The Business Blocks has built an ecosystem of over 50 cost-effective platforms to combat inefficacies. 

This article will cover one of our well-established platforms: Microsoft Power BI.

What is Microsoft Power BI Used for, and what makes it a powerful business intelligence tool?

Microsoft Power BI (Business Intelligence) is a program recognized for reports, data visualizations, and services. It is a powerful business intelligence tool for various reasons:

  • Simplifying Data – The program’s main function is to collect much of the company’s data to create surface insights and reports. Power BI is linked to other data sets wherein the information is organized and interpreted through comprehensible visuals.
  • Data to Design – Data is represented in a way where employees have access to charts and graphs as updates on the company. It makes it easier to comprehend information while appealing to aesthetics. 
  • Past, Present, and Future Reports – The program was made to keep track of records from the past to the present. However, it is also skilled to guess what will happen. Microsoft Power BI creates informative predictions based on the patterns that it detects. Additionally, users will also be able to receive an informative prediction of hypothetical situations.
  • Available on All Devices – Microsoft is keeping up with the progressing utilization of technology in the workplace. Power BI is available on the desktop (Power BI Desktop), mobile devices (Power BI App), and online as software as a service (Power BI Service).

What is Power BI, and how does it help with data analysis?

The business analytics service application is composed of numerous tools, such as:

Power Query

Power Query is used as a data connection tool to import, enhance, and shape data in Microsoft Excel. Power Query imports data from various sources: CSV (Comma Separated Values) file, TXT (text files), or a file folder.

Power Query is considered a straightforward yet powerful instrument. The interface offers recognizable commands that are familiar to the ones on Excel. Experts will enjoy editing codes with the Advanced Editor.

Power Pivot

Typically used when dealing with large quantities of data sets, the Power Pivot creates data models. It can handle difficult calculations that Excel cannot handle and connects queries and tables. This tool lets users view data and establish relationships among data tables.

Power View
Power View is identified as a tool that uses data visualization technology to transform data into interactive graphs, charts, maps, and other presentations.

These visuals are often used during a progress check meeting to view what the company has accomplished and the direction it is heading in.

Power Map
Power Map is a convenient analytics tool to represent different places. Microsoft Power BI Maps are best used when handling distance or geospatial data. It also works well when linking numerical data with specific locations.

A prime example of using a Power Map would be the election maps shown during the presidential elections.

Power Q&A
Like an online search engine, Power Q&A allows users to search through their data with keywords. To make things easier, beginners are given dropdown suggestions for what to search for. The results will automatically cater to your search, so it’s best to be specific.

Once you’ve found the result you’ve been looking for, you can pin it to your dashboard.

Why You Should Use Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is more than just a business intelligence platform that can improve data analysis. It cleans and converts dull data into meaningful presentations and insights. Microsoft Power BI provides the fuel to turn your company into a competitive, cost-effective, and professional one for the following reasons:

  • Cloud-Based Services

Power BI collects all information, whether cloud-based or hosted on-premises, and places it all in one place. The data is made available to you whenever and wherever you want.

  • Embedded Secure Reports

The application makes it almost effortless to embed Power BI reports into websites. Plus, it protects SharePoint Online pages. Power BI enables beginners and advanced users to securely incorporate their reports in internal portals and sites that accept embedding with HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) codes or URLs (Uniform Resource Locator).

  • Personalized Dashboard

Instead of overwhelming data, the personalized dashboard lets the user view all data simultaneously. This feature lets you and your team observe your most important metrics. While tracking and informing the company’s progress, employees will also be encouraged to assist in meeting goals.

  • Beginner Friendly

With its natural and comprehensive interface, users won’t need to refer to specialized technical support for help. Power BI smoothly connects to sources of data sources. Drag and drop attributes needed for your report.

  • Cost-Effective

Power BI is free and made available for all users. However, they can also upgrade to a pro and premium license to gain access to more features.

  • Tried and Trusted

Microsoft applications are considered a holy grail in every workplace. According to E-Careers, at least 1.2 billion people use their services. That is almost 20% of the world’s population. Many people can attest to increasing work productivity by 300%.

Target Market

Constantly checking up on data reports is harder than it sounds. It takes time away from completing tasks, but you must exert more effort. Regardless of the size of your company, Power BI can act as your assistant when it comes to data.

Power BI possesses the key to a competitive business. Embracing Business Intelligence tools like Power BI benefits employees since it eliminates manual, tedious work.

Naturally, it benefits the managers since they can easily stay organized while tackling other projects. They won’t have to micromanage their employees. They can easily monitor an individual’s progress with just a few clicks.

Power Business Intelligence requires little to no assistance. Since most offices already use Microsoft’s platforms, employees and managers will be familiar with its interface.

Integrations with Existing Platforms

This Business Intelligence application provides various connectors for all data sources. These platforms include:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Amazon Redshift
  • Azure Analysis Services Database
  • Azure Blob Storage
  • Azure SQL Database
  • Azure SQL Data warehouse
  • GitHub
  • IBM DB2 Database
  • IBM Informix
  • IBM Netezza
  • MailChimp
  • MySQL Database
  • Oracle Database
  • PostgreSQL Database
  • SAP Hana
  • SQL Server Database
  • Salesforce
  • Sybase Database

Conclusion

Data is important in deciding which direction to take your business. 

Staying afloat from the waves of data generated daily cannot be easy as businesses grow. 

Receiving reports from colleagues can be stressful when they source from emails, spreadsheets, and printouts.

You can consider Microsoft Power Business Intelligence as an employee because the application helps the team with tasks. 

It is capable of handling multiple tasks at the same time. It eases the workload, which maintains workers’ satisfaction.

If you want to learn more about Power BI, contact The Business Blocks. 

We have built a tremendous ecosystem of platforms that can change your workplace from tiresome and stressful to efficient and productive.

Some of Australia’s biggest companies have already called on their team to upgrade their work systems. 

Fiacon Property Services and Transinternational Logistics have worked with The Business Blocks and released testimonials on how their business has changed.