Specific Capabilities within Microsoft Power BI

Previously on our blog, we introduced Microsoft Power BI. In that blog, we reviewed the concept of utilizing it in tandem with Business Central. We stressed the need to review the business processes and define meaningful key performance indicators. In this blog post, we will focus more on the specific capabilities of Power BI. We will review how the tool provides the ability to derive meaning from data that is growing exponentially. Excel works well with relatively small data sets. Power BI is the best choice when the number of records expands to hundreds of thousands or more. Are you ready to explore the specific capabilities within Microsoft Power BI? Read more.

What is Power BI?

A little refresh on what is Power BI: Power BI is a suite of business analytics tools that allow users to analyze data and share insights. Power BI is a cloud-based service that allows users to connect to multiple data sources, visualize data, and collaborate with others. Power BI has quickly become one of the most popular data analytics tools on the market and as discussed works seamlessly with Business Central and other data sources. Key features of Power BI include:

  • Data modeling and querying
  • Data Visualization
  • Power BI Desktop
  • Power BI Service
  • Power BI Mobile App

Using these features Power BI can help your organization make better decisions based on data.

Data Modeling

Data modeling involves creating a data model that organizes and structures data in a meaningful way, making it easier to analyze. In Power BI, users can create a data model by defining relationships between tables, adding calculated columns, and creating measures. The data model is essentially the backbone of any Power BI report or dashboard, and it enables users to create powerful, interactive visualizations that are based on the underlying data. The data model can include data from multiple sources.

DirectQuery

The data sources can be connected to Power BI in a few different ways, depending on the type of data source being used. These include DirectQuery, Data Imports, and APIs. DirectQuery allows users to connect to a data source in real-time, so any changes to the data source are immediately reflected in Power BI. This is useful for scenarios where users need up-to-date data.

The Microsoft Business Central connectors leverage DirectQuery. Data Imports involve copying data from the source into Power BI. Additionally, this is useful for scenarios where users need to analyze historical data or data that is not frequently updated. Importing data can be done using a wide range of data sources, including Excel files, CSV files, and databases such as SQL Server and Oracle. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) allow users to connect to data sources that expose an API. APIs can be used to retrieve data from a wide range of sources, such as third-party applications, social media platforms, etc.

Query Editor

Querying in Power BI involves using the Query Editor to manipulate and transform data from different sources. The Query Editor allows users to perform tasks such as filtering, sorting, merging, and appending data, all without having to write any code. It also supports more advanced tasks such as splitting columns, pivoting data, and transforming data using custom scripts written in languages such as Python or R. By using the Query Editor, users can clean and shape the data to prepare it for analysis.

Visualizations in Power BI

Power BI has powerful data visualizations that present data in a visual format. The data visualizations enable the consumer to transform data into meaningful information. Power BI exhibits the information in a visual format to enable an easy understanding. Users can spot trends, outliers, and other patterns that may hide within the data.

Power BI provides a wide range of visualization options, including charts, tables, maps, and gauges. Some of the most used visualizations in Power BI include:

  • Column charts
  • Line charts
  • Pie charts
  • Bar charts
  • Scatter charts
  • Tables
  • Maps
  • Gauges

Creating a visualization in Power BI is a simple process. Users can drag and drop fields from their data model onto the canvas to create a visualization, and then use the Visualizations pane to customize the appearance and behavior of the visualization.

Customize a Visualization in Power BI

To customize a visualization in Power BI, users can change the type of visualization, adjust the formatting and layout, and add additional fields or measures to the visualization. Users can also add filters, sort the data, and drill down to see more detailed information.

When it comes to creating effective visualizations in Power BI it’s important to use the appropriate type of visualization for the data being presented. Keep the visualization simple and easy to understand. Avoid clutter and unnecessary elements. Use color, font, and formatting to highlight important information. The use of labels and annotations will help provide context and explanation for the data. Don’t forget the visualization is interactive and allows users to explore the data in different ways.

Power BI Business Analytics Tools

Power BI includes a suite of business analytics tools that include a desktop application, a cloud-based service, and mobile apps. The Windows application, Power BI Desktop, is used to create reports and dashboards. It allows users to connect to a wide range of data sources, transform and shape data, and create visualizations using a drag-and-drop interface.

Power BI Service is a cloud-based service that allows users to publish and share reports and dashboards with others. It includes a web-based interface that you access from any device with an internet connection.

The Power BI mobile app is available for iOS, Android, and Windows devices. It allows users to access and interact with reports and dashboards from their mobile devices and includes features such as offline access and automatic syncing. Together, these three components of Power BI provide a comprehensive set of tools for data analysis and visualization, allowing users to create, share, and view reports and dashboards from a variety of devices and platforms.

The Full Toolkit

Following an ERP Implementation, Adroit finds that it’s critical to establish key performance indicators that are supported by visual data analysis tools such as Power BI. We leverage our business analysts and technical team to establish meaningful actional information. The full toolkit of Power BI in conjunction with the Business Central data model provides an extremely capable solution set to enable you to realize the full value of your ERP solution.