7 reasons to use Microsoft Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is a suite of business intelligence (BI), reporting, and data visualization products and services for individuals and teams. Power BI stands out with streamlined publication and distribution capabilities, as well as integration with other Microsoft products and services. But is it a good choice for your organization?

What is Microsoft Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI is a business intelligence (BI) platform that provides nontechnical business users with tools for aggregating, analyzing, visualizing, and sharing data. Power BI's user interface is fairly intuitive for users familiar with Excel, and its deep integration with other Microsoft products makes it a versatile self-service tool that requires little upfront training.

Users can download an application for Windows 10, called Power BI Desktop, and native mobile apps for Windows, Android, and iOS devices. There is also Power BI Report Server for companies that must maintain their data and report on-premises. That version of Power BI requires a special version of the desktop app -- aptly called Power BI Desktop for Power BI Report Server.

Common uses of Power BI

Microsoft Power BI is used to find insights within an organization's data. Power BI can help connect disparate data sets, transform and clean the data into a data model and create charts or graphs to provide visuals of the data. All of this can be shared with other Power BI users within the organization.

The data models created from Power BI can be used in several ways for organizations, including the following:

telling stories through charts and data visualizations;
examining "what if" scenarios within the data; and
creating reports that can answer questions in real time and help with forecasting to make sure departments meet business metrics.
Power BI can also provide executive dashboards for administrators or managers, giving management more insight into how departments are doing.

7 reasons to use Power BI

How do you know whether Microsoft Power BI is right for your organization? Here are seven reasons to choose Power BI — and one reason you may want to choose something else:

  1. A quick start. You'll be able to get insights quickly with an uncomplicated setup, no required training, and included dashboards for services such as Salesforce, Google Analytics, and Microsoft Dynamics.
  2. Streamlined publication and distribution. Instead of emailing large files or putting them on a shared drive, analysts upload reports and visualizations to the Power BI service, and their data is refreshed whenever the underlying dataset is updated.
  3. Real-time information. Dashboards update in real-time, as data is pushed or streamed in, which gives viewers the ability to solve problems and identify opportunities quickly. Any report or dashboard can display and update real-time data and visuals. Sources of streaming data can be factory sensors, social media sources, or anything from which time-sensitive data can be collected or transmitted.
  4. Ability to customize Power BI app navigation. An "app navigation experiences" feature gives report developers the power to customize navigation to help viewers find content quickly and understand the relationships between different reports and dashboards.
  5. Ability to customize security features. Report developers can set up row-level security (RLS) access filters to ensure that viewers see only data relevant to them, mitigating the risk of people seeing data they shouldn’t.
  6. Cortana integration. Power BI works with Microsoft's digital assistant, Cortana. Users can verbally ask questions in natural language to access charts and graphs. This can be especially helpful for users with mobile devices.
  7. Artificial Intelligence. Power BI users can access image recognition and text analytics, create machine learning models, and integrate with Azure Machine Learning.

So, why would you want to pass on Power BI? Well, the online Power BI service — including Pro and Premium — is accessible from any web browser, but the Power BI Desktop application is not available for Linux or Mac operating systems. If you're in a Mac-only environment, Microsoft Power BI Desktop may not be right for you.

Power BI alternatives 

While Microsoft’s Power BI is one of the most popular business intelligence platforms, it’s not the only one out there. As you’re exploring BI solutions for your workplace or future career, then, you might also consider exploring some common alternatives to Power BI, such as: 
  • Tableau 
  • Domo
  • Yellowfin
  • Qlink Sense
  • SAP Business Intelligence

Conclusion

In conclusion, Microsoft Power BI offers a range of compelling reasons to utilize it for data analysis and visualization. Firstly, its user-friendly interface enables easy data manipulation and exploration. Secondly, the robust integration capabilities allow seamless connectivity with various data sources. Thirdly, the extensive range of visualizations and customization options ensures compelling and interactive reports. Fourthly, the collaboration features facilitate effective teamwork and data sharing. Fifthly, Power BI's mobile app provides on-the-go access to insights. Sixthly, the advanced analytics capabilities enable predictive modeling and data-driven decision-making. Lastly, the availability of the Power BI certification course empowers individuals to enhance their skills and leverage the full potential of this powerful tool. Embracing Microsoft Power BI can revolutionize data analysis processes and drive organizational success.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top 5 Threat Intelligence Tools You Should Be Aware Of

Image
What is Threat Intelligence? Threat intelligence (TI) is evidence-based knowledge, including context, about an existing or imminent threat to assist in organizational decision-making to mitigate or manage the threat. TI and threat modeling analysis help security teams answer three critical questions: What are we up against? How do we prioritize our defenses? How can we take action to defend ourselves? Organizations today face a vast and ever-changing array of threats. To effectively defend themselves, they need to understand the technical details of specific attacks and the attackers’ methods, motives, and goals. This is where threat intelligence comes in. Common Cybersecurity Threats There are many types of threats in terms of cybersecurity. Here are some of the most common: Malware : Malware is a type of malicious software that can cause harm to your computer or device. It can come in the form of viruses, Trojans, spyware, and more. Phishing : Phishing is an online scam where crimina...
Read more

Why MuleSoft? Discover the Top 5 Reasons It's the Ultimate Integration Solution

 Are you searching for a seamless integration solution that can revolutionize your business processes? Look no further! MuleSoft, the leading integration platform, is here to simplify your connectivity challenges and enhance your business operations. In this article, we will delve into the top five reasons why MuleSoft stands out as the ultimate integration solution. From its robust capabilities to its extensive range of connectors, MuleSoft empowers organizations to unlock their full potential and achieve unparalleled success. Introduction to MuleSoft: A Game-Changer in Integration In this section, we will introduce MuleSoft as the ultimate integration solution, highlighting its transformative impact on businesses across various industries. We will explore how MuleSoft addresses the complex challenges of integration and sets itself apart from traditional integration approaches. 1. Seamless Connectivity with MuleSoft's Anypoint Platform MuleSoft's Anypoint Platform offers a uni...
Read more

Maximize Business Excellence: Master Six Sigma Green Belt!

 Introduction In today's competitive business landscape, organizations are constantly seeking ways to improve their processes, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction. One highly effective methodology that has gained widespread recognition is Six Sigma . By mastering the Six Sigma Green Belt certification, individuals can play a crucial role in driving business excellence and achieving operational efficiency. Understanding Six Sigma What is Six Sigma? Six Sigma is a data-driven approach aimed at improving process quality and reducing variations. It provides organizations with a framework to identify and eliminate defects, minimize waste, and optimize performance. The goal of Six Sigma is to achieve near-perfect levels of quality and process control by reducing process variations to within six standard deviations from the mean. The Importance of Six Sigma Implementing Six Sigma methodologies can lead to substantial benefits for businesses. It helps in streamlining processes,...
Read more