Power BI is a relatively new tool in the Microsoft arsenal, as it’s only been around as a stand-alone since 2016. It’s used for data modelling, analysis and visualisation of data. It gives end users the power of SQL data querying, combined with visualisation tools integrated with web and mobile. In other words, using Power BI means you can aggregate data from different data sources and generate real-time reports with ease. But getting to know how it all works isn’t easy – which is why we recommend having some Power BI training. With a comprehensive Power BI training course (like the ones we offer), your business could see benefits on multiple levels, and we wanted to share just a few of those with you today.

Data Integration

In a modern, hyper-connected world, businesses are finding their data is becoming more and more disparate. For example, you have QuickBooks, Google Analytics, SharePoint sites, Twitter, CRM systems and custom databases, all holding certain kinds of data. But when a businesses’ data lives in multiple locations, it’s difficult to get a clear view of what’s actually going on in their business. To do that, you need to integrate it all. Power BI training helps you connect all of those data sources and pull the information into one central location. For example, when you can see how your audience is growing on social media, track your click-throughs to your website and all the way through to the sales made, businesses can start to see where their efforts are working, and where they aren’t. Power BI training can teach you how to connect those data sources, how to pull in that data and what to do with it when it’s there, so you get the full benefits of data integration.

Easy Report Building

Power BI features a drag-and-drop report building function that means anyone can slice and dice data in numerous ways with just a few clicks. This means users can see analytics in real-time, getting the information they need exactly when they need it. And because Power BI is also available on mobile, report building and sharing can be portable too. Specialist Power BI training helps all of the users in your business understand how to use this feature and what they can do with it, dramatically improving performance.

Make Your Data Available Anywhere

The world of business hasn’t been static for a long time now. Mobile technologies have allowed business owners and employees to work from anywhere at any time – and Power BI is no exception. Power BI’s mobile app is easily configurable with vibrant graphics that are as useful as they are pretty. With the right Power BI training, everyone in your business can understand where your KPI’s are and what they need to do while they’re standing in lone at the coffee shop, or track invoices while waiting for their gate to be called at the airport.

See The Past, Present And Future All At Once

For a business to truly succeed, it need to be able to understand where it came from, where it is now, and where it’s going. And while no-one can predict the future, data modelling comes very close. With Power BI you can run scenarios based on your past and current data, and use it to create models of your ‘to-be’ state and see how your business will fare. For example, if you were to open another retail outlet, how would that impact your supply chain? If you were to hire another employee, how would that affect productivity? Power BI training helps you understand not only how to analyse your current data, but how to use it to predict the future as well.

At XL Intelligence, we specialise in Power BI training for businesses. With our help, you can realise all of the benefits we’ve talked about above, and more, right away. We run a range of Power BI training courses, from a standard Power BI course (which is suitable for anyone who would like to have an overview of the courses) to advanced courses that teach you how to create data models, understand DAX language and learn how to create and publish executive dashboards to help share your data. We also offer tailored courses for businesses with very specific needs, focussing on exactly what you need at your current ability level. If you would like to find out more, just get in touch with the team today.