First,let's give Microsoft Power BI a proper introduction.
The Microsoft Power BI app aadvertisesitself as a comprehensive data analytics tool. It provides a service that lets its users create a simple visual representation of the analyzed data that is easy to interpret and use. This is a core feature of apps like Power BI: the ability to convert data into easily understandable visuals for professional use. Microsoft Power BI can prove to be very valuable for your company, so let's take a closer look at what it offers!
What is Microsoft Power BI?
The Definition of Power BI
Microsoft Power BI takes its name from Business Intelligence (BI). Artificial intelligence is now being used by the majority of profitable and agile companies to assist them in making decisions.
Every company owner has likely experienced the disorientation of having to make a decision based on a large volume of data. The most difficult aspect of making that decision is seeing the big picture, which is what will allow you to gain the needed insight that will guide you to the best outcome.
The beauty of Power BI is that you can look at each element as a whole to make better decisions. The dashboard's visual representation allows users to quickly see the data that's relevant for the choices they have to make.
Business intelligence thus becomes available to all team members who need to access data and make decisions, thanks to Power BI. Every important choice can be based on reliable information. Data is analyzed and updated in real time with Power BI, allowing teams to make decisions rooted in factual information.
Power BI, like Power Apps and Power Automate, is available on any device and is part of the Microsoft Power Platform.
The Benefits of Power BI
Running a company necessitates constant decision-making. Frequently, the company's leader lacks the necessary control over a decision and does it as best as they can, or even by mistake.
The advantages of Power BI are numerous, and it aids management teams in making fast decisions without jeopardizing the company's profitability. Data visualization is made simple with Power BI. It offers a full summary of company data in visual form, with display choices such as tables, charts, gauges, and maps, making it easier for teams to use it.
Power BI is a powerful decision support tool that makes the difference between a typical company and an efficient, agile, and flexible organization, thanks to its simplicity and visual representation.
Business intelligence (BI) is the tool that helps you increase your company’s productivity
Business intelligence, or decision intelligence, is a powerful tool that puts all of the company's data, regardless of department, together. Via a collection system, BI gathers information in one location and then models it to create a decision-support tool.
BI proceeds with the following four stages to achieve this:
- Information gathering, which centralizes all database results
- Integration, which brings consistency and structure to the data aggregate
- Reporting, which provides an easily understandable view to those who have access rights to the information
- The return, which schematizes the information to make it understandable to all and easy to share
The benefit of using software like Power BI is that these four stages are seamless and automatic. You don't have to do anything to enter and access data once the app is enabled. Power BI takes care of taking the data to where it needs to go, regardless of where it came from. To render decision-making easier, the program processes the data such that it is understandable, reliable, and meaningful. Power BI can be used to manage all facets of a company, including logistics, human resources, customer relations, financial transactions, sales, market analysis, manufacturing processes, and so on. Each department's data can be viewed in a visual, interactive, and understandable format.
The dashboard and data analysis make it user-friendly
Another significant benefit of Power BI is its simplicity. Accessing details, whether for a manager or an analyst, is as simple as a few clicks. Each user may tailor the analysis of the results to their specific needs and features related to their role.
You don't have to conduct any segmentation on the raw data because Business Intelligence has already done it for you. A customized dashboard allows the user to see the data that affects them right away.
As Power BI is installed, it becomes a collaborative tool that enables teams to work more independently, promoting information exchange between different departments and users thanks to its analytical capabilities.
Power BI is available on all platforms and can be used at any time. Employees can thus act more independently because they can easily access data, and information access facilitates collaboration. That access is, of course, safe and protected to ensure the information's integrity.
Several applications are available to help you get the best out of your BI tool
When using Power BI, businesses gain a significant advantage: the ability to work with complementary applications that improve data access, such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Dynamics, Power App and Power automate.
Power BI can be used for a wide range of applications. This enables not only the processing of data within the Business Intelligence software but also the processing of data from other sources using Power Bi's complimentary applications.
Here is a non-exhaustive list with a few examples of the applications that are available to this end:
- Microsoft Excel: Files can be moved into each other using Power BI and Excel to generate charts or pivot tables from Power BI visual dashboards. This offers the benefit of encouraging you to explore new ways to use Excel and get actionable insights.
- Microsoft Azure: Azure makes it easy to exchange and analyze large amounts of data (aka big data). It is perhaps the best solution for preparing for Big Data when used in conjunction with Power BI. Azure promotes collaboration among all employees of scientific professions who need Big Data access, such as engineers or analysts.
- Microsoft Cloud App Security: Although Power BI makes it easier to access and exchange data, it’s important to note that data security is a legal requirement for businesses. As such, Microsoft Cloud App Security is used in combination with Power BI to prevent potentially harmful activities from compromising data integrity.
- Office 365: Since Power BI is part of the Microsoft family, it naturally integrates with the Office 365 suite. Normally, employees are already familiar with the Office 365 software, allowing for seamless coordination and teamwork.
Easily accessible from any location
Power BI can be accessed from any place through its mobile app. It's an excellent option for distributed teams or businesses with many locations.
An engineer on the road can access data from their phone, an analyst can consult the dashboard from their desktop computer, and a manager can view graphical representations during a management meeting from their tablet.
The Business Intelligence platform also makes it easier for teams to collaborate by enabling them to work on any file at the same time.
Power BI's simplicity and ease of use anywhere, at any time, is a huge benefit, and it saves time for the agile teams who have implemented this solution.
Microsoft’s best support: a thriving Power BI community
You are not alone if you use Power BI as there is an active community of other users who are willing to help.
To begin with, Microsoft support does not abandon any customer who has a query about this business intelligence program. There are also numerous tools available on the Internet to answer questions about Power BI.
The democratization of Power BI through the Microsoft portal has resulted in the formation of a real group of several thousand people all over the world. Group members exchange tips about how to use the platform, assist each other with challenges they face, and even propose new ideas for using Power BI through a well-documented forum that hosts enriching and productive discussions. Being a member of the Power BI group is a great way to become a part of the larger Microsoft family.
You can take your company to new heights by using the Power BI tool and integrating it with your ERP software. The fluidity of data and your whole team’s access to the dashboard is a game-changer for your company’s efficiency and competitiveness. Gestisoft will assist you with Power BI setup: to learn more about integrating Power BI with our ERP and CRM solutions, contact our experts.
