In today’s fast-paced business world, staying on top of the game can be challenging. Managing and analysing large amounts of data is difficult for companies worldwide. Microsoft Power BI is a powerful tool to simplify the process of data analysis and visualisation.
In this article, we will understand Power BI dashboards and explore the 10 real-world benefits of this platform that will help you transform your data into actionable insights and gain a competitive edge in the market.
Let’s begin.
What is Microsoft Power BI?
Power BI is a suite of products and services designed for individuals and teams to perform business intelligence (BI), reporting, and data visualisation. It enables businesses to visualise their data and share insights across the organisation or embed them in their app or website.
The solution derives its value and versatility from leveraging the individual elements and taking advantage of how they work together. Its streamlined publication and distribution capabilities and integration with other Microsoft products make Power BI stand out from its competitors.
Here are the different versions of this incredible software you can use to meet your specific business requirements.
a) Power BI Service
The Power BI Service is a secure cloud service hosted by Microsoft that enables users to view dashboards, reports, and Power BI apps (a type of content that combines related dashboards and reports – using a web browser or through mobile apps designed for Windows, iOS, and Android)
b) Power BI Desktop
Power BI Desktop, the free software version, surprisingly offers full functionality and connectivity to all data sets with no restrictions on data volume or visualisation building. It’s included in Office 365 plans, and users can install this version of the software on their Windows computers to connect to over 70 on-premises and cloud data sources and transform data into interactive visuals. Data scientists and developers often utilise this software version to produce reports and complex data visualisations.
In Power BI Desktop, users can:
- Connect to data
- Transform and model data
- Create charts and graphs
- Develop reports and dashboards as collections of visuals
- Share reports with other users
c) Power BI Pro
Unlike the desktop version, Power BI Pro requires a monthly fee of $10 per user. However, it comes with an additional set of handy features illustrated in the image below.
The main difference between the Desktop and Pro versions is that the latter allows users to collaborate with other Power BI users and distribute reports and visualisations to other users across the organisation.
With Power BI Pro, users have the capability to:
- Embed Power BI visuals into apps
- Integrate with other Microsoft solutions,
- Share data, dashboards, and reports with other users
- Create workspaces
- Enable peer-to-peer sharing
d) Power BI Premium
UNLIKE THE DESKTOP AND PRO VERSIONS, Power BI Premium is not an application. Instead, it provides an organisation with space and capacity in a Microsoft-hosted cloud to share reports.
With Power BI Premium, users can enjoy the following:
- The ability to publish reports across the entire organisation without requiring each user to have an individual license provides greater flexibility.
- Greater scale and performance
- Maintain BI assets on-premises
- One API surface, a consistent set of capabilities, and access to the latest features for embedded analytics
A Pro subscription may suffice if numerous individuals in your organisation create reports and visualisations and rarely share information. However, if you need to share information both internally and externally, a Premium subscription is necessary.
e) Power BI Report Server
As the name suggests, Power BI Report Server helps you to produce reports in Power BI Desktop or Pro. Users can utilise Report Server to retrieve those reports on a web browser or mobile device or receive them via email. This is highly beneficial for businesses with limitations on cloud usage.
f) Power BI Mobile
Allows users to connect and interact with data through Power BI‘s iOS, Android, and Windows 10 mobile apps.
g) Power BI Embedded
Developers can embed Power BI dashboards and reports into other applications using this solution either within their organisation (which requires users to sign in to a Power BI account) or in an application for a client or customers who do not possess a Power BI account.
Ten tangible benefits of Microsoft Power BI
Now that you know what this software is all about, here are ten reasons your organisation should use it for self-service and corporate business analytics.
1. Visualise data effortlessly
Power BI enables users to transform raw data into appealing, easily understood, interactive visuals. This helps organisations gain insights into their data, track their performance, and identify trends.
2. Streamline publication and reporting
Analysts can upload their reports and visualisations to the Power BI service instead of emailing large files or putting them on a shared drive. The data is automatically refreshed whenever updates in the underlying dataset. Businesses can also create and distribute reports to stakeholders.
3. Data in real-time
The software offers real-time access to data from multiple sources, allowing organisations to stay up-to-date with the latest information and respond promptly to changes in their business. The real-time updation of Power BI dashboards enables users to quickly identify opportunities or solve problems without jeopardising business operations.
4. Data integration
The platform can integrate with various data sources, including Microsoft Excel, Azure, and Salesforce. This provides organisations with a comprehensive view of their data across different platforms.
5. Customisation
Users can use the “app navigation experiences” feature to customise navigation and let viewers quickly find content and understand the relationships between different reports and dashboards. The solution allows users to customise their Power BI dashboards to meet business requirements. Users can choose from various visualisations and customise them to create a unique and practical data experience.
6. Collaboration
The software enables teams to collaborate on reports and dashboards in real-time, making sharing information and insights across the organisation easy.
7. Security
Power BI provides enterprise-level security to its customers, ensuring that data remains always protected. Users can also control access to data and reports, further enhancing security.
8. Mobile accessibility
Users can access the software on mobile devices and view or interact with data from anywhere. This enables organisations to make data-driven decisions and stay connected even when out of the office.
9. Cost-effective
Power BI is cost-effective considering the assortment of features it provides compared to other business intelligence tools. Organisations can choose from various pricing plans that fit their budget and business needs.
10. Artificial Intelligence
Thanks to AI, Power BI enables users to leverage image recognition and text analytics, build machine learning models, and integrate with Azure Machine Learning.
That’s not the case. Microsoft’s digital assistant, Cortana, is integrated with the BI. Users can use natural language to ask questions and access charts and graphs. This feature is handy on mobile devices.
Conclusion
Power BI is a powerful tool that benefits organisations of all sizes. From real-time data updates and customisable Power BI dashboards to cost-effectiveness and AI integration, this software offers a robust data visualisation and analysis solution for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
As a leading IT solutions provider, Neologix can help your business leverage Power BI’s power, empowering you to make data-driven decisions. To learn more about how Neologix can help you implement this powerful business intelligence tool, you only need to contact us at info@neologix.ae or +971-521043226.
