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What is Power BI?

Microsoft Power BI enables you to integrate, analyse, and present your data more effectively by utilising an extensive library of visualisation tools. These tools help bring your information to life, enabling you to uncover valuable insights and make informed decisions.

With its intuitive interface and powerful analytics capabilities, Power BI connects to various data sources, cleanses and transforms data, and presents it in a visually appealing manner. It provides businesses with a comprehensive view of their data, helping them uncover patterns, trends, and opportunities for growth.


Key features

These key features of Power BI empower users to explore, analyse, and communicate data effectively, enabling data-driven decision-making across the organisation. The table below provides a detailed explanation of key features.

Key featureExplanation
Interactive DashboardsPower BI enables you to create interactive dashboards that consolidate data from various sources into visually engaging and dynamic displays. These dashboards provide a real-time overview of key metrics and allow users to drill down into details for deeper analysis.

Data Visualisation
With a rich library of visualisation options, Power BI helps you transform raw data into compelling visual representations. Choose from a wide range of charts, graphs, maps, and other visual elements to present data in a meaningful and impactful way.
Data Modelling and AnalysisPower BI offers robust data modelling capabilities, allowing you to shape and transform your data to suit your analytical needs. Perform complex calculations, create relationships between datasets, and apply advanced data modelling techniques to gain valuable insights.
Collaboration and SharingCollaborate with colleagues by securely sharing reports, dashboards, and datasets. Power BI provides flexible sharing options, allowing you to control access levels and collaborate in real time. Share insights with stakeholders across your organisation, enabling data-driven decision-making.
Mobile AccessibilityAccess your Power BI reports and dashboards on the go using mobile devices. Power BI offers a responsive and intuitive mobile app that allows you to view, interact with, and share data from anywhere, ensuring you stay informed and connected even when you’re away from your desk.
Data ConnectivityConnect Power BI to a wide range of data sources, including Microsoft 365 services, on-premises databases, cloud-based platforms, and third-party applications. Extract, transform, and load data from multiple sources, ensuring you have a comprehensive and up-to-date view of your organisation’s data.
Key features of Power BI

Data Sources and Integration

Power BI seamlessly integrates with a wide range of data sources, empowering you to access and analyse data from multiple systems. Connect Power BI to Microsoft 365 services like Excel, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365, as well as databases such as SQL Server and Oracle.

Please consult with the IT Service team for guidance on integrating Power BI with your specific data sources, as availability may vary based on licensing and organisational setup.


Data Preparation and Modelling

Power BI offers robust data preparation and modelling capabilities that enable you to transform raw data into meaningful insights. With Power Query, you can easily connect to various data sources, clean and shape your data, and create a unified view for analysis.

Utilise the intuitive data modelling features in Power BI to establish relationships between tables, define calculations, and create measures and hierarchies. This allows you to build a solid foundation for accurate reporting and visualisation.

By leveraging Power BI’s data preparation and modelling capabilities, you can ensure your data is structured, organised, and optimised for effective analysis, enabling you to uncover valuable insights and make data-driven decisions.

Remember to consult the IT Service for guidance and best practices on data preparation and modelling within Power BI to ensure consistency, efficiency, and adherence to the university’s data governance policies.


Report Creation and Visualisation

Power BI offers a wide range of tools to create interactive reports and compelling visualisations. Choose from various charts, graphs, maps, and tables to present your insights in a visually appealing way. Utilise intuitive authoring capabilities to design interactive dashboards and reports, enabling users to explore data and gain deeper insights. Customise visuals, themes, and formatting options to enhance the visual impact. Deliver impactful reports that communicate your data story effectively to stakeholders, colleagues, or clients.


Collaboration and Sharing

Power BI enables seamless collaboration and sharing of reports and dashboards across your organisation. Collaborate in real-time by co-authoring reports, allowing multiple users to contribute and edit simultaneously. Utilise built-in sharing capabilities to distribute reports securely to stakeholders, teams, or individuals. Control access and permissions to ensure data privacy and security. Embed reports and dashboards within other applications or websites to extend their reach and make data accessible to a wider audience. Foster a culture of data-driven collaboration by enabling users to share insights and collaborate effectively using Power BI.


Power Platform policy

Our Power Platform policy can be found on the IT Policies page.

Training

Please visit our IT Service Training Portal for Power App training resources.

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