Notes – Power BI Introduction
What is Power BI?
Power BI is a data visualization and business intelligence tool developed by Microsoft.
It allows users to connect to data sources, clean and transform data, and create interactive reports and dashboards.
You don’t need to be a programmer to use Power BI. It’s built for analysts, managers, and even beginners who want to explore data visually.
What Can You Do with Power BI?
- Connect to different types of data (Excel, SQL, web, cloud)
- Clean and shape data using Power Query
- Create dashboards with charts, tables, and KPIs
- Ask questions using natural language (Q&A)
- Share reports across teams or publish to the web
Key Components of Power BI
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Power BI Desktop | Main tool to create reports on your computer |
| Power BI Service | Online platform to share and collaborate on reports |
| Power BI Mobile | View dashboards and reports on smartphones and tablets |
| Power BI Gateway | Connect on-premises data sources to Power BI in the cloud |
| Power BI Report Server | Host reports on your own servers (for organizations needing full control) |
Why Use Power BI?
- Easy to use with drag-and-drop interface
- Handles large datasets efficiently
- Integrates with Microsoft tools like Excel, Teams, and Azure
- Auto-refresh feature to keep data up-to-date
- Secure sharing of reports inside or outside the organization
Common Use Cases
- Sales analysis: Track revenue by region, product, or team
- Finance reporting: Compare budgets vs. actuals
- Customer analysis: Understand customer behavior and feedback
- Operations: Monitor supply chain and inventory levels
Who Uses Power BI?
- Business analysts
- Managers
- Data professionals
- Students and freshers
- Any non-tech user interested in data-driven decisions