Data is the new oil and is highly relied on as evidence, the difference is the quality of data used being reliable to provide business intelligence answers to stake holders and decision makers.In our current world and time governments,organizations and even families rely of data for evidence based decision making.
The power of Power BI lies on its ability to pull data from multiple sources, clean it,analyze it,create joins and charts that are used for dash board creation while providing the required business inteligence insights that are actionable and easy to understand.
1.Power Query Editor
It allows data connection, transformation and loading data into the shape and model aimed at answering expected outcomes.
Data Cleaning
The most important aspect of data handling as it determines whether an analyst will arrive at the right answers or not.
They include:
- Replacing missing values to ensure the data set is not distorted - missing order value
- Standardization of text values - "pct" for " percentage"
- Confirming the data types - "harvest date","discharge date"
Example:
Standardize within a data set all blanks like "N/A","Error" through Transform> Replace Values with Null
Data Modelling
Uses a Star Schema where data structures are used to show how tables are organised and related in the selected data model.It helps in linking fact and dimension tables used for calculations and filtering of trhe data set while answering business intelligence questions.
Fact table contains numerical data used for calculations like Quantity and Total Sales while dimesional table contains descriptive information used for data analysis.
Examples: DimDate, DimStore, DimProduct
They are useful during relationship creation and joins with the commonest relationship being "one-to-many".
Logical functions in DAX
Used to make decisions based on conditions.Allow Power BI answer questions like "Qulified" or "Not Qualified" hence classifying data in respective categories and apply business rules.They control how results are calculated and displayed.
Commonly used in calculated columns,measures and KPIs
Example: IF function
Most basic and widely used DAX logical function.
IF(condition,value_if_true,value_if_false)
Dashboards
A well designed dashboard should be able to derive key insights useful to the end user in terms of right decision making.
- Display top KPIs
- Use the right charts to compare performance against targets
- Tell a story through slicers
Good dashboard is well understood easily and focused on key business outputs.Some of the key purpose include support strategic planning and resource allocation,track perfomance and trends while providing insights of some of the gaps for action.
Commong KPIs include:
- Total Revenue
- Total Profit
- Average lenght of stay
- Cost of Production
Filters and slicers should be used to allow users explore key dimensions.
Conclusion
Power BI is more trhan fancy dashboards rather its critical to the value it adds to the organization and provide answers that are geared towards business growth.Help identify key drivers and areas for improvement.
As Data Analyst your value is measured by the problems you help solve through continued building,for those of us who are transitioning into tech consistency,getting stuck and showing up eventually makes the desired difference.
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